Hearing a loud, boisterous laugh, I suddenly turned and saw Lucas Hudson tickling his young son, Logan, near a large oak table. I ducked behind a couple who were talking, afraid for Lucas to recognize me. Remembering why I was here, I waited until Lucas and Logan exited the kitchen through a back door and then proceeded to look around for Pepper.
For a loud, teenager Pepper was surprisingly difficult to find. Slipping out the back door I inhaled sharply when I saw Matt Hudson walking down a dirt road towards the house. He was laughing with his brother Reece as they made their way closer.
Panic filled me, damn the man was gorgeous. Gone was the immaculate suit. He wore a relaxed pair of Levis, a gray pair of Nikes and a blue tee-shirt that stretched across his chest in a way that commanded attention.
Forcing the memories of how that chest felt under my fingertips, I wiped a rogue tear off my cheek and scanned the yard for Pepper.
The back yard was huge, and it looked like the whole town had shown up. I saw Synclair and Sara sitting at a long table at the far end of the yard, Wyatt was happily bouncing on his mother’s knee, and Sara was eating a forkful of cake. I didn’t see Dalton, but Rachel was near the bar glaring at Jake. Jake! As soon as I saw him, I knew Pepper wouldn’t be far behind.
Sure enough, Pepper was standing almost behind the bar looking at Jake as if trying to decide something. Crap, I had to get to her before she made a scene. I would talk to Jake about Pepper, but not today. From the banners and cards all around, I could tell it was a celebration of the restaurant that Synclair and Sara had opened together. Cami had told me about it back in Dublin, Dalton had actually built it for them. I was surprised he wasn’t here.
Keeping one eye on Matt, I circled around the back of the buffet table, dodging servers in white aprons as I made my way over to my niece.
As soon as I reached her, I pulled her behind the bar, out of the view of the party.
With absolutely no look of remorse, she smiled, and her blue eyes shimmered brightly. “Jesus Pepper, what are you thinking?” I asked as I pulled her back when she tried to turn away.
“I just wanted to see him in person, Aunt Ali. I have the right to know my father,” she huffed taking a stubborn stance.
I put my hand on her flushed cheek and tried to remember she was just a kid. “I know this is hard Pepper, I know it is. But I talked to your mom. I wasn’t going to tell you until the camp was done, but she agreed to give me custody of you. You can come live at the sanctuary as long as you stay in school!” I told her.
Her big blue eyes stared at me for about two heartbeats. Then a loud squeal, followed by her throwing herself at me wrapping her arms around my neck so tightly that I almost lost my balance. Hugging her back, I slowly moved her back.
As soon as she stopped and looked at me, a wary concern crossed her beautiful face. “Aunt Ali, you look awful,” she said as she put one hand on my forehead. I tried to pull back, but the determined teen followed me until her hand was flat on my forehead.
“Aunt Ali, you’re burning up! You never got over that stupid cold, now look at you,” she scolded.
I didn’t need to look at me to know I looked like crap. I was wearing a pair of dark leggings and a light pink thermal top, my hair was pulled into a shitty ponytail, I had no makeup on, my face was pale, my lips were ashen, and I had walked out of my house in my Pokémon slippers. Yet, more reasons why I needed to make my escape from Hudson country, un-noticed. The last thing any woman wants to do is have an awkward moment with an ex-lover looking like shit.
“Please Pepper, I promise I will talk to Jake, I’ll call him and drop this bomb on him. But I can’t see Matt, I’m not up to it…I just need to get home…Please.” I pleaded. I knew how badly she wanted to talk to Jake, but I also knew there was no way I was slipping out of this party without her cooperation.
She raised one brown eyebrow at me and gave me a searching look. “Do you promise you’ll go to a doctor when we get home?” she asked in a tone that sounded far to parental.
I went to answer, but she added, “And not the internet doctor that will let you Skype with him. I mean a real visit, to a real doctor’s office.”
Damn, the little beast knew me well. Sighing, I nodded. I could feel the energy leaving my body every second that I remained. I wasn’t sure how far I’d make it before we’d have to stop for the night, as long as I got out of Carson City, I’d be happy.
“Okay, let’s sneak out around the tables. Matt is here. All the Hudson were really cool and they gave me lots of food, and it was so neat to be included in everything.”
I smiled at Pepper’s enthusiasm. I gave a silent thank-you to the Hudson’s for making her feel welcome. I knew that huge family atmosphere was more than I could ever give her on the mountain.
Letting her lead me through the crowd, I focused on putting one foot in front of the other. We made it to a small gate on the side of the house and Pepper stopped and put her soft hands on my shoulders gently. A horrible cough caught me off guard, and I bent at the waist as I tried to get it under control. When I finally stood, Pepper’s eyes were full of fear and mine were blurry. My throat felt like it was on fire and all I wanted to do was lay down on the fresh grass and go to sleep.
“Aunt Ali, are you sure you can drive?” Pepper asked as her eyes darted toward the party and then back to me.
I just nodded and grabbed my keys out of my pocket. We had just walked through the heavy gate when I heard a familiar bark. I made the mistake of looking back at the party and saw the dog I had rescued from Dublin, running around and chasing a ball that little Logan was throwing to him. I could only stare. He was an entirely different dog, running and jumping with the energy of a puppy. Well, at least the dog was happy. I had been livid when I had gotten to Vegas, and the airline told me that Matt had put the dog on his flight instead. I had tried to call Matt and text him, but he’d ignored me completely. Smiling at the dog’s happy circumstances, I sneezed loudly and turned to follow Pepper to the truck.
Suddenly, the barking was no longer distant. Horrified, I turned and froze when I looked back through the gate and saw the happy Labrador sprinting toward me, his tongue hanging out and his, once sad eyes, were shining with joy. The approaching dog got the attention of the long table filled with Hudsons, but it was the green pair of eyes that were standing off near the far end of the table that had locked mine, that had me breaking into a full run to my truck. Well, a limp run anyway.
Ignoring Matt’s shouts, I unlocked the doors and Pepper, and I threw ourselves into the truck just as Matt Hudson burst through the gate and filled my rearview mirror. I didn’t stop, I didn’t dare look back either. I didn’t know what he was shouting, but I didn’t have it in me to listen to any more of his angry words.
I had driven about a mile down the pitch black road when the fevered dizziness hit me again, and I fought to keep my focus on the road.
“Aunt Ali? Are you okay? Maybe we should stop?” her alarmed voice cut through my fevered fog, and I tried to reassure her that I was fine. Unfortunately, my vision started to darken, and the last thing I heard was Pepper screaming as I crashed through a white fence and into a pond.
Matt
As soon as I saw Alison behind the gate, Chompers at a full run to greet her, I took off running too. By the time I got to the driveway, she was tearing down the road. I couldn’t blame her, after the way I had treated her she probably wasn’t all that inclined to stop and have a conversation. I thought I’d had a chance when Sheriff Jones had called and told Sara that Alison’s niece was at the station. It had taken me a full two hours to convince the sassy teen that I was an idiot and intended to beg her Aunt for mercy. Then the little traitor had turned on me and had helped Alison escape before I could even get within touching distance of her.
Jake walked up behind me and put one hand on my shoulder. I shrugged off his hand and continued to shout at the valet we’d hired to park all the cars. It appeared my truck was blocked in somewhere do
wn the lane, and it was going to be awhile before they would get it out for me. By then Alison and Pepper would be half way to Vegas!
“I’m sorry man. I know this is a bad time, but I was wondering if you knew how old Alison’s niece is?” Jake asked looking down at his feet.
Distracted, I continued to stare down the road but answered, “Fifteen I think, her birthday is next Summer.”
I heard Jake mutter a curse and then squinted against the darkness when I saw a figure running back toward the house. Jake must have seen it too because he smacked my shoulder and we both jogged to meet the running figure.
I recognized Pepper as soon as I saw her blonde ponytail. The fact that her jeans and shoes were wet, and she looked terrified had me running even faster.
“Help, you have to help. Aunt Ali passed out and crashed into a pond!” she screamed before Jake, and I even reached her. Jake got to the pale, terrified teen first and grabbed her up into his arms just as she began to collapse.
“She must be the pond at the end of your ranch,” Jake huffed swinging back toward the house with Pepper.
“Get my brother and Doc Williams, I’m going after Ali!” I shouted as I ran like my life depended on it. When I reached the point in the road where the tire marks veered off, I followed the trail through the crashed fence to pond that Cami had pushed Dalton in last year. Ali’s truck was door deep into the murky pond, and she didn’t lift her head off the steering wheel when I banged on the driver’s side window.
Starting to panic, I tried to open her door, but it was dented from the impact with the fence and wouldn’t open. I waded around to the open passenger door and crawled inside then pulling Ali back to a sitting position. Her head flopped back against the headrest, and I immediately started checking her for injuries. Other than a small scratch on her cheek, I didn’t see any visible injuries, but the woman was burning up. He cheeks were flushed, her glands felt swollen and judging from the Kleenex and cold medicine in the truck, Alison was sick. Not just a little sick, she was full blown, needing a doctor on fire.
“Matt, what’s the situation?” I heard my cousin John ask from the edge of the pond.
“John, Alison is passed out. She has a fever. I can’t get her seat belt off, you have a knife?” I asked without taking my eyes off Alison’s flushed face. Her breathing was wheezy, and I could hear her lungs rattle when she inhaled.
I heard John wading through the water and turned when I felt him nudge my foot. I took the knife he handed me, and I sliced through Alison’s seatbelt. As soon as she was free, I put my arms under her armpits and pulled her as I backed out of the truck. When I finally had my footing, I swung her into my arms. John went ahead of me and opened the door to his truck, I climbed inside with Ali in my arms.
“Reece has Doc Williams back at the house, Jake is having Pepper checked out in the downstairs guest room, and Sara is getting your bed ready for Alison,” John said as he jumped behind the wheel and tore off toward the house. He didn’t say it, but his uneasy glances toward Ali told me he was worried.
John swung his truck around the dark curves like a pro and screeched to a stop in front of the house. Before John could even exit the vehicle, Lucas swung open my door and helped me get out of the truck with Alison still in my arms.
“Pepper.” I panted, knowing Alison would freak if something happened to that girl.
“Jake’s with her, I don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon. Sara has your bed ready, and the doc is waiting for you. John and I will go wench her truck out of the pond and bring it back to the house. Rachel’s getting some clothes for Pepper and Alison but I didn’t tell Dalton since I’m sure he’s kind of busy,” Lucas snorted.
Yeah, Dalton would gladly answer a Hudson call for help. But since Dalton had just won back Cami tonight in a dramatic fashion that included sweeping her up a horse and riding up to a house that he’d built for them, one that she’d designed, I didn’t have the heart to interrupt their reunion.
I followed Lucas into the house and tossed Reece and Synclair a grateful smile when I saw them politely ushering guests to their cars.
I carried Alison up the stairs and smiled weakly at Sara as she moved the sheets back. As soon as I laid her down, I started removing her wet clothes. Sara stood with a laundry bag as I removed all of Alison’s clothes and covered her fevered body up to her chin with a sheet.
“Oh Matthew,” Sara sighed as I covered Alison’s scarred chest.
I looked at her and kissed her on the cheek, “she’s a real survivor Sara, I think she’s perfect,” I whispered.
With a quick hug, Sara took the bag of clothes and left the room as Doc Williams entered. Now that I had her, I was never letting her go.
Ali
I groaned and forced my heavy lids to open. My throat was sore but didn’t feel like a million needles were stabbing it anymore. I fluttered my eyes a few times before I focused on the textured white ceiling above me. Feeling as weak as a newborn kitten, I let my head loll to the right and looked out a white framed, double paned window with a large bare oak tree swaying in the wind.
What had happened? I still felt warm, but I wasn’t burning up as I had been. I struggled to a sitting position but quickly fell back against a stack of soft pillows in exhaustion. I looked around at the warm tan colored walls, the neat lacquered dark, Cherrywood dresser with matching mirror. The bed I was in had gray sheets with a deeper gray comforter. My first assessment was that this room belonged to someone who was immaculate. The lamp, the clock on the nightstand, not only all coordinated but they were all perfectly placed, and there was nothing out of place or the least bit messy.
My heart hammered against my chest when it suddenly dawned on me who’s bed I was in. Matt Hudson. It had to be, no average person was this neat, this color coordinated. Suddenly, it all came rushing back to me, driving to Carson City, looking for Pepper, bolting from Matt and then crashing through a fence.
“Good morning sunshine,” came a familiar voice.
I turned my head weakly toward the voice and squeaked when Matt strode into the room carrying a tray with food on it. I tried to push myself up again, but my arms felt heavy and refused to cooperate.
“Pepper?” I croaked out in a raspy voice.
“Shhh! Don’t talk sweetheart, let your throat heal.” He purred as he set the large tray on top of the nightstand next to the bed.
Shocked by his gentle tone, I actually looked around the room, sure he was talking to someone else. His laughter brought my eyes back to him.
“No, I mean you, Alison,” he chuckled kissing me quickly on the nose.
I pushed back as far as I could into the mountain of pillows behind me and turned my head when the door opened, and Synclair Hudson came in carrying a bottle of pills.
“Hey Ali, welcome back! Pepper will be stoked that you’re awake. That kid has so much energy that I put her to work waiting tables at the restaurant. The customers love her, and I think she likes the tips,” Synclair told me as she handed the bottle of pills to Matt.
“Matt shook one pill out and held it to my lips. Clamping my lips shut against whatever he was trying to shove down my throat, I weakly grabbed his wrist with my hand.
“It’s just an antibiotic Alison, we’ve been waking you up every four hours and having you take them.” He explained trying again to push the pill past my dry, cracked lips. Again I turned my head. Strong fingers pulled my face back around to his and without warning his soft lips brushed mine. As soon as I gasped, Matt shoved the pill in my mouth, grabbed the water glass off the tray, tipped my head back and practically poured the water down my throat before I could stop him. Choking the pill down, I glared at him as he dabbed the water that dribbled out of my mouth, away with a linen napkin.
Using strength I didn’t feel, I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at the infuriating man.
“You two have fun, Wyatt, and I are heading to the diner, we’ll bring you back some Tomato Bisque for dinner, Ali,�
� Synclair called over shoulder as she pulled the door shut, leaving me alone with a smiling Matt Hudson.
“Go away,” I whispered cursing the fact that my voice sounded weak.
He didn’t, of course. Instead, he gently grabbed my shoulders and accomplished what I had been trying to do since I had opened my eyes, he pulled me to a full sitting position and adjusted the pillows behind me to help keep me from sliding back down.
I muttered a grudging thank you and wondered why he was nice to me. Had Taylor passed on the news that I wasn’t pregnant, and this was his relief acting out? It wasn’t like I could sue him for the accident since it was my fault that I crashed through his fence.
“H-how long?” I croaked. Not sure if he understood what I was asking, I went to try again, but his giant index finger was suddenly pushed against my lips. Stunned at the intimate contact, I froze.
“No, Doc Williams wants you to rest your throat. Strep is nothing to mess with, and you had it bad. To answer your question, you’ve been in and out of it for six days.”
I felt the blood drain from my face and as if he had anticipated my reaction, he pushed my shoulders gently but firmly back against the pillows. I struggled to get out of his grasp but even at full health, I was no match for his strength, after six days of fever I had less than a zero percent chance of beating him.
“Have to g-go home.” I managed to say as I weakly pushed against his chest. When he didn’t move, I was so frustrated that I began to sob and struggle weakly.
I was gone six days. What about my animals? I had responsibilities, I didn’t have the luxury of lying in bed for a week. I especially didn’t want Matt’s help. Yes, I owed him for fishing me out of the pond and for caring for me, but I was awake now and the longer I stayed here, the more painful it would be. Besides, after the way things had ended between us, why would he even want me in his house? Maybe he didn’t want to seem heartless to his family, or maybe it was possible he enjoyed having me in this weakened position. Whatever his reason, I needed to get out of here.
No Refunds No Exchanges: A Hudson Family Series- Book 4- Matt and Ali Page 24