Back to You: A Hudson Family Series- Book 1- Synclair and Reece

by Chontelle Brison

  Damn, I had a lot of sorting out to do with Synclair, definitely a lot of talking. I hadn’t planned to have sex with her, well not yet. I was planning on talking to her first, getting her to agree to stick around a while, then I was going to show her how hot our chemistry was. I could still fix this right?

  I was about to explain that she didn’t have to worry about getting pregnant when a glass that had once held my morning orange juice missed my head and shattered on wall behind me.

  “Fuck woman,” I yelled jumping off the bed. I just missed my high school basketball trophy as it sailed past my head, then I had to duck the bowl I had made in Ms. Farrington’s Ceramic class. Fearing she was going to actually hit me, eventually, I lunged for her naked ass. Grabbing her around the waist, we tumbled to the floor, I turned my body, so I took the brunt and we ended up with her naked body sprawled over my mine. Her surprised eyes found mine.

  I couldn’t help but smile, I quickly turned serious when I saw the tear that seemed about to fall. Nice job asshole, best sex of your life and the woman is about to cry.

  “This is not funny Reece, why didn’t you put on a condom?” She asked trying to move away from me. I sat up with her and let her scoot back until she was off my lap and on the floor, I kept my hands at her waist, I just wasn’t ready to let her go yet.

  “Baby I-.”

  “Stop. Don’t call me baby. I’m not now nor have I ever been a baby," She looked so shaken. I nodded and tried again.

  “Sweetheart,” I paused to see if that term of endearment was acceptable. When she didn’t object, I grabbed her hand and held it. “I never, ever go without a condom.” She looked like she felt better with that statement, “except once, and it was a long time ago.” I didn’t want to lie, I promised myself I would never lie to her again. However, I was praying she wouldn’t ask with whom, the last thing I wanted to bring up was my ex-wife Amber.

  For a moment her face was unreadable then her hazel eyes narrowed on me. Shit, that can’t be good.

  “How long ago? Who? So help me Reece if you exposed me to some freaking hooker.”

  Taken aback I retorted, “Of course not, it wasn’t a hooker it was Amber.” I knew my mistake the moment that I said it. Nice going, so much for not mentioning the ex, nitwit. Before I could grab her, she had scrambled to her feet. She looked at me and then ran to the bathroom and shut the door. I got there just as I heard the lock click.

  “Synclair, dammit, come on. Talk to me.” I pounded on the door. I heard my shower come on and sighed. Walking to my dresser, I pulled out boxers, sweats, and a t-shirt. I considered going to the kitchen for a much-needed cup of coffee but reconsidered when I realized she could crawl out the window before I would even know it. Sitting back against the shut bathroom door I laid my head back. Shit, how had everything gone so bad, so fast? Oh yeah, I seduced a woman who hated me instead of getting her to trust me again. Sure she wanted my body but dammit, I needed her to want my heart.

  ******************************

  I stood under the hot water, letting it cascade down my body, I hoped it scalded the feel of Reece right off me. I was so stupid, how could I forget Reece was married. To Amber, freaking Malibu Barbie. God damn it, I let my hormones completely block out the fact that Reece was married. I groaned and beat my head softly against the Travertine wall. If I wasn’t so disgusted with myself I would love this oversized shower, with its five shower heads and the heated bench, it felt like a tropical waterfall.

  Focus, I chastised. I tried to tamp down the panic of becoming my mother. My mother never cared if a guy was married or not, if they had a family. Holy shit, could Reece have kids? My stomach rolled. No, I was not my mother. I got carried away, it was fifteen years of pent of sexual frustration. I mean, Reece had been my vibrator fantasy for so long, that I just got a little stupid when I had the real thing in my reach. Fuck it, what was done was done, I could move on. I would make Reece get my clothes, force Dalton to fix my damn car, get Plan B at the pharmacy and get back on track.

  My plan of action clear, I quickly used the soap and shampoo that was in the cubby in the shower, turned off the water and stepped out. Drying myself off with one of the large, fluffy towels from the cabinet, I wrapped it snugly around me and grabbed another to dry my hair. Moments later, tears gone, my red hair hanging damp at my shoulders I grabbed the door knob and opened the door.

  Reece must have been leaning on the door because as soon I opened it, he fell back on the bathroom floor. For a moment he looked dazed, when he smirked at me, I realized he was looking up my towel. Irritated I stepped over him and walked into the bedroom.

  I watched him sigh and pull himself up from the floor. I was going to be an adult if it killed me. I waited for him to say something.

  ******************************

  She was standing there waiting for me to say something, her gaze expectant. Leaving myself close enough to grab her if she bolted again, but far enough to give her some space, I sat down on the bench at the foot of my bed.

  “First, I was a total asshat back in school.” I ignored the roll of her eyes, dammit she wasn’t going to make this easy. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness and I have no excuses for it, but I really did fall in love with you.” Synclair’s eyes got as big as saucers. Good, she hadn’t expected that, I just need to continue to keep her off balance.

  “Listen, I don’t want to re-hash the past, it’s done, us having sex was just closure, Reece.” Her voice was shaky.

  I stood from the bench and closed the distance between us. I smiled inwardly when she didn’t turn away from me as I pulled her into my arms. I felt her expel a loud sigh as she put her head on my chest. My heart pounded and my brain was screaming that this was where she belonged.

  “It wasn’t closure, not for me, I don’t want closure Synclair. I want a new start.” I tightened my arms around her, knowing that in about five seconds what I just asked for would set in and she would panic. About three seconds later she stiffened and tried to pull back.

  “Wait sweetheart hear me out okay? Then if you want to bolt after, then I’ll have Dalton fix your car and make Rachel give you your things, okay?” I lied, I completely lied, if I had to tie her to the bed this woman was not walking out of my life again. I still had my ace in the hole, I still had her uncle, Jack.

  “Fine, I’ll listen, but you have to know Reece, I have never slept with a married man, I won’t do it, I’m not my mom and what just happened was wrong and will never happen again.” She pulled back and looked up at me. Her eyes showed her guilt and regret.

  I handed her a pair of leggings and a t-shirt that Rachel had left out for me to give her. I had insisted last night that Rachel give the girl something because I was too afraid to have Synclair walking around naked, for obvious reasons.

  Synclair gave me a tired smile and returned to the bathroom.

  “When you’re ready I’ll meet you in the living room,” I told her through the door. I heard her agree and walked out into the family room and into a room full of people. An older man about sixty or seventy was sitting on the sofa, he was balding, wearing the ugliest neon green Hawaiian shirt I had ever seen. Next to him sat a young, pretty girl with matching blue eyes to the man next to her and auburn brown hair. This must be her uncle Jack and Synclair’s cousin from Ireland, Cami.

  Oh, crap. I hadn’t talked to Synclair yet, I knew her uncle was coming, that was part of the plan. I hadn’t planned on getting side tracked with Synclair earlier and now I could see I had lost precious minutes.

  Shit.

  “Okay Hudson, let’s get this over with, I’m clean, I’m dressed and I’m hungry. While I appreciate Rachel giving me a hair tie for this unruly mane I call my hair, she better give me back my clothes soon because I have no bra or panties on and the girls are freezing.” Synclair announced as she came out of the hall. I watched her freeze when she realized my siblings were all present. Then her eyes landed on her uncle and cousin; a smile I had neve
r seen before took over her face. Her whole body relaxed while she bounded around the sofa and threw her arms around the large man.

  I shouldn’t be this jealous, but to see Synclair so comfortable in the embrace of another man made feel raw. It made me remember when she looked at me with adoring trust, a time when she looked at me like I was her hero. I felt like I needed her to look at me like that more than I needed oxygen.

  Still, it made me glad to see her happy. Obviously, her uncle loved her, the man was holding on to her so tightly I was surprised she could breathe. I looked over at my brothers, Lucas was hugging Rachel, who soft-hearted that she was, had gotten caught up in the emotional reunion of the two on the sofa.

  ******************************

  “Oh my god UJ, what are you doing here? I thought Cami was taking you back to Ireland. How are you feeling?” I pulled back from his embrace. I looked questioningly between him and Cami. Cami looked tired and didn’t meet my gaze. Damn, that meant there was something going on she didn’t want to tell me. Cami was a terrible liar, and I had a feeling that UJ being here was more strategic than him simply wanting to see how I was doing.

  UJ sighed then made to stand, since I was blocking him I straightened from my hugging position and stepped back. Grabbing my hands, he looked at Cami, who moved over to the far side of the sofa. I saw Cami shake her head, she looked angry now, pissed even. What the hell was going on?

  “I canna do it Da, you canna just decide you know what’s best, she’s a grown woman.” Cami’s heavy Irish accent seemed thicker when she was angry.

  I looked around the room, I noticed Dalton watching Cami very intently. Gone was the humor and mischievous twinkle in his pretty green eyes, in its place was something I couldn’t even place. Cami must have noticed it too because she turned and gave him her “fuck off” glare before turning back to UJ.

  “Okay, what is going on? I feel like I’ve just walked into the middle of a conversation and I have no clue what the hell is happening, and I haven’t even had any coffee yet.” I was tired of people talking around me like I wasn’t even present. I was about to ask Cami what the hell was happening when Matt thrust a black mug of coffee in my hand.

  “Hope you like it black.” He asked smiling at me like a loon. I wasn’t sure if he was being nice or trying to make sure I didn’t out him as an escort to his family. At the moment I didn’t care, I needed to get my brain working.

  “Perfect. Thank you, Matt, you may live another day.” I told him, it was really hard not to like the guy.

  I looked at Reece, he was leaning against the back of the sofa, almost like he was guarding the door. I could tell by his determined expression he was making sure I couldn’t bolt. Silly boy, I thought. He should know better than to think I would bolt using the front door, when I had already scoped out the back door to my right when I had entered the family room. However, I had no intention of bolting, I had questions, lots of them and I wanted answers.

  “Hush Cami, I’ve known Synclair a long time and I know what I am doing, honey.” UJ told Cami, seemingly try to soothe her. I could tell by the way Cami stood and crossed her arms over her chest that she wasn’t about to hold her tongue.

  “No, I won’t hush Da, she’s my cousin and while we haven’t been besties, I like her and respect her and she’s a woman who can make her own choices, without the interference of you. You’re supposed to be resting them lungs Da, yer supposed to be on a bloody plane to Dublin right now.” She finished by stomping one delicate foot.

  I had to admit my cousin was a force when she was angry. Blue eyes blazing, cheeks flushed red, she looked ready to explode. Stomping her flat ballet shoes against the hardwood almost made her look like a child having a temper tantrum. I wasn’t about to tell her that though, I knew the Irish temper ran deep in our family. I felt sorry for her, as she smoothed her red sweater and put her hands in the pockets of her black jeans, she looked like she was trying really hard to not lose control.

  “Why don’t I take Cami for a tour of the ranch?” Dalton offered. His intense gaze never left hers.

  I whipped my head around to look at Reece. He looked as shocked as I did.

  “I don’t need yer coddling or fer you to be distracting me. Yer not gonna charm me knickers off me, so shut your pie hole.” Cami shouted at Dalton.

  A weird tension filled the room. I didn’t know if Cami and Dalton were even aware anyone else was around. I looked at Lucas and Rachel who were standing by the window, mouths agape. Matt was snickering into his sleeve and Reece was rubbing his hands over his face.

  Almost in slow motion I watched Dalton cross the room to stand nose to nose. Well... his chest to her nose. To Cami’s credit, she didn’t back up, she did however, tip her head back to glare at Dalton like he was the shit you scrape off your shoe. Good lord, just how long was I in that shower this morning?

  Uncle Jack broke the silence, “As for me doll, I just need some time to figure out what I want next, maybe consider that retirement I’ve been putting off. As for that tour around your place that was would be great Dalton, I think my daughter needs a little air.” Now I whipped my head back to UJ, the man was trying to hold back from grinning.

  “Done.” I heard Dalton say. He took another determined step forward, and I watched Cami take an angry, but unsure step back, never letting her death stare drop. Before I could wonder what Dalton’s next move was, he dipped down and threw her over his shoulder. What was it with the men in this house and their caveman antics?

  The next moments were filled with, what I could only guess were, Gaelic swear words as Dalton carried Cami past me with a triumphant look on his face. I was so shocked, I didn’t even try to grab for her as they passed me. Reece seemed equally off balance as he moved out of the path of the doorway for Dalton to push through it.

  “Would everyone mind giving Synclair and me a few minutes alone? She and I have some things to discuss before your visit Jack.” It sounded more like a command than a request. Suddenly, I realized I didn’t want to be alone with Reece. If he touched me, I would disengage my common sense and I very much needed my wits around me when we had this conversation.

  “No.” I looked right at Reece. “Everyone in this room is involved in some way now. Let’s air it all, right now.” I lifted my chin and dared him to deny me.

  “Fine.” He muttered, clearly not very happy. “But you will agree to hear everything Synclair. I swear to god, if you even so much as take a breath towards that back door you’ve been eyeing, I will tie you to my bed.” He finished grimly.

  Damn, he knew about the backdoor exit? “While I’m sure that would be fun, for you.” I retorted. Not to mention crowded since he was married. “I have no intention of being tied to your bed or any part of you or anything you own, but I give you my word I won’t bolt. When I leave, you will know it and I won’t sneak out the back door.” Or at least, I wouldn’t now that he was on to me.

  Reece gestured to the sofa where UJ was sitting, watching me with concern.

  “Okay, I need to go back to the beginning.” Reece began. I opened my mouth to protest, and he raised on hand. “You told me you would listen.” He reminded me, that stubborn chin lifting slightly.

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I sat down on the Sofa next to UJ, I so did not want to hear about the past. I wanted to know about Amber, his wife. I wanted to know what the hell I was still doing here and why UJ was sitting here instead on a plane and I definitely wanted to know why my cousin was so pissed off on my behalf.

  Everyone else took places on the remaining chairs, probably getting ready for the next half of the Reece and Synclair show. Reece took an, all too close, position on the sofa next to me. I heard him sigh. Knowing he was waiting for me to turn toward him, I grudgingly turned my body so we were facing each other, knees barely touching.

  The contact caused my pulse to speed up and my nipples instantly hardened. I reminded myself to handle the damn bra situation as soon as this little Pow- wow was o
ver.

  “When I went after you in college, the bet was only an excuse. I noticed you the first day of class. I saw how smart you were, how witty you were when someone gave you shit, I wanted you from day one.”

  I just sat there, so many emotions were pushing to the surface I had to force myself to breathe. I watched Reece’s eyes soften with regret and even though I didn’t want to believe it, he looked sincere.

  “The bet was stupid. I know and I was meeting with everyone to call it off, that was where I went that morning. But I was different back then, I was the basketball star, and I liked people thinking I was cool. But I was going to give them back the money, Synclair. I wanted you. I was going to tell you about it that day and beg you to forgive me. I didn’t get the chance, you being so same smart figured it out before I could stop it, and then Amber…” He trailed off.

  Her name was like cold water splashing on my face. All the warmth I had been feeling fled. “Yes,” I told him stoically. “Let’s discuss your wife.” Now Reece looked guilty. Yep, that’s right asshole, let’s discuss the wife, my tormenter and the woman you cheated on last night.

  Grabbing my hands that I hadn’t even realized were gripping my legs, he caught my gaze and refused to let it go.

  “I am not married to Amber, we’re divorced.” I let out a breath, at least I wasn’t a home wrecker.

  “Amber and the guys grew up here in Carson City, we all went to high school together and graduated together. Amber had always been after me but I never touched her... until.” He released me to run one hand through his dark locks.

  “Until?” Oh no, you don’t buddy, I want to hear it all.

  “After vet school, the guys threw me a party. I couldn’t get you out of my head. I had even tried to find you after you were arrested but you had disappeared. I even made Amber drop all the charges.” He waited to gauge my reaction. I had never known why Amber had dropped the assault charge, I guess Reece was my answer.