Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
HUDSON
Happy Birthday, sweetheart.
Happy birthday, Adds!! ????????
A ddy’s phone sits on the kitchen counter as she helps Mom and putters around, chatting about New York as if they are old friends from way back. Wearing an elegant yellow sundress with flowers that ends above her knees, and topped with a heart-shaped bodice and half-moon straps, she’s fucking stunning. I track her as she moves around the kitchen, chatting. They talk about her work at the clinic. And when Ma brings up her accident, Addy masterfully redirects. To her credit, Ma leaves it. Addy’s phone is buzzing.
It’s her birthday?
Shit.
Happy birthday, babe.
From Adam.
The air stalls in my lungs. Who the fuck is Adam?
Reed is plonked on the sofa, watching sports. Probably riding out his hangover from town last night. I can’t remember the last time I went out on the town. But then again, my life has been strictly horses and ranching since Jemma.
You can’t have your heart broken if no one has a chance to sink their claws into it.
“Earth to Hudson,” Ma calls.
“Hey, what? Sorry.”
“I was telling Addy you went to New York a few times.” Ma raises her eyebrows. Yeah, because I really want to talk about my ex in front of the woman I can’t get out of my head right now.
“Twice was enough for me.” I take the tray of meat for the grill and walk outside to get started. Ma chats away, trying to make up for my abrupt comment and departure.
“It’s okay, Louisa. I’m used to getting the minimum-word treatment from Hudson.”
My hand stills over the knob of the grill. It’s her fucking birthday, and I can’t even be civilized. Prick. Then it hits me. Did Ma know it was her birthday? It’s not unlike her to invite folks over, but this is far too coincidental for my liking. She likes her, I can tell. Harry’s probably in on it, too.
Never figured my parents would resort to playing matchmaker for their thirty-four-year-old son, but then I guess I haven’t exactly had a life since Jemma. I press and turn the knob and the grill clicks, flame bursting through the iron plate. I toss the steaks and sausages on and they hiss, sending up smoke.
“Need a hand with anything?”
Addy stands in the doorway. Her hands grip the frame as she leans onto it, one foot kicked back. Her brown curls fall around her shoulders, the pink in her cheeks flushing out her freckles, her brown eyes on me. “Your mom said you might need a hand?”
Of course she did.
“Nope.”
She forces a smile and nods slightly before pushing off the frame and walking back inside. God, I am a world-class dick. I drag a hand down my face and resist the urge to groan. Her looking like that and me in close quarters is not a good idea. Charlie appears at my feet, sitting patiently, nose sniffing the steak-aroma-filled air around us. “Not a chance, buddy.”
He lies on the patio and closes his eyes. Laughter comes from the living room. I move to the window. Reed is sitting on the sofa with Addy, facing her with his leg bent over the side of the chair, re-enacting something she’s finding hilarious. He makes an exploding noise, throwing his hands up.
She tosses her head back and loses it. Her laughter is the prettiest thing I have ever heard. And it’s all for my brother and his stupid antics right now. Heat grows in my core, and not in the way it usually does around her. I throw the tongs on the side of the grill and stalk inside.
“Howard, you got a job.” My words are growly, like some kind of Neanderthal. Ma raises an eyebrow and tames a rueful smile before going back to her cooking. Addy pushes off the sofa and excuses herself from Reed’s storytelling. He rolls his eyes at me behind her back.
“Sure, where do you want me?” Addy says.
Reed’s eyes widen as a shit-eating grin splits his face. I give him the look he knows all too well, the one that says don’t . Brows lowered, head tilted. He raises his hands like he’s in an old-fashioned stickup and turns back to the TV. The second we get to the doorway, I panic.
Shit, I don’t actually have a job for her. Maybe a healthy dislike for her around any other guy. Even if it is my youngest brother. Especially if it’s my youngest brother. She turns back once we’re outside. “What is it?”
She is looking around as if it should be obvious.
“Charlie actually needed you, sore paw or something,” I grunt.
Lame, Hudson.
Fucking lame.
But to my surprise, her eyes light up and she drops to the ground and cuddles him into her lap. This fucking woman, I tell you. The sound of hooves tells me Harry is back from the northern fields. Lunchtime will be as soon as he is washed up and ready. Ma’s rules. He may be the boss, but she captains this ship. The only person on Earth that outranks our father.
The gate swings. Harry wanders toward us down the path. His gaze snags on Addy on the ground with Charlie. “Addy.” He dips his hat, and she ushers Charlie from her lap and brushes off, standing to greet my old man. He asks her polite questions, and she answers. Smooth, Howard.
If he hasn’t taken her down a peg by now, he must like her. Or at least want her around for one reason or another. Pa walks inside. Ma’s calling for him to wash up the second he crosses the threshold. Always predictable, my parents. Reed appears through the doorway and hooks an arm around Addy’s shoulders. “Come on, I’ll show you to the table.”
“Reed?” I call out.
He turns back. The scowl on my face must have said it all, because he removes his arm from Addy. “Oh yeah, that should probably be Huddo’s job.”
“I don’t mind, really,” Addy says.
Great, now she’s indifferent to me. I think I liked it better when she gave me attitude. Fuck, I am all over the place. What the hell is going on? My mouth moves before my brain does. ’Bout time I got my shit together.
I drop the tongs on the grill and Reed files in to take over. “Don’t screw this up, Huddo.”
“Mind your own business.”
I walk to where Addy stands waiting and run my hand across the back of my neck. The t-shirt and jeans I’m wearing feel underdressed next to her flowery yellow dress. But she smiles at me. Lightning flings through my veins a heartbeat later.
“Ah, this way.” I walk to the white gate and hold it open for her.
“Thanks,” she utters.
I head for the table under Ma’s favorite ancient weeping willow, and she’s right beside me.
“Happy birthday, Howard.”
Her mouth gapes a little and then she chews her bottom lip. The last of the blood circulating in my misfiring brain sinks south. Jesus.
“Thanks.”
“Sorry about my family. They think everyone should belong here, whether they want to or not.”
“It’s sweet. You’re lucky to have them.”
Charlie trots between us and ahead toward the tree, leading the way.
“You have lunch out here a lot?” Addy asks.
“Every Sunday. Kind of a tradition now.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
She looks around. The breeze plays with her hair, and I resist the urge to sweep it from her cheek and behind her ear. We reach the table. Shit, I should have brought the cutlery and cloth.
“Oh, we could have brought some things out with us. I didn’t even think of it,” Addy says, but she wanders under the weeping willow tree and peers up into it.
Her face is pure wonder as she takes in the gnarled and twisted branches and the many, many veils of weeping green. She runs a hand through one and huffs a soft laugh. I sit on the end of the table and cross my arms over my chest.
“Howard. How old are you?”
She turns back, surprise lighting up her eyes, her lips tipped in an incredulous smile. But she walks to where I sit and tilts her head. “Why?”
I wasn’t expecting that. Although by now, I really should, since she constantly surprises me.
“I don’t know, was just thinkin’.”
“Did it hurt, Hudson?”
My mouth gapes, and chuckling, I shoot up from the table. “Hey!”
She spins away and prances away from me, giggling. Heat tingles through my core. For all the hard edges of me she gets, she takes everything in stride, evening out my roughness with her sweetness. I sink back onto the table as she goes back to wandering around the tree, running her hand through the green veil of willow that she gets close enough to. I could watch her all damn day long.
The white gate squeaks. Ma is heading our way, arms full. I push off the table and jog over to take the load from her arms. “Thank you, Huddy.”
Her focus lands on Addy, still wandering, looking. Ma smiles and walks back to the house. Reed meets her halfway, his arms loaded with dishes. I make my way back and set down the cloth and cutlery. Addy appears by my side and takes the cloth. I pick up the things from the top as she throws it up and lets it settle over the old, weathered boards. I move around the table, setting five places. Two either side, and one at the head for Pa.
Reed dumps the food down.
“Wow, it all smells wonderful,” Addy says.
Reed puffs out his chest and nods. “Yep, was up all night making this lot.”
She laughs and smacks his arm. He grins at her, and she shakes her head. They get on like a house on fire. Reed walks back to the house, slapping me on the shoulder as he goes. Wish he would stop acting like a fucking idiot.
“Hungry, Howard?” I ask.
“Starving,” she says, leaning down to smell a baked dish. The neckline of her dress swells. Suddenly, I’m goddamn parched. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and smiles up at me. What I would do to that mouth, those breasts. Fucking hell. My cock stretches my jeans, and I run a hand through my hair.
As she stands back up, her eyes darken and hold mine. Blood thunders in my veins, my heart flinging against my ribs. Sweet Jesus. Her gaze drops lower, and her breathing turns ragged, before her gaze lifts. “Are you hungry, Hud?—”
“Take a seat, y’all,” Ma says from behind me.
Addy’s attention snaps from me, and she rolls her bottom lip through her teeth. “Um, where am I?”
Ma points to the seat by where I stand. Addy walks around the table as I pull out her chair, and she glances up at me. “Thanks.” But the word is soft, choked.
Oh good, it’s not just me, then.
As she sits, I take the seat beside her. Reed sinks into the chair opposite us, and Ma sits next to him. Pa appears with the meat, cooked and steaming on an oversized plate. He sets it down before taking his seat at the head of the table. Everyone bows their heads and I wait for Addy to do the same before bowing my own.
“For these and all His mercies, may His holy name be praised,” Pa mutters. The second the last syllable leaves his lips, Reed is into the food. Ma slaps his hand like a naughty child, and Addy stifles a light giggle. And just like that, my blood drains south again. I focus on the food, hoping my body will calm the fuck down. But sitting this close to her, breathing her in with every breath I take, makes it harder and harder. Literally and figuratively.
“Thank you for the salad, Addy,” Ma says, taking a huge portion with huge serving spoons that I don’t think I have seen her use more than once before.
“You’re welcome. It’s my favorite.”
Pa grunts. Ma gives him a warning look. Reed ignores them both, shoveling food into his mouth like he’s shoveling shit onto a burning barn. Not a lot of leafy greens get eaten around these parts. Cowboys and the like mostly live on meat and potatoes. That, and whiskey.
Reed passes the bowl to Addy after taking a large serving, and she smiles at him. She dishes out some for herself and then turns to me. “Salad?”
I eye the leafy greens and then catch a glimpse of her hopeful face. “Sure, load it on.”
She snatches up a pile of leaves and places them onto my plate. Great. I force a smile as she huffs a quiet laugh before returning the bowl to the center of the table.
“So, Addy. How is the riding coming along?” Pa asks.
She stiffens beside me, and I grip my fork with white knuckles. When she doesn’t answer, I alternate my gaze between her and Harry. He waits patiently, chewing his food as if he’d asked her about the weather.
“Um, okay, I guess.” Her words are weak.
Shit.
He’s going to jump on this. I know it.
“Will you be ready in time for the roundup?” Harry continues.
“Hope so,” Addy offers, pushing her salad around her plate.
“Yes or no?”
“Yes, sir.”
God, she sounds like me, placating the old man. It grates. I shift in my seat.
“Why did you wait?” he continues again.
Addy shifts in her seat, placing her fork by her plate. “What do you mean?”
“Riding, after your accident. Why didn’t you get straight back to it?”
“I ah?—”
Fuck.
Pink flushes her cheeks, and she swallows. Even Reed notices it from across the table, by the pity on his face aimed at her.
“Well?” Harry prompts.
Her shoulders rise, rapid and shallow, and her hands have dropped to her lap, clutching the skirt of her dress. Ma shoots a warning look at Pa, but it’s too late. Addy chokes on a tumble of words before pushing up and out of the chair. “Excuse me.”
She rushes across the lawn like she’s being hunted.
Sweet Jesus.
“Good one, Harry,” Reed drawls. Ma pushes up from her chair, I assume to go after Addy, but I hold up a hand and she sinks back onto her chair.
Dropping my cutlery, I stand. “Jesus, Pa.”
I stalk to the house.