Page 108 of Tough Love

Charlie is curled up in front of the fire. The wind picks up outside. The chance of freezing rain or sleet is high. I grab the whiskey from the cabinet. At least it might take the edge off and warm me up. The sun is falling fast outside, and I grab a glass and pour a couple inches in the bottom. I toss it down and revel in the burn that sinks all the way to my gut.

Charlie’s head pops up and he stares at the door for a moment before laying it on his paws again. But his beady eyes are stuck on the damn door. The way they have been for the past three days. I don’t have the heart to tell him he’s waiting for something that’s not going to happen. Someone who’s not coming.

I pour another inch into the glass and raise it to my lips. Charlie springs up and darts to the door, tail wagging.What the hell?

I place the glass down and am halfway to the door when I hear tires on gravel.

I halt in my tracks.

Hoping that it’s Reed’s truck.

Hoping it’s not.

A car door opens and slams shut. Then another.

I walk to the front door and bend down to where Charlie is going nuts, desperate to be let out. “Who is it, boy?”

Thunder crackles overhead. Rain pelts down and the wind picks up as the house darkens inside. Charlie barks impatiently at me now. “Alright.”

But my hand hesitates over the door handle.

When Charlie growls at me, I huff an incredulous laugh and open the door for him. “Alright, little man, you win.”

The rain is heavy.

The Cherokee parked in my drive is covered in mud.

Charlie flies down the stairs.

Addy stands holding her bags in the pouring rain. She drops them the instant Charlie reaches her and drops to her knees. He jumps around her, lapping at her face. A rock slides into my throat. I walk across the porch and down the stairs until I am standing inches from her crouched form. Jaw clenched tight, I wait for her. And when she pushes to her feet, those gorgeous brown eyes find mine.

Hair, wet and messy, dangles around her shoulders. Her chest heaves and her mouth parts. “Huddy,” she rasps, and her face crumples.

My hands find her face and I slam my mouth to hers. She huffs a strangled laugh and sobs into my mouth. Tears burn down my cheeks and I pull her closer. She parts her mouth and I claim every inch of her.

Her hands wander into my soaked hair. My cock thickens with every touch as she pushes and pulls her way through my hair, down my neck, and to my collar. She grips the shirt with both hands and breaks from the kiss. “I heard there was a position available... Something about a vacancy for captain?”

She smiles.

So fucking beautiful.

I sweep her up into my arms and walk up the stairs. Charlie trots inside and heads back to the fireplace.

Addy shivers in my arms. “Need a hot shower, sweet girl?”

“Amongst other things.” She pulls my mouth down to hers, and I fumble my way to the shower. When I have the water on, I set her down and she stares at me, her breathing fast, heavy. “Hudson?”

“Yeah?”

“You were never a choice for me. You’re it... I love you.”

I turn back and rip the shirt from my back. Her eyes follow the lines on my body. “Adeline Howard, I have loved you since the day Charlie killed that snake.”

Her mouth drops open with the word “oh” before curling into a smile. Her hungry eyes follow me as I close the distance between us and I growl, “Arms up.”

She raises her arms, eyes locked on mine as I peel the cold, wet clothes from her body. When they hit the floor with a wet slap, I slide my fingers into the waistband of her jeans. Her beautiful brown eyes burn into mine as I push them down and she steps out. I kick them to the side and kiss her mouth before tracking kisses down her neck. She runs her fingers into my hair and moans. “God, you have no idea how much I missed you, Hudson Rawlins.”

“I have a pretty good idea, Adeline.”

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