Page 21 of Georgia-Blue & Hudson

“I can’t wait to start planning all these baby showers,” I say. Lord knows, I love a good party. “We will be busy with Celeste and now Hartley, who knows who’s next!”

Hartley gives me a wink and I poke my tongue at her. Nope. To get pregnant, I actually need to have sex. While that would be nice, I don’t plan on babies anytime soon.

I help Mom carry the trifle bowls outside. I can’t help that feeling of nostalgia that washes over me as I watch everyone laughing and joking. The dogs are enjoying some of the leftovers under the table and Blake and Trinity are having one of their famous hula hoop competitions on the lawn just off the patio.

My eyes flick over to Hudson, deep in conversation with my dad, Grayson and Jack. He glances up at me and gives me a little half-smile. True Hudson style. I get that tingle deep down in my stomach but I ignore it. No good can come of reading into anything further with Hudson Nash.

??

“I’m beat,” I say to Celeste when no one, except Gabe and Skye, make any attempt to leave. I have to catch up on a few things at the distillery tomorrow, and a late night won’t cut it if I want to be on my game. I also have a hot yoga class with Autumn at six. I don’t know what I was thinking, but getting my OM on might be good for me.

I make the rounds to say goodnight about the same time as Gabe and Skye are heading off to put Trin to bed. Hudson is shaking Gray’s hand and casting everyone a wave, so it looks like he’s heading out too. I sipped on a little glass of dessert wine with Mom’s trifle, so I’m feeling a little merry.

I was going to grab a ride with Gabe and Skye, since I hitched a ride here, but when Hudson appears next to me and says, “Do you want a ride home,Blue Belle?”I find that a little more appealing.

I pull my purse off the kitchen island and look up at him. “That would be great, thanks, GP.”

He gives me a little eye roll, and I laugh as we head out to his truck.

“Well, I can safely say weddings are on the menu for the next year or so,” I say to him, looking up at the stars. They look so bright against the midnight sky, expanding across the entire farm. The stars twinkle so prettily that I wonder why I don’t notice them more.

“Tell me about it.”

He goes around to my side of the truck — ever the gentleman — holds out his hand, then helps me as I hop up into the seat. His large hand in mine is calloused but warm. Closing the door behind me, Huds makes his way to the driver's side.

He starts up the engine, leans one arm on the back of my seat and backs out while I try not to notice how good he smells.Why is a guy backing out of a driveway so damned sexy?Is it the bulge of his muscled arm? The way his bicep flexes? Or his tattoos that are even more prominent, making him look a little badass in the dark?

The tatt at the back of his neck is sexy as sin. The man is strong and more manly than I’ve ever really been willing to admit before. That last glass of dessert wine seems to have graced me with more powerful observation skills than I’ve everhad before... Alcohol can do that. I’m clearly lacking in sober judgment.

The next words that fly out of my mouth proves my too-much-wine theory.

“Did all that baby talk make you want to reproduce?”

He balks just as he puts the car into drive. His notable pause draws a little more intensity than I bargained for as he turns his head to glance at me. “What?”

I slap a hand over my mouth.What the actual fuck is wrong with me?

But Hudson is intent on staring at me and not driving away from Gray’s house, so I mask my absurdity by laughing and making it into a joke. “Nothing. Just sayin’, everyone’s getting knocked up around here. They say it happens once every few years in Stoney Creek. I heard that from Beth at the woodmill, and Jane, my hairdresser, and her friend Alice...”Why is this important?

“You better watch out then,” he warns. Well, his low voice sounds like a warning. His foot finally nudges the accelerator and the truck slowly moves away from the house.

A strangled laugh leaves my throat. “Chance would be a fine thing.”

He eyes me again. “You don’t like the thought of being barefoot and pregnant?”

His words take me by surprise and it takes me a second or two to find my voice again. This kind of conversation is not exactly usual for us. “Can’t say I’ve thought about it too much.”

Little does he know I’ve only come semi-close to actually having sex.

He grunts and continues down the dark path, back toward my parents' side of the property and my private casita.

I want to get a bigger house eventually, when I get married and settle down some day. My parents have plenty of land and Ican choose anywhere on the property I’d like some day. I don’t really mind where it is, just as long as there’s trees around and I can have a porch swing. I have often visualized myself watching one of many stunning Stoney Creek sunsets, rocking on my porch at twilight.

I guess I’ve thought about a lot of things. Not that I want to tell Hudson that.

He wouldn’t understand. He’s a bachelor through and through.

“What about you?” I ask him. Now I’m actually curious.

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