Chapter 7
HUDSON
The sound of the knife chopping zucchini against the cutting board fills the room, and I should be paying a little more attention to what I’m doing, but I enjoy looking at Piper watch me. Her eyes almost twinkle from where she’s sitting at the kitchen island, sipping from her glass of wine.
“How’s the view?” I ask then push the vegetables to the side.
She looks into her wine as she twists the base of the glass. “Can’t complain. The apron was a nice surprise.” The corners of her mouth hitch up as she says that.
Looking down, I admire my choice of apron too. This butt deserves a good rub is displayed on the apron, along with an outline of a cow.
“Thanks. I have a collection, and I’m not even sure how that happened. Matches some of your pajama lines, I guess, or at least your quirky lobster umbrella.”
“Your aprons say a lot about you. You have an uplifting personality, you enjoy humor, and life for that matter. At least from what I can tell. You’re laid back is my impression, considering the life you live.”
“A fair assessment. Speaking of which, I will probably be up early in the morning. I like to work out, then I have a video meeting with team management first thing.” I check on the meat that I seasoned earlier and will throw it on the grill for a few minutes.
“You stay in shape, that I can tell, and no, don’t take it as an ego boost, I’m just stating the obvious.”
“It’s the Arrows gene. We reach adulthood then time freezes for about forty years.” Amusement floods her face. “But seriously, I don’t want to be like other coaches who bulk up in a bad way, I want to stay in shape. I’ll be right back, just going to grill the steaks.”
“I can set the table,” she mentions, as if she knows where everything can be found.
“Okay. The remote for the fireplace is by the coffee table.”
A few minutes later, we have food on the dining table and there is an orange ember across the sky to the west. I’m lucky my house sits on the south side of the lake, which means I get both sunsets and sunrises.
But in this moment, the sunset with a crackling fire to the side sets the mood perfectly.
We both sit down, and she seems pleased with the steak that I place in front of her.
“Looks delicious,” she compliments.
I top up her wine glass, then it dawns on me that I haven’t had dinner here with a woman since I bought the place a few years ago. There is a first and last time for everything, and I can’t shake the idea that Piper could be both.
She holds out her glass of now red wine to me. “A toast to your meat-marinating skills.”
“Cheers.”
We clink and then drink before both attacking our plates of food.
Piper clears her throat. “You know, my grandmother would point out the obvious about what I’m doing.
I’m basically going back to what my ancestors did, which was to get acquainted with one another to see if they were a match before their parents would barter out the details of how many donkeys to exchange. ” She’s only half serious.
“I’m sure you’re worth at least three donkeys,” I joke. “I’m positive she would be proud that you got to know my body first, to see if my cock is up to standard. Get to the important stuff first, you know.”
She nearly sputters her drink out, then waves a finger at me. “Your humor somehow, unbeknownst to me, I get it.”
“Hey, I’m doing my damnedest to be a gentleman here and not have you laid on the dining table so I can make you the entrée,” I mention before taking in a decent sip of wine.
Piper purposely takes a big bite of her steak, with her mouth wrapping around the fork. “You have exquisite taste.” Her reply is sultry, and I like the way she narrows her eyes at me.
I take hold of my wine glass only to realize that this may not be enough to keep me from leaning over and pulling her face into my hands to kiss her senseless. I’m attracted to this woman and so very curious about what I can unravel to get to know her more.
Thinking of a safe topic to discuss, my mind turns to work, only to remember that this temptress in front of me designs lingerie, and I’m envisioning it on her right now.
“Does your work also entail bikinis? We can go into the hot tub after dinner if you want.” There’s no point trying to avoid the million ways she could take that offer, so I sit comfortably in my seat, owning my question.
A smile plays on her lips. “Actually no, I don’t design swimwear, and truthfully my focus is on pajamas that you wear around the house on a practical level.
My lingerie line is not my main business, but admittedly, since our encounter that one night, I may have had a little…
inspiration.” She quickly takes her wine glass and downs a sip.
“I’m inspiration?” I must have a cheeky look.
“Maybe,” she says, playing coy. “But seriously, I got into lingerie because feeling beautiful when you go to bed is important, it’s your me time.”
I stand up from the table, grabbing my wine glass in the process. “You’re killing me, Piper.” My grin doesn’t fade. “We’re going to need more wine.”
She waves her hand and laughs. “Oh God, no, I’m already feeling tipsy, and I need to be sharp around you.”
It’s almost becoming insufferable, the light feeling dancing between us. Obvious flirtation and enjoyment.
I nearly growl to myself because I’m about to snap. Setting the empty bottle back down, I let my urge overcome me, and in a flash, I grab her wrists and pull her up and out of her chair, bringing her close, tight to my body.
My move startles her, yet her eyes are ablaze with excitement. Piper glances down to see my hands wrapped around her delicate wrists before her gaze returns to lock with my own.
“I’m going crazy not touching you,” I say huskily. I’m dying to slam my mouth onto hers, but I won’t. “Your smile every time you talk, I could stare at it all night. I’m completely fucked if you don’t feel this attraction between us.”
An almost sly grin forms on her mouth. “I would say so, considering I’m staying here for a few days.”
“So you’re not going to leave first thing?” I double check like it was even on the cards.
She gently shakes her head. “All indications are no. Depending if that pinecone incident turns out to be a concussion, but ya know.” Her playing it cool is killing me as much as it calms me.
I loosen my grip and set her free, our tense embrace now dispersing into the air, but our eyes never break contact.
“Come on, Hudson, we have steak to finish and a hot tub to get into.” She tilts her head in the direction of the table, even gently taking my hand and leading me back to my spot at a safe distance from her.
As we sit down and she grabs the bowl of salad, she highlights the obvious. “Hmm, I wonder if I packed a bathing suit, actually,” she says doubtfully, bringing a finger to her chin. “I might have to go naked.”
Damn, we lasted two seconds before she taunts me again, but that’s what I enjoy about her, the banter, or the fact she isn’t overwhelmed by me.
The rest of dinner, we talked about food, and travel, and just kept the conversation easy.
She helped clear the table, but I told her not to bother too much, as my cleaning lady will come tomorrow morning.
Piper disappeared upstairs to get ready for the hot tub, and I quickly threw on my swim shorts, started the tub, and got in to keep warm.
Luck is on my side, as the stars are out, and a half moon hangs above us. My head perks in the direction of the house when I hear the door slide open, and every step that Piper makes in the thick bathrobe that I left in her room just ups the ante of whatever in the world will transpire tonight.
“You’re curious about what I have on underneath, aren’t you?” She grins almost shyly, yet she has no problem being direct.
I stand in the water to offer her my hand, even though the tub is built into the ground and there is a sturdy railing to my side.
Piper flashes her eyes at me and slowly unties the robe while I bite my bottom lip, trying not to be extremely turned on.
She keeps the robe closed as the tie hangs loose at her sides, and she pauses to draw the thrill out.
“The options are all in my favor, you know.” Bikini, bra, naked… all possibilities I approve of.
“I’m well aware, Hudson Arrows.” The way she’s toying with me or the sound of my name on her lips is enough to make me want to get on my knees to beg her to let me worship her body all night.
Then she lets the robe slide off her shoulders and fall to a pool at her feet, leaving her standing before me in a dark bikini that does a half-ass job of keeping her large tits covered, but that’s beside the point—this woman is a goddess.
She throws me an appreciative look and takes my hand as she steps into the water. I lean in to mumble against her hair.
“You’re making the stars jealous.”
She chortles a laugh. “Wow, you have some lines.” Finding a seat across from me, we both sink into the water, submerging our bodies as much as we can. “I love this. Did the architect design this area?”
I lean back in the water to get comfortable.
“Yeah, and we made sure that at night I can see between the two tall pines over there.” I point behind her.
“I thought about a pool. Maybe I will do it, but it’s just that the lake is right here, and a pool in Illinois is only usable from May if we’re lucky until early September.
There’s an old guy across the lake who swims every morning, even when it’s cold.
The only time he doesn’t swim is when there’s ice. ”
“Oh yeah? Swimming in cold water is all the rage these days. They say it stops the aging process and is great for your circulation. I can’t handle cold, so I’ll take a pass,” Piper explains before she too exhales a relaxing breath and admires the sky.
“Me too. I prefer to stay warm.”
After a moment, she turns away and rests her head against her crossed arms on the edge of the tub. “I could look at this all night.”
Me too, but not the sky.