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“Nora, listen. All you need to know is that you and Hannah are completely safe around me. Being a bear shifter puts my senses on more of an alert than by being just a man. No harm will ever come to you while you’re staying here. I promise you that. And although Hannah is biologically not a part of me, she’s like my daughter. And with bear shifters, we are a tight family lot.”
“Oh, Hudson, that never entered my mind. I’ve seen you as both now, and you are innately a protector. And with your bear sniffing skills, I doubt a chipmunk could cross your path, and you not know about it.”
Hudson was rough around the edges, but she felt no fear in his presence. If anything, the times when he was away on work-related business upset her the most. The mansion felt so huge and so empty then, with far too many shadows.
Hudson leaned forward, his fingers still enmeshed. “Well, that’s a relief. The last thing I wanted to do was scare you, Nora. Hannah and I look at you now as part of our family.”
Nora leaned forward also. She wanted to drive something home to Hudson, more in actions than in words, but words too. “I trust you implicitly, Hudson. I truly mean that. And so does Hannah. When you’re here, there’s never a worry.”
Nora smiled, praying her caring and compassion came across to the gruff man. Hudson smiled also, so she assumed as much. A tiny part of her psyche wanted to voice more, explain more, confess more. But the nurse in her kept it in check.Some things are better left unsaid.
“I hate to say this out loud for fear that you might say yes. But after this shock and what you saw outside tonight. You aren’t considering leaving us, are you? I mean, Hannah is doing so well, and she and I would hate for you to leave now.”
Hmm … Hudson doesn’t want me to leave? Sure, he said it was because of Hannah, but was it really the only reason? His voice, how he said those words. With such compassion. He looks nervous also, swallowing, clearing his throat, fidgeting. Maybe there’s more to his asking me to stay than because I’m Hannah’s nurse.
It truly hadn’t come to her mind to leave. Yes, Nora wanted an explanation and some answers to her questions, but to leave? No. Not at all. And if she had her way, maybe never at all.
“Lord, no, Hudson, I am here until we can get Hannah securely back on her feet. I have no intention of leaving a moment before that outcome.”
An audible sigh came from Hudson. Nora couldn’t tell if the man’s relief was merely for his daughter or maybe for her as well. All she could do was smile and hope for more while still secretly chastising herself for hoping for anything at all between herself and the handsome man.
Hudson looked down at his watch. “Listen, I’ve taken up enough of your time, and it’s getting late. I’ll leave you be.” Hudson rose from his chair, walked toward the door, and turned to face Nora one last time. “I couldn’t end the night without talking with you. I needed to clear the air and make sure you feel okay. That you feel okay with me. I’m glad we had this talk.”
“Are there any more secrets or surprises I should know about?” Nora smirked, meaning the question as a jest.
But Hudson took the inquiry seriously and put his hand to his heart, flashing a serious expression. “On my honor as a man and as a clan leader, no more secrets, no more surprises. You know all there is to know about me.”
Hudson closed Nora’s bedroom door and left the nurse with one final thought. I doubt I know all about him. I’d like to hear a lot more, even now.
SIXTEEN
HUDSON
He could hear Nora walking into the kitchen. His bear immediately yearned for her, but he tried to ignore it.
He was working on a cup of coffee and pulled his eyes up. She leaned against the wall and watched him for a moment. He wondered if she was scared from the events of last night. He imagined her world had been flipped upside down.
She needed time, and he wanted to give her that. Everyone was a little thrown when they first found out the truth.
She pushed off the wall and walked into the kitchen. He smiled at her. “Morning.”
“We should go away this weekend,” she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. She leaned against the counter, looking at him as he turned to her.
His eyebrows scrunched up, a little surprised by her words. “Why? We have a long weekend. We can relax here.”
“Exactly, we have a long weekend. We should go out and do something. Hannah should get out of the house. A different scenery would be good for all of us.”
He frowned, but she kept going before he could tell her no.
“Hannah lives here, and this is where all the help comes to take care of her. We should take her somewhere that she doesn’t associate all her health care with. Besides, the PT nurse won't be back until next week anyway, so we have the time. Think of it as a family trip.”
Hudson looked down the hallway where Hannah’s room was. A part of him didn’t want to leave while they were still unraveling just what had happened to Hannah’s parents. What if his absence delayed the investigation?
But he had already assigned tasks to his clan members in order to get to the bottom of this. His presence really wouldn’t add anything more until they had something to go on.
Another, more vocal, part of him knew she had a good point. They spent a lot of their time in the house. “Well, I guess we could go up to my other cabin in the mountains for a few days. We don't have to pack up much besides clothes to go.”
Nora’s mouth dropped slightly, and she shook her head. “I shouldn’t be surprised that you own a second cabin in the mountains.”
