Текст книги "Reclaim Me"

Автор книги: Ann Marie Walker

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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter Fourteen

A commotion in the hallway drew Allie’s attention from the e-mail on the monitor in front of her. Hudson was in the building. She felt his presence before she even heard his voice. The hair on her neck raised and her skin tightened in anticipation.

Through the open door she saw him round the corner, his jaw tight and his brow furrowed. “No, absolutely not,” he barked into the phone he held pressed to his ear. “I’m about to discuss it with her.” He turned his attention to Colin, his tone tight and clipped. “Hold her calls,” he instructed as he strode by his desk and into Allie’s office, closing the door behind him.

“God, you’re hot when you’re pissy.”

He lifted an amused brow. “That was for the benefit of the young Mr. James.” With a push of his thumb he powered his phone off before dropping it inside his suit jacket. “Not to mention the other dozen or so I passed in the hall. Nothing more than a show so I might steal a moment alone with you.”

“It was?”

“Hmm, but now I’m intrigued.” A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Hot when I’m pissy, eh? Let’s discuss.”

“It turns me on when you go all alpha male,” she said, shifting slightly in her chair.

Hudson’s eyes flared as his shrewd stare picked up on her subtle movement. “Is that so?”

“You know it does.” There was no denying it. Hudson had experienced her response to his more dominant side on numerous occasions. But the gleam in his eyes told her he was enjoying the turn in conversation far too much to let the subject drop just yet.

“I know you’ve had a taste of what it’s like when I’m in control.” He drew closer. “Let’s hypothetical here. Suppose I told you to touch yourself?”

“Hypothetically . . . are you watching me do this?”

“Of course I’m watching.”

“Then hypothetically . . . I would keep my eyes locked on yours and do what you asked.” There was a time when Allie would have found the idea of touching herself in front of a man far too embarrassing to even consider. But Hudson once told her it was a fantasy of his to watch her pleasure herself, and his unyielding desire gave her confidence. It made her feel wanton and sexy and awakened a side of her she never knew existed.

“And what if I waited until you were about to come, then stopped you?” He rounded the desk. “And told you that if you didn’t stop, you couldn’t have my cock.” In a swift move he spun her chair to face him. “How would that feel, being unable to release until I say?”

“I think I’d like that.” Her voice had turned breathy and needy, betraying the growing ache between her legs.

“Then suppose I told you to finger yourself until you were about to come again.” A rush of pleasure surged through her core and she pressed her thighs together in an effort to find some relief. But Hudson placed a hand on each of her knees and yanked them apart. “And then once again made you stop right before you slipped over the edge.” His thumbs moved in small circles on her skin. “Teasing you little by little.” His hands fell away and he straightened, his cock straining against the fabric of his suit. The conversation was affecting him as much as it was her, but he kept going, adding one more caveat to their little game. “And to be clear,” he added, “you’re not allowed to beg.”

Allie bit her lip to stifle a moan. “Hypothetically this is making me wet.”

He smirked. “Oh, I’m not even close to being done.”

Evil bastard. “You’re not?”

“No, because then I’d have you take your nipples, one at a time, and pull, hard, until I said stop.” His words caused her nipples to harden against the rough lace of her bra. “All the while you’re trying to forget how desperately you want to come.”

“Even though I’d want to keep my hands much lower?”

He nodded slowly. “But you can’t because I won’t let you come if you don’t obey. And make no mistake, Alessandra, you won’t come until I decide you’re ready to be fucked.”

She swallowed hard.

“Still think you’d like being controlled?” He smirked. “Hypothetically.”

All she could manage was a small nod.

His eyes narrowed briefly as he appraised the situation, then his expression turned into something darker. It was a look she’d come to know well, one that never failed to leave her breathless. “Take your panties off,” he ordered softly.

Her mouth gaped open. “The door isn’t even locked.”

“It wasn’t a request.” His stance altered as he gazed down at her. “Do it.”

He watched with hungry eyes as she reached under her skirt and slowly peeled the scrap of black lace down her thighs. “Spread your legs. Show me how much you want me.”

A thrill shot through her at his rough command and she shivered. Being exposed to him, so open and vulnerable while he stood before her fully clothed was more of a turn-on than she would have ever thought possible. Parting her thighs, she revealed herself to him, and in return was rewarded with his sharp intake of breath.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, dropping to his knees before her. “So swollen and wet.” A single finger skirted her trembling opening. “You’re aching to feel me inside you, aren’t you?”

“God, yes . . .” She lifted her hips in a shameless plea for more, but he kept up the maddening pace, circling her in a lazy, leisurely rhythm. Every so often his fingertip would dip inside, only to withdraw and begin again. She was near mindless with the need to be filled when he finally pushed two fingers inside of her.

Allie’s head fell back against the leather chair. She was wound so tight, she knew all it would take was one skilled flick of his wrist to send her spiraling over the edge. But instead his hand remained perfectly still.

“Don’t come,” he said. His voice was harsh with a barely leashed restraint. “Not until I say you can.” With that his fingers began a slow and teasing pump in and out of her quivering flesh.

Somehow she managed to stop herself from grinding against his palm, resisting the urge to ride his fingers to the shattering orgasm she craved. But she couldn’t hold back her plea. “Please, Hudson,” she begged.

“When you come it will be with my cock inside you.” His fingers moved in a circular motion. “And I don’t think you’re quite ready yet.”

He added a third finger and a moan was ripped from somewhere deep inside her. She dug her heels into the carpet in an attempt to stem the wave of pleasure that threatened to consume her. He kept her on the edge, driving her mad but never giving her exactly what she needed to get her off. When the first tremors of orgasm grasped his fingers, he removed them, leaving her a quivering, panting mess. He held her gaze as he brought his fingers to his lips, tasting the evidence of her arousal. “Hmm, yes, I do believe you’re ready now.”

She nearly sobbed with relief.

“Bend yourself over the desk and lift your skirt.”

All thoughts of office decorum left her and she hurried to obey. A second later she heard the faint click of his buckle followed by the metallic sound of a zipper.

“Hold on to the edge and don’t let go,” he ordered, his voice hoarse and urgent.

She did as he asked, her fingers curling around the mahogany top. His hands gripped her waist and she felt the blunt head of him slip against her as he guided himself to where she was wet and more than ready.

“Brace yourself.” He spread her legs wider with a push of his foot against hers. “This is going to be hard and fast.” With no further warning he surged forward with a powerful thrust of his hips.

Allie bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out. She loved it when he took her like this, rough and unapologetic in his use of her body to bring them both the pleasure they craved. His need to claim her, to make her his own, ratcheted her desire for him to an almost unfathomable level.

He growled her name as he eased slowly back, then with a shift of his hips slammed into her again. Over and over he took her, pushing her forward with each punishing thrust. “Hold on,” he ground out between clenched teeth. She tightened her grasp on the desktop as he yanked her back to meet his hips, angling her body so she felt every hard inch of him. His drives were merciless and in no time she felt her insides begin to quicken.

Bending over her, his lips grazed her ear. “Now, baby. Come for me.”

On command her body exploded with an orgasm so intense her vision blurred. Hudson cursed and jerked against her, driving to the hilt one last time, then stilling as he followed her over the edge. She was vaguely aware of movement as he fell back in the chair, pulling her with him and cradling her in his arms. They sat like that for several minutes while their breathing calmed. When Allie finally lifted her head to meet his gaze, she found his eyes filled with nothing but warmth and tenderness.

“How was that?” he asked, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

“Amazing.” She leaned her head against his shoulder and a quiet giggle escaped her lips. “Adventurous. Arousing . . . Awesome.”

He chuckled quietly. “Allie’s orgasm brought to you by the letter ‘A’”?

She looked up at him and smiled. “More like the letter ‘H’. As in holy hell, Hudson.” She laughed. “That was intense.”

He met her grin with one of his own.

“You supposedly came in here to argue with me,” she reminded him. “Hope you have a decent poker face, Chase, because right now you look like a man who’s thoroughly pleased with himself.”

“Perhaps they’ll believe I got what I came for.”

Allie rolled her eyes. “That was bad.”

“Terrible puns aside, I actually did have something to discuss with you.”

“Oh?”

“I’m taking you to the lake on Friday,” he said. It wasn’t a question, and from the way he said it, there wouldn’t be much discussion either. Still, Allie protested.

“You know I love your lake house, Hudson, but—”

“But nothing,” he said, cutting her off before she had a chance to list the numerous reasons why they couldn’t go away together. “I’m tired of stealing time. I want a whole weekend with you, a three-day weekend, no less. I want to go to bed with you and wake up with you and fuck you senseless during every hour in between.”

Her breath caught. “When . . . who . . . I mean how . . .” she stammered, her mouth trying to catch up with her brain.

Hudson laughed. He planted a swift kiss on the top of her head before hauling her to her feet. “Trust me, I have a plan.”

Chapter Fifteen

Allie’s schedule was tighter than ever. With the holiday weekend approaching, Colin had extended her calendar well into the evening hours. From breakfast meetings to late-night e-mails, work consumed her every waking moment. It should have made time fly. But the end of the week held the promise of uninterrupted quality time with Hudson Chase. No sneaking around, no stolen moments behind closed doors, no covert texts or furtive glances. Just three days alone with the man she loved. The thought was never far from her mind, and so despite its hectic pace, the week crawled by. And by late Friday morning it seemed as though time had actually ground to a halt.

Hudson had been vague about their plans, saying only that they would be going to his lake house and that he would take care of the rest. She’d assumed he’d give her some sort of instructions during the week, but so far she hadn’t heard a word from him, much less the details on how or when they were escaping the city for the peace and tranquility of his Lake Geneva cabin.

Allie’s thoughts drifted to the time they’d spent there in October, and all at once memories bombarded her senses. The sight of Hudson straddling his motorcycle, looking every bit the bad boy she once knew; the scent of pine trees mixed with the rich smell of leather as she rode on the back of his bike; the feel of the sun on her face and his muscles flexing beneath her palms; the sound of his laughter mixed with her squeals. The day had been perfect in every way, but it paled in comparison to the night. Because there, on the floor in front of a roaring fire, Hudson had let his guard down. He’d opened up to her and shared glimpses of his past; his thoughts, his fears, his emotions. It was the night she’d always longed for. The night she knew they’d have.

“Big plans for the weekend?” Colin asked, interrupting her daydream.

Allie looked up to find him standing at the door to her office holding a large box in his hands. “What? Um, no. I mean, why do you ask?”

“Just figured with three days blocked off, you must have something exciting planned.”

“Not really.” She shrugged. “I just need a few days to unplug and recharge.”

“So you’re not going anywhere?”

“The only trip I plan on taking is from the bed to the couch and back again. Eat, sleep, repeat.” It wasn’t a total lie. She merely omitted the part about it being Hudson’s bed. The one she’d been tied to while he teased and tormented her with his fingers, lips, and tongue.

Jeez, snap out of it Sinclair.

“What’s in the box?” she asked, attempting to refocus her attention on the here and now.

Colin strode toward her. “No clue. It was just delivered via messenger, marked ‘personal and confidential.’ Again.” He set the box on her desk and lifted a brow. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you have a secret admirer.” An audible gasp escaped his lips, and a look of conspiratorial mischief lit his bright green eyes. “Is it the guy from Asylum?” he asked in a dramatic whisper.

“Who?”

“That hunk of handsome you were pressed against Friday night.”

“He didn’t even know my name.”

“I could enlighten him if you’d like?”

“Don’t you have a memo to type or something?”

Colin laughed. “Okay, okay. Consider it dropped.”

Allie waited until he’d closed the door behind him before tearing into the package. Inside the box was a camel-colored top coat along with a pair of Chanel sunglasses and a red knit hat and scarf. One by one she placed the items on her desk. She even removed the tissue paper but found nothing underneath. No note, no instructions. While she was fairly sure who was responsible for the mysterious delivery, she had no idea the purpose of its contents.

The burner phone. The thought had no sooner occurred to her when she heard a soft ping. She opened her bottom drawer of her desk and dug the phone out of her purse. A text from Hudson lit the screen.

Did the package arrive?

She smiled as she typed. The eagle has landed.

Amusing yourself, Miss Sinclair?

Have to distract myself somehow, Mr. Chase.

From?

Thoughts of you.

Anything specific?

Specifically naked, she replied.

I like where this is going.

All weekend.

I’ll pack light, then.

In fact, I may tie you to the bed.

That’s my line.

Fine, she typed, you can tie me to the bed.

Fuck.

What?

I’m hard.

She giggled. Let’s leave now then.

We can’t.

Why not?

Because the plans I have for smuggling you out of the city won’t be in place until this afternoon. So as much as I’d love to have my face between your thighs...

Fuck.

His reply was immediate. What’s wrong?

I’m wet.

There was a pause while she waited for his reply, during which she imagined him cursing as he adjusted his trousers. Behave.

Not sure I can.

Did you growl before you typed that? Because you know what that does to me.

Work, Alessandra. Get back to it.

Yes...sir.

That’s not helping.

She smiled. It wasn’t meant to.

Payback will be swift and decisive.

A wave of heated anticipation rolled through her and she found herself pressing her thighs together in an effort to find some relief. It was her own fault, really, since she’d been the one to start their little game. So instead of protesting the fact that she had to wait several hours for said payback to begin, she simply answered with the truth. I can hardly wait.

4:00. Wear the items from the box. A taxi will be waiting. Further instructions then.

She almost made a joke about how very 007 this all sounded when she realized that the team Hudson had working for him might very well have been former MI6. With that sobering thought in mind, she got back to work, trying her best to remain focused on the e-mails and contracts and conference calls that filled the rest of her afternoon. When four o’clock rolled around, she did exactly as she’d been instructed, donning the coat, hat, and sunglasses in Ingram’s lobby before pushing through the revolving doors.

The sun was still shining as Allie stepped out onto Michigan Avenue, making the sunglasses seem less out of place in January, but the bite of cold wind stung her face. She pulled the scarf up over her mouth as she scanned the row of cabs idling at the curb.

A driver climbed out of the one directly in front of the door. “Miss Sinclair?” At Allie’s nod he hurried round the front of the car and opened the back door for her. Allie slid inside, then pulled the burner phone out of her purse. She’d dialed Hudson’s number before the driver was even back in the car.

“Anxious to see me?” he asked. She could hear the smile in his voice.

“Says the man who answered his phone on the first ring.”

“I’ve never claimed to be anything but when it came to you.” A warmth spread through her at the gentle caress of his voice, dampened only by the realization he was speaking over a Bluetooth system.

“You’re driving?”

“The Range Rover, yes. Why do you ask?

“No reason.”

“Alessandra?” She could tell by his tone he was expecting an answer.

“I just had a different picture in mind, that’s all.”

“Did you now?”

“Mmmhmm. You, me, the back of the limo.” She cut her eyes to the front seat of the taxi. The driver seemed far too busy maneuvering into traffic to pay her much attention, but she still turned her head and lowered her voice. “Something about your face and my thighs.”

“Believe me, I’d like nothing more than to start the trip by spreading you out on that bench and fucking you with my tongue until we reach the state line.”

A jolt of pleasure arrowed straight to her core, and she let out a frustrated groan. “You’re an evil bastard, do you know that?”

He chuckled softly. “Yes, but I’m your evil bastard. And I’ll make it up to you when you get here.” His voice dropped to a sexy rasp. “Thoroughly and repeatedly.”

“That’s not helping,” she said, echoing his words from earlier.

This time he didn’t even bother to temper his laugh. “It wasn’t meant to.”

“Wait,” she said, his words registering, “When I get there? Where are you?”

“At the moment I’m at a red light in front of that little candy shop you were so fond of last time.”

Allie remembered it well. She could picture the charming pink and white building clearly, right down to the woman spreading velvety chocolate across a cool marble slab. And while her mouth watered at the thought of the creamy fudge, her heart sank at the thought that Hudson was already in Lake Geneva.

“I would have preferred we drive up together,” he said as if reading her mind. “But the risk was too great.”

And there it was, the harsh reality that shadowed them. No matter how hard they tried, it was always there, threatening to end their happiness once and for all. Allie stared out the window at the pedestrians clogging the intersection, people rushing home to start their weekends without threats of blackmail or bodily harm. “I know,” she whispered. It was impossible to mask her disappointment, though she knew he was right.

“And I need the time to prepare,” he added in what was obviously an effort to steer them away from the dark turn the conversation had taken. It was also clear that he was taunting her, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking. “What are you up to?”

“Anticipation, Alessandra.”

She knew from experience there would be no further explanation. Resigned to her two-hour torture, she sighed. “So what’s the plan?”

“You’re about to turn onto lower Wacker,” Hudson began. She almost asked how he knew that, but then she remembered the spy gadget that allowed him to see across the river and into her office. Tracking her location was child’s play.

The taxi grew dark as the driver veered onto a ramp that took them beneath the city. The winding tunnels were a much quicker option than the congested streets of the Loop as the fast-paced traffic and unmarked alleyways were far too daunting to the inexperienced driver. Only those well acquainted with the bowels of the city took the shortcut known as the Chicago Autobahn.

“From there you will be taken to a parking garage, where you will transfer to another car.” The cab took a sharp right. After circling one level they pulled alongside a black limousine. A blonde stepped out of the back wearing the exact same coat, hat, scarf, and sunglasses as Allie.

“Both the limo driver and the woman are members of Max’s team,” Hudson said. “Jessica will be taking the taxi you’re in to your brownstown, where she will remain for the duration of the weekend. Take whatever you need out of your purse, then give it to her along with your keys and cell phone. Keep the burner with you.”

Three days off the grid with Hudson was exactly what Allie wanted, but still, the thought of being completely out of touch with the rest of the world gave her pause. “What if there’s an emergency. Or a break in the case?”

“She will be monitoring the incoming call log and voice mails and, if necessary, has instructions on how to reach us. We don’t know if Julian is using your cell phone to track your movements, but in the event that he is, having it in her possession not only protects you, it aids our ruse.”

“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?

His voice dropped to a seductive purr. “You have no idea.”

The promise held in those four words not only made her toes curl, it made the two hour drive to Lake Geneva seem more like eight.

Allie peered through the tinted window when the limo finally rolled to a stop in the center of the quaint town. With the exception of the dusting of powdery snow, it was exactly as she remembered. Rows of pastel-colored shops lined both sides of the street—everything from high-end art galleries to extreme sports rentals—all catering to the affluent crowd who used the lakeside community as their chance to get away from the stress of the city. The streets were crowded with those taking advantage of the three-day weekend. But unlike the couples who strolled hand in hand down the cobblestone sidewalks, pausing to window shop or duck into a café for a latte or a scoop of hand-churned ice cream, she and Hudson had no desire to venture into town. The only destination on their agenda was his cabin, and knowing he was already there, waiting for her, sent waves of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

She could hardly sit still as the limo crawled along the narrow road that hugged the shoreline. And she was already unbuckling her seat belt as the driver turned through the stone walls flanking both sides of the winding driveway. At the top of the hill the peaks of Hudson’s wood and stone house soared high above the pine trees, the windows aglow like a beacon, calling her home.

When they pulled into the clearing she saw him, watching from the balcony that wrapped the length of the house, the wood plank door standing open behind him. He was down the stairs in no time, and had the limo door open before the car had even rolled to a complete stop.

“I thought you’d never fucking get here,” he growled, reaching for Allie’s hand. With a sharp tug he pulled her body flush against his, crushing his lips against hers in a ravenous kiss. His raw hunger ignited a flame that rushed like wildfire across her skin. Spending the week apart was a torture that had clearly taken its toll on both of them.

Allie melted into the kiss, carried away by the combination of lust and love she felt for the man who owned her, body and soul. Her hands clutched his dark, unruly hair, holding him to her as if he might slip through her fingers; a dream that might vanish into the night. He groaned in response and his hand cupped her ass, obliterating whatever distance remained between them with a seductive roll of the hips. But it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. Not until his skin was pressed against hers and he was buried deep inside her.

When he finally broke their kiss, she was a panting, quivering mess.

“I want you naked all weekend,” he said, rubbing the tip of his nose against hers.

She grinned. “Is that so?”

“Hmm, I plan on taking you in every way imaginable in each and every room.”

“Deal.” Pulling back, she reached for his belt, grasping the buckle and tugging him toward the open car door. “We can start with the limo.”

“While I welcome your initiative,” he said as his fingers curled around hers, “I have plans for you. Inside.” He dropped a swift kiss on her pouting lips.

“Come.”

Allie let out a small whimper as he stepped away. “That was the plan.”

Hudson chuckled, then in a sudden move bent down, wrapped his arm around her thighs, and scooped her over his shoulder.

Allie let out a surprised squeal. “What are you doing?”

“Expediting matters,” he said, matter-of-factly.

She slapped his behind. “Put me down.”

“I didn’t realize you were into spanking, Alessandra.” Hudson laughed as he turned toward the stairs. “Although I do believe you’ve got the roles reversed.”

“You’re acting like a caveman,” she said, holding on to his hips to keep from bouncing off his shoulder as he strode up the stairs. When he reached the top he set her on her feet, letting her slide slowly down his body so that she felt every hard, muscular inch.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he breathed.

She smacked him playfully on the chest. “You could have been with me the past two hours.”

“There were preparations to be made.”

Allie narrowed her eyes, assessing him. “What have you been up to?” The scent of tomatoes and basil wafted through the air. She inhaled deeply and her mouth watered. “And more importantly, what smells so delicious?”

“Dinner. Are you hungry?” When her stomach growled, he smirked. “I will take that as a yes.”

She blushed. “I may have worked through lunch.”

A frown marred his handsome face. “Alessandra, we really need to have a discussion about your eating habits.” His hands skimmed over her hips. “I like your curves just the way they are,” he said, accenting his opinion with a gentle squeeze of her ass.

“It wasn’t intentional.” She reached up and smoothed the crease between his brows with her fingertip. “But yes, I will make more of an effort to eat regular meals, starting now. What did you order for us?”

“No delivery. I cooked.”

When her mouth popped open, Hudson threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep, sexy sound that had literally become music to her ears. “Don’t look so shocked,” he said.

“I’ve seen you make coffee. And popcorn. Neither experience bodes well for this dinner.”

Hudson placed his hand over his heart. “So little faith. I’m wounded. I think you may be pleasantly surprised.” He nodded toward the kitchen. “Although I had hoped to have the mess cleaned up before you arrived.”

Allie followed his gaze to the state-of-the-art kitchen. Although she was the only guest Hudson had ever invited to his lake house, the architect had clearly designed the space with large gatherings in mind. The beamed ceiling and planked floor of the living room flowed into the open space, and the same multicolor stones on the two-story fireplace created a similar hearth around a twelve-burner cooktop. A large island sat in the middle of the room with copper lights strung above it and a slab of marble on top that was bigger than most dining room tables. But it wasn’t the sight of the six distressed wood barstools that prompted Allie’s question—it was the dozen or so pots and pans strewn about the countertops that had her asking, “How many people are you expecting?

“It may have taken a few attempts,” he mumbled. “But the final batch is nearly as I remember.”

“As you remember?” Allie’s heart swelled. Hudson mentioned his past so infrequently, any detail was precious to her simply because he was willing to share it. “Is this a family recipe?”

“Yes. My mother wasn’t much of a cook, at least not that I can remember. But every now and again she would make my grandmother’s Bolognese.”

A wide grin spread across her face.

“Don’t get too excited,” he warned. “You haven’t tasted it yet.”

“I’m sure I’ll love it. Do I have time to change before we eat?”

Hudson nodded. “I thought we could have some wine and relax a bit before dinner.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Go ahead and freshen up while I try to restore a bit of order to the kitchen.”

Allie hurried upstairs and showered quickly before changing into a pair of well-worn jeans and a soft cream sweater. She loved how relaxed and casual they both were at the lake. Far from the boardrooms and ballrooms, Hudson’s cabin was a place where they could be themselves, eating Chinese takeout on the floor or dancing barefoot across the living room. Her lips curved into a giddy grin just thinking about the time they’d spent there in the fall, and she was still smiling as she made her way back down the stairs.

Soothing strains of classical music filled the room, and a cluster of candles flickered on a tray that rested atop a tufted ottoman. The tapestry pillows that normally dotted the leather sectional had been piled in front of the fireplace along with a soft throw. The kitchen was cleared of everything but one All-Clad pot, and a bottle of red wine had been opened and left to breathe on the island alongside two stemless glasses. Everything was perfect with one exception. Hudson was nowhere in sight.

Allie wandered into the kitchen. The sauce Hudson made had been turned to a low simmer. She lifted the lid and was tempted to sneak a taste, but decided to wait for him before sampling his efforts. As she recovered the pot, something caught her eye through the window. Hudson was standing just outside the French doors leading from the kitchen to the expansive deck. The torches on the railing posts were dark, but she could see him in the moonlight that shone down from the clear night sky. He had his back to her, but she could tell that something was bothering him. It was evident in his stance and the tension in his shoulders. Allie frowned. This was Hudson’s favorite spot, the one place in the world he felt truly at home. The fact that something from her world could spoil even a moment for him here made her heart ache with sadness.