Page 72 of Worth the Risk

PIPER

Hudson fixes his collar. We’re sitting in the back of the car with his driver up front. Admittedly, I got a little handsy when we had a two-hour window. Between his meetings with team administration and the schedule of getting on a plane for an away game, this is what we get.

But it’s okay because Hudson picked me up from my apartment. We drove around with the full intention of grabbing something to eat but got side-tracked.

Since the other week when he showed up at my grandmother’s, something has swelled inside of me. To some, his move may have been a step too far, yet it felt perfectly right. Typical Hudson, too, as the man has zero patience except when it involves football. And he completely has my grandmother wrapped around his little finger. He had dressed to impress and spoke with honesty; it was enough to slay any woman’s heart.

“You may want to straighten your blouse. I’m not a fan of other people gawking at your beautiful tits.” He gives me a stern eye with a subtle smirk on his mouth.

I glance down to see my buttons are undone. “You’ve left me disheveled yet again.”

Hudson angles his body toward me and slides his hand along my cheek. “Don’t kill me for saying it but you seem different.”

I work my buttons closed. “Oh? Well, work is a little crazy, I guess. I’m lucky that I outsource so many things and I rely on internet orders, but I really need to find a new spot to kind of set up base. I also had a hell of a week. I wasn’t too thrilled with the model who showed up for a photoshoot for the spring collection, and I mean, April is still, well…”

“You’re stressed.”

I tip my head to the side in contemplation. “Maybe… a little.” I’m missing a confidante in my life, in the shape of a best friend.

“I can tell. But I have just the thing to help. How about you drive up to Lake Spark for the weekend and have a spa day, your boyfriend’s treat.”

Curiosity floods my face. “That’s quite an offer.”

“When you go to Lake Spark, you’re always occupied with me, which is a perfect way to enjoy Lake Spark, but the spa is one of the best.”

I rub the back of his hand with my thumb and hold his wrist. “I mean, I guess a few days of calm would be good for me. I’ve worked at your house before, and I wouldn’t complain about nabbing a coffee with jellybeans every day.”

“It’s settled then.”

I lean in to kiss him on his lips. “Thank you.” Because it’s a sweet gesture, and I think he’s noticed that I’ve been down since April made it clear she wasn’t happy with how I handled my relationship with her uncle.

“I’m being selfish. I need to know that you’re okay while I’m thousands of miles away.”

The corner of my mouth tugs, and I move to straddle him and hook my arms around his neck, ensuring our eyes are locked. “Don’t worry. I’m fine and as prepared as I can be for your mind to be in the game many hours of the day and the fact you need to focus. I promise to only send any inappropriate selfies after 10pm.”

He playfully pinches my sides. “You’ll be at one of the upcoming home games?”

I nod my head, but inside I feel my breath get caught because that means more eyes and cameras. “How about I send you a pre-game photo of what I’m wearing underneath my Winds t-shirt to keep you motivated?” I throw him a sexy look.

He growls before he kisses the base of my throat. “If you do that then I’ll absolutely devour you later, take you to the edge, and leave you hanging. There will be consequences,” he taunts me back.

“That’s not a deterrent.”

Hudson quickly looks out the window and sees that my drop-off is approaching. “Here we are. I hate this.”

“You be safe. Get sleep and eat well. It’ll be a good season,” I assure him.

He smiles gently. “I like hearing you say that. It’s refreshing to hear it from someone not trying to kiss my ass.” His fingertips brush a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. “Actually, I like having someone to share this world with who isn’t a sports person.”

I kiss him again and pull my body tighter against him to hug with everything I have.

“Easy there,” he warns me.

I giggle as the car stops, and I hop off his lap. My hand is on the door handle, even though I know the driver will open it. Hudson stops me. “Piper, what I was saying earlier about how you seem different…”

“Yes?” I look at him, puzzled.

The gentlest of closed-mouth smiles stretches on his mouth. “Still no birth control, right?”

---