Текст книги "Remind Me "

Автор книги: Ann Marie Walker

Соавторы: Amy K. Rogers
сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

Chapter Thirty-one

The tour guide motioned for everyone to get a little closer. “Squeeze in. We’re all friends now.” Hudson pressed in behind Allie, caging her with his arms as his hands casually gripped the bar. She tilted her head back against his chest and smiled up at him. That simple smile wrecked him every time.

“Pay attention. I plan to quiz you later.” His lips brushed her ear and his voiced lowered so only she could hear. “Answer wrong and you’ll get a spanking.” He felt the warm flush of her cheek against his and smiled as she began to fidget with her wineglass, a habit he’d observed when she was unsure of what to say or how to respond. She was given a reprieve by the start of the presentation.

“We’re going to start off with our Cranberry Blush, a perennial favorite around here.” The tour guide began working his way down the line, pouring a few ounces into everyone’s glasses. He stopped to fill Allie’s, then tilted the bottle over Hudson’s.

Hudson let go of the bar and covered the glass with his hand. “No, thank you.”

The guy continued down the line. “This is a sweet grape wine with a touch of fresh Wisconsin cranberry juice added to give it a nice blush color.” He reached the end of the bar and set the bottle down. “Well, don’t just stand there, drink up.”

Allie twisted around to face Hudson, her lips perched on the edge of her glass. “Aren’t you going to try any?”

“No, not when I’m driving the bike. However,” his fingertips caressed her cheek, “I do enjoy watching you.”

Allie took a sip of the wine. “It’s almost too sweet,” she whispered before proceeding to drain the glass.

He laughed. “Satisfying your sweet tooth? Here I thought it was only chocolate you’d crawl through fire for.”

“Hmm . . . chocolate sounds good. We should stop at the store and pick up what we need to make s’mores tonight.”

Hudson’s teeth caught the shell of her ear. “I’d like to lick melted chocolate off your beautiful body.” He heard Allie’s breath catch in her throat and was about to elaborate when the tour guide interrupted.

“Next we have our Waterfall Riesling,” he announced. Starting at the opposite end of the bar, the guide began pouring wine from a bright blue bottle. “It has a light, semidry sweetness and has won many awards, including the Chairman’s Best of Class last year.”

Hudson watched intently over Allie’s shoulder as she lifted the white wine to her lips. “How’s that one?”

“Let me take another taste and I’ll tell you.” She took another sip. “Delicious. Very crisp. You can really taste the pear.”

He smirked. “Pear? Such a sophisticated palate, Miss Sinclair.”

Allie looked up at him, her cheeks pink and her eyes slightly glassy. “The key is to swirl it in your mouth, let it roll across your tongue.” Her tongue darted out and slid across her lips.

Hudson briefly closed his eyes.

“Of course, a good finish is crucial,” she continued. “I know some prefer not to swallow, but a good finish can make the experience even more enjoyable. Don’t you agree, Mr. Chase?”

Oh, he so fucking agreed.

Hudson gripped Allie’s waist, his fingers digging into her soft sweater as he urged her back against his thickening erection. “I think you need another taste,” he suggested, if for no other reason than to watch her tongue moisten her lips again.

“I’d love one.” She smiled over the top of her glass and then polished off the Riesling.

The sound of laughter and clinking glassware filled the room and the guide practically shouted to be heard. “Everyone ready for Bon Vivant?”

An uncoordinated “Yeah!” echoed through the tasting room.

The guide chuckled. “Ah, Lover of Life. And all of you certainly have taste and enjoy living.” He started in the middle this time, pouring a generous sample in Allie’s glass before continuing his never-ending speech. “In order to maintain the character of the grape, this wine doesn’t age in oak. The result is a nice, easy red.”

Allie lifted the glass to her lips, shifting her weight as she lowered it so that her hips brushed back against Hudson’s. She was driving him completely insane, grinding against him after every sip. “It’s been hours since I’ve been inside you.” His voice was low and tight with restraint. “And you’re making me inconveniently hard teasing me with your delectable ass.”

Reaching behind her, Allie slipped her hand between their bodies, stroking him through his jeans as she finished off the glass of red wine.

Hudson hissed between clenched teeth and dropped his mouth to her ear. “Keep it up. I won’t hesitate to buy this place out so I can fuck you on the bar.” And with the black Amex in his wallet, he had the means to do it.

“The final selection is our Cabernet Sauvignon, a robust, full-bodied red that is aged ten months in oak barrels.”

Allie removed her hand from between them and lifted the wineglass to her lips as soon as the sample was poured. “Oh, I really like this one.”

“Let me taste.” Hudson buried his fingers in Allie’s hair and pulled her head back. His mouth moved softly over hers and his tongue dipped inside, teasing her in an unhurried kiss. The scent of her invaded his senses and he groaned inwardly. When he finally broke away from her mouth, he looked at the tour guide. “We’ll take a bottle of that one.”

Hudson handed the guide his credit card and quickly signed the receipt. He grabbed the bottle by its neck and looked down at Allie, brushing his thumb across her bottom lip. “Ready to go?”

“So ready,” she murmured softly.

“You didn’t need to finish every last drop.” His hand slid under the weight of her hair, massaging the nape of her neck as they made a beeline for the bike. “Though it might be to my benefit that you did.”

“It would have been rude not to! You were on the tour, they made those wines themselves.”

Hudson chuckled. “Yes, they have numerous women in skirts with scarves on their heads stomping grapes with their bare feet.”

“Making fun of me?” Allie playfully elbowed him in the ribs. She lost her balance and stumbled into his arms.

“I wouldn’t dare.” He set her back on her feet. “You’re not going to fall off my bike, are you?”

“Of course not. Where to now?”

“Back to my place.” He secured the bottle of wine in the leather saddlebag on the side of the bike, then handed Allie her helmet.

“You read my mind,” she said, pulling the helmet down over her head.

“I thought we’d take Snake Road back. It’s beautiful this time of year.”

Allie looked at him with her mouth hanging open. “Snake Road?” Her voice was a couple octaves too high.

Hudson laughed. “It’s called ‘Snake Road’ because of the twists and turns.” His hand slipped under her chin. “Lift up, baby.”

Allie tilted her head back and he made quick work of her chinstrap. “It’s not longer that way, is it?”

He dropped a firm, quick kiss on her mouth. “So eager to get me naked again.” Grinning, he kicked his leg over the seat and put his helmet on. “Keep thinking those thoughts.”

Hudson rose up and slammed down on all that horsepower. The Harley roared to life beneath him and he was suddenly desperate to have the freedom of the road with her on his bike.

He held out his hand. “On you go.”

Allie placed her hand in his and swung her leg over, mounting the bike. Sliding forward, she wrapped her arms around his waist, her body becoming flush with his.

“You ready, baby?”

She nodded and her hold tightened on his waist.

Hudson cranked the throttle on the handlebar and the engine growled as they turned onto the road. He wound them down Snake Road for miles, the bike humming and throbbing beneath them as if it were alive. He took them over rolling hills and through valleys canopied by trees, where yellow leaves bled into orange, then flamed up red as they blurred by. They passed a couple bikers along the way, and one person stupid enough to tow a boat along the devil road, but otherwise they were alone. And with the open road ahead of them, they were almost untouchable. Hudson didn’t want their time together to end. He was selfish and greedy, and wanted more than just a few days alone with her.

Allie relaxed against his torso. He could feel every inch of her pressed intimately against him. Her perfect breasts against his back, her legs cradling his hips, and her hands sliding down his waist and across his groin. Her intrepid fingers stroked him through the denim of his jeans and his cock hardened instantly. He gripped the handlebars tighter. Soon all he could think about was the way the soft skin on the inside of her thighs would feel against his legs as he stroked in and out of her, slow and hard.

Hudson ground back on his molars. With each stroke of Allie’s hand his emotions and need for her became more volatile. He shifted the gears with smooth coordination and veered down a narrow stretch of road, pulling into a secluded picnic area at the edge of the lake. Turning the bike off, he engaged the kickstand and hung his helmet from the end of the handle bar.

“Come here.” Hudson slid an arm around Allie’s waist and pulled her across his body, her legs straddling his thighs. He removed her helmet and let it drop to the ground. Her hair was tangled at the ends and her cheeks were flushed from the crisp October wind. “We’re going to finish what you started.” His palms cupped her face and he seized her mouth as if he were only alive to kiss her, his lips moving desperately over hers. The dark fruits and sensuous spices of the Cabernet permeated his tongue and he moaned at the decadent taste.

Allie shoved her hands underneath his T-shirt. His abs tightened in a sequential rush as her hands smoothed down the ridges of his stomach to the top of his fly. Her fearless fingers popped the buttons one by one, releasing him from the confines of his jeans until he fell hot and heavy into her palms. His hips flexed as she took him with both hands. God, it felt good. Every time she touched him, it felt so good.

Hanging on to the last vestige of his control, he caught her bottom lip between his teeth and shuddered as her hand twisted over the head of his cock. Her skin was like satin against his and it reminded him of just how soft the rest of her body was.

“Allie . . .” His fist clenched in her hair and he took her mouth in a bruising kiss, starved to have any part of her in his mouth.

“Squeeze me,” he whispered hoarsely. Her hand tightened around him. “Again.”

Allie squeezed and her hands stroked down his shaft. His breath grew louder and harsher and his hips rocked uncontrollably. He was completely at her mercy as his hard length slid through her fists, her hands slick from his arousal.

His eyes flipped open. “Enough,” he panted. “Too close.”

Hudson could barely think straight. All he wanted to do was be inside her again. The need was so potent it defied all reason. Part of him wanted to take his time savoring her, but they were outdoors, at the side of a damn lake. He’d explore her body later. Right now desire overrode all logic.

He gripped Allie and kicked his leg over the bike. Without pause he folded her over the seat, unzipped her jeans, and yanked them down along with her panties in one sharp pull. He dropped to his knees and his hands coasted up the back of her thighs, spreading them wide. “Oh yeah, this is what I want.” Flattening his tongue, he licked right up the center of her and was blissfully lost.

His fingers dug into her ass as he captured her hot flesh with his lips. Allie let out a soft moan and her back arched, pushing herself onto his mouth. He brushed his stubble against her core, wanting her scent and taste on him until he was drunk with it, then sank his tongue inside. There was nothing better than being between her thighs, either with his mouth, his fingers, or his cock.

She cried out as his tongue lashed over her sex, devouring her with ruthless skill as if he were starving and she was the only nourishment that could satisfy him. Her thighs began to tremble under his hands. Without lifting his head he coaxed her with his voice and plunging tongue. “Let go, Allie.”

Allie threw her head back as she came in a violent rush. The sweet taste of her coated his tongue and yet he was still greedy for more.

Rising up behind her, he took himself in hand and stroked the blunt head of his cock between her slick folds, spreading the moisture of her arousal. He rolled his hips, opening her up, and with a powerful thrust pushed inside her. His breath exploded out of his mouth. “I’m so fucking deep.”

“Oh God, yes,” Allie moaned. She clawed at the leather seat and pushed her hips back to meet his thrusts. “Fuck me, Hudson. Harder.”

Hot damn, she was wild and untamed. And he loved it. Loved watching her let go of her inhibitions and shamelessly give in to her own pleasure. She was wet and on fire around him. For him. He was beyond fucking her; she was under his skin, the very breath in his lungs.

Leveraging at her hips, he powered into her with a single-minded ferocity, his body slapping against the curve of her ass. “Is this hard enough for you?”

“Yes,” she breathed. “Please . . .” She reached down and gripped his hand on the side of her thigh, trying to pull him closer. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted. She was as out of control as he was.

“I can feel you getting ready to come.” He arched over her, his breath harsh on the back of her neck. He slid his free hand to the top of her sex and massaged the swollen flesh while he surged into her again and again, taking what he wanted as she gave herself over to him.

Allie cried out as her core tightened around him. The instant he filled her again, his cock kicked hard and every sensation magnified as he followed her with his own release.

They were both panting and leaning heavily on the bike as their senses returned. Hudson was shocked as shit the Harley was still upright.

“Wasn’t quite what I expected when I said let’s go for a ride. Not that I have any complaints.” He straightened, taking her with him. “Let’s go home. I plan on doing that again, but slowly. I want to spend hours inside you.”

Hudson swept her hair out of her face and pressed a lingering kiss to her mouth. As her lips yielded to his, a thought came out of nowhere: I need you. Don’t let us go.

Chapter Thirty-two

Allie worked her way down the wall of bookshelves lining Hudson’s living room wall. Most were about politics and banking, but there were a few fiction titles mixed in here and there. “Have you read all these?”

Hudson looked up from behind the breakfast bar. “Most. I deal with enough mindless chatter at the office. Last thing I need when I have a chance to get away is the godforsaken TV blaring at me.”

A quick glance around the room confirmed there wasn’t a television in sight. Come to think of it, Allie couldn’t remember seeing one anywhere on the tour he’d given her. Of course she’d been a bit distracted by the sight of his bed. Not to mention the naughty intentions he’d whispered in her ear.

“Up here I like it quiet, just books and my bike.” He turned and opened one of the cabinets. “The larger collection is in the library at my apartment.”

Allie’s thoughts drifted to the extraordinary library on the top floor of his penthouse. She imagined spending a lazy Sunday afternoon with him there, lounging in front of the fireplace, devouring books before devouring each other. Mmm. A feast for the body and the mind.

“Wine?” he asked, pulling her out of her daydream.

“I’d love some.” A thought occurred to her as she reached for one of the books. “Oh! Open the bottle we bought today.”

“I had every intention to. Looking forward to seeing if it’s as good as it tasted.” Hudson’s gaze darkened with sensual promise and her nipples hardened under his stare. His eyes flared ever so slightly and she knew her reaction hadn’t gone unnoticed. A warm flush spread across her face. Jeez, what was with her tonight? Maybe she’d had enough wine after all.

Allie quickly turned back to the bookcase, making a mental note to merely sample the next time she visited a winery, not chug. A knowing smile spread across her face. Then again, maybe her mood had nothing to do with wine and everything to do with the outrageously insatiable man in the kitchen.

She could feel his gaze follow her as she slowly moved down the bookcases. Heat swept through her body like a slow-burning fire. Stopping in front of the sound system, she pulled his iPod from its dock, stealing a glance at him while feigning interest in his playlists. Sure enough, he was watching her, never once taking his smoldering eyes off her as he twisted the opener into the cork. Her mouth went dry. Oh yes, she was definitely going to need that wine.

Grabbing the glasses, he strolled barefoot around the kitchen island. “Let me know when you get hungry and I’ll show you my impressive collection of takeout menus.” He handed her a glass and clinked it with his. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.” She studied him as she swirled the wine in her glass and then lifted it to her lips. Something was different. And it wasn’t just his still-wet hair from the shower or his casual attire. She’d seen him like that before. He seemed relaxed, carefree almost. More like the Hudson Chase she remembered.

“Ah, very good,” he said, lowering his glass. “You made an excellent choice.” He dipped his head and his tongue traced the contours of her lower lip. “Although I do believe it tastes better on you.”

“Better try a bit more, just to be sure.” She lifted to her tiptoes and felt a vibration against her hip. Hudson frowned, digging in his pocket for his phone and glancing at the screen.

“If you need to get that . . .”

He held the power button down with his thumb, turning the phone off before shoving it back into his pocket. “It can wait.”

“What if Nick calls or there’s a problem at work?”

“He’s not going to. And he won’t until the next time he needs something. As for the office, they can manage without me for twenty-four hours.” His gaze drifted to the iPod in Allie’s hands. “See anything you like?”

“Quite a few, actually.” She scrolled through the list of artists. “You have very eclectic taste, Mr. Chase.”

“I have varied interests, Miss Sinclair.” He smirked at her over the rim of his glass before taking a sip of his wine.

Hmm, like kinky darts.

Allie turned her attention to the iPod before her shameless nipples decided to put on another show. A bat-winged skeleton stared up at her from the screen. “Avenged Sevenfold?”

“When I’m pissed off. My salvation on those challenging days.”

“I guess the skull on the cover should have been my first clue.” Her finger slid across the screen. “Mumford & Sons?”

“Dig a righteous group of banjo players.”

“And Journey?”

“Oh come on,” he feigned insult, flattening a palm over his heart. “A classic.”

“Fair enough.” Allie glanced down and a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “What about Madonna, another classic?”

He held up his hands in innocence. “Oh no, that’s all Nick.”

She laughed. “I suppose Nick likes Carly Simon, too?”

Hudson grew quiet, focusing his attention on his glass of wine. “My mom’s favorite,” he murmured. Some dark emotion clouded his face. It went far beyond sadness. It was something more, something deeper. Allie tried her best to decipher what it was, but then he took a sip of wine; when he lowered the glass it was gone.

Lifting the iPod out of her hands, he quickly shuffled through the artists. “Then there’s Frank.” He placed it back on the dock and “Summer Wind,” the song they danced to at the Field Museum, filled the room. “Timeless.”

Hudson took her wineglass and placed it alongside his on the table. “Dance with me?”

He held out his hand and smiled. It was that same shy smile from long ago. The one that never failed to melt her heart. Even now, after all this time, it still had the same effect. With damp hair and not a trace of makeup on, Allie knew she was looking far from glamorous. But the way he looked at her made her feel like she’d spent the day at the salon getting ready for a black-tie affair.

She placed her hand in his. “My pleasure.”

“Good thing,” he said, snaking his arm around her waist, “because I didn’t bring my checkbook.”

She pulled back to look at him. “Checkbook?”

“A million dollars, the going rate for a dance with you. You drive a hard sell, Miss Sinclair.” He grinned down at Allie, then swept her into his arms, whirling her around his living room. She was breathless when he finally brought them to a stop.

Caught up in his playful mood, she smiled coyly at him through her lashes. “You knew I was high maintenance when you met me.”

Hudson’s head fell back and he laughed. “Alessandra, you bring new meaning to high maintenance.”

Allie’s mouth dropped open. “Is that so?”

“And I wouldn’t change a thing.” His eyes were lit with warm amusement. “I love the way it takes you an hour to order a cup of coffee.”

She pursed her lips, but it was no use. His you-can’t-stay-mad-at-me grin was impossible to resist. And even though she was pretty sure she should have been offended by his comment, Allie couldn’t help but be won over by the obvious affection in his voice. She smiled and shook her head. “Glad I amuse you, Mr. Chase.”

“Always, Miss Sinclair. Always.” He brought their bodies closer together and his hand flexed against the small of her back.

“Thank you again, by the way. We never would have met our goal without your donation.”

“I was glad to help. You should be feeling some sort of triumph with your obvious success. And you managed to break the monotony of old fogies with a herd mentality clustered around tables.”

His words of praise touched her. Allie had put a lot of work into making her event different from the typical fare served in a run-of-the-mill ballroom. The fact that Hudson had noticed meant the world to her.

“Do you plan these types of events frequently?”

“The museum was my first major fund-raiser.”

“Well, you’ve set a high standard. I look forward to attending any future events you plan.”

She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again.

Hudson didn’t miss a beat. “Out with it.”

“The Harris Group offered me a position planning fund-raising events full-time.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Impressive. That’s a prestigious organization.” He spun her away and then yanked her back against him. “Are you taking the job?”

She shook her head. “I turned it down. But Mr. Harris said the door was always open if I changed my mind.”

“And have you?”

“No. Although it was certainly a tempting offer.”

“I can’t just leave the foundation. I made a commitment and people are expecting me to see it through.”

“Let me ask you this—what do you want?”

She chewed on her bottom lip as she considered her reply. “I love my work at Better Start. The people I’ve met there are amazing, so committed to helping kids. But I also loved putting together that event. All of it, even the aggravating details. With this new position I could still raise money for the foundation, but I could also help so many other worthy causes.” She paused and her voice grew softer. “For the first time in my life I feel like I’ve found something I’m actually good at. Me. Not my family’s name or money. Just me.”

“It’s your life, Allie.” He tugged her closer, curling his fingers around her hand and pressing it against his chest. “You should do what makes you happy.”

She leaned into him, not entirely sure they were still talking about her job. They swayed gently from side to side as Sinatra crooned about a summer of young love. The lyrics conjured images of sandy beaches, entwined hands, and lingering kisses. But just like the song said, all summers come to an end, and so had their dance.

“Hmm, the summer wind.” Hudson pressed his cheek to her temple and his warm breath fanned over her ear. A delicious tingle swept over her skin and she shivered. “Cold?”

“A little.” It wasn’t a total lie.

He ran his hands up and down her arms, soothing the goose bumps that had formed. “Sit. I’ll get a fire going.”

Allie sat on the rug in front of the fireplace while Hudson stacked several birch logs on the grate. “So what about you?” she asked, drawing her knees up and leaning back against the couch. “Is running an empire what you’ve always dreamed of?”

“Not exactly. But then again, dreams change.” He lit the starters and then closed the screen, staring into the stone fireplace as the white bark crackled with flames.

The question was meant as nothing more than a lighthearted inquiry, and his sobering reply surprised her. She waited for an explanation, but none was offered.

“How so?” she finally prompted.

He came to sit with her, sliding in behind her and pulling her between his legs. “Well for starters, I never saw myself going to college, much less owning my own company.”

She wondered what had altered Hudson’s path in life. Obviously something had since he was now one of the most powerful businessmen in the country. But during the summer they spent together, he never showed any interest in college whatsoever.

“What changed your mind?”

Hudson picked up Allie’s hand and fit it into his palm. “It was either that or continue to work on the docks. Driving that damn boat and running with the same old crowd was obviously getting me nowhere.”

Allie turned in his arms, not quite sure how to ask the obvious. “How did you—”

“Afford it? Loans, work study. I took whatever jobs they gave me, but usually I was stuck washing dishes in the cafeteria. On the weekends I hustled as a barback.” He cracked a slight grin. “More dishes.”

She settled back against his chest. “Doesn’t sound like you had much time for fun.”

Hudson frowned. “I wasn’t there to have fun.”

The flames shot higher as the logs caught. She watched them and couldn’t help but think about her own college experience. Being invited to the right parties had been almost as important as getting into the right classes, maybe more. And paying tuition had certainly never been a concern. Hudson had gone to college to work hard and change his life. All on his own.

“What made you decide to take on Wall Street?” she asked.

“I landed an internship and discovered it was a place where I excelled. Moving in on vulnerable companies, cultivating serious ins with private resources, leveraging billions of dollars or killing deals at the drop of a hat. . . after a while, it all became a game. A sport, really.

“Your very own version of Monopoly?”

He chuckled. “I suppose. And I liked the power and control that came with having money.” His arms tightened around her. “Although none of it could make up for what I’d lost.”

“You mean your mom?” she asked softly.

“And Nick.”

“Nick?”

Hudson nodded. “They took him away from me.”

What? Allie sat up. “Took him? Who took him?”

“The county.” His words were barely audible. “Not five minutes after telling us our mom was dead.”

Hudson closed his eyes and his brow creased as if he were in pain. He was quiet for several moments and she began to wonder if he would continue. But then his eyes opened and his body tensed. He turned his head to look at her and she saw unthinkable horror reflected in his eyes. Allie held her breath.

It was all coming back to him.

“When the doctor came out, he had the sheriff with him and some lady from DCFS. He told us he was sorry, that they’d done all they could.”

“Nick must have been so scared,” she said, her voice mirroring his.

“I’ll never forget the look in his eyes when he realized what was happening. He started screaming, begging me not to let them take him. Christ, I think the whole damn hospital heard him.”

Her heart clenched as she imagined a frightened young boy losing his mom and then being taken from his home. “Did they give you a reason?”

“They gave me a load of crap about how it was all in his best interest.” He ran his hand through his hair and exhaled a harsh breath. “Yeah, fucking best interest.”

“Next thing I knew the sheriff was trying to take Nick out to the car, but his hand locked down in a vise grip on my arm. The more the sheriff pulled, the harder Nicky held on. He kept screaming for me to do something but the sheriff was already unsnapping his cuffs like he was expecting trouble from me.” Hudson’s face grew pale, and when he spoke, the sound was more gravel than voice. “There wasn’t a damn thing I could do except pry his fingers off my arm.”

A log in the fireplace shifted and a spark popped. Tears burned Allie’s eyes as she watched Hudson stare blindly at the flames in front of him. His pain and anguish was palpable. In the end, he had been the one to tear his brother away. He had been the one to break his heart. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how hard that must have been for him.

Silence stretched between them. Once again Allie found herself wondering what had become of Hudson’s father. She’d asked about him when they were teens, but Hudson’s terse reply had made it clear his father wasn’t a subject he wished to discuss. And as much as she wanted him to open up to her, she refrained from asking. Instead she merely held his hand and waited, letting Hudson reveal what he wanted at his own pace.

Long moments passed before he cleared his throat and continued. “After that Nick was dumped into foster home after foster home. He’d call, beg me to come and get him, threaten to run away. I tried to get him released into my custody, but who would give a young kid to a fuckup?”

“You were just a kid yourself, Hudson.”

He gave her a sideways glance. “I should have had my shit together. My brother needed me, but I didn’t have the means to get him out of that defective system.” He sighed, and in a quiet voice added, “The way things played out that summer gave me a cold, hard look at my life. Everything I’ve done since then has been driven by my need to never feel that helpless again.”

Allie placed her hand on Hudson’s cheek, urging him to look at her. “What happened to Nick wasn’t your fault. It’s obvious how much you love your brother, Hudson, but there wasn’t a lot you could do back then. You’re trying to do right by him now; that’s all that matters.”

“You saw for yourself, he’s a train wreck. I’ve done nothing but fail him in every way.”

“You’ll get him the help he needs. Even if we have to camp out at his apartment, he’s going to rehab.”