The Right Moment

by Heatherly Bell

  He didn’t miss the “our life” instead of “my life” and it kick-started his heart.

  “I hate to say this, but you know that I could pay him a visit. He’s afraid of me.”

  “For good reason. But you shouldn’t have to do that.” She rubbed her cheek against his jaw. “I will keep it as an option, though.”

  Because Hud wondered how Chuck could ever be out of her life without paying her back. The irritation would always be in the back of her mind, but with some luck, in time it would fade. Hud could fill her mind and life with many other distractions. Trips. More picnics. Lots and lots of great sex.

  Until one day the guy would be nothing more than an unpleasant memory.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Oh, my heart.

  Hud had believed that she wasn’t going to get over Chuck anytime soon, and he was willing to wait until she did. Until she was ready to give back the stupid ring even without getting any money back. Knowing how Hud felt about the ring in the first place, she didn’t think she’d ever loved him as much as she did in that moment.

  She sealed her words and thoughts with a kiss, which he then took over, and they both quickly got wild and out of control, fogging up the windows. Her hand was on his muscular thigh while he got handsy under her bra, tweaking a nipple and making her moan. The console between them was hardly a match for their determination. She pressed against him, her elbow bumping a visor and then the rearview mirror. They still acted like a couple of horny teenagers.

  God, she hoped that would never change.

  Then, either Hud or she accidentally pressed the horn, and she jumped.

  He burst into laughter. “I think we can afford to go inside now. We don’t have to do this in a car anymore.”

  She agreed, but there was also something so memorable about these moments alone. The memories were warm and thrilling. They slid into her heart and plundered deep. He’d always meant excitement to her. Danger. As a teenager she’d been so attracted to that. Now here was this grown man that to her meant safety as much as frenzy. Passion. The combination never failed to enthrall her. Swept away in his kisses, she forgot anything painful had ever happened. He never failed to stoke her desires to fiery levels.

  Always, there was a kind of ease between them. Like they’d been together, this way, for years instead of days.

  Inside, he led her to the bedroom, where he pulled off his shirt. No one wore a shirt like Hudson Decker did, but shirtless Hud was a sight to behold. She wasn’t ever going to get tired of running the pads of her fingers over those hard planes and granite muscles.

  She did so now and loved the way they bunched under her touch. “I wish we could always feel this way.”

  He met her gaze, eyes hot and serious. “Maybe it’s possible, with the right person.”

  She turned, giving him her back and he slowly slid down the zipper of her dress. He nuzzled her neck as it slowly slid to the floor in a puddle at her feet.

  “If not with you, then I don’t think it’s possible for me.” She stepped out of her dress and into his arms.

  His rough large hands slid up and down her spine, leaving trails of tingles. “It’s possible.”

  They seemed to move slower tonight, his fierceness held just below the surface, or tamed. One finger looped under the strap of her bra and he slipped it down, cupping her breast. He bent low to cover it with his mouth, sucking almost reverently through the silky material. When he uncovered it and took in her nipple, the sensation of his mouth and hot tongue directly on her naked skin made her gasp.

  He moved lower and then lower still, falling to his knees as he kissed her belly button and lingered there. His hands cupped her behind, squeezing as his tongue teased around the line of her sheer panties. She could barely hold a moan in as he lowered them, spreading her thighs. He licked and stroked her folds until she was a quivering mess, holding on to his shoulders, barely able to keep herself upright on limp and useless legs.

  Holding on to her butt, he lifted her and set her on the bed where she went to her knees and pulled him close by the loop of his pants.

  “These need to come off,” she said, kissing his pec as she worked his buckle.

  “Way ahead of you, baby.”

  His hands were a lot faster than hers and he stepped out of his pants and boxer briefs, the evidence clear that he was just as ready as she was. He took a condom from the nightstand, quickly ripped it and slipped it on. Then he rolled on top of her, his warm and strong body covering hers.

  “Hmm. I won’t ever get tired of this. You, naked. Stay that way for me, would you?”

  “I’ll try.” She wrapped her legs around him, feeling his hardness as he pressed against her belly.

  In the next moment, he braced above her and thrust inside her. As he went deeper, she reached for him, touching him everywhere her hands could reach, urging him faster. The bed creaked under the force of their weight and lovemaking.

  “Jo, baby. So good.”

  “Yes, yes. Oh, Hud.” He swallowed her moan with a deep kiss. In the next moment she crested that powerful and intense wave of pleasure rippling through her, as she trembled and shook with her release.

  A few more strokes and Hud groaned his own pleasure.

  They were both out of breath and sweaty as they collapsed in each other’s arms, spent. Joanne burrowed her face in his warm neck and threw her leg over his, trying to catch her breath. Trying to make sense out of her feelings.

  Because the warmth that seeped into her heart was caused by more than an orgasm. More to do with his taking care of her first, always certain she’d enjoy herself as much as he did. It had to do with something deeper. Rarer. She loved him. Admired the man that he’d become. A man who put his friends first, who even put the welfare of others above his own in his chosen profession.

  But far from the reckless kid he’d been, she could now see he only took calculated risks. He’d never walk into a fire unprepared or without an exit plan. He didn’t make rash decisions out of anger. His temper was righteous and controlled. And above all she trusted him more than she ever had any other man in her life except her father. The L word had scared Hud once before and it might again. She didn’t think so, not this time, but she had to know. The sooner the better.

  Especially when her body buzzed and pulsed with the desire to tell him how much he meant to her.

  She disentangled from his arms and sat, keeping the covers over her breasts. “I want to tell you something, but you have to promise me you won’t freak out.”

  “Promise.” His brow furrowed in concern. “But the way you pulled away from me right now is freaking me out.”

  At one time, he might not have been mature enough to tell her that. She appreciated the way he’d grown into his emotions. He was comfortable in his skin. She let out a deep breath. This time she could say the words and know they didn’t have any conditions or expectations attached to them. He didn’t have to love her or change her life. He owed her nothing in return.

  She was strong without him, but even stronger with him.

  “It’s because what I have to tell you is serious. And I didn’t want you think I’d say this because you have such a great body. Because you do, of course. Or that I’d tell you this because you’re such a great lover. Which, of course, you are. But you know that.” Now she was rambling.

  “Spit it out, Jo.” He narrowed his eyes.

  She met his eyes. “I love you.”

  He reached for her, a smile on his lips, his mouth already forming a word, but she stopped him with a finger on his lips. “Shh. Wait. You don’t have to say anything, okay? Just sit with it. Know it.”

  He quirked a brow until she lowered her finger from his mouth. “Whatever you say. But this is me, not freaking out.”

  She had to laugh. “Look at us, all grown-up.”

  “The second time
around is better, or so I hear.”

  “That’s true, I think.” She climbed out of bed and sprinted toward the bathroom. “Meet me in the shower and let me see if the second time around tonight is even better.”

  “Right behind you.”

  And in fact, he almost got to the shower before she did.

  * * *

  The next morning, Jo rolled and stretched like a cat. Hud was not next to her in bed, but she heard sounds in the kitchen. Smelled the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and practically salivated. Heard the sizzle of butter in a pan. He was banging around in her kitchen, making them breakfast. A man who’d already captured her heart, simply showing off now.

  Yes, I love you. When are you going to stop being so perfect?

  “Hud? Coffee, please,” she moaned in her caffeine-deprived state, wondering if she should bother to get dressed.

  Lately, she enjoyed her constant state of nakedness around the house.

  “Stay there,” he called out. “I’ll bring it.”

  There was not much point in dressing when everything would come off sooner rather than later. When Hud was around—and lately that was every day that he wasn’t with his crew—she pretty much lived in her fuzzy bathrobe and nothing else. Soon enough this kind of lifestyle would change. Hunter would be home in another week and life would return to normal. She’d take off her lover hat and put on her boring mother-of-a-teenager hat. She had no doubt that Hud would stick around, but no idea what their new situation would look like. He’d have to be patient and understand that she was a mother and couldn’t always drop everything for him.

  And Hud probably wasn’t used to that in any other of his prior relationships. Why would he be? He hadn’t even dated another single mother. “Too complicated,” he’d once said, another red flag and reason she thought they would never work. Either he’d apparently changed his mind about “complicated” or he just had no idea what he would be walking into. It was one thing to be her son’s friend and pseudo uncle, but this new and complicated relationship was going to be tough on everyone.

  Joanne rolled on her back, and a moment later heard the front door slam. Then her son’s voice. “You’re always here!”

  Oh. My. God. Code three! Or whatever first responders said when it was an emergency. Joanne leaped out of bed and shut her bedroom door, locked it, then proceeded to put on as many clothes as she could find. Quickly. She could hear only muffled voices now, Hud’s deeper more commanding voice, followed by her son’s. It was imperative that she get out there, stat, and explain. Fix this. Maybe she could say that Hud slept on the couch and was making them breakfast. She’d slept in. In her clothes, of course. She’d slept in her clothes. That was her story and she was sticking to it.

  “Hi, honey,” Joanne said, walking into the kitchen. “I heard you come in.”

  But Hud stood in the middle of the kitchen, shirtless, wearing nothing but his jeans, low on his hips. He gave her a little smirk and shrugged.

  Walking past her, he stopped to press a kiss against her temple. “Going to put on a shirt.”

  “Good idea,” she said on a sigh.

  Hunter glared at her, looking disgusted. “I came by to have you sign a permission slip.” He threw it on the counter.

  “Fine,” she said, taking out a pen to sign it, and barely looking at it. Some kind of field trip. Matt’s signature was already on it. She handed it back. “I’m sorry we shocked you.”

  He snorted. “I’m not shocked.”

  “I would have told you about us, but I was waiting until you came back home from your dad’s.”

  “This is how it’s going to be now? Hud always over here? Is he moving in?”

  She held up a palm. “Okay, slow down. We haven’t talked about a lot of these things. No, he’s not moving in.”

  “Because Chuck never even lived here. Our house is too small.”

  It wasn’t much smaller than Matt and Sarah’s, ironically, and that seemed to be just fine with Hunter. Joanne would be upset by the double standard, but she’d set it up this way. She’d never really had a man in the house, wanting Hunter to feel comfortable in their home. Never threatened. Chuck was to have been the first man to live with them. Her husband. Now she wondered why she’d made it so easy for Hunter to accept the fact that she’d always been alone. Yet Matt was already married and even before he had been, Sarah had lived with him.

  “I don’t want you to get upset, but this is how it’s going to be. Hud and I...we’re in a relationship. You’ll have to get used to that.”

  “I’m not going to get used to it. First Chuck, now Hud. What if Hud leaves you at the altar too?”

  “Whoa. You are getting way ahead of yourself.”

  “Well, I don’t want to live here anymore if Hud’s always going to be around.”

  “That’s not fair. Your dad has Sarah and you don’t seem to mind that.”

  “Yeah, we all get along okay. Maybe I should go live there.”

  Fear pierced through Joanne at the thought that her only child would leave her home. Her home, where she could keep him safe from harm and life altering mistakes.

  “No, you shouldn’t.” Joanne fought to keep her cool. “You belong here. That hasn’t changed.”

  “Yeah? If you want to be with Hud, then maybe I want to go live with my dad.” He turned to go, and it was then that she heard keys jiggling in his pockets.

  “Wait. Don’t you need a ride back? I’ll let you drive.”

  “No need,” he said, holding up car keys. “I got my license two days ago. Dad let me borrow the car.”

  “You got your license? Already?”

  Why would Matt do this? It had been six months since Hunter had obtained his permit, but they were supposed to talk over these kinds of huge decisions together. Coparent. As usual, he was the popular parent. She was the uncool, conservative, nutrition-minded, strict parent.

  “Why not? I already had the driving hours logged in, and the test was super easy. Sarah took me. Passed on the first try.”

  Oh, of course he had! Her son was a genius when he wanted to be. Joanne crossed her arms. “I’m going to talk to your father about this. He should have run it by me.”

  “Great!” Hunter rolled his eyes and then he was out the door, hand held up in a half wave.

  Joanne ran to the window to watch him drive off, half expecting him to peal out in anger. But her son didn’t do anything of the sort. He drove Matt’s SUV slowly down the cul-de-sac. And then Hud’s strong arms were around her, pulling her back to him, dipping his head in the crook of her shoulder.

  “I’ll talk to him.”

  “I’m sorry. You didn’t sign up for this drama.”

  “Yeah, I did. I signed up for it all.” He turned her to face him. “I’m going to make this better. Whatever it takes, I’m going to make us work. He may not like it at first, but he’ll get used to me being around here more often.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t shove it in his face that we’re sleeping together.”

  “Probably a good idea, but too late on that one.”

  She plunked her forehead to his chest, groaning. “I know.”

  “Leave it to me, baby. He’s not leaving your home. I’ll fix this.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next day, Joanne made arrangements to meet Chuck in a public place and give him back the ring. She chose the coffee and pastry shop in town, The Drip, and he agreed easily, probably not wanting a scene.

  He was already seated when she arrived and gave her a forced smile. “Joanne.”

  “Hey there. Joanne is glad that Chuck is here on time.” Sue her, she couldn’t resist.

  Chuck simply blinked. Maybe he now realized how stupid he sounded. “Again, I’m sorry.”

  Oh yes, yes, she’d forgotten. That fixed everything. He was sorry.

  �
��You don’t have to keep saying that.” She fished in her purse for the ring and planted it in front of him. “There.”

  He picked the ring up and palmed it. “Thanks. What made you change your mind?”

  “Hud convinced me.”

  “I figured he would have something to do with it.” Chuck frowned. “He’s always there, isn’t he?”

  Joanne briefly considered telling Chuck that he resembled a sullen teenage boy at the moment, then decided she wouldn’t go there. When he and Hunter had been together, she’d dealt with two difficult “boys” making her feel like a mediator half the time. Chuck had claimed to like Hunter and want more children, but he’d hardly even tried to get along with Hunter.

  I’ve been such an idiot. Why was I even marrying Chuck?

  It hurt to believe she’d been so desperate not to wind up alone. But with a son who had one foot out the door, it was true that she’d made stupid snap decisions. It was time to stop making those. And if this didn’t work out again with Hud and she wound up alone for the rest of her life, she’d somehow deal. Because no matter what happened, she wasn’t settling for less than everything. Never again.

  “Look, I don’t care what you think of Hud. The point is, you did a lousy thing. Do you have any idea how humiliating this all has been for me?”

  “Not really.” He shrugged.

  “My business has suffered because of you. Brides tend to be a superstitious group. Just like baseball players. The real reason I’m giving you back the ring is that I don’t want Hud to believe I haven’t moved on, because I have.”

  Joanne had been in the bridal industry for over a decade, and she’d heard it all through the grapevine. Everything from bridesmaids getting caught making out with the groom before the wedding, to a last-minute hurrah between the bride and her ex. Caught on video. The actual wedding day could get crazy when one mixed drinking with latent desires of the heart.

  Not to mention the marriage itself, when the bride forced herself to ignore the man she really wanted, for the only one she thought she could have.