Page 67 of Hart Breaker

Jade clears her throat, and we all look at her. “You’re getting three days off; you should go.”

“At least tomorrow night.” Jillian lifts her cup to her lips. “I’m having a party on the rooftop.”

“Wanna be back here on Sunday to watch the Cowboys win.”

“Has he always pouted?” Jillian asks Mom, and I wanna shove a sock in her mouth.

“No, never.” Mom laughs.

Standing, Jade finishes her coffee, walks over, and places the cup in the sink.

Do I check her out? I do, and not in a creepy way. I’m thinking Riley’s got great genes and will remain hot for life. Not that it matters, but, yeah, okay, maybe a little creepy.

“The pout, it’s hot. Make it work for you,” Jade says as she heads over and gives Jillian and Mom a hug. Then she holds her arms out and faces me. “Bring it in, Hudson Hart.”

I give her a big old hug.

“She’s got the hardest shell of all my kids, and it’s to protect that soft heart of hers.” She steps back and looks up at me. “She empathizes with everyone and everything. Which is why, when we lost Bud, our dog, we never got another. But she’s been hurt, and loving her isn’t going to be easy.”

“I’ve had easy, and?—”

“Hudson,” Mom groans.

“Right, probably shouldn’t have said that, but it’s out there now.” I roll my neck to release some tension that I myself caused. “Hard shell, soft heart, all those feelings and emotions. Whatever the recipe you used to raise her to be Riley, it ticks boxes I didn’t even know existed. I’m in it to win it.”

“I know.” Jade winks. “See you ladies next trip!”

By nine-thirty, I’ve ripped exactly thirty sheets from my playbook. Now, as I’m sitting here, watching Boone talk to Lindsey and Lily on video chat, and Boone and Lindsey whisper so Lily, who’s now sleeping on Lindsey’s lap, doesn’t wake up, something really fucked-up happens.

I stand up. “Hey Boone, I’ve got an errand to run.”

“It’s ten o’clock at night; everything okay?” he asks as I drop my damn book in the trash can on my way out of the game room.

“It’s all good, man.”

“Still leaving at six a.m. tomorrow?” He asks.

“Nice try. It’s still five,” I call back as I head out.

When I get to Blue Valley in ten minutes instead of fifteen, I realize I’m leaning into that part of my personality that has to fucking win. I need her to know that I’m not giving up, because we’re going to be a team, and my win is just as much hers as hers will be mine.

After parking, I head into the brewery and scan the area. Four men in camouflage are sitting at the bar—none of whom I know—talking to Lauren.

I glance back toward the kitchen to see if there are any lights on. I know it closes at nine, but Riley may be there, busy preparing for the week, which could be the reason she’s not communicating with me.

Wishful thinking.

“Well, look what we have here—this week’s MVP!” Lauren announces. “Gentlemen, meet Hudson Hart. Hart, meet Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, and Mike.”

I laugh, thinking she’s joking, but they don’t even crack a smile.

“No shit?” I ask.

“Mom was really into New Edition back in the day. Still is.” Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, or Mike—hell, I have no idea which one is which—explains.

“You guys get a deer today?” I ask in an attempt to make conversation.

“Didn’t see a damn thing,” one of them says before taking a drink.

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