Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
P almer
I wake up the next morning, secure in Hudson’s arms after Malcolm tried to take me from Devil’s Peak. Hudson’s in a weird position, all twisted to make sure I have all the room I need while his massive frame takes up just a sliver of the bed. I think back to the time when I was with Malcolm, walking on eggshells and never knowing if he was in a good mood or a bad one. His verbal assaults and emotional manipulation did damage far deeper than I realized.
I close my eyes, desperate for the images to vanish, for the feelings of fear to let go so that I can finally breathe. With Hudson, here in his arms, I actually feel safe—maybe even a bit brave.
“Hudson,” I whisper gently in his ear. His eyes shoot up and his body stiffens as if on defense.
“What is it? You okay?” he asks, searching my face for any sign of distress.
“Yeah–I just…yesterday feels like a nightmare,” I confess.
"Can’t believe I almost lost you to that asshole," comes his growl.
His voice is raw. Shaken. I swallow hard, my hands finding the rough fabric of his shirt, gripping him like he’s the only thing keeping me upright.
“He made me leave that note for you–I never would have left you.” My voice is barely a whisper.
“I know.” His expression darkens. “So you’re daddy owns half the eastern seaboard, huh?”
“Oh—you heard that?” I feel the blush creep up my cheeks.
“I did,” his reply is stoic.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just wanted to leave it all behind. I’ve never wanted a part of that life, it was chosen for me and until I stepped on that bus and decided to walk away from it and head west, well…my life never felt like my own to live.”
Silence hangs heavy between us before Hudson finally grits, “I almost killed him.”
“I was worried you would–I was so afraid that he might hurt you–I didn’t want you to risk your life for me.”
"That’s not how this works, Treasure." His fingers tighten on my waist. "You’re mine. My responsibility. My problem. You got that?"
My heart hammers. I don’t know if it’s his words or the way he says them, but something inside me melts. Something I’ve kept locked away for too damn long.
I lift my chin. “You think I’m a problem ?”
His nostrils flare. His lips curl, almost a smirk. “The best kind.”
I let out a shaky breath, my fingers sliding up the hard planes of his chest. “I—I was afraid you only wanted to keep me around so you wouldn’t have to sell off your land.”
“No—baby—” his forehead drops to mine, “you mean so much more to me than words could ever express. I struggle to name how I’m feeling, but all I can tell you is that there are only two things I’ve been certain about in this life: this land, and my love for you. Please don’t ever doubt that. I feel like I struck gold when you fell into my life that day getting off the bus.”
A soft smile curves my lips before we kiss, long and slow, savoring the tender touch of each other. Then, Hudson’s phone rattles to life and pulls us back into reality. I hand him his phone. He takes it from me, kisses my cheek, and sits up on the edge of the bed.
“Hey Mom,” he says sheepishly as he looks at me. He stands there silent for a few moments, smiling. I find it sweet that he cares so much about his mother; the smile on his face tells me they must be close.
“Mom... okay, okay, I’ll ask her.” He looks at me, apprehension in his eyes. “Love you too,” he says, then disconnects his phone.
“Ask me what?” I ask, rising onto my knees and putting my arms around him.
“Well, my mother would like to meet you. Obviously, you don’t need to go if you don’t want to. She’s just really excited, since I’ve never mentioned a woman before.”
“I’d love to, Hudson,” I reply, kissing the side of his face and feeling the rough stubble tickle my lips, unable to imagine a greater happiness.
Hudson’s parents’ house looks like it stepped out of a Hallmark movie, complete with a white picket fence and bright blue shutters at the base of Devil’s Peak. I realize how different our childhood really was. Hudson must notice my apprehension because he grabs my hand and squeezes it.
“We can turn around if you want; my mom will have to understand,” he says as he brings my hand to his lips and gently places a kiss on my palm.
“Oh no. She may say she understands, but women never understand these things. Besides, I’m excited to meet the woman who raised the man I–” the words nearly spill out before I can stop them. I love Hudson, every moment with him at my side feels so right.
“Mmm, I love you too, Treasure. I love you more than I ever thought loving someone could be possible. You’re the air that I breathe.” A shiver of pleasure runs through me. It’s like he can read my mind. “Without you, I think I would die.” He holds my face in his hands and looks at me, making sure I understand that for him, I am everything. He makes me feel as if I’m his entire universe.
He kisses the corner of my mouth and then lets me go, exiting the car and walking around the front to open the door for me. Grabbing my hand again, he helps me out.
“Let’s go meet my mama,” Hudson says. For the first time in my entire life, I feel the holes in my heart start to heal and the nightmares of my past with Malcolm begin to fade away.
Before we make our way to the door, it flings open and a short, petite woman comes barreling toward us and locks her arms around Hudson.
“My baby is home!” she chants before looking at me. “And this is the woman that makes my baby happy. It’s so nice to finally meet you, sweetheart. I’m Deborah Kane, Hudson’s mom. But you already know that.” She smiles warmly. “Come in, come in.” She grabs my hand, pulling me into the house and leaving Hudson on the steps laughing.
“Mom, I want to keep this one—please don’t scare her away,” Hudson chuckles as he follows us in.
“I baked some cookies. Sit, have a few with a cup of hot tea. Dinner will be in another hour,” Deborah gestures toward the stools beside the island and to the plate of cookies nearby. “They’re delicious,” she says, pushing the plate toward me. I grab one and take a bite, feeling like I’ve gone to heaven.
“These cookies could make you a fortune at a coffee shop,” I say, eyes closed, devouring the sweet treat.
“Mom makes the best desserts,” Hudson remarks, patting his stomach. “It’s a good thing I don’t live here anymore or I would be fat as a pig,” he adds with a wink after taking a bite of another cookie.
My eyes wander around the room until a picture catches my attention. It shows a blonde girl with long, loose, curly hair and bright blue eyes that look hopeful and full of love. She resembles Deborah, but much younger.
“Hudson, who is that?” I ask, pointing at the framed photo. His smile fades, and he gazes at the picture with sadness.
“Heather. My sister. She died ten years ago,” he whispers.
“I’m sorry,” I say, reaching out to touch his hand. Deborah brings the frame closer to us.
“It was a senseless act. She was only nineteen. Hudson and she were like Irish twins—so close. He took her death harder than all of us. For a while, I thought I was going to lose both of my children. My sweet Irish rose was walking home from the university when…” Her voice cracks as tears slowly stream down her face. “Some animal violated her, it ruined her–she never recovered. She…took her own life a few months later.”
“Oh my God, no, I’m so sorry.” Tears well in my eyes.
“I’m just thankful I still have my sweet boy. Family is everything to me, and I’m so happy he has such a good woman by his side.” She pats my hand. My heart swells with the tenderness and love coming from this woman.
For the first time I think I’ve really found a home here, on Devil’s Peak, not just with Hudson, but with the incredible family that raised him to be the loving gentleman he is today. Gratitude hums through my veins as I watch them interact, the urge to stay on this mountain forever fills me with hope for the first time in years. I feel like I’ve found myself, found my home, in this man.