Ah, her boy. Who cared if she missed out on dancing? Hudson Delta may have deserted her, but first he’d given her the most beautiful gift in the world. This precious boy.
“Love you, cutest boy.” Strapping Mo into his car seat wasn’t easy wearing a fitted dress but she managed, gave him a kiss on his soft, sweet cheek. She inhaled the perfect scent of baby lotion and little boy. She was easing out of the backseat when she heard footsteps. She straightened, shut the door, and turned to see Hudson Delta jogging through the parking area toward them. Her heart tried to beat out of her chest.
“Hudson!” her mom called out, springing out of the passenger seat and hurrying around.
“Hey.” He raised his hand in greeting, slowing as he approached.
Her mom sprang at him and hugged him. Hudson returned the embrace, grinning over her shoulder at Kelsey. What was he grinning about and why was her mom acting like he was her long-lost son? Ridiculous. Her mom knew Hudson needed a slug in the gut and usually her mom was Kelsey’s biggest support. What was she playing at? Had she been talking to Myrna Delta and scheming? Her mom would never betray her secret but she might plot with a friend. No!
Her mom pulled back and patted his cheek. “Just as handsome as ever, aren’t you?”
“I try.” Hudson shrugged and looked adorably innocent and manly perfect at the same time. Women the world over agreed. A lot of people claimed he looked like Chris Pratt. Kelsey thought he was even more good-looking, talented, and fun.
Ooh, he made her spitting mad.
“And world famous?” Her mom shook her head. “So impressive, Hudson. So impressive.”
“Thank you.” He beamed and looked over at Kelsey, as if she would join in this ridiculous and fake circus and praise him too. He could wait until the second coming for that to happen.
When Kelsey said nothing he looked back to her mom. “You look beautiful as ever, Mrs. James.” Kelsey’s dad had died when she was only one, but Hudson was a Delta so respect was important and he would never call her mom Lori like a lot of young adults would.
“Ah thank you, handsome. Now you be good to my girl or I’ll rip out your nose hairs,” her mom said in a sweet voice, but Kelsey couldn’t help but smile at that. For some reason her mom wanted her to reconnect with Hudson, maybe even to get some closure like she’d said, but she wouldn’t let Hudson hurt her again. And she’d never let him worm his way into Mo’s heart then desert her boy. Not on her watch.
Hudson turned the force of those blue eyes on her. The parking area wasn’t lit as well as the dance floor but she couldn’t miss seeing the longing and warmth in those dang blue eyes. “Anything Kelsey asks I would do for her,” he said.
Kelsey tried to puzzle out that response. She wouldn’t ask anything of him so it was a pretty safe bet for him. Why would she ever ask something of the guy who’d failed her when she needed him most and who would be gone before morning?
“Get her home at a decent time.” Her mom yanked open the driver’s door and plopped inside.
Hudson shut the door for her and her mom hit the lock button, grinning up at Kelsey through the glass. She pulled the keys out of Kelsey’s purse and started the car.
Kelsey’s mouth was half open. What was her mother doing?
“Stop,” she finally managed, starting forward as her mom put it in gear and backed up quickly.
Hudson reached out and pulled her back so she didn’t run into the side of a moving car. Kelsey gasped as he stepped closer while tugging her to him. He managed to somehow pivot her and wrap her up in his nicely-built arms, cuddled against his too-perfect chest.
As her devious mother drove off with their son.
She stared up at him. So perfect. So close. Ah, Brave. He wore a different cologne, definitely expensive, definitely mouth-watering, but his base scent was still the same and somehow filled with the pheromones that made Kelsey want to arch up and kiss him and stir up all the old memories of long, delicious kisses.
No! She was a responsible mother now and not falling for Hudson’s tricks. He’d been the king of tricks. He’d tricked her into kissing him the first time, telling her if he could do a double backflip off the dock at his family’s lake she had to kiss him. She knew he was a talented athlete but who could really do a double backflip with so little spring or space between the surface of the water. He’d done it and then he’d yanked her into the cold water and he’d kissed her. Wow had he kissed her. She hadn’t even felt the chilly temperature as everything had been hot from Hudson’s kisses.
She blinked to break the spell he always had on her and yanked out of his arms. His smile and warm look turned cooler and almost broody-looking. That wasn’t like her Brave Hudson. Maybe he needed his Sunshine to light up his day.
Her Brave Hudson? His Sunshine? Grr. She had to stop this. She couldn’t believe her mom had ditched her with him. Somebody else from town would be headed home soon. She could easily get a ride with any of the hundreds of wonderful people who’d come from the main Summit Valley to the Deltas higher and smaller mountain valley.
“Where’s Jason?” Hudson demanded in a hard voice.
“Jason?” She blinked up at him.
“Spackman,” he said the name with derision and unbelief. As if she should’ve immediately thought of their old high school buddy. Hudson had always been annoyed with Jason hitting on her and teasing with her. When she was at college Jason lived in the same apartment complex. They remained friends until she left school to come home. The day she finally gave up on Hudson ever coming for her and all her dreams.
Jason had been a good friend, often taking her to dinner or hugging her when she needed a strong shoulder to cry on. He’d pressed her quite a few times to marry him, promising to take care of her and the baby. She always told him no. Ironically as soon as her baby bump and her rear got larger, he stopped asking for anything more than friendship.
“Well he’s not here,” she snapped back at him.
Hudson’s eyes lit up and he stepped in closer again. That delicious cologne and his handsome face right there in front of her scrambled her thought process. “You aren’t with Jason?”