Chapter 3
THREE
Hazel
I’m having the best dream. Hudson is in bed with me, his hands on my body. I twist in the sheets as his lips finally curve into a smile and he kisses his way down my body. My eyes fly open, and I see the time.
“Shit! I’m so late,” I gasp, shooting up in bed.
Throwing back the sheets, I stumble toward the bathroom. I rush through a shower, cursing when I look in the mirror and see that I still have shampoo in my hair.
“Shit, shit, shit,” I curse as I bend over, rinsing my hair out in the bathroom sink.
Wrapping my hair in a towel, I dry off and throw on the first thing I see. I shove my feet into a pair of heels, grab my purse, and rush out of my tiny apartment.
I’m already out of breath by the time I hit the sidewalk.
“I’m so out of shape,” I huff.
My phone rings, and I dig it out of my purse as I stumble-jog down the sidewalk.
“Hello?” I wheeze.
“Hazel?”
I suck in a deep breath, willing myself not to sound like I’m dying. “Yes, Mr. Cole?”
“Are you all right?”
I must sound like I’m dying.
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Are you planning on showing up for work today?” he asks sternly.
“I’m almost there. I hit traffic,” I lie.
“You walk to work.”
How does he know that? He’s always at the office before me and leaves after.
“Lots of foot traffic today, Mr. Cole.”
“Hudson,” he snaps.
“What?”
“Stop with the sir and Mr. Cole.”
“Got it, Boss Man.”
“Jesus,” he groans.
“I’ll be right there.”
I don’t bother to wait for a response. I can’t talk to him and also hustle to work.
My phone rings again a second later.
“I’m coming!” I snap.
I hear a familiar giggle.
“Oh yeah?” Scout asks.
I can picture her grinning. “Sorry, I thought you were Hudson.”
“And do you usually scream ‘I’m coming’ at him?”
“No,” I huff.
She snorts. “Haven’t seduced your boss yet, then?”
“Not yet, but it’s still early. Give me a few hours.”
“I’m surprised I caught you.”
“Yeah, I’m running late for work.”
“And how do you think Hudson will punish you? Spanking?”
I laugh. “If I were only that lucky.”
Scout and I have been best friends since middle school, when I joined her class. We sat side by side and became fast friends. Now, we’re more like sisters. She’s the only family I have, and I’m the only family she wants. I can’t blame her; her family is awful.
“I’m almost to the office. Can I call you on my lunch break?”
“Yeah, or later. I was bored and thought I’d see what you were up to.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Oh, and Scout?”
“Yeah?”
“Quit procrastinating and start writing!”
“Ugh,” she groans.
I grin. Scout has wanted to be an author for as long as I’ve known her. Unfortunately, between family drama, her day job, and writer’s block, she hasn’t been able to finish any of her books so far.
“I will,” she promises.
“I mean it. I want you to send me some chapters today so I can read them.”
“All right,” she sighs.
I reach the front doors of Cole Enterprises. “Talk to you later. Love you!”
“Love you too.”
We hang up, and I hit the elevator button, praying for it to arrive faster. I spend the ride up to the top floor straightening my clothes and combing my fingers through my wet hair. My green dress clings to me. Have I gained weight? I don’t remember it fitting this snugly… or being this short.
Shit. Too late to go home and change now.
I’m breathing hard as I step off the elevator, pulling up short when I see Hudson standing by my desk. His eyes lock on me, studying me with that damn stoic expression on his face.
“Good morning,” I greet, expecting a remark about my tardiness.
Instead, I’m shocked when the man does something I’ve only seen a handful of times.
He smiles at me.
I stop and stare, my mouth hanging open. What the hell is happening?
I look around, expecting everyone to be gawking at Hudson, but no one is paying us any attention. I glance back at him, and his smile drops. He seems annoyed, but my thoughts are too scattered to figure out why.
“I-I, uh,” I stammer, “sorry for being late.”
He doesn’t say a word. He just nods and walks into his office.
I set my things down, sit at my desk, and start my computer. That’s when I notice the coffee on my desk. Steam is still rising from the cup, and I frown as I look at it closer. It’s the exact shade I like—more cream than coffee. I glance through the office window at Hudson. He doesn’t meet my eyes.
Did he make it for me? And if so, why?
I take a sip and tell myself not to read too much into his thoughtfulness. He was probably hoping I would work faster if I already had my coffee at my desk, I reason. Still, I can’t help but feel warm and close to giddy as I drink.
I dive into work, pushing through lunch. Cursing under my breath, I remind myself to call Scout after work.
When the elevator doors open and a guy steps off with a bag of food, my stomach growls loudly.
“Delivery for Hazel?” the delivery guy asks.
I blink. “Oh, um, I’m Hazel, but I didn’t order anything.”
I take the food, frowning when I see my name on the order. It’s pasta from my favorite restaurant, and my mouth waters at the scent of garlic and cheese.
“Is there another Hazel here?” he asks, his eyes roaming over me appreciatively.
“No, just me.”
“Then I say take the food.” He gives me an easy smile as he leans on my desk, hovering over me. “I could join you for lunch if you want.”
He’s flirting with me?
My face heats, and I duck my head to hide my blush.
That’s when I sense him.
I turn, peeking at Hudson over my shoulder.
He glares at the delivery guy. “Good, our lunch is here.”
I stare at him. “Our lunch?”
He nods, then resumes glaring at the delivery guy. The other man looks between us and raises his hands, backing up to the elevator. He waves at me as the doors slide closed.
I can feel Hudson’s anger radiating from him.
“Are we having a meeting I don’t know about?” I ask, grabbing the paper bag.
“You have to eat,” he growls.
Following him into his office, I sit on the couch tucked against the far wall. I expect Hudson to join me, but he paces instead.
I unbox the food, licking my lips as I open the fettuccine alfredo and grab a fork.
“Why are you so worried about me eating?” I ask, digging in.
Hudson doesn’t answer. Instead, he rakes his fingers through his hair, turns at his desk, and paces toward me. His eyes land on my exposed thighs. I shift uncomfortably, tugging at the hem of my dress down, which only reveals more of my chest.
Hudson’s eyes track the movement, the blue depths darkening as they bounce between my thighs and my boobs.
“Uh, Boss Man?”
He blinks, dragging his gaze from my thighs to meet mine.
“You can’t wear that dress to work again. Fuck, you can’t wear it anywhere again.”
“Are you policing employees’ clothing now?” I snap.
He steps closer, his gaze dark and murderous.
“Just yours, Hazel, since apparently you don’t understand what appropriate office attire is.”
Oh, I’m pissed now.
I leap to my feet and shove his chest, but he doesn’t budge. I growl and step onto the coffee table to get around him, but he grabs me, his thick arm banding around my middle and holding me against him.
“Let me go!” I shout, kicking him in the shin.
“Are you trying to hurt yourself?” he snarls against my ear.
I squirm in his arms. “No! I’m trying to get away from you!”
His grip tightens, and I feel something pressing against my butt. It takes me a second to realize it’s his...
Oh my god. My boss is hard. For me!
Could Hudson Cole want me too?
Wait until I tell Scout about this.
I freeze and peek over my shoulder at him. We’re both breathing hard.
What do I say? What do I do?
Hudson’s fingers flex on my hips, and I bite back a moan. I never thought anything like this would happen, and I have no idea how to handle it.
“Sit down and eat,” he orders, though his voice is oddly gentle.
He releases me, and I take a shaky step away from him. When I turn to look at him, he’s breathing hard, his hands fisted at his sides as if he’s afraid he might reach for me again at any second.
My core clenches at the thought of being back in his arms.
I clear my throat, looking away from him. This is crazy. This morning has been crazy. I just need to make it through the rest of the afternoon without doing anything insane like throwing myself at my boss. Then I can forget that today ever happened.
Yeah, right. I’m going to replay having his hands on me for the rest of my life.
I sit and start to eat.
After a moment, Hudson sits down too, grabbing his own container and digging in.
“Why were you late this morning?” he asks.
“I overslept.”
“Do I need to get you an alarm clock?”
I want to be annoyed, but when I look at him, I can see that he means it—he’s asking out of concern.
I’m oddly touched.
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll start calling you in the morning,” he decides.
I shake my head. “I was late once!”
Hudson takes another bite of his pasta. “Now we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
I don’t bother arguing with him. The truth is, I would love to wake up to Hudson’s voice every morning.
“What are your plans for this weekend?”
“Um, I might go see my friend.”
“Scout?”
I’m surprised he remembers her name. “Yeah.”
“What else?”
“I need to do laundry and go grocery shopping.”
He nods for me to go on.
I shrug. “Maybe read? Watch TV?”
He pauses as if he’s weighing his words.
I hold my breath, waiting to hear what he’ll ask next.
I never find out because his phone rings, making us both jump.
“Fuck,” he hisses under his breath as he answers it.
His eyes meet mine as I gather our trash and stand.
“Yes… I’m aware…” he says into the phone.
I move toward the door, my body buzzing the longer he stares at me.
Oh God! What is happening to me?
I’ve soaked through my panties, and my nipples are painful points against my bra. With each step, the lace fabric drags over the sensitized peaks, and the tension inside me tightens.
Hudson’s eyes heat, and he licks his lips. Can he tell what I’m thinking? Does he know I’m one touch away from coming?
The thought shocks me.
I turn without a backward glance, fleeing his office.
So much for things returning to normal, I think as I return to my desk, trying to focus on work and not the sensation of my boss’s eyes on my back.