The problem was, she didn’t know what Hudson expected next. For that matter, she didn’t know what she expected next. Was this just an affair or a fling? Or could it be more? If it could be more, what would happen if she told Hudson she couldn’t have children? Or that at least the likelihood of it happening was very slim?
He was great with kids, even babies, but as he turned to her now and said, “Ready for the ornaments,” she pushed questions and doubts out of her mind. It had been years since she’d lived in the moment, and that’s what she wanted to do now. Tomorrow, her world could crash down around her. For just today, she wanted to be happy.
Hudson took a break to sip his hot chocolate. “Yours is getting cold.”
She went over to the coffee table and picked up her cup. She clinked her mug against his, then she turned toward the tree. “We’re doing a fine job. Do we put the star on first or save it till last?”
“Let’s save it till last. Are you getting hungry?” he asked. “I put that casserole Greta made into the oven.”
“That sounds good,” Bella agreed. “I’ll start unpacking these ornaments.” As she took blue ones from the box and attached little hooks to each one, she heard Hudson moving around in the kitchen. Then she heard the buzz of his cell phone and the rumble of his voice as he spoke with someone. But she couldn’t hear the conversation.
Five minutes later he returned to the living room. His expression was thoughtful. “That was Walker on the phone. We were discussing Thanksgiving tomorrow. I know you’ll probably want to spend it with Jamie and the triplets. Do you have plans?”
“It snuck up on us so quickly we didn’t even buy a turkey. I told Jamie I’d stop at the store on the way home tonight to buy fixings for a dinner.”
“I might have a solution for that. Walker and Lindsay want you and Jamie and the triplets to come to dinner at the Dalton ranch.”
“All of us?”
“All of you. Lindsay has a huge clan who think the more the merrier. Do you think Jamie will go for it?”
“He might. It would be good for all of us to get out.”
“Do you want to give him a call, then I can call Walker back?”
“Sure. I can check in and make sure everything’s okay, too.”
At first Jamie wasn’t sure he wanted to join the Daltons, but then Bella said, “Don’t you think it would be good to spend the holiday away and make a new memory?”
After a moment of silence, Jamie responded, “I suppose it would. All right. Tell Hudson to tell his brother he’ll have five more at his table.”
When Bella did, Hudson laughed. “Apparently it’s going to be a big table.” He approached Bella and motioned to the ornaments on the coffee table. “We’d better get to tree decorating. What time did you tell Jamie you’d be home?”
“I told him around nine.”
Hudson stepped even closer. “When we have limited time together, we have to decide what’s most important—decorating the tree, eating or...”
The or turned into a kiss that took Bella to a place where happiness was possible, where dreams could come true and where Hudson filled her world.
Hudson was passion and sensuality and all man. Hunger swelled inside her, a hunger like she’d never known. Conscious thought didn’t seem possible as Hudson’s tongue plundered her mouth, as she chased it back into his, as they kissed each other like they might never do it again. She slid her hands into his thick hair, then needing the touch of skin on skin, she massaged the nape of his neck. When Hudson slid his hand under her sweater, she wanted to give him freer access. She backed away slightly, and he broke the kiss.
“We have too many clothes on,” he mumbled, finding the edge of her sweater and bringing it up over her head. After he tossed it onto the sofa, he just looked at her for a few moments.
She was glad she’d worn the bra edged with lace. He unhooked it, then he began unbuttoning his shirt. Not long after, they were on the floor in front of the fire, both naked.
“Decorating the tree seemed important when we were cutting it down, but now this is more important.” He whispered his hot breath against her skin as he trailed his lips down to her nipple and suckled it.
Bella thought she was ready to make love with Hudson again. But he apparently had no intention of rushing it. He laid her back on the rug and swept her body with featherlight kisses and butterfly touches, sensual, heady and thrilling. Everywhere they touched, his hands ignited a heat that threatened to sear her skin. As his hands slid down her stomach to her thigh, exquisite sensations bombarded her. This much need, this much want and this much hunger couldn’t be right, could it?
She didn’t have an answer to that question because she’d never experienced anything like this before. She felt like one of the logs on the fireplace grate that glowed with an inner heat that couldn’t be contained.
Although Bella could feel Hudson’s hunger in his kisses and his touches, she could also feel tenderness. That’s what undid her most of all. Leaning over her on the rug, Hudson kissed her once more while his hand slipped between her thighs. He wanted to see how ready she was. She passed her hand down his back to his backside and heard the growl that came from deep in his throat.
“Do you know what you do to me?” he asked her.
“Probably the same thing you do to me.”
“Don’t move,” he said, sitting up, reaching for his jeans. She knew what he was doing. He was getting a condom from his pocket. She should tell him now. She should reveal that she could become pregnant yet would probably never be able to carry a baby to term. But she didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to spoil this day by ending it with a conversation that could separate them completely.
A minute later he was poised over her again, looking down into her shadowed eyes, and she wished she could take a picture of him right there and then. Then he entered her, and she held on to him tightly, wishing the moment could last forever. Wishing reality wouldn’t poke its head back into her life. Wishing she’d been more responsible as a teenager so that she didn’t have a secret to keep now.
She knew she couldn’t keep the secret much longer because she wanted honesty between her and Hudson as much as she wanted anything else.
Chapter Twelve
Jamie’s huge SUV maneuvered easily over a light coating of snow on the way to the Dalton ranch—the Circle D. It was located about a half hour out of town.
Bella glanced over her shoulder at the triplets, who were in their car seats behind her. “They seem content for the moment.”
“Let’s wait and see what happens when we get into a crowd. I’m not sure this was a good idea.”
“They have to get out sometime, Jamie. Besides, did you really want to spend the holiday alone?” Sometimes she suspected it was more than protectiveness that kept Jamie from being out and about with his children. Was it grief or was there something else?
“I wouldn’t have been alone,” he said wryly.
“You know what I mean. Spending the day with the Daltons should be fun.”
“We’ll see,” he responded, obviously not sure of that fact. He glanced at her quickly, then moved his eyes back to the road. “I think this was more about you spending the holiday with Hudson.”
He had her there. Still, she said, “It’s not like we’ll have time alone.”
“I’m sure you can steal a few minutes. You’re getting more involved with him, aren’t you?”
If “more involved” meant sleeping with him, yes, she was. But she wasn’t willing to go into that with her brother.
When she was silent, Jamie said, “I worry about you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“You gave up your life to help me. Of course I have to. You are going to go back to school, aren’t you?”
“Eventually.”
>
“Sooner, rather than later.”
“Jamie, I don’t know what’s going to happen next.”
“You mean with Hudson?”
She sighed. “With Hudson. With my job. With the triplets, even. I want to make sure you and the babies are stable before I consider doing anything else.”
“We have our routine. We’re doing well. If you go back to school, I’ll look around for somebody else to help. Even if I have to pay them.”
“You can’t afford to do that. The ranch expenses are up, not to mention everything you need for the triplets.”
“You’re not trapped, Bella. I don’t want you to think you are. I would figure something out.”
She was sure he would. Still, she felt that he needed her.
“Did you tell Hudson yet about your miscarriage and your...problem?”
“No.”
“How serious does it have to get before you do?”
“Everything with Hudson has happened so fast. I have to feel the time is right.”
“The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be to tell him.”
“I know,” she said. But today wasn’t going to be the day, not in the middle of a family Thanksgiving celebration. She was sure of that.
Shortly after their conversation ended, Jamie took the turnoff to the Circle D. At the fork in the road, Jamie said, “One of the Dalton brothers lives over there in that white house with the green shutters.”
Each Dalton sibling was allotted land within the ranch borders. Although Ben Dalton and his wife, Mary, owned the ranch, Ben was a lawyer and didn’t devote much time to it. His son Anderson was in charge and managed it for him. As Jamie drove a ways, Bella wondered what it would be like to belong to a large family and have everyone live close by. That would be nice.
After driving farther, Bella caught a glimpse of the stables. When they reached the main ranch house, she stayed in the car with Katie and Henry, while Jamie took Jared inside. She expected to see Jamie come back out, but instead Hudson did.
He approached the car door and said, “Your brother trusted me to help get the babies inside.”
That was saying a lot, she supposed, because Jamie didn’t trust just anyone with the triplets. They detached both car carriers from the backseat and carried them into the house.
Already there was a group of adults gathered around Jared, oohing and aahing. When Hudson and Bella brought the other two over, everyone made room. Lindsay and Walker welcomed them, and then the entire Dalton clan descended on them. The parents, Ben and Mary, as well as Anderson and his wife, Marina, with their blended family of eleven-year-old Jake and baby Sydney. There was brother Travis, a bachelor; Lani Dalton with her fiancé, Russ Campbell; and Caleb Dalton and his wife, Mallory, and their ten-year-old daughter, Lily. And, finally, Paige and her husband, Sutter, who cast watchful eyes over their two-year-old son, Carter.
In the center of the crowd, Lindsay smiled. “And this is just the tip of the Dalton iceberg. Uncle Charles is having Thanksgiving with his five kids. My other uncles, Phillip, Neal and Steven, have big families, too, but they live in another part of Montana.”
Lindsay’s mom, Mary, was particularly welcoming. She picked up Katie from her car carrier and said, “Aren’t you pretty? With two brothers to treat you like a princess.”
“Or pull her hair,” her husband, Ben, said, and everyone laughed.
“We have high chairs so the triplets won’t miss any of the celebration.” She looked at Bella. “Do you want to come with me to see what else they might need?”
Hudson offered, “I can set up those high chairs.”
“Thank you,” Mary said. “Come on with me.”
“I’ll take Katie,” Lindsay offered. She whispered to Bella, “It will do Walker good to be around babies.”
For the second time in the last few weeks, Bella wondered if Lindsay might be wanting a child soon. Would Walker take to kids as his brother had?
Kids. It always came down to kids.
“What’s wrong?” Hudson asked her as they followed Mary to the kitchen.
“Nothing,” Bella said lightly. “I’m just hoping we can keep the triplets occupied during dinner so everyone can enjoy it.”
“We can always take one out at a time and walk him or her. The Daltons are used to kids. I’m sure everyone will be sitting around the table long enough that a little excursion in and out with a baby won’t spoil dinner at all.”
In the kitchen, Mary pulled dishes from the cupboard, and Bella chose the ones she thought would be best for the triplets. “I have baby spoons in the diaper bag,” she said. “Jamie will warm up their food right before we eat, if that’s okay. He likes to maintain a stable diet for them.”
“Maybe with a spoonful of mashed potatoes or two?” Mary asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Maybe,” Bella agreed.
A peal of laughter came from the living room, followed by lots of chatter.
“This is a real Thanksgiving,” Hudson said.
“Your family doesn’t get together for the holidays?” Mary asked him.
“My brothers are scattered all over now, and Mom and Dad are traveling. So, no, we don’t. It’s rare that even Walker and I are together.”
“This must be a treat then. One of those holidays to remember. I’m glad you all could join us.”
Hudson picked up one of the collapsed high chairs that were leaning against a wall. “Any place special you want me to set this up?”
“No. Just fit them in wherever you can. I’m sure whoever is next to a baby will see to their needs. This is a child-friendly family.”
Hudson carried a high chair into the dining room.
Mary turned to Bella. “What about you, child? I suppose you and your brother spend most of your holidays together.”
“Yes, we do.”
“I imagine this one is particularly hard for him. I hope being among friends will help. I’ve heard about the baby chain that takes care of the triplets.”
“I don’t know what we’d do without them. Not only in the care of the babies, but they’ve helped Jamie not draw into himself even more. They’re kind and considerate, and he almost thinks of them as family now.”
“One of the things I like most about this community is that we help others. I’m sorry that Lindsay and the day care center were at odds for a while. You know, don’t you, that she was just doing her job?”
“Oh, I know that. I’m just glad everything turned out as well as it did.”
“I hear that’s your Hudson’s doing.”
“Oh, he’s not my Hudson.”
Mary laughed. “You can say that, but I see something else.”
When Hudson returned to the kitchen for a second high chair, Bella knew her cheeks were flushed. When he left again, Mary said to her, “After dinner, when everyone’s settling in to watch TV or chat, you and Hudson ought to take a walk down to the stables. There’s a new horse there you both might enjoy. Her name is Trixie...a fine quarter horse.”
As Hudson returned to the kitchen, he heard the last part of that.
“Wouldn’t you like to see our new horse?” she asked him.
“I’m always interested in a good horse. I’m sure Bella is, too. She doesn’t just ride them, she photographs them. She did some work for the Smith Rescue Ranch.”
“Really?” Mary asked.
“Jazzy and Brooks liked some of my shots, and they’re using them on their pamphlets and on their website,” Bella explained. “The redesigned website should be up by Monday. You should take a look if you get a chance.”
“I’m not much into computers, but my husband and all my kids have them. So sure, I’ll take a look. Now, come on. We have potatoes to mash, beans to dress and a turkey to carve.”
She and Hudson had been seated next to each other. Every once in a while, Hudson would reach over and place his hand on her thigh. That simple contact sent a charge through her body, and she hoped it didn’t show on her face. Now and then, however, she saw Lindsay looking at her speculatively. And one time Mary Dalton gave her a wink.
The talk among the men turned to ranching for a while. The women shared recipes, as well as caught up with their careers. Bella felt as if she were somewhere in between. Managing the day care center was not going to be her career. She took care of the triplets with Jamie and could easily discuss that. But she had her foot in two different worlds. Throw in her feelings for Hudson, and it was difficult to come up with a life plan, especially when she didn’t know if he’d be staying or going...especially when she didn’t know if he could accept not having children of his own.
She joined conversations, but her thoughts were jumbled. The only thing she did know was that she loved being with Hudson. She loved making love with him. She loved him.
By dessert time, the triplets were getting restless. Bella, Jamie and Paige took them from the high chairs and set them on their laps, distracting them with rattles and little toys.
Paige said, “The pageant on Sunday is going to be a hoot. Imagine all those babies, kids, costumes and Christmas.”
“I’m going to have a look at the carriages tomorrow,” Hudson said. “They’re at the school and all decorated. I want to make sure there’s nothing the babies shouldn’t get hold of. I also need to get a few basic instructions to take to my staff. We aren’t having a dress rehearsal with the rest of the group.” He shrugged. “It’s not as if our little ones have a script.”
The Maverick's Holiday Surprise Page 15