Chapter 17
SERENA
Hudson took his cue from me over the next few weeks, keeping things light between us. He respected my boundaries without planning anything too romantic. Not because I wanted to be cruel. I needed the time to learn to trust him again, which he seemed to understand and accept.
We had coffee a couple of times. He brought over treats for Avery and me, always choosing our favorite items from each place he stopped on the way to my house.
He even coached Avery for a speech she had to deliver in class, and she took his constructive criticism better than she ever had mine.
Maybe because it was harder to hear from the person you were closest to in the world.
Either way, she got the highest score out of all the students.
When she came home from school that day, my sister gave me the final push I needed.
Plopping down onto the couch next to me, she asked, “When are you going to let him take you out on a real date?”
“I’m confused. You’re the one who threatened to burn his stuff.” I squinted at her. “But then you finagled things so we’d see each other at your tournament, and now you’re trying to get me to give him even more of a chance?”
“I want you to be happy, and the only time you really light up lately is when he’s around.”
Her simple answer made me realize I was more ready to take the next step with him than I had thought.
I never stopped loving Hudson, and the past month had shown me how determined he was not to mess up again.
He was more present when we were together, even compared to how he’d been before Maddie started to cause trouble. And more vocal about his feelings.
I appreciated this version of Hudson, and I loved that he was putting in even more effort with Avery as well. And apparently she did too.
“When did you get so smart?”
“I’ve always been this smart.” She flashed me a sassy grin. “Which is why you should do as I say and text Hudson that he has one chance to sweep you off your feet with the most romantic date ever.”
I rolled my eyes. “We might’ve watched too many rom-coms lately if that’s your suggestion.”
“I’m serious, Sis.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Throw down the gauntlet and let him pull out all the stops. See what he does.”
My heart wasn’t ready to trust the leap, but with my sister urging me on, I sent him a text.
Me
Avery thinks we should go on a romantic date, planned by you. One chance for you to sweep me off my feet.
His reply was scary fast, as though he’d been waiting for this moment.
Hudson
Saturday. 7 p.m. I’ll send everything you need. But only if this is what you want.
Before I gave in to my fears, I texted back one word.
Me
Okay.
Avery did a little dance, while I tried not to think about the leap of faith she’d just goaded me into taking. But Saturday was only two days away, and that time went flying by.
Three hours before our date, I discovered how seriously Hudson took the challenge when Lila Voss showed up on my doorstep. She was my favorite makeup artist, and she arrived with her hands full.
When I opened the door, she grinned at me. “Someone’s been holding out on me. Hudson Holt personally called and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Said only the best would do for you tonight.”
I laughed despite the butterflies rioting in my stomach. “He really went all out, didn’t he?”
“Understatement of the century.” Lila lifted the garment bag higher. “Wait till you see what else he has in store for you tonight.”
“Come in.”
Lila followed me upstairs to my suite. After hanging the bag in my walk-in closet, she unzipped it with a flourish. “Close your eyes for the big reveal.”
When I opened them again, the deep crimson silk had caught the light and shifted to burgundy depending on how it moved.
The dress was bold, structured at the bodice with a soft, flowing skirt that would move like water when I walked.
It was also the exact shade of the gown I hadn’t been able to wear to the red carpet because of Maddie’s meddling.
My breath caught. “He remembered.”
“He also sent shoes, jewelry, the whole works.” My eyes filled with tears, and she wagged her finger at me. “No crying. I can only do so much with waterproof makeup.”
“Sorry, it just feels like it took a lot to get to this moment.”
“I understand.”
She didn’t expand upon those two soft words as she unpacked her supplies, but they felt deep for some reason. That knowledge made me notice the tiredness around her eyes that cosmetics couldn’t quite hide.
As she did my makeup, she was her usual chatty self, but something lingered beneath her banter tonight.
“You okay?”
Lila paused, the brush hovering near my cheek. “Yeah. Just dealing with some man troubles myself. But at least I don’t have to do it with the whole world watching, only my family.”
“It still sucks. I’m sorry.” I flashed her a soft smile. “At least you have your family. I don’t know what I would’ve done without Avery’s support.”
“I’ll trade you Avery for my parents and sister any day.” She snorted. “My fiancé is a lawyer, so they like to remind me that he’s out of my league, and I should just accept all the lines being crossed by his self-proclaimed ‘work wife.’”
“Dang, that’s even suckier than I thought.” I winced. “I hate how much you meant it when you said you understood. I wouldn’t wish that kind of situation with the man you love on any woman. Except maybe Maddie and the woman causing trouble for you.”
“Maybe we can work on jinxing both of them, but not tonight.” Lila brightened again, switching back to professional mode.
“Right now, I need to get you looking like the goddess you are. And Hudson Holt better have his shit together because if he messes this up, I’ll personally help you hide the body. ”
I laughed, the sound loosening something tight in my chest. “Noted. Just be prepared for my teenage sister to set stuff on fire while we’re digging.”
Her answering laugh eased the remaining tension in her expression. “Will do.”
When she finally stepped back, I looked like I was ready to walk the red carpet. The dress fit like it had been made for me. The crimson brought out the warmth in my skin and made my eyes look brighter. Simple diamond studs and a delicate tennis bracelet completed the look—elegant but not overdone.
Lila gave me a once-over and nodded approvingly. “He’s going to forget how to speak when he sees you.”
A knock sounded at the front door exactly at seven, and butterflies swirled in my belly.
Avery, who had been hovering in the hallway pretending not to eavesdrop, grinned at me. “Go get your man. But make him work for it.”
I walked downstairs on slightly unsteady legs.
Hudson stood in the foyer in a perfectly tailored black suit, with a crimson tie to match my dress. When he saw me, every trace of the polished actor disappeared. His eyes widened, then darkened with heat. “I don’t even have words to describe how beautiful you are.”
I managed a small smile. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
He offered his arm, and I took it. The drive was short and quiet, the city lights blurring past the tinted windows. When we arrived at a restaurant we’d been to before, I was surprised when he led me upstairs to the private rooftop terrace.
It was breathtaking.
Soft candlelight flickered across the space.
Strings of warm lights crisscrossed overhead.
A single table was set with white linens, fresh flowers, and two place settings.
A soft playlist of songs from our early days played low in the background.
And the city lights stretched out below us like a sea of stars.
Hudson pulled out my chair, his fingers brushing mine before he circled the table to sit across from me. “I wanted tonight to be private. Just the two of us enjoying each other’s company without the pressure of anyone watching.”
“This is perfect.”
Dinner was intimate and unhurried. We talked about my newest project securing financing, Avery’s latest debate win, and his extra workouts to prepare for the next action movie he was scheduled to film in the spring. The conversation flowed smoothly, and I enjoyed how closely he listened.
Every time he remembered a small detail from our early days, hope tried to bloom in my chest. But right behind it sat the cold reminder of how many times I’d believed in the strength of our love only to watch him defend Maddie again.
When we finished dessert, soft music began to play. Hudson stood and offered his hand. We danced under the string lights, his hand resting respectfully at my waist. One song bled into the next until he finally cupped my face gently and kissed me.
It was full of all the love I knew he felt for me. My hands fisted in his shirt as I kissed him back, giving myself up to the moment for one breathless second. But when his fingers tightened at my waist and heat started to build, the old fear rushed in.
I pulled away just enough to breathe. “I need a little more time before we go there again.”
He kissed the corner of my mouth. “Then we wait, as long as you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
We stayed on the rooftop for another hour, dancing and talking quietly. When he finally walked me to my door, he didn’t try to come inside.
He brushed a kiss to my forehead instead. “Thank you for tonight.”
I watched him walk back to the car, my heart full and aching at the same time.
I was starting to see a future for us again, but I was still afraid that one more misstep could shatter everything we’d rebuilt.
I needed to be sure he would catch me this time.
And that I was strong enough to walk away if he didn’t.