Page 9 of Forbidden Billionaire Next Door

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The very next morning as I am leaving home for my morning walk, I have the perfect opportunity to put my plan into action. Although, after a night's sleep and the daiquiris have worn off it seems like pure madness in most aspects. I am still determined to at least come to an agreement with Hudson that we can be civil to each other. No public fights --- or gym fiascoes.

I walk down my driveway as Hudson is leaving his house, pushing his kid in the stroller. He looks so wholesome, and sexy-single-dad vibes radiate off him.

"Good morning neighbor." He doesn't exactly smile, but at least his face is not wearing the usual scowl that I have come to associate with him. "Good morning, Gianna. Enjoy your walk."

He turns to walk in the opposite direction. "Actually, Hudson, I thought I might sort of run an idea past you." He looks over his shoulder and glares at me, "A kind of a truce?"

He turns his tall muscular body all the way around towards me, and I remind myself to keep my eyes above the shoulders. No checking out his pecks, abs, or other hard parts.

"A truce?" his deep voice replies with one of his eyebrows raised questioningly.

"Yes, I thought, because neither of us is going to move, we are basically stuck living next door to each other, and it might be easier if we just called a truce and basically just became --- friends. At least." I say the word friends with caution because even I am not sure it is possible. He's not exactly friendly.

"I see. So, friends on the surface to avoid any drama?"

"Yes. To make life easier."

He stares at me for a while without saying anything and under his steel-grey gaze I feel my cheeks starting to grow a little pink. I am starting to feel really uncomfortable for making this stupid suggestion. I should really stop listening to Samantha's ideas.

"Look, Hudson, don't stress. It was just an idea ok. Enjoy your walk." I start on my way, and he stops me.

"No, wait. I think you are right." He does? I am caught off guard. Did he just agree with me?

"Let's be friends." He says nodding.

"Oh. Oh. Um. Ok. That's great! Well --- um --- join me on my walk then?" I blurt it out without actually thinking this through. It might be my hangover talking.

He does not reply; he just starts walking in the same direction as me. Why is he so difficult to read? I am beginning to understand that he really is not like his brother. I mean sure, he is obviously an asshole, but maybe a different kind of asshole. But at least for one thing, I can see that he is a good dad.

"This is Taylor," Hudson says gesturing towards the stroller. At the mention of his name, the cutest little blue-eyed boy sticks his head around the side of the stroller to look at me and grins the biggest grin he can muster.

"Hi, Taylor," I say, waving at the little boy.

"Where is his mom? I mean, sorry. I know what the media said about everything, but never mind, it's probably way too personal." I should really work on filtering what I say.

"No, it's ok. We don't speak at all. I have not spoken directly to her in years; everything goes through the lawyers now." wow, that sounds like a shitshow.

He stops talking abruptly and I have a feeling he had not meant to overshare like that, so I try to change the subject.

"How are you enjoying the suburbs? You must be going a little crazy being stuck out here? Missing the party life and all the excitement of the city." This is not exactly the high society life he is used to.

"As presumptuous as ever, Gianna?" I shoot him a glare, but he is actually smiling, a small, crooked smile that only reaches the corner of his lips. Now I am staring at his lips. His smile gets bigger, and I realize he has caught me staring. Again.

"The suburbs are exactly where I want to be. For Taylor. I guess it is for myself as well. The city is so demanding. A person feels observed in the city, but out here you can relax a tiny bit. Not fully though, as the rumors go, you might end up with a crazy neighbor who yells at you in your driveway on random mornings." Oh, now he's being cocky and funny.

I am smiling.

"Well, I heard that you get crazy stalkers out here in the suburb who follow you to the gym and pretty much everywhere you go, so just keep an eye out for that." I quip.

"I did not follow you." For a moment I see his frustration, or is he defensive, but then he sees me smiling and shakes his head.

"I am not sure I can figure you out, Gianna, and I am known to be able to read people quite efficiently." He can stop trying. He has no need to figure me out, I am still going to avoid him whenever possible.

"That's what happens when you make presumptions, Hudson."

When I glance towards him his intense grey gaze is on me and our eyes lock. His lips curl up again but this time it is a mischievous smile and a glint in his eye. Then Hudson clears his throat and comments on the weather.

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