Page 23 of Baking With A Rockstar

Even though I’m nervous, I’m genuinely excited to meet his parents and the rest of the family. “I can’t wait to meet everyone.”

As Hudson disappears halfway into the car, he leaves me to stare at his backside like a starving lunatic.

“Uh. Do you remember how to loosen the straps of the car seat?” I showed him last week how it works when we went grocery shopping together. Sometimes it feels like you need a special degree in baby devices—one’s harder to figure out than the next.

“Yup. Already got it.”

More staring at his butt then, I guess.

I wrack my brain for a distraction before I say something embarrassing, and remember what he said when we arrived. “What happened, by the way? You seemed a little frantic when we got here.”

He emerges from the car with Mira in his arms, and I’m sure not a lot of women would remain calm at this sight. Super hot rockstar plus cute baby make a killer combination. All that’s missing is a little adorable puppy.

“Nothing major, just my mom going a little nuts.”

I try to ignore my hormones and focus on Mira. “Hi, sweetie pie. Do you feel a little better?”

Giving me a tired smile, she extends her arms toward me. I grab her, holding her close to me. When I look back at Hudson, there’s something in his gaze I don’t think I’ve seen before. “Sorry, what were you gonna say about your mom?”

He shakes his head and slips his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, leaning back against my car. “This is her fiftieth birthday, so I think the whole age thing is getting to her. She keeps talking about wrinkles, gray hair, and grandbabies. I think she’s having a little meltdown and is driving everyone crazy.”

I put my hand on his forearm and squeeze gently, wanting to reassure him and let him know I’m here for him. “Oh. Your poor mom. I bet she’s just a little overwhelmed. Some women don’t take changes like that very well, but I’m sure she’s gonna be all right. Let’s get everything inside, and we’ll see how we can help her, okay?”

“Really?” He tilts his head to the side, a habit I’ve seen him do several times before.

“Of course. I mean, why not? Isn’t that what friends do? Help each other?” I’m not sure why I say the whole “friends” thing, or why the word feels a little sour in my stomach when it leaves my mouth. Something about it doesn’t feel right, and if his flinch is anything to go by, he feels the same.

He continues to study me, not breaking eye contact as he takes a small step closer. “Is that what we are? Friends?”

I inhale loudly when he lifts his right hand to touch my cheek, gently tracing my jaw with his fingers. The sparks from earlier come back tenfold, making me squirm from the close proximity of his body.

He smirks at me, knowing full well what he’s doing. “Does this feel like friends to you? Because it doesn’t to me.”

Smack.

Mira’s little hand rests on his cheek where she just slapped him. A second later, it’s on the move again, grabbing his nose. She’s clearly enjoying herself, if her little giggle is anything to go by.

I can’t hold back my chuckle and wink at him. “Sorry. You know better by now. Anything within reach is fair play.”

“What’s so funny?” Hannah steps out of the house and walks down the driveway. “Hudson, help Charlie get the cake inside before your mother has an anxiety attack. She’s finally calmed down, so let’s try and keep it that way. And find your siblings, I think they’re hiding.”

“We’re not done here.” Hudson’s voice is low enough that Hannah can’t hear him. This time, he’s the one winking at me before he gives me the big smile I’ve dubbed his panty-melting smile.

Somehow, all of this feels like foreign territory. The nerves, the butterflies, the endless blushing and talking nonsense.

Despite the fact I’ve been in relationships before—one even almost landed me at the altar—nothing has ever felt this way.

This feels normal and natural, even though it apparently comes with feeling like a teenager again at times.

If it wasn’t for Hannah only a few feet away, I might just throw all caution to the wind and jump him like one of his groupies, everything around us forgotten.

“Let’s get this party started, folks.” Hannah reaches us and claps her hands together, Mira copying her right away. “Want me to take her so you can grab the cake?”

“That would be perfect, thank you.” I hand over Mirabelle, not that she needs an invitation for that.

Waving Hudson around to the trunk, I hand him a few pastry boxes while I take the biggest of the cake boxes, not wanting to take them all at once. The last thing I need right now is to ruin the cake.

Hannah leads the way, and I follow her into the beautiful, white country-style house. We walk briskly through a sitting room and into the kitchen. I don’t have enough time to take in everything around me as I try and keep up with her. This woman sure is speedy for her age. I’m relieved to find the large room empty, not particularly ready to face a lot of people yet.

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