Shit. Is that what I’d let happen? Had I missed my chance with Hud? Was there ever a chance to begin with? Even as I asked myself these questions, the phantom impression of his lips on mine reminded me that there had to be a chance. There was no way that he kissed me the way he had kissed me just on a whim. That wasn’t a whim-kiss.
Just the reminder of it had my body buzzing with pent up arousal. Great. Now I was home alone. On my birthday. On a Saturday night. On my couch. In my pajamas. And I was horny.
This just kept getting better. Might as well add drunk to my list. I’d learned my lesson with Vodka, and there was no way I was going to slide down that slippery slope to hangover valley.
“Wine!” I announced loudly to Romeo as I stood. “Wine is what I need,”
His head rose up only because he’d just lost his pillow. He looked sleepy and not too happy about being awake. But after doing one heck of a headshake ear flap combo he jumped off the couch and happily followed me into the kitchen. My own mood was starting to turn around as well. A glass of wine was just what the doctor ordered. A little buzz would help my overactive imagination and over analyzing mind calm the heck down.
Just as I finished filling my large wine glass there was a knock on the door. My head fell back as I sighed and closed my eyes. I was sure it was one of my brothers stopping by. During my birthday dinner tonight, I’d been asked if I was okay, or some variation of that question, more times in a three-hour period than I probably had in my whole life. If I were a betting girl, I would let it all ride on the idea that my mom had been worried about me and sent in a recon team.
I was tempted to sneak off to my bedroom and ignore my unexpected visitor. I would’ve but with my luck they would spot my shadowy figure tiptoeing past the front door and never let me live it down.
If I let any of my brothers in, it would probably take at least an hour for me to get rid of them. I would rather be alone than have to exchange barbs and engage in witty banter with my brothers. Especially now that my pity party had an open bar.
Which reminded me…
Lifting my glass, I felt the cool rim hit my lips before the sweet taste of Moscato swirled over my taste buds. As I savored the first taste of my favorite, fruity beverage, I kept hope alive that whoever was on the other side of the front door would give up and leave. All I had to do was stay in the kitchen and lay low until that happened. A chore that was made much easier by my alcohol sustenance.
The knock sounded again, this time it was a little louder. The increase in volume and force sent Romeo into protective mode and he started barking.
So much for laying low.
Before I reached the door, a third round of knocking commenced. Feeling that it was a little excessive, I yelled as I turned the doorknob and pulled, “I’m coming—”
My exclamation was interrupted by a sharp intake of breath. Hudson Reed was on my porch in jeans, a faded blue t-shirt that showcased his physique, and a sexy grin that had every cell in my body screaming with delight. In his hands were a bouquet of flowers and a mysterious bag.
“Not yet.” He winked. “But then I haven’t given you your birthday present yet.”
I blinked in disbelief. That wasn’t just flirting, it was suggestive flirting. I didn’t know why he was here, but whatever he was selling, my body was buying. My heart pounded so hard I was sure it was audible and my legs had turned into noodles at the predatory look in his eyes. In the back of my mind I knew there was no way I could be drunk off of one sip of wine, but that was the only way I could explain what I was seeing and hearing.
Part of me wanted to shut the door in his face so I could compose myself. The last thing I wanted was for him to see that he had this drastic of an effect on me. But I also didn’t want to make the same mistake I’d made last week. No, it was time to face this, whatever this was.
“Happy birthday to me.” My lips turned up in a broad smile as I opened the door wider in invitation.
Chapter 18
Hudson
“A smile from the right woman is worth more than a million from the wrong ones.”
~ Loretta Reed
Damn. My heart slammed into my chest like a crash test dummy. Harmony was wearing sweat shorts, a V-neck white t-shirt, and slippers. Her auburn locks fell loose around her shoulders and her face was scrubbed clean. She’d never looked more beautiful, but the real showstopper was that smile. The one that I’d branded into my memory to the point that it was now a part of my DNA.
“That smile…” I rasped.
Her eyes widened at my words.
“That smile haunts me. It owns me. It’s the last thing I imagine every night when I close my eyes and the first thing I think about the second I open them in the morning,” I confessed, still standing on the porch.