An Unexpected Love (Hudson Brothers PI Book 1)

by J. Haney

  Chapter Forty-Three ~ Kyler

  It’s been a few weeks since Jaxson’s funeral and every day has gotten a little easier. Travis is taking Ava out today to give Caleb and me time to talk. I’ve been sick and barely able to eat. Every time Liam comes over, he just laughs at me and shakes his head like he knows something I don’t. Ugh, that man really gets under my skin. However, that’s for another time and another place, as I’m supposed to be downstairs right now talking with Caleb. Just as I get ready to pull myself out of bed, Caleb walks in.

  “We can talk here, if it makes it easier on you.” His smile is genuine, if a little sad.

  Since I’m still unsure how to talk to him, I’ve decided to play him a song. Pulling out my phone, I open to my music, scroll down, and find the duet Little Do You Know by Alex & Sierra. I look at him intently, hoping he will understand how much I love him, how broken I feel, and how much I really do need him, as I push play. I only let the first part of the song run before I turn it off, lifting my head to look at Caleb.

  He smiles, shakes his head, and pulls out his phone to play me the next verse. It’s Alex’s response to Sierra. I look into his eyes as tears fall down my face. I have no idea how we are so in tune but we are, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Dropping my phone, I crawl across the bed and into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. I kiss him like I’ve never kissed him before.

  “Caleb Shawn Hudson, I love you more and more every day. I thank God you have held in there while I’ve been a little crazy,” I say with a smile.

  “Kyler Marie Jefferson, I love you more than my very being and I will always be here to build you up when you fall.”

  Just as Caleb goes to kiss me, I jump up and run to the bathroom. What little I have eaten has just come out of my body. Sweet Jesus, what the hell is going on with me? There’s a knock on the door as I flush the toilet and grab a cold wet washcloth. Caleb walks in carrying a small brown paper bag. I give him a quizzical look.

  “Liam dropped this off the other day and told me if you kept this up”—he nods from me to the toilet—“I should give you this. I haven’t looked in the bag because I didn’t want you to think I was snooping. I’m just going to sit it here on the sink and if you need me I will be right out here watching some television.” Caleb puts the bag on the sink and shuts the bathroom door.

  Dear God, what is that boy up to now? As I get ready to open the bag, I can feel the bile rising again. I have nothing left. Lord have mercy, did I really have to get some kind of virus now?

  I think it’s finally safe enough to get up and see what is in the bag Liam left me. As I open the bag and look in, I’m in complete shock. Nope. No freaking way. I would know if I was, I’ve had twins!

  “Stupid damn man!” I yell, which causes Caleb to knock on the door.

  “Gorgeous? Are you okay in there?” He sounds worried.

  “Yeah, I’m okay,” I grumble, “just cussing that brother of yours.” Caleb chuckles. God, I bet he is shaking his head at me.

  Pulling the box out the bag I look it over, look up, and talk to Jaxson.

  “Is this your doing? Do you honestly think I can handle another one right now? I am still going through so much without you. What about Avaline, how will she take this? Yeah, I know you are probably saying ‘suck it up, buttercup,’ using my words against me. Nice talk, baby boy.”

  I can’t help but shake my head as I open the box and take the test out. I read over the directions; it’s been some time since I had to use one of these. I can do this.

  I take the test and set it on the sink as I wash my hands. The directions say it can take anywhere from five to fifteen minutes. Not even two minutes pass when it pops up with the words:

  Pregnant 4+ Weeks

  Taking a few deep breaths, I grab the test and hide it behind my back, then walk out to face Caleb. As I step out of the bathroom, he takes one look at me and jumps up. I must have a funny expression on my face because he’s got that worried look again.

  “Ky, what’s wrong?” he asks. “Are you okay? Is whatever Liam left you gonna help?”

  I smile. “You might want to sit down.” His brows pull together in a frown as he takes a seat. “That thing Liam left says I will be better in about nine months or so, and I’m gonna need some interesting foods...”

  Watching for his reaction, I pull the test from behind my back.

  His expression changes from confused, to scared, to happy, to excited, all before he looks back up at me with the most amazing grin I’ve ever seen.

  “We’re having a baby?” He sounds as if we’ve won the lottery.

  “Seems so, Daddy.” I wrap my arms around him and smile.

  Chapter Forty-Four ~ Caleb

  3 MONTHS LATER

  It’s been very quiet for the past few months for Kyler, Avaline, and me. We’ve had a rough go of it, but we’ve stuck together through everything. Of course, if someone would have told me a year ago I would have met the woman I was meant to be with while working on a case, I would have laughed in their face. Hell, if someone had told me she would have a set of twins, I probably would have laughed so hard I’d piss myself. Wait, the best thing would have been for someone to tell me I was going to be a father! Yep, I’m going to be a Daddy. so we have Avaline, and it looks like three more munchkins on the way.

  But now, looking at everything we’ve been through, I wouldn’t change a thing. Scratch that... I would change one thing. I would have Jaxson here with us. Jaxson’s death shook us all, but it about killed Kyler. Just after we found out about the pregnancy, Kyler went out and got two tattoos—her very first two, one on each shoulder. On her right shoulder beside her scar is a teddy with a blue tie. Underneath the teddy says:

  Jaxson Mishon Jefferson

  September 10th, 2005

  June 5th, 2015

  On her left shoulder, she has another teddy but this one has a Pink bow on her head. Underneath the teddy says:

  Avaline Michelle Jefferson

  September 10th, 2005

  Kyler has got to be one of the bravest people I’ve ever met. She and Avaline are the biggest part of my life now. I wake up seeing her beautiful face and kissing her head and belly before I head out the door. I get to tuck Ava in bed every night after a story or movie. We’ve gotten a routine down in the past three months. Kyler no longer works unless she decides she wants to, of course. She teaches Avaline each day or they have little field trips, sometimes into town and other times just on the property; she’s so free now that everything’s been dealt with.

  I can still remember the day she told me everything. I wondered how the hell she was dealing with it all on her own. I found out really quick this woman I’ve fallen in love with is easily the strongest person I know. Possibly even stronger than Pops. Avaline has me wrapped around her little finger. She could tell me to jump and I’d ask how high. Like I said, I never would have guessed my life would be where it is at this moment.

  “Cal,” I hear from somewhere, “Hello, earth to Caleb.” That’s Kyler’s voice. Someone touches my shoulders. I open my eyes and I’m staring straight into my green-eyed beauty.

  “Hello, gorgeous.” I smile. Damn, I must have fallen asleep while waiting for her to come back in. Now that I’m listening closer, I can hear Avaline upstairs running. Kyler walks around the couch and I pull her onto my lap, placing my hand on her rapidly growing belly.

  “What, you get tired of waiting and just take a nap?” She laughs, looking into my eyes. “You know, I’m the one carrying around a sack of flour all day. Shouldn’t I be the one sleeping?”

  Kyler’s been telling me she doesn’t like how quiet it’s been; she says she has this odd feeling in her stomach. Well, that wouldn’t bother me except the last time she had this feeling, something did happen. I walked into her life. I’ve told her we’re fine here, nothing’s going to happen, so tonight I’ve planned to have a movie night on the couch with my girls.

  I’m making popcorn and Kyler’s
getting the drinks together while Ava is in the family room trying to figure out which movie we’re going to watch. I look over at Kyler and notice she still has this look about her. She puts on a fake smile when she notices me watching and turns back to put our drinks on the tray. I’ll let it go, for now. I pick up the tray and follow her into the family room.

  I set the tray on the table and take a seat on the couch as I hand Avaline her popcorn and Kyler hands her a drink. Just as we are about to turn on the movie, someone knocks on the door.

  What the hell? Nobody is supposed to show up here without calling first. As I’m getting up, I notice Kyler’s face. She’s worried. Since she started having these gut feelings, I’ve caught her out of bed checking doors and windows two or three times every night. I give her a look so she knows I will handle this. I grab my gun off the side table by the door and stick it in my back holster.

  Looking in the peephole, I see a man staring intently at the door. He’s about 6’2 and 210 pounds.

  Well, fuck—do I open the door or not? Turning to look back to where Kyler and Avaline are, I start to worry. I open the door just enough for the guy to see me…

  The Tale Will Continue, But for Now…

  Thank you for reading book one in the Hudson Brothers PI Series, An Unexpected Love.

  Make sure and check out book two in the Hudson Brothers PI Series. Now, before you say “wait, what about more Caleb?” You will get more Caleb in book three. Book two is about Liam Hudson’s Life. Yes, you will get the back story of Liam’s wife and Nell! Here’s the prologue to hold you over.

  Prologue ~ Liam

  Five Years Ago.

  Eighteen and enjoying life, playing ball, enjoying the ladies and partying. What more can a guy ask for? Hell, I’m a Hudson, we always live the high life.

  I’m not sure about Pops, but I know Caleb, my big brother, is the one I’ve learned all my shit from. He tells me all the time that I need to calm down before I end up in trouble. Other than fucking chicks, there isn’t any trouble. I’ve got a three point eight grade point average and I’m the captain of all the male sports teams. Damn, I sound conceited. Who I am kidding? I’m a cocky bastard and I know it.

  It’s a Friday night and I’m getting ready for the game, lifting weights while everyone is out eating. Love-Hate-Sex-Pain by Godsmack is pumping in my ears so loud, I don’t hear anyone enter the weight room. I jump when I look into the mirror and see Jacquelyn looking back at me. Jerking the ear buds out, I spin to look her in the face.

  “What the fuck?” I shout. “You scared the fucking shit out of me! What are you doing here?”

  Then I take a good look at her. She’s fucking crying. What the hell could have happened since I saw her right before school ended at three?

  “Jacqui, what the hell is going on?” I ask as I pull her to me. Her arms wrap around me tightly as she cries into my chest. Jacquelyn is the girl I’ve been fucking; no, I guess you could say we’re dating. She’s always around. Moms and Pops have already said she’s family. I’m a senior this year and Jacqui’s a sophomore, we’ve been pretty much inseparable for the last six months. Caleb says I’ve turned my balls in for a pussy, but I think he’s a fucker. The bastard wouldn’t know a good thing if it hit him in the face. Jacqui’s different than the other chicks around here. She likes to party as much as I do. We kind of started this friends-with-benefits thing a year ago and have been fucking since. She doesn’t fuck anyone else and neither do I; everyone says that means we’re dating. We do go out and do things, but mostly as friends. Sometimes she’ll pay, while other times I’ll pay. It’s a perfect friendship.

  I mentally shake my head to snap myself back to the task at hand. Grabbing her chin, I guide her face to look into mine.

  “Jacqui, babe, what’s wrong?” I watch her expectantly.

  “Li, I’m pregnant,” Jacqui whispers, almost so low I’m not sure I heard her correctly. I drop to my knees and just look up at her. What the fuck am I going to do with a kid?

  “Are you sure?” I ask. She nods and pulls the test out of her back pocket. Just like that, on the fourteenth day of August, in the year 2010, my entire life changes forever. I stand up and pull Jacquelyn into me, rubbing her back as I think about what I’m going to say next.

  “We’ll tell our parents, then we’ll get married. This is no longer a friends thing. My kid will have both parents, together,” I say, but my mind is a mess.

  I kiss Jacqui’s head, then tell her to wait for me after the game and we’ll tell our parents together. She gives me a nod, then leaves. I head to the locker room because I know I can have a private call there. Pulling my cell out I call the only person I know will tell me everything will be okay. As I dial Cal’s number, I hold my breath.

  “Hey fucker, what’s up?” Caleb asks. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the game?”

  I sigh with defeat. “Cal, I fucked up. Jacqui’s pregnant.”

  “Are you fucking serious right now? Liam mother-fucking Michael! Pops is going to fucking kill you, dude,” Cal says, and I just hope Pops isn’t close by to hear him.

  “I know, dude. I need you here after the game. When we tell the parents. I’m nervous as fuck.” I can feel the migraine forming behind my eyes. This is going to be a shit night.

  “Yeah Li, I come to all your games. I’ll be there, and I’ll keep close to Jacqui. I’ve got to go before Pops gets back. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Cal hangs up. I throw my phone in my bag and take a seat on the bench. Running my hands through my hair, I finally land my face in my hands. How the fuck did my life get so fucked so quickly? This is supposed to be a great year. I’m a fucking senior, I’m supposed to be having the time of my life, not thinking about becoming a fucking father. Son of a bitch. I know better than this shit. I’m always so careful.

  As I think back to when it could have been, the only time that comes to mind is when we were partying with all the guys. One of us should have stayed a little soberer; instead, we were both so drunk we didn’t even remember sleeping together. We woke up in one of the tents, wrapped together in a sleeping bag, with no clothes on. We just assumed we were careful because we always were. Fuck, that’s what we get for assuming.

  What a way to start my last school year. There are supposed to be scouts watching me tonight, but none of that matters anymore.

  About the Author

  J. Haney was born and raised in Kentucky, currently residing in Greenup County, Kentucky with her family, where she is the proud momma to Jessalyn Kristine and co-owner of Proud Momma Designs, which she runs with her amazing Momma. J. Haney’s work tends to lean toward sweet and sexy, with suspenseful undertones, giving her readers something to hold onto.

  A few fun facts about me:

  1. My daughter Jessalyn is my most favorite person in the world.

  2. I'm probably the biggest book whore there is.

  3. I love music of any kind, but better yet, I love singing.

  4. I hate cold/wet weather.

  5. I wear at least four different colors at once.

  6. I have the most awesome group of friends a gal can have: Tracy, Sandie, Sara, Jamie, Lisa, Chris, Patricia, and Annelle. Love you, ladies!

  7. I would love one day to meet Alice Clayton, Christina Lauren, A.M. Willard, Jamie McGuire, and so many others.

  8. I’m completely addicted to tattoos and piercings.

  9. I’m very random, and will say crazy stuff out of nowhere.

  10. I can tell you every word from beginning to ending of Wallbanger by Alice Clayton and One Night Series by A.M. Willard.

  Stalk Me Links!

  Website Facebook Street Team Twitter Pinterest

  Goodreads Instagram TSU Google +

  YouTube Spotify

 

 

  enter>