Page 14 of Worth the Risk

“Sometimes trust is instant with someone.” That truth seems to hit both of us, as our eyes lock in recognition. “He’s your age, in case you’re wondering.” That point I add because I know it riles her. Proven by the fact she swallows down a slight shock.

“Right.” She looks away. “You’re old enough to be my dad, yet I won’t call you daddy in the bedroom.” Her mouth gapes open when she realizes her mumble was loud and clear. Her eyes snap in my direction, and I can only laugh.

“We may need to circle back to that point one day. But anyway, as much as I would love for you to be my plus-one for his wedding, I doubt it’s the time.”

Piper tips her head to the side slightly in agreement.

“I have a house up on Lake Spark and tend to stay there when I don’t need to be in the city. After the wedding next weekend, I plan on being there for a while. Come stay with me?”

Her eyes grow big. “What?”

I wrap an arm around her middle to pull her tight to me in an abrupt move. “You heard me.”

Her hands land on my shoulders. “Like just escape the city with you?”

Arrogant, cocky, I don’t care, but I’m not letting this go. “Call it a rendezvous, secret liaison, or my personal favorite heaven. Your choice of title but come stay with me and we can address a few things.”

“Such as?” She raises her brows.

I squeeze her body against mine. I can’t get enough of her. I want to go home tonight and debate showering because I want to keep her scent on me. That peppermint shampoo is a fucking aphrodisiac that has me desperate for more of her.

“Get to know one another, revisit what we already know.” My eyes dip down to her body then back up.

“You’re crazy.” But her tone is only entertained.

“Tell me you’re not curious,” I challenge.

She licks her lips, trying not to let her smile break out, but I see her cheeks raise. “I think your five minutes are up.”

I laugh at her avoidance of an answer. Instead, I run my hand along her back, sliding down until I land on the curve of her ass before sweeping my hand away. Stepping back, I grab a paper towel from the pile in the basket and pull out my pen from before. After jotting down my number, I hand it to her. I could easily input my number in her phone but writing it down with a pen from my suit is classic.

“Here. Call me when you make a decision.”

Piper looks down at the contents in her hand with intrigue, which is promising, but I want to seal this deal. I glide my knuckles along her cheek to give her assurance. “If you remember what our night was like, then only imagine what the mornings could be.”

With that, I walk away, leaving her to blush and stand in contemplation.

“Hudson,” she calls out, and only when I look back at her does she continue. “Whatever my actions that morning may have implied, I don’t regret it.”

I simply nod, even more certain that this isn’t our ending.

5

HUDSON

Iknock a few times gently on the suite door before I check my tie, and when I hear Drew give the signal to come in, I open the door, already knowing I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve today.

The first thing I see is my son struggling with his tie as he looks in the mirror.

“I made it through the trenches and wanted to check in,” I announce as I close the door behind me.

Drew is similar to me in so many ways. Those sharp blue eyes, I know they will drive his soon-to-be wife crazy, and I’ve been told by women that my eyes stand out. His shade of brown hair is much my own, minus the few sprinkles of gray that you can only see if you look closely. And that smile? A fucking Arrows hereditary trait that we can thank a distant ancestor for.

“How bad is it?” he wonders aloud as he grows frustrated with the fabric around his neck.

“I don’t know about your fiancée because her sister-in-laws are keeping a tight ship on the area of the farm where they’re getting her dressed. And Lucy’s brothers? They look serious, double-checking everything is okay, and probably dying for a drink to calm the nerves.”

My son is marrying the love of his life who happens to be his friends’—yes, plural—younger sister; she has three older brothers who all welcomed Drew into their family long before Lucy and Drew became a thing. They own a winery and farm called Olive Owl, so there was no escaping a wedding on site. It is convenient, as it is also an inn with a few rooms, such as the one we’re in now.

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