Page 42 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

She holds a hand to her chest. My thoughts exactly. “Do you really think so?”

We continue to watch them as they work their way through the crowd.

God, I don’t even want to think about what Callan would have to say. He loves his soon to be brother-in-law but I don’t think that extends to Easton showing his baby sister a wild time. And from what I gather, that’s certainly something Easton knows how to do.

“I’m just sensing trouble, is all I’m saying.”

“He better not be corrupting her. Shit, I’d better not tell Callan. He’ll hit the roof, you know how protective he is over her.”

“My thoughts exactly.” I lift the tray as Celeste carries the jug of iced water back to the booth.

“Everything okay?” Hartley asks, beaming up at us as we approach. I know two of my brothers are here somewhere, and while most people probably wouldn’t want to hang out in the same bar as their brothers, I don’t really mind. I guess I’m kinda used to it by now and it’s the way it is in a small town.

“Everything is fine,” I say as I slide the tray onto the table and distribute the drinks around. Hart and Celeste aren’t drinkingalcohol, of course, but that doesn’t stop me, Skye, Autumn, Eden or Carrie from a cocktail or two.

“Bottoms up.” Carrie raises her glass as we all clink in the middle. Her husband, Tom, is playing darts over on the other side of the bar with Skye’s brother, Travis, the new local sheriff.

“Yee-haw!” Skye giggles as we all clink in the middle and I slide back into the booth next to Autumn. I keep the Trudy business on the downlow for now, only because I don’t want to embarrass her when she’s having fun, or insinuate something that may not be happening. But it’s obvious she likes him. I can see him now, whirling her around on the dance floor like they have no cares in the world.

And maybe they don’t, but I vow to keep my eye on the pair of them.

“Are you riding the moose tonight?” Autumn nudges me. I’ve been known here and there to have a go on the moose, though I don’t do it very often. Despite that, I have been saying for forever and a day that I will knock HudsonGrumpy PantsNash off his self-proclaimed perch one day.

I’ll make it my mission in life if I have to.

“Not a chance,” I say, knowing it’s contradictory to my thoughts.

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Eden casts me a wink over the table, sipping her cocktail. Brook is at home tonight with Blake. Gabe and Trin were going over there so their dogs could have a playdate and they could all have dinner. They often do that so their lady-loves can have some girl time.

“I’m adventurous, just not when it comes to being in competition with Hudson and his stupid trophy.”

Eden smiles at me a little too long. Urghhh. She knows it too. Not that I confessed to Eden about what was going on, but I don’t think it was hard to guess at her place the other day that something was up. The good news is Lily is settling in brilliantlyand loving her new friend on their farm. “Looks like he’s here to defend it tonight, it must be under siege.” Eden nods over to where we were just standing at the bar.

I let my eyes wander over, ignoring the kick in my chest and the sudden jolt to my very core. Just seeing Hudson should not have this effect on me.

Sure enough, Hudson is standing at the bar and ordering a drink. He’s looking better than any man this side of Stony Creek has a right to in his dark denim jeans and a dark blue button up shirt. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, revealing those tattoos again and the sexy cuffs he wears. I can see the outline of his damned muscles from here… and his butt in those jeans is something else.

I look back to my cocktail and sip a mouthful through the straw for salvation.

Celeste is smiling a little too obviously and I try my best to ignore it but it’s getting harder and harder every time I see him. How the hell am I going to go away with this man? I am finalizing the flights tomorrow and planned to text him the info as he keeps bugging me about it. I guess he’s still intent on traveling with me. The more I keep thinking about this whole wedding weekend that was going to turn into me having a solo mini-break, the more I think it’s a bad idea.

But Celeste might be onto something, suggesting I see how the vibe is when we’re away from here and from prying eyes. The very thought makes me so damned nervous, and I’m not a nervous person by nature.

“Hudson will do anything to defend that stupid title,” I mumble.

Autumn nudges me in the ribs and I glance at her. “He is looking very cute,” she whispers.

“That has nothing to do with it,” I whisper back. “I suggest we all drink up and get out on that dance floor ASAP!”

The girls all agree, except for Hartley who finds my brother on the way out of our seats and can’t resist cozying up to him at the bar. The loved-up pair can’t seem to keep their eyes off each other for five seconds and I know for a fact Gray is going to be the ultimate alpha during her pregnancy. I’m so happy for them; Gray has waited so long to be a father.

The lights dim even further and flash on and off in the countdown for the moose riding to start. I lose myself in the music, dancing back to back with Autumn.

When I spin around to shimmy forwards, I glance over to the bar across from us and see Hudson leaning back on the long counter with his arms folded across his chest. He’s standing next to his friend Owen, the local plumber, who’s saying something in his ear.

Huds doesn’t seem to respond, in fact, he just keeps his eyes fixed on me.

His face is like stone, his eyes unreadable.

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