Cooper (The Family Simon 6)

Date? The word didn’t come close to what he’d shared with Becca. She’d been in his blood like a wildfire, one that could never be doused.

“Huds, I’m scared.”

Her blonde hair fell around golden shoulders, rippling waves that glistened in the moonlight. The big blue eyes staring up at him were the kind you could get lost in. The kind that made a guy think of things. Like getting lost inside Rebecca Draper.

“I’ve never done this before.” Her voice faltered, those big eyes falling away from him and his chest filled with something he didn’t quite understand. But in that moment he knew she was important. She meant something more. Something he needed. Something he wanted.

Hudson’s young body, taut and hard and aching with desire, gathered her in his arms. “Neither have I,” he managed to say.

The memory disappeared as quick as it’d come and shaking his head, Hudson ran his hand through his hair. Christ, she was back here? What the hell were the odds in that? This town was small. Insular. He’d run into her for sure. He wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about that. The thought of seeing her with her husband and probably a pack of kids wasn’t something he relished.

That had been his dream once. Until he’d screwed it up.

“I didn’t know,” he muttered. “How is she?”

“You guys will catch up.”

“Not sure she’d want that.” The words were out before he thought better and Jake’s eyes narrowed a bit before glancing over Hudson’s shoulder.

“I guess you’re gonna find out.”

Hudson followed Jake’s gaze, settling on the woman who’d walked into the Coach House a few minutes earlier. She was at the far end, behind the bar, her back turned to him. Blond hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, exposing the delicate lines of a neck he was way too familiar with. She turned slightly, smiling up at hulking bartender guy and Hudson couldn’t tear his gaze from the curve of her cheek, the small upturned nose, and a mouth that had driven him to the edge more times than he deserved.

She put her hand on the bartender’s forearm, and damn if that didn’t pull at some kind of Tarzan thing inside him. Hudson didn’t like it—not one bit—and that was plain stupid. He had no claim on this woman and hadn’t for a very long time. Not since the night he left town, the night he’d left her at the end of her driveway sobbing her damn heart out.

“Take me with you.”

She’d pleaded with him and the plea had turned into a scream as he’d gotten in his truck, letting the shadows cover him and the tears burning the backs of his eyes. It was a scream he heard long after that night.

He watched Rebecca for a good five seconds or so. Watched as she grabbed up several beer mugs from under the counter and set them on the bar. As she turned to the till and had a peek inside. As she scooped up a rag and moved down the bar. As she smiled at the lone customer who raised his glass in hello.

As her eyes met his and her smile slowly faded.

They were still as blue as the ocean and damn, but Becca was more beautiful than he remembered. She was beautiful and fragile and delicate and…

He took a step forward, his body acting before his mind could tell him to calm the hell down. Her eyes widened, that mouth of hers parted as if she was finding it hard to breathe. He got that. He felt like he was drowning.

Her hand went to her throat and then fell back to the rag in her other hand. She slowly turned away from him, grabbed one of the empty mugs and began to fill it. She placed it in front of her customer, said something to hulking bartender guy and disappeared into the back room.

Just like that, he’d been dismissed.

“I take it things didn’t end well between you two,” Jake said quietly.

“That would be an understatement.”

Hudson stared after her for a long time before heading outside. His mood blacker than ever, he slid into his truck, jaw clenched tight, hands fisted on the wheel. He never should have come back here.

What the hell had he been thinking?