Page 26 of Returning to Everton

I walk over to the display case and get a good look at the baked goods that I smelled as soon as I walked in. They smell divine. I can’t wait to try everything. As I’m browsing the display case trying to decide what I’m going to get for breakfast today, I hear someone walk in from the kitchen. I’m too distracted by all the goodies in front of me to look up until I hear the voice that greets me.

“Welcome to Chocolate Cosmos. Is it your first time here? You’re staring at my display case pretty intently,” a voice from my past interrupts my apparently intent perusal of the baked goods.

I look up and see Hudson standing there smiling, wearing a tight blue shirt and a red apron with a picture of a flower and the name of the bakery arced around it. He looks good. I’m kinda in shock right now. Even though deep down I knew it had to be his bakery. I just didn’t want to believe it, I guess.

Hudson has always been gorgeous. But he’s definitely grown up in the ten years I’ve been gone. He has short brown hair with natural blonde highlights, that’s a little long on the top and looks like he just rolled out of bed, or maybe had someone’s fingers running through it. He also has a full closely trimmed beard that is the same color as his messy hair. Even with the blonde mixed in. That’s definitely new, but I like it. It really goes with his deep soulful blue eyes. I always used to get lost in those eyes. When he looks at you, it feels like he can see into your soul. He’s also clearly been working out or maybe just lifting too many fifty-pound bags of flour because he didnotused to be this fit. Damn, this man is sexy.

When I looked up, Hudson finally got a good look at me. Before, all he could see was the top of my head, which unless you spenda lotof time with someone, you can’t exactly tell who someone is by the top of their head. He looks shocked to see me, but that doesn’t last long.

“Rowen?! Oh my god, what are you doing here?” he exclaims as he walks around the display case to stand next to me. His eyes are round and he looks thrilled to see me.

I turn to face him and shake my head. “Well, I passed this cute little bakery on the way to Starlight Diner last night and wanted to come in and grab some breakfast,” I respond in amazement that it’s really Hudson standing in front of me right now. “So, I went for a morning walk. It’s nice to see the town hasn’t changed that much since I’ve been gone. I should have known this was your bakery. It’s amazing by the way. How’d you come up with the name?” I ask.

“Really, Rowe? You’re seriously gonna tell me you don’t know how I came up with the name Chocolate Cosmos? Take a closer look at my apron, why don’t ya,” he tells me exasperatedly.

I step closer so I can see better and when I get a better look at the flower on his apron, my mouth falls open and I grab his apron and pull him closer to me.

“No. That’s not my flower is it?”

“Of course, it’s your flower, Rowe. We always said that would be the perfect name for a bakery. Did you really forget?” He looks down at me, and we’re so close since I pulled him into me that my heart skips a beat when I look up at him.

“I...I guess I did Hud,” I stammer. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how that could have slipped my mind.” I guess I just forgot I used to love any flower except the boring roses Harris would get me on rare occasions. Harris had a way of making me forget little things like that.

He smirks at me. “God, it’s good to see you, Rowe, and to hear my name on your lips,” he murmurs the last part as he wraps his strong arms around me.

I quickly pull my hands from between us so I can wrap my arms around him too. It feels so good to be in his arms after so long apart. It feels like I just found a missing piece of myself. Like Ibelongin this man’s arms. I never want to leave them again.

It seems the feeling is mutual because we just stand there holding each other for god knows how long. With my ear pressed against his chest and his pressed against the top of my head.

“I’ve missed you so much, Hudson,” I confess, while I don’t have to see his reaction to my words. I’m too scared to look at him and see that he doesn’t feel the same. Luckily, my fears turn out to be unfounded.

“I missed you too, Sugar,” he sighs into my hair. “Please don’t leave me like that again. I couldn’t handle it,” he whispers and I melt just a little more inside.

I finally pull away because I haven’t eaten, and his baked goods are really calling to me. My stomach chooses that moment to growl and Hudson chuckles at me.

“Hungry?” he smirks at me. “I’ve got something I think you’ll like. You got a busy day today?”

“Well, the movers will be here in...” I look at my phone to see what time it is. It’s 8 am. Damn, have I really been gone that long? “A few hours I suppose. Then I’ll be unpacking most of the day, with a break at some point for my daughter, Violet to play with her new friend Logan at the park. Followed by more unpacking?” I laugh. “So yeah, I’d say I have a busy day ahead of me. Why? What are you going to feed me?” I furrow my eyebrows in question.

He chuckles, “Don’t be so suspicious, Rowe. I’m just gonna give you an extra boost of energy.” He walks back around the counter and ducks down into the display case. When he pops back up, he has the most mouthwatering sight in his hands. “Still like coffee cake?” he asks me as I literally drool over the sight before me.

“Are you kidding me, Hudson? Of course, I still like coffee cake! Have you gone daft since I left?” I question his sanity. Who doesn’t like coffee cake? It’s so moist and sugary. He goes to hand me a piece, but instead of being a sane person like I just accused him of not being, I snatch it out of his hands and take a bite.

“MMMMMM.” I moan in ecstasy. Oh god, I can’t help it. It’s sooooo good. I look up to see Hudson is looking at me much the same way Declan had last night when I moaned over my cheeseburger. Like he wants to devour me the way I’m devouring his coffee cake. Uh oh, I might be in trouble here. I lick my lips to be sure I don’t lose even a crumb of this deliciousness and Hudson groans.

“Okay, I’m going to go wait in the kitchen while you finish your cake. Holler when you’re done please,” he pleads then he turns and walks away.

“Wait!” I call out for him. “You’re not even gonna give me any milk?!” Gosh, maybe he has gone daft since I left. How can he expect me to eat this yummy coffee cake with nothing to wash it down with? I hear him laughing in the kitchen then a cup of cold milk appears on the counter in front of me. “Thank you!” I yell at him then continue eating, pausing every few bites to take a sip of my milk.

I finish my cake and lick my fingers clean. I was going to take my time about calling Hudson back. Make him sweat it out a little more, but I miss him and I just want to see his face again, so I call him back in the room.

“Okay, you big baby, I’m done!” I shout at him.

He walks back into the room and gives me a disgruntled look. “Trust me, Rowen, I am all man. I just don’t think you’re ready for what would have happened had I stayed and continued to listen to you moaning over my baking, Sugar,” he vows.

“Oh, ummm, okay,” I sputter. I mean yeah he was looking pretty heated when I first moaned, but he really wanted to do something about my moaning that he doesn’t think I’m ready for? Now, I’m intrigued, and maybe a little disappointed. I shouldn’t be disappointed though, right? I mean this is Hudson. He doesn’t think of me like that. After how close we were for all those years, surely I would know if he did.

“I really should be heading home. Violet and Quinn were both still asleep when I left the house. I left them a note, but I am bringing them breakfast so I should probably get back before they decide to eat something less satisfying than your baking,” I reluctantly tell him.

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