Lucy
“I’m not sure he meant I needed to redecorate immediately,” I muttered, not for the first time, as Katie dragged me toward the home furnishings store in Denver the next day.
She’d needed to come into the city to pick up supplies for the fundraiser that evening, and I’d thought that was all I was tagging along for.
“Oh, I beg to differ.” She flashed a triumphant smile as we stepped into the high-end store. “He knew you’d need a nudge, and I’m all too happy to be that nudge. Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a black card in person.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“He gave you his credit card?” I gaped at her.
“Well, technically, he gave you his card.” She pulled it out and placed it in my palm. “Come on, girl, this is like a fairy-tale moment.” She clapped her hands, her enthusiasm so contagious I couldn’t help but grin.
“Miss Kincaid?” A woman stepped from behind the counter the moment she spotted us. “I’m Janet, one of the interior design managers here. Can I help you get started?”
I looked at Katie with a raised brow. She held up her hands in surrender. “Not me. This is all your man.”
I snorted, not all that surprised as I tapped out a quick text to the man in question.
Lucy: You are so busted. This is a bit over the top, even for you.
His response was immediate.
Hudson: No such thing when it comes to you. Pick something good for me to lay you down on, baby.
I fought the full-body shiver his text inspired before looking up at the manager. “Okay, let’s have a look.”
A few hours later, after loading the last of our purchases into the SUV, we hit the freeway and headed for home. Katie smiled over at me. “That was too fun.”
I had to admit, once I’d gotten into the spirit, it truly had been. We’d picked out all new bedding, beautiful pillows, and a throw so soft I wanted to live in it. I chose a soft green color scheme to bring the gorgeous colors of the surrounding trees indoors.
I added picture frames I was eager to fill with memories and some cookware I was excited to put to use.
With the new home purchases and Katie’s supplies for the fundraiser, my SUV was packed to the gills.
We weren’t far from home when my gaze flicked to the rearview mirror again as Katie sang along to the radio.
Dread coiled in my belly as I confirmed the same sedan I’d seen in the store parking lot was on our tail.
At first, I’d thought I was being paranoid, but as we neared home, I was almost certain we were being followed.
“What is it?” Katie asked when I stopped singing and my posture stiffened.
“I’m fairly sure we’re being followed.”
She immediately craned her neck to look out the back window. “The gray sedan?” She seemed remarkably calm.
I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised. With her experience working at the hospital, she was well accustomed to emergency situations.
“Yeah.” I sighed in resignation. “I think we’d better call Hudson.” I grimaced, knowing how worried this would make him.
I hit his number on my infotainment system. “Hey, baby.” His deep voice filled the interior of the car. “You almost home?”
“Yeah. But, um, don’t freak out. I’m pretty sure we’re being followed.”
There was a brief pause before his response came, calm and soothing, through the line. “Okay, darlin’, you’re driving?”
“I am.”
“I want you to drive straight to the police station. How far out are you?”
“About fifteen minutes.” That felt like an eternity, but I forced myself to stay calm. Panicking would do nothing to help us now.
“Katie, can you get the license plate?” Hudson asked.
She craned her neck to peer out the back window. “Yes.” She read it to him.
“I’m going to call that in to Griff. I’ll call you right back, then stay on the line with you until you arrive. I’ll meet you at the station.” His calm authority soothed my frazzled nerves.
After a tense ten-minute drive, we took the exit for the police station.
Katie let out a sigh of relief. “He’s not following anymore.”
By the time we pulled up to the station, my hands were well and truly shaking.
“You did so good, girl.” Katie gave my hand a gentle squeeze.
Hudson appeared at my window, opened the door, and pulled me into his arms. “You okay?” he asked, holding me tight.
“Fine.”
“She was a total badass,” Katie said with pride. “I wasn’t even worried.”
I shot her a shaky smile. “That makes one of us.”
“Griff has a BOLO out on the license plate. Hopefully Highway Patrol can catch up to him.”
I met his gaze. “Do they have cause to pull him over?”
“Oh, I’d imagine they can come up with something.” He slipped an arm around me and guided me into the station, Katie following behind.
“You two alright?” Griffin asked as we walked into the station, concern etched across his face.
“We’re fine,” I assured him. “Not sure what that was about.”
“We’re running the plates now. Hopefully something turns up.”
Katie adjusted the strap on her bag. “As fun as that was, I think I’ll head home. Hopefully I’ll catch a nap before tonight.”
“I can drive you,” Hudson offered, but she was already waving him off.
“I literally live down the street. It’s fine. Do you mind dropping the supplies at my place at some point before the fundraiser? I’ll still see you tonight, right?” She raised a hopeful brow in my direction.
“No problem and we wouldn’t miss it,” I assured her over Hudson’s protesting grumble. I leveled him with a look. “Kittens.” As far as I was concerned, nothing else needed to be said.
Griffin snorted, and Hudson sighed in defeat.
Griffin’s brows furrowed as he glanced down at his computer screen. “License plate is registered to a Spencer Jones. That mean anything to you?”
Hudson stiffened at my side, his answering rumble of fury confirming he did. “Motherfucker,” he growled. “He’s that bottom-feeding blogger I’ve told you about. He’s after a motherfucking story. I’d bet money he broke into Lucy’s place too.”
“How did he even hear about me?” I asked, more curious than alarmed.
“Who the hell knows. There have been enough prying eyes in town. Someone could have snapped a picture at some point, giving him enough ammo to try to break the news. He’s always looking for ways to up his audience, and he doesn’t give a damn what—or who—might get in the way.”
“Well then, let’s beat him to the punch.” I shrugged.
Both men looked at me in surprise. Then Griffin’s gaze sparked with approval. “She has a point. If you share the news yourselves, it’s on your terms. You take away his ability to do it first—and anyone else who might have the same idea if they get wind that you hooked yourself a woman.”
“Hooked himself a woman?” I arched a brow. “Did we transport back to the 1800s?”
Griffin merely grunted, having become acquainted with my teasing.
Hudson looked down at me, his expression cautious. “You would be okay with that?”
“Well, it seems like it’s inevitable. Might as well let the cat out of the bag.”
“Jesus, she has kittens on the brain,” Griffin grumbled.
“We’ll call my publicist,” Hudson said, ignoring his brother. “See what she thinks.” He turned to his brother. “But if we can prove that motherfucker broke into Lucy’s place, I want that bastard to do as much time as possible.”
“Agreed.” Griffin gave a clipped nod. “Get your girl home. I’ll keep you in the loop.”
“Appreciate it.” Hudson stepped back as I gave Griffin a quick hug, knowing he wasn’t big on the warm and fuzzies but wanting to convey my gratitude all the same.
Hudson rested a hand at the small of my back. “Let’s get you home, baby. I’ll leave my truck here.”
Griffin caught the keys Hudson tossed his way. “I’ll get one of the boys to drop it off.”
Hudson gripped my steering wheel with white knuckles as we pulled away from the curb, headed for home.
“Baby, I’m okay.” I put a reassuring hand on his forearm, the muscle flexing tightly beneath my fingers.
“I want to wring that asshole’s neck,” he ground out.
“I bet he has one of those spindly little necks—like Popeye,” I mused.
He snorted. “Popeye, huh? I never thought about it, but he kind of does.”
“Your hands would probably wrap around it twice.”
“Only you could make me want to laugh in this situation.” He squeezed my thigh affectionately. “I hate how it happened, but I don’t hate the idea of telling the world you’re mine.” As we stopped at a red light, he looked at me with such unfathomable affection, my heart thumped in answer.
And as he pulled through the intersection, taking the right that would lead us to the house I now called home, I couldn’t deny that I felt the same way.
[Nashville, TN] — Hudson Carter is happy to share that he’s recently begun a new chapter in his personal life. The Grammy-winning artist is officially off the market and in a serious relationship with Georgetown graduate and editor, Lucy Kincaid.
Those close to the couple say the connection is genuine, grounded, and rooted in shared values. Both are focused on their future, and they appreciate the support and kindness from fans.
Hudson remains deeply grateful for the continued love surrounding his music and looks forward to an exciting year ahead, both professionally and personally.
At this time, the artist kindly asks for privacy and understanding as they navigate this new chapter in their lives.
Katie grinned after she finished reading the article from her phone as we stood around a round table at the humane society fundraiser that evening. “That was quick.” She shot me a wink. “I like it.”
“Sharon is good,” I replied, referring to Hudson’s publicist, who I’d liked immediately when the three of us had gotten on a call. She’d taken the news in stride and moved swiftly while remaining sensitive to our concerns. The statement had been published an hour ago.
“Any word on the bottom-feeder?” Katie asked as Greta joined us, looking gorgeous, her rosy cheeks free of flour for once.
“Cops pulled him over but didn’t have cause to keep him.” I wrinkled my nose in distaste.
“Well, hopefully this took the wind out of his sails.” Greta gave my hand a squeeze.
“How’s the silent auction?” I asked Katie, wanting the attention off me, but I was also genuinely curious.
“Going well so far.” She smiled proudly. “We’ve already hit our goal. I think we might surpass it.”
Hudson appeared at my side and wrapped his arm around my waist. “Where did you go?” I asked him, smiling as he kissed my temple.
“Making sure they surpassed their goal,” he whispered in my ear.
I beamed at him, falling more for him with every passing moment.
“You’re not going to drag me over to look at the dogs and cats?” Hudson gestured to the animals the humane society had brought in to encourage additional fundraising and potential adoption. “Are you feeling okay?” he demanded, a teasing spark in his eyes.
“I figure you’ve dealt with enough today.” I snuggled closer to him.
“Baby, when it comes to you, I’m not dealing. I’m fucking living.” His hold around me tightened. “Now drag me over there so I don’t have to take your temperature.”
I nodded with a laugh, delighted that my man knew me so well. I took his hand and dragged him off to look at the animals.
In the end, despite the drama of being followed, it had been a damn good day.
The two kittens—sisters, a gray tabby and a calico—delivered to our door the next day as a surprise from Hudson only made it that much sweeter.