Page 12 of Best Kept Secret

“She’s been staring at you, hasn’t she?”

“Sort of,” he said with a chuckle.

“She did the same thing when she first met Nick.”

“Ah. So that’s why he warned me about her.”

Their conversation flowed smoothly from one topic to the next until Kelsey said, “How’s Annie? Have you seen her since last weekend?”

Nick and Stacy appeared to be lost in their own private world, but they both looked up and awaited his answer.

Shit. He’d been hoping to avoid the topic of Annie this evening, mainly because he didn’t want to tell any more lies. Sweet and adorable as his daughter was, he’d been enjoying his night out as a single guy, his role of dad temporarily forgotten.

“No, but I’m seeing her tomorrow.”

“Kelsey told me how cute she is,” Stacy said.

“Hold up. What am I missing here?” Nick asked, looking between them.

“We’re talking about Hudson’s three-month-old niece, Annie. I met her last Saturday by accident,” Kelsey said.

Nick chuckled. “By accident?”

“I dropped off donuts at Jared and Hudson’s apartment, and Annie was there.”

Hudson squirmed under their scrutiny, but then he realized Nick was looking at Stacy more than him. He swung his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “Maybe we can meet Annie sometime too,” Nick said.

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Will she be at your apartment tomorrow?” Kelsey asked, her eyes lighting up.

“No,” Hudson said, and he averted his eyes to the appetizer platter. Anything to avoid her gaze for a few seconds.

“Darn. I have something for her.”

He’d been reaching for a tortilla chip, but he abruptly pulled back his hand. “You do?”

“Um-hmm. Stacy and I went shopping the other day, and I couldn’t resist buying her something.”

Stacy raised her brows. “A few somethings, she means.”

“Oh. That was nice of you. I’m sure my sister will appreciate it,” he added as an afterthought.

“What’s your sister’s name, anyway?” Kelsey asked.

“Emily,” he replied easily. At least he didn’t have to lie about that.

“Let me know the next time you have Annie over so I can drop off her gift,” she said, smiling sweetly.

“Okay,” he replied, because how could he say no?

“Don’t forget to give him your number so he can call you,” Stacy said, giving Kelsey a nudge.

They exchanged a knowing look, and he wondered what it was about.

“Right,” Kelsey said, brightening at the suggestion. “Do you have your phone on you?” she asked him.

Glad for the distraction, he whipped out his phone and keyed in her number as she said it.