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“Lennon.” I quickly hold my hand up before he can continue.
“You don’t have to say anything, Hudson. We had a one night stand. It was foolish of me to think maybe it was more. I’m not angry with you or anything. You made no false promises. Hell, we didn’t even talk about the possibility of seeing each other again.”
“Lennon.”
“I mean it was fun, right? But seriously, driving eight hours to drop in on your one night stand...”
“Lennon,” Hudson repeats more firmly and my words instantly die off when I realize I’m rambling.
Pulling my hands from my lap, I pick up my fork and take a bite to avoid the sudden tension floating between Hudson and me. Chewing slowly, I avoid his gaze until his hand comes down to rest on top of mine just as I swallow.
“I’m sorry you had to see that.” His words seem more sincere than I ever expected them to be. “I won’t make excuses or lie to you. But I will tell you that had I known you were there, the only girl sitting in my lap would have been you.”
Even though his statement leaves me feeling tingly inside, I still have to push past the gut feeling I have that there’s more to it. Like I can sense he’s holding something back though I have no idea why I feel that way.
“I guess it happens a lot, huh?” I smirk, deciding to keep the conversation light. “Girls sitting in your lap and sucking your face off, I mean. Probably a daily occurrence.”
He sees through my banter, smiling as he shakes his head. “Happens more than I care to admit.”
“Hudson!” I exclaim, playfully kicking him under the table. “You’re not supposed to tell me that.”
“Gonna give it to you straight. Even if it makes you feel some kind of way.”
“You wanna know what makes me feel some kind of way?” I counter, narrowing my gaze at him. “This entire conversation.”
His smile spreads, instantly followed by the deep chuckle that makes my skin prickle.
“Doesn’t like to talk about women sucking my face off. Noted,” he says, the gold specks in his dark eyes practically sparkling in mischief.
We spend the rest of lunch on lighter topics. I tell Hudson about Emma and Robert, noting that I think she’ll be pregnant in no time.
I ask about return trips to Destin, surprised to learn that he and Colton haven’t been back since spring break five years ago. Though he doesn’t say why they broke the tradition.
We talk about my job designing remodels for Emma’s father, Jeff Barrett. And while I confirm I still live at the same condo, I leave out the fact that I moved out for a few months and then moved back in, not wanting to have the Gage conversation with him.
By the end of lunch it feels almost as natural as it did that night five years ago.
Hudson’s smile is easy as we exit the restaurant, his hand reaching out to take mine as we step out onto the sidewalk.
Looking down at our adjoined hands and then back up to Hudson, I can’t help but wonder how the hell I ended up here. Looking into the same dark eyes I’ve dreamt about more times over the years than could ever be considered healthy.
“Come on, I’ll walk you back.” Hudson turns, pulling me alongside him.
We’re within a block of my hotel before either of us makes any attempt to speak.
“This was fun,” I say, keeping my gaze forward as we weave through the busy afternoon crowd.
“We should do it again.” He nods and I feel his eyes on the side of my face.
“Pretty soon you’re gonna be too famous to spend your time with someone like me.”
“Someone like you?” he questions, pulling me to a stop just a few feet from the entrance of the hotel.
“I’m just saying.” I shrug. “Famous people don’t have time for a nobody like me.” I’m joking but I feel like maybe I’ve hit a nerve, even though he recovers instantly.
Pulling me off to the side so that we aren’t blocking the sidewalk, he steps closer, his hand settling on the back of my neck as he forces my face upward.
“My fame would never change who you are, Lennon,” he says softly, his eyes holding my gaze.
