Page 18 of Curvy Desire's Second Shot

“Out,” I said, setting my keys on the counter.

“Out where?” she pressed, her tone sharp. “You’ve been gone for hours.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I was following a lead.”

She blinked, caught off guard. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“I didn’t want you to worry,” I said, my voice softer now.

“Worry?” she repeated, her eyes narrowing. “Hudson, I’m already worried. I’m terrified. You going off on your own without telling me doesn’t make it any better.”

I stepped closer, placing my hands on her shoulders. “I’m trying to keep you safe, Naomi. That’s all I care about.”

She shook her head, her voice trembling. “I don’t need you to protect me by shutting me out. I need you to trust me.”

The words hit harder than I expected, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. She was right. I couldn’t do this alone—not if I wanted her to feel safe, to feel like she could rely on me.

“Okay,” I said finally. “You’re right.”

Her eyes widened slightly, like she hadn’t expected me to agree. “I... I am?”

“Yeah,” I said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “But don’t get used to it.”

Her laugh was small but genuine, and for the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe again.

Later that afternoon,we went out to run a few errands. Naomi needed to feel like her life was still hers, and I couldn’t argue with that. But as we walked through the parking lot of the hardware store, my instincts started screaming.

Someone was watching us.

I kept Naomi close as we moved through the aisles, my eyes scanning for anything out of place. It wasn’t until we were leaving that I spotted him—a man loitering by the entrance, pretending to browse his phone but glancing our way too often.

“Naomi,” I said quietly, leaning closer. “Go wait in the truck.”

“What? Why?” she asked, frowning.

“Just do it,” I said firmly, handing her the keys.

She hesitated but nodded, her concern clear in her eyes as she walked away. I waited until she was out of sight before heading toward the man. He didn’t see me coming, too focused on watching Naomi.

When I grabbed his arm and spun him around, his eyes widened in shock, and I felt a cold knot form in my stomach. I recognized the face instantly.

And it changed everything.

Chapter Fifteen

Naomi

The drive back to the apartment was heavy with silence. Hudson’s hands gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles white, his jaw clenched as though holding back words he didn’t want to say. I sat in the passenger seat, clutching the seatbelt like it could somehow anchor me. My mind raced with questions, but the tension radiating from him told me now wasn’t the time to ask.

I replayed the scene in my head. The way Hudson had grabbed that man, the shock on the guy’s face, and the change in Hudson’s posture—like he recognized him. My gut twisted. Whoever that man was, he wasn’t just some random creep. He was connected to Hudson, and the realization made my fear spike.

When we finally pulled into the parking lot, Hudson cut the engine and sat in silence for a moment, staring straight ahead. His jaw worked, the muscles tightening and relaxing like he was fighting an internal war.

“Hudson,” I said softly, hesitating.

“Inside,” he said, his voice low but sharp. He didn’t look at me, but the intensity in his tone left no room for argument.

I followed him into the apartment, my stomach twisting with unease. He closed the door behind us and locked it, double-checking it like he always did. He set his keys on the counter, then leaned against it, his hands gripping the edge so tightly I thought the wood might crack under the pressure.

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