Page 23 of Tough Love

The air stalls in my lungs.Who the fuck is Adam?

Reed is plonked on the sofa, watching sports. Probably riding out his hangover from town last night. I can’t remember the lasttime I went out on the town. But then again, my life has been strictly horses and ranching since Jemma.

You can’t have your heart broken if no one has a chance to sink their claws into it.

“Earth to Hudson,” Ma calls.

“Hey, what? Sorry.”

“I was telling Addy you went to New York a few times.” Ma raises her eyebrows. Yeah, because I really want to talk about my ex in front of the woman I can’t get out of my head right now.

“Twice was enough for me.” I take the tray of meat for the grill and walk outside to get started. Ma chats away, trying to make up for my abrupt comment and departure.

“It’s okay, Louisa. I’m used to getting the minimum-word treatment from Hudson.”

My hand stills over the knob of the grill. It’s her fucking birthday, and I can’t even be civilized.Prick.Then it hits me. Did Ma know it was her birthday? It’s not unlike her to invite folks over, but this is far too coincidental for my liking. She likes her, I can tell. Harry’s probably in on it, too.

Never figured my parents would resort to playing matchmaker for their thirty-four-year-old son, but then I guess I haven’t exactly had a life since Jemma. I press and turn the knob and the grill clicks, flame bursting through the iron plate. I toss the steaks and sausages on and they hiss, sending up smoke.

“Need a hand with anything?”

Addy stands in the doorway. Her hands grip the frame as she leans onto it, one foot kicked back. Her brown curls fall around her shoulders, the pink in her cheeks flushing out her freckles, her brown eyes on me. “Your mom said you might need a hand?”

Of course she did.

“Nope.”

She forces a smile and nods slightly before pushing off the frame and walking back inside. God, I am a world-class dick.I drag a hand down my face and resist the urge to groan. Her looking like that and me in close quarters is not a good idea. Charlie appears at my feet, sitting patiently, nose sniffing the steak-aroma-filled air around us. “Not a chance, buddy.”

He lies on the patio and closes his eyes. Laughter comes from the living room. I move to the window. Reed is sitting on the sofa with Addy, facing her with his leg bent over the side of the chair, re-enacting something she’s finding hilarious. He makes an exploding noise, throwing his hands up.

She tosses her head back and loses it. Her laughter is the prettiest thing I have ever heard. And it’s all for my brother and his stupid antics right now. Heat grows in my core, and not in the way it usually does around her. I throw the tongs on the side of the grill and stalk inside.

“Howard, you got a job.” My words are growly, like some kind of Neanderthal. Ma raises an eyebrow and tames a rueful smile before going back to her cooking. Addy pushes off the sofa and excuses herself from Reed’s storytelling. He rolls his eyes at me behind her back.

“Sure, where do you want me?” Addy says.

Reed’s eyes widen as a shit-eating grin splits his face. I give him the look he knows all too well, the one that saysdon’t. Brows lowered, head tilted. He raises his hands like he’s in an old-fashioned stickup and turns back to the TV. The second we get to the doorway, I panic.

Shit, I don’t actually have a job for her. Maybe a healthy dislike for her around any other guy. Even if it is my youngest brother.Especiallyif it’s my youngest brother. She turns back once we’re outside. “What is it?”

She is looking around as if it should be obvious.

“Charlie actually needed you, sore paw or something,” I grunt.

Lame, Hudson.

Fucking lame.

But to my surprise, her eyes light up and she drops to the ground and cuddles him into her lap. This fucking woman, I tell you. The sound of hooves tells me Harry is back from the northern fields. Lunchtime will be as soon as he is washed up and ready. Ma’s rules. He may be the boss, but she captains this ship. The only person on Earth that outranks our father.

The gate swings. Harry wanders toward us down the path. His gaze snags on Addy on the ground with Charlie. “Addy.” He dips his hat, and she ushers Charlie from her lap and brushes off, standing to greet my old man. He asks her polite questions, and she answers.Smooth, Howard.

If he hasn’t taken her down a peg by now, he must like her. Or at least want her around for one reason or another. Pa walks inside. Ma’s calling for him to wash up the second he crosses the threshold. Always predictable, my parents. Reed appears through the doorway and hooks an arm around Addy’s shoulders. “Come on, I’ll show you to the table.”

“Reed?” I call out.

He turns back. The scowl on my face must have said it all, because he removes his arm from Addy. “Oh yeah, that should probably be Huddo’s job.”

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