What Love Looks Like

“Did you leave your kids in the room alone?” I ask when the elevator doors open. He’s standing in it alone, dressed in a pair of gray sweats—that should come with a warning label—and a white T-shirt stretched across his chest.

“I don’t claim to be an expert in parenting by any means, but even I know not to leave my eight- and five-year-old alone. They’d probably blow something up.” He laughs, but his tone conveys he doesn’t doubt they would actually do such a thing if left alone.

“You ready to watch a movie?” he asks Abby, who’s clinging to my leg.

“Yes,” she says softly. “Can we have popcorn too? Mommy and I always have popcorn when we watch movies.”

“I think I can make that happen,” Hudson tells her with a nod.

“Umm, Hudson. Where are your kids?” I ask. Because if they’re not alone, where are they? And then it hits me… “Wait, where were they last night?”

“With Joanie.”

The elevator dings, and the doors open. When we step into the hallway, I notice there are only two doors, unlike my floor, which has like fifty.

Hudson places his phone against the door, and it clicks open. “Come on in,” he says, swinging it open and letting us pass by.

“Abby!” Presley yells, running out from somewhere. She’s freshly dressed, and her hair is done in perfect pigtails. “Come help me choose the movie.”

The girls run through the living room and disappear, leaving Hudson and me alone. He steps toward me until we’re so close, I can smell his fresh, masculine scent. “I was worried I scared you off with my texts, but I meant what I said. I want to spend more time with you.”

“Our time is limited,” I say out loud, reminding us both.

“I know,” he agrees. “But I’ve learned the hard way that our time on earth is limited, and instead of worrying about tomorrow, I’d rather just live for right now.”

His words are filled with emotion, and I want to ask him what happened to teach him that lesson, but before I can, a woman appears, making me push Hudson away.

“What…?” he begins, and then notices the woman as well. “Joanie, I’d like for you to meet Sawyer. She’s Abby’s mom.”

“Ahh,” the woman says, shaking my hand. “I’ve heard all about Abby… and you.” She winks playfully, making Hudson groan under his breath.

“You have?” I ask confused, wondering who the heck this woman is. She seems several years younger than Hudson. Maybe around my age. Could she be his sister? Oh, God, please don’t let it be his wife. “And who are you?” I ask, needing to know what I’ve just walked into. Please don’t let it be some weird open marriage arrangement.

“Oh, sorry,” Hudson says. “Joanie is Lucas and Presley’s nanny. She’s with them when I can’t be during the season and joins us on the occasional trip. She’s been with them since Presley was born.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I tell her. “Will you be watching the movie with us?”

“Oh, no,” she says with a soft laugh. “The bar is playing live music, so I’m going to go check it out. If you need anything…”

“Thanks,” Hudson says. “We’re good. Enjoy your night.”

With a smile, she’s out the door, and it’s just Hudson and me again.

“Is she staying here with you guys?”

“No, she has her own room next door. I normally don’t bring her on family trips, but a few friends mentioned possibly coming down, so I offered her a two-week paid vacation to tag along, and she couldn’t resist.”

“I don’t blame her,” I say with a laugh.

Hudson pushes me gently against the counter, his hands caging me in. “I have to admit, her coming along has already come in handy.”

“How’s that?” I breathe, my body warming at our close contact.

“For one, I was able to stay out all night with you last night…” He stamps a kiss to the corner of my mouth, and my chest tightens in response. “And two, she’ll be able to watch all the kids when I ask you out on a date and you say yes.”

He presses his lips to mine for a soft, chaste kiss before he pulls back. “So, what do you say, Sawyer? Will you go out with me tomorrow night?”

I mentally shake my head, clearing the lust-filled fog as I try to think of a reason to say no. Because right now, the only word I want to speak is yes, yes, yes. And then I remember… “I don’t have a sitter. My sister and her husband left. They’re who watched Abby last night.”

“That’s what Joanie’s for,” Hudson replies. “I know you don’t know her, but she comes from one of the top nanny services with a background in education. She’s trained in CPR and, as I mentioned, has been with my kids for five years.”