Remind Me

by Ann Marie Walker

  “It’s lovely,” she offered.

  The corner of his mouth turned up in a shy smile. “I can’t wait to show you the rest. Wait there.” A moment later he was at her door, taking her hand as she stepped out of the car. He led her up the stairs with an almost childlike excitement, but stopped abruptly when they reached the top. Allie heard the faint buzzing of a cell phone as Hudson reached into the pocket of his jeans. He frowned when he read the screen, then silenced it with a push of his thumb. Clearly not the call he’d been hoping for.

  “Give me a minute to grab the bags and check my messages, then I’ll show you around.” He unlocked the door and flipped on a few lights before disappearing down the stairs with his phone pressed to his ear. Allie hoped he’d be able to reach Nick, even if only to hear his voice and know he was okay. But as she thought the words, she realized the odds of that were slim. Nick wasn’t ready to accept Hudson’s help. She shuddered at the thought of how much worse things might get before he was.

  Allie wandered around the great room as she waited for Hudson to return. The modern rustic style was the complete opposite of his sprawling penthouse. Dark beams of distressed wood crisscrossed overhead while wide planks spanned the length of the floors. A fireplace made of tan and gray stones ran the full height of the two-story ceiling, as did the windows that looked out over the treetops. A row of bookshelves held an impressive collection of hardbacks, but the centerpiece of the room was the oversize leather sectional that curved around a tufted ottoman. It was weathered brown leather, the kind she knew without touching would be buttery soft, with tapestry pillows piled on each end.

  To her right was the kitchen. The beamed ceiling and planked floors flowed into the open space, and the same stones that were on the fireplace created a similar hearth around a twelve-burner cooktop. A large island sat in the middle of the room with copper lights strung from the ceiling above it. There was a slab of marble on top that was bigger than most dining room tables, and six barstools were arranged around two of the sides. It was obvious the house had been designed for entertaining.

  A set of glass doors led to an expansive deck off the kitchen. Allie opened them to find a cluster of teak chairs with green-and-tan cushions facing an outdoor fireplace. There were gas torches placed at intervals along railing posts, and in the corner a large hot tub sat perched atop a platform.

  Bet that could tell some stories.

  An unwelcome pang of jealousy twisted in her stomach and she turned her attention back to the view. The sun was beginning its descent and the fading rays cast a gold reflection on the lake below. She sighed. It was the perfect romantic getaway. She knew it was ridiculous, but as she leaned against the railing and gazed out over the tops of the pine trees, part of her couldn’t help but wonder how many other women had enjoyed the same view.

  The door opened behind her. “There you are,” Hudson said.

  “Gorgeous view. How long have you owned the place?”

  “About six months. I bought it in the spring about the same time I bought the penthouse.”

  “Must be a hit with all the ladies.” The words slipped out before she could stop them. She was about to tell him she was sorry and that it was none of her business when his answer left her with nothing but a gaping mouth.

  “You’re the only person I’ve ever brought up here.”

  He held her stare for a long moment, so much going unsaid between them, until Allie broke the awkward silence. “How about that tour?”

  His lips pressed together in a thin line and he nodded. “Right. A tour.”

  She followed him through the kitchen, where he pointed out more high-end appliances she suspected got little to no use, and back into the Great Room. He showed her the two guest suites that made up the rest of the main floor and then held out his hand.

  “Would you like to see the upstairs?” he asked. Seven words that held such promise.

  She placed her hand in his and he gave it a gentle squeeze before leading her up the staircase to the master suite. Hudson’s bedroom had the same devastating view as the great room, even more so given the added height. Leather club chairs sat in front of a fireplace that opened on the other side to what she presumed was the master bathroom, and an acoustic guitar sat propped against the hearth. She would have asked if that was an instrument he actually played, but her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of his larger-than-life bed.

  The headboard and footboard were covered in rich dark-brown leather that was tufted to mimic a chesterfield sofa. As she trailed her hand over the rolled padded edge of the footboard, she couldn’t help but think how similar it looked to the arm of the sofa in Hudson’s game room. Images of blindfolds and leather cuffs consumed her thoughts, and her heart began to pound. A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped. Hudson was suddenly behind her, sweeping her hair to one side as his lips found the curve of her neck.

  “Put this on.” He held out his arm and her babydoll nightgown dropped down from his hand. “And when you return, I want to tie you to my bed.”

  A soft moan escaped her lips as he ran the tip of his tongue up the column of her throat.

  “Look at the bed, Allie.” Her heart raced with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. “Imagine yourself completely at my mercy. Now go change.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Allie kept her eyes closed, doing her best to block out the sunlight flooding the room. She wasn’t ready to wake up. Not when her dreams brought images of silk ties and satin blindfolds. And had that been a feather? And ice? The barrage on her senses had been overwhelming, exhilarating . . . mind-blowing. Her blood began to heat from the memories, and a sleepy smile stretched across her face. She reached out, her hand sliding across the cool sheets, but found nothing but an empty bed.

  She blinked a few times as the room came into focus, then stretched her deliciously sore muscles. Allie had always prided herself on keeping in good shape, even in college when pizza was its own food group, but the past week with Hudson had brought its own unique form of exercise. And speaking of Mr. Insatiable, where was he?

  The bathroom door stood open, with no sounds of running water coming from inside. In fact, the whole room was quiet except for the intermittent chirping of a few birds.

  And a revving engine.

  What the hell?

  Allie sat up, the sheet slipping from her naked body, and looked toward the large picture window. All she could see from her vantage point was a clear blue sky. She peered over the bed where her lace nightie lay in a pile on the floor. Hudson had been so intent on bringing it with him and then had barely left it on her.

  Looks even better on my floor. His words distracted her until the engine revved again.

  With no bathrobe in sight, she wrapped the sheet around her and climbed out of bed to investigate. A pair of French doors led to a small balcony, and when she opened them she discovered Hudson sitting on the driveway below her. On a Harley. Wearing leather.

  Allie’s mouth went dry. Up until then she’d only seen him dressed like a CEO in custom suits or cashmere sweaters. But now he looked like a bad boy from the wrong side of town. Her skin warmed at the sight of him; from his motorcycle boots to his faded jeans to his black leather jacket. She knew she was gawking, but she couldn’t help it. Below her, straddling that sleek black and chrome machine, was the boy she once knew. Only now he was powerful, in control, and if possible, ten times hotter. It was like Hudson Chase 2.0.

  He cut the engine and smiled up at her. “Good morning, sleepy head.”

  “Good morning.” Allie dropped her chin and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. For some reason, she found herself feeling incredibly shy. Perhaps it was being outside in her current state of undress, or perhaps it was their night of raw, uninhibited sex. She felt her face flush just thinking about the things he’d done to her the night before; things she’d like him to do again. She cleared her throat and tried her best to keep her voice level. “So that’s the bike I keep hearing abo
ut?”

  “The very one.” He shifted the motorcycle back to engage the kickstand and climbed off. “Get dressed. We’re going for a ride.”

  A thrill shot through her. “Be right down.”

  Allie hurried back into the house, quickly changing into jeans and a lightweight sweater. She brushed her teeth and pulled her hair into a haphazard ponytail before grabbing her leather jacket and flying down the stairs. She was going for a ride on Hudson Chase’s Harley! When she reached the gravel drive she found Hudson leaning against the bike seat with a helmet in his hands. “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to wake up.”

  “Must be all the fresh air.”

  He raised a brow as he straightened and stepped away from the bike.

  “Well, I would have been up earlier if you hadn’t kept me up all night.”

  “I clearly remember being given specific instructions.” He drew her against him and let his hand glide over the curve of her ass, holding her tight as his hips rolled against hers. “Don’t stop, Hudson. Oh God, don’t stop.”

  Heat pooled between her legs as her traitorous body responded to his words over her wanton behavior. Placing both hands on his chest, she gave him a playful shove. “Well, you can stop now.”

  Hudson chuckled. “Here,” he said, handing Allie the helmet. “Put this on.”

  Allie took the helmet from him and eyed it skeptically. “I don’t think it will fit over my ponytail.”

  “It’s not up for debate. But you might be more comfortable with your hair down.” He reached up and gently tugged the hair tie loose, letting her long blond curls cascade around her shoulders. His knuckles brushed her cheek. “You look beautiful.”

  His touch ignited her skin. She looked up at him from beneath her lashes and began to wonder if they’d make it back in the house, let alone on a bike ride. If he wanted to take her right there on the gravel, she’d probably let him.

  “So how does this thing work?” she asked, breaking the connection. Her hand trembled as she lifted the helmet in the air.

  “Let me.” He carefully lowered the helmet and buckled the chinstrap. When he deemed it sufficiently secure he reached for her jacket, yanking the zipper up to her chin. “It can get cold on the bike.”

  She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. One moment he was reducing her to a puddle on his driveway, and the next he was fussing over her as if she were a child.

  “So where are we headed?” she asked.

  “Thought we’d ride north, grab a bite to eat, and maybe hit one of the wineries. There’s one in a restored mill that looks interesting, and it’s not too far.” Hudson mounted the Harley, strapped on his own helmet, and then started the bike. The engine roared to life. “Get on, baby.”

  Allie took his offered hand and climbed onto the seat behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, her body molding against his, and inhaled deeply. Fresh pine mixed with the scent of his body and the rich smell of leather. She couldn’t think of anything sexier.

  Hudson turned the bike toward the driveway. Once on the road, they took off like a shot. Allie squealed with delight. The power of the engine rumbled through her body and she pressed her thighs tight against his hips. God, this was a turn-on. Why did anyone ever drive a regular car when they could ride a motorcycle instead? She giggled as her naughty thoughts answered her own question. Because they’d end up having roadside sex, that’s why.

  The bike hugged the north side of the lake for a few miles before veering off into a more wooded area. Brightly colored trees lined both sides of the small lane, but the sun still managed to peak through every so often. Allie closed her eyes, tilting her face toward the warm rays. Her hands slipped inside Hudson’s leather jacket and splayed across the fabric of his black T-shirt. She loved the feel of his muscles flexing beneath her hand. She loved the fresh country air and the winding open road. But most of all she loved that Hudson was sharing something with her that obviously meant so much to him.

  They stopped for lunch at a diner, eating greasy food out of paper baskets, and then rode to the winery Hudson had mentioned back at the house. Covered with ivy and trimmed in Wedgewood blue, Stone Creek Winery exuded an old-world charm that made it look as though it had been plucked straight from the French countryside. Hudson pulled the Harley to the front of the limestone building, turned off the bike’s ignition, and rocked it back onto its kickstand. Allie held his arm as she climbed off the bike, and had just unstrapped her helmet when she heard his cell phone ring.

  Hudson fished the phone out of his pocket and frowned at the screen. “I need to take this.”

  “Nick?” she asked. For a moment she was hopeful, but he shook his head.

  “Chase,” he said into the phone. He turned his back to her and wandered a few paces away. “Time isn’t going to improve the offer. Their financial projections are horseshit. They’re out of moves.” He glanced briefly at Allie, who stood by the bike watching him. “Now’s not a good time. Deal with it,” he said, ending the call.

  “Everything all right?”

  “Fine.” He offered nothing more as he took Allie’s hand in his. “Ready to taste some wine?”

  “Lead the way.”

  Hudson led her to the entrance of the winery where he purchased two tickets for the tour and tasting. It turned out he’d been right about the building being a restored mill. Built in the 1860s, it had once housed looms and knitting machines, but in later years the cool underground cellars had proved the perfect environment for fermenting and aging wine.

  After explaining the modern-day process—everything from stemming the grapes to corking the bottles—the guide led their group down a narrow staircase to a cellar full of oak barrels standing over six-feet tall. Small doors sat at the bottom of each barrel and the guide explained how these were once used as a means for winemakers to climb in and clean out the sediment. He opened one, asking if anyone wanted to try squeezing through the tiny hole and offering advice to the takers. “You’ll need to get in a side-plank position, slide in feetfirst, then one arm . . .”

  “No way am I getting in there,” Allie whispered.

  Hudson cocked a brow at the miniature door. “Good, because I wouldn’t be able to come in after you.”

  “It might be fun if you did. Just the two of us, alone in the dark.” The words popped out without much thought, but she went with it and flashed him a devious smile. “Think they’d realize we fell behind the rest of the tour?”

  The corner of Hudson’s mouth quirked up and he shook his head. Apparently she wasn’t the only one wondering what had come over her. He hooked his arm around her neck, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. “Tempting.”

  The tour concluded in a tasting room overlooking Stone Creek. Allie wandered over to the large windows to watch the rushing current channel through the mill’s open-flume water wheel. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “Reminds me of the Little House on the Prairie books.”

  Hudson dropped his mouth to her ear. “Can’t say that’s the first thing that comes to my mind.”

  She tilted her head to the side, almost afraid to ask. But as was the case with everything when it came to Hudson Chase, she was unable to resist. “And what would be the first thing that comes to your mind?”

  He wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her hair. “Laying you out on a blanket creek-side and making out.”

  Allie turned in his arms and looked up at him incredulously. “Making out?”

  His answering smile melted her heart. “For hours.”

  No telling how long they would have stood there grinning like fools if the tour guide hadn’t interrupted, directing them to the bar. “Ladies and gentlemen, the tasting is about to begin.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  The tour guide motioned for everyone to get a little closer. “Squeeze in. We’re all friends now.” Hudson pressed in behind Allie, caging her with his arms as his hands casually gripped the bar. She tilted her head ba
ck against his chest and smiled up at him. That simple smile wrecked him every time.

  “Pay attention. I plan to quiz you later.” His lips brushed her ear and his voiced lowered so only she could hear. “Answer wrong and you’ll get a spanking.” He felt the warm flush of her cheek against his and smiled as she began to fidget with her wineglass, a habit he’d observed when she was unsure of what to say or how to respond. She was given a reprieve by the start of the presentation.

  “We’re going to start off with our Cranberry Blush, a perennial favorite around here.” The tour guide began working his way down the line, pouring a few ounces into everyone’s glasses. He stopped to fill Allie’s, then tilted the bottle over Hudson’s.

  Hudson let go of the bar and covered the glass with his hand. “No, thank you.”

  The guy continued down the line. “This is a sweet grape wine with a touch of fresh Wisconsin cranberry juice added to give it a nice blush color.” He reached the end of the bar and set the bottle down. “Well, don’t just stand there, drink up.”

  Allie twisted around to face Hudson, her lips perched on the edge of her glass. “Aren’t you going to try any?”

  “No, not when I’m driving the bike. However,” his fingertips caressed her cheek, “I do enjoy watching you.”

  Allie took a sip of the wine. “It’s almost too sweet,” she whispered before proceeding to drain the glass.

  He laughed. “Satisfying your sweet tooth? Here I thought it was only chocolate you’d crawl through fire for.”

  “Hmm . . . chocolate sounds good. We should stop at the store and pick up what we need to make s’mores tonight.”

  Hudson’s teeth caught the shell of her ear. “I’d like to lick melted chocolate off your beautiful body.” He heard Allie’s breath catch in her throat and was about to elaborate when the tour guide interrupted.

  “Next we have our Waterfall Riesling,” he announced. Starting at the opposite end of the bar, the guide began pouring wine from a bright blue bottle. “It has a light, semidry sweetness and has won many awards, including the Chairman’s Best of Class last year.”