“Morning, baby.” She kissed his bed-warm brow. “You don’t have to get up. No school today.”
School. She’d have to figure something out.
Zak kept his eyes closed and snuggled back down. He wouldn’t sleep much longer, but that was okay.
Quickly, she freshened up in the bathroom—though there was nothing to be done about the fact her clothes were creased and old.
Bang. Bang.
With her heart in her mouth, she rushed to the window. She was sure it would be her uncle, but still…
A second Harley with big ape handlebars sat beside Jayden’s bike. A guy on a skateboard whizzed past, his attention on it, admiring it.
Bang. Bang.
“Tammy, you okay?” Jayden’s voice.
“Open up, doll.”
That was Hudson. He’d always called her that. Quickly, she unlocked the door, pulled it open, and stepped back into the shadows, feeling ridiculously small and alone.
Not two but three people stood on her new doorstep. Jayden, her uncle, and a woman dressed in skin-tight leather pants and a low black top that laced over her cleavage. She was fully made up with bright red lips and fluttery dark lashes. A bulging black garbage bag sat at her feet.
“Hey, doll.” Hudson stepped into the house with his heavily inked arms held out.
She didn’t have a choice. He wrapped her up in them and pulled her against his wide chest.
Her cheek squashed against his leather jacket, and she breathed deep, inhaling the familiar scent of his spiced cologne, and was suddenly back in her childhood home, her mother and father there, Hudson visiting.
A small sob caught in her throat, and although it made no sound, he seemed to know it was there.
“Hey, it’s okay. You’re here now.” He kissed the top of her head.
He felt so warm and safe, strong and kind. She sagged against him.
“Damn good thing you called when you did,” he said.
“Thank you for answering.” She looked up at him. He had three crucifix tattoos on his neck. “Yours is the only number I have on that phone.”
“Thatphone?” He relaxed his hold on her.
“Gary kept my other cell so he could see who called me. But I had a secret one. Stashed in the basement.”
Hudson’s square jaw tensed, making it appear even more angular. He had a sprinkle of graying stubble that hadn’t been there the last time she’d seen him.
At her wedding.
Small arms wrapped around her leg, and she looked down. “Hey, baby, you got out of bed.”
Zak stared up at Hudson with wide eyes. He’d pulled hissweater on back to front, and the small black label stuck up beside the hollow of his throat.
“Hey, little guy.” Hudson squatted down. “I’ve seen a photo of you, when you were a baby, but you’re getting all grown up now. How old are you?”
“Six. How old are you?”
Hudson laughed. “Too damn old.”
Zak looked up at Tammy. He knewdamnwasn’t a word he could use.