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They’d been having a lot of dinners together, the three of them. Almost like a family. She frowned. It was probably a mistake to let Hudson become so attached to Zayne. So used to having him around. But the little boy seemed to be as good for the big man as the man was for the boy.
The dirt fight had subsided when Zayne realized how messy it could get. Instead, he’d put Hudson on his back so Zayne could run around the yard with the screeching boy clinging to him. Duke followed with a wagging tail, wanting to join the fun, but having no idea what was happening.
Same, dog. Same.
After dinner, Hudson curled up on the porch swing and fell asleep. Zayne sat in the same chair she’d occupied earlier and patted his knee. She didn’t hesitate to crawl onto his lap and curl into his arms. Her favorite place to be.
He nuzzled her hair, his breath on her ear, voice low.
“Happy?”
“Very. It’s been a great day.” She looked over at Hudson and grinned. “I’ll need help carrying him to the car, because I’m pretty sure he’s out for the night.”
“This house has three bedrooms upstairs. Why don’t I just carry him up there later?” She hesitated.
“I think it’s too soon for a family sleepover. I need to be careful with him, Zayne. He’s bought into this relationship wholeheartedly, and I don’t want him confused or hurt.”
Zayne pressed his mouth to the top of her head, leaving a kiss before answering. “I don’t want that, either. For himoryou. So we’re calling this a relationship now?”
“Well, it’s not a one-night stand anymore, so it’s a relationship ofsomekind.” She twisted so she could look up at him. “Where doyousee this going?”
He stared out over the porch rail. The sun was setting behind them, sending a looming shadow down the hill toward town.
“I don’t have any experience at building a relationship that lasts more than a few nights.” He looked down at her. “I like having you and Hudson here. It makes me feel good. Makes me feel like I want it to keep going. Can’t we do that—just...keep it going?”
She looked over to Hudson again. “If it was you and me, sure. Taking things a day at a time would work. But it’snotjust the two of us. He already adores you.”
“And that’s a problem?” There was a defensive edge to his voice.
“Only if he thinks we’re becoming an insta-family. You and I agreed to have fun while it lasts, but he’ll be hurt if...” She hated to think about it. “If things change. Right now we’re here in our little bubble, but that can’t last. People are going to know, and some will have opinions.”
Her mother woulddefinitelyhave a few to share. But there was nothing left for her to take from Andrea, other than a mother’s love, which had never really been part of their relationship anyway. She realized Zayne had gone very quiet.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“I’ve never been a fan of other people’s opinions.”
She cupped his cheek with her hand. “I know. You’ve heard more than your share of them through the years. But we don’t have to listen...”
“Then why bring it up?” A tiny muscle pulsed in his cheek.
“I honestly was thinking of myself. My mother. Other people who think they have the right to judge my choices with Hudson or anything else.” She gave a little shrug. “You’re not the only one who gets judged in this town.”
“You think people won’t want you with a Rutledge.” He stated it as a fact, not a question, and she bristled.
“Oh, please. You’re nota Rutledge. You’re the man I care about. The man my son cares about. The man who makes me very happy.” He was the man she was falling for...like, head-over-heels falling for. “I’m sorry I mentioned opinions. I’m trying very hard to not be my mother, but I stumble once in a while.”
“She doesn’t know about us?”
“No oneknows about us yet.”
He frowned. “Are you ashamed—”
“Whoa, stop right there.” She sat up, still in his lap but facing him. “Don’t you eventhinkthat for a second. I was just trying to respect your desire for privacy.” She glanced down at the maze below them and smiled. “At least until I start bringing buses of people up here in a few weeks.”
They both relaxed, easing away from the tricky topic of how people might react to them as a couple. The socialite’s daughter and the convict’s son. She could hear her mother now.
Zayne made a face. “Owen Cooper is coming over this week with some equipment he thinks can tackle the mowing. Once we get the grass chopped down, the maze should reappear. It might be a little more ragged than usual, but people will still get lost in there.”
