You Make Me Weak (The Blackwells of Crystal Lake 1)

“No. He’s too pretty.”

Violet made a face. “Braedon Sanders?”

It was Rebecca’s turn to make a face. “Seriously? He’s been with half the girls in town.”

“I know.” Violet giggled. “And he’s supposed to be hung like a horse.” Violet’s smile faded. “This might sound crazy, but there’s Hudson—”

“Are you kidding me?” Rebecca snapped.

“He’s looking this way and—”

“Not gonna happen.”

“Adam says he’s single, divorced or something. He said Hudson was asking after you, and it’s obvious you guys have unfinished business. Maybe the two of you—”

“Are you not hearing me?” Irritated, she glared at her girlfriend.

“O-kaaay,” Violet replied, eyes moving over the crowded room once more. “Who’s it going to be?”

Fueled by vodka and the need to do something about the pathetic state of her personal life, Rebecca scanned the room, eyes on a tall, dark man who’d just walked into the dance. He strode through the crowd until he reached Violet’s husband. Of course Hudson was there, and by the looks of it, the guy was someone they all knew.

“Is that…?”

Violet followed Rebecca’s gaze and frowned. “Ethan Burke. It has to be. God, he got hotter with age.” Violet paused. “Isn’t he going to be your boss?”

“Maybe.” Was it the alcohol talking? “It’s not a done deal from what I’ve heard.”

“You don’t seem to care.”

Rebecca shook her head slowly. “I don’t.”

“Okay, then.” Violet tugged on her arm. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 5

At his job, Hudson was the go-to guy. He was even-keeled, worked well under pressure, and had an uncanny ability to analyze a situation—no matter how dire—and make the right call. He’d dealt with cold-blooded killers, terrorists, the dregs of society, and never lost his cool. His peers called him Ice Man, and though he commanded the respect of his team, there was also a healthy dose of intimidation. No one wanted to cross him. No one wanted to see him lose control, because there was a general feeling that once unleashed, he wasn’t the guy to tangle with.

In fact, some of his crew wondered if he was human.

And yet in the space of a few hours, Rebecca had managed to press just about every goddamn button he owned, and Hudson was on the fast track to losing it. Big-time. He scowled in the general direction of the dance floor, his eyes on one couple only. Christ, how many slow songs were the band going to perform? And how many times was Ethan Burke going to put his hands all over Rebecca?

“You okay, Blackwell?” His buddy, Adam Thorne, watched him closely.

Hudson swore under his breath. Not even close. His jaw was sore from gritting his teeth, and a damn headache was thudding inside his skull. What the hell was he doing here? “I should head home.”

Adam followed his gaze and was silent for a few moments. “You still got a thing for Rebecca.” It wasn’t a question, and Hudson didn’t bother denying it.

“I don’t have a right to feel anything where she’s concerned. Gave that up a long time ago.”

“What happened between you two? You guys were the one couple everyone thought would make it.”

He turned to Adam. Saw the genuine confusion there, but he didn’t want to get into it. The past wasn’t his friend, and he sure as hell didn’t feel like revisiting it tonight.

His scowl deepened, and he considered heading back to the bar, but the thought of waiting for a cab or walking out to the lake stopped him in his tracks. A glance at his watch told him it was nearly midnight, and he’d just decided to head out when a woman stepped into his path. Athletic. Blonde. Dress that didn’t cover much. Killer legs and a smile that promised the kinds of things most men wouldn’t be able to say no to.

Shelli Gouthro. She’d been a good time girl from what he remembered and from the looks of things, not much had changed.

“Hey, Adam.” Her voice literally purred, and his pal nodded before making a lame excuse to go find his wife, leaving Hudson alone with a woman who was sending him all sorts of invites. It was in the way she stood with her chest pushed out. The open stance of her legs. The swipe of her tongue across her mouth. And definitely the hungry look in her eyes.