Page 14 of The Prey
He would love to hold her close like that.
He was practically whistling when he pulled in to the diner.
If it was a real date, he’d go around the front of the truck and help her out. He didn’t dare now. She’d be on to him far too fast, if he did.
As it was, she was sending him littlelooks.Like she knew he was planning something. He was. He most definitely was.
Ryan wanted her attention at the diner, and she seemed more than happy to give it to Hudson’s son, and his sister. He loved watching her with Ryan. She was so open with him, in a way that was beautiful. She and Hala were very good friends. Not just friends because of Greer, either. That was something he hadn’t been aware of until the night of Hala’s date with Sandoval while Hudson had been recovering at the ranch.
Jessica, one of the waitresses who had always seemed a bit grasping where wealthy men were concerned, smiled at him as she brought him another soda. She always had tried to get his attention. She had to be around Gia’s age or so, he thought.
She practically ignored Hala, and gave cursory attention to Ryan. She was almost snide with Gia.
Hala leaned forward after she was gone. “I see she still hates your guts.”
Gia looked at Ryan, who was busy coloring his children’s menu and not paying attention. “Pining for Grady, maybe?”
“Poor thing. I mean Grady, and since your brother irritates the bananas out of me, that is saying a lot. That woman is a barracuda.”
“More of a piranha. Definitely. I believe she thinks I was solely responsible for what happened, but it was Genny’s idea, really.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m missing something?” He wanted Gia to look at him. He was pitiful here. “What did Genny do?”
“Called Jessica’shusbandat the time,and told him Grady was threatening a restraining order if Jessica tried to grope him like that ever again. Which really wasn’t that far from the truth, actually. That girl would not stop pawing my poor, innocent big brother like that. We may have gone a bit overboard.”
“That was absolutely hilarious,” Hala said, giving the diabolical grin Ryan had also inherited. “I was in town with Greer. We figured out what to say and do to save the lunkhead. He can be totally clueless where women are concerned.”
“He always is, poor guy. We shouldn’t tease him like we do, but... But he’s very sweet and kind, and a little shy, actually. When he finally does marry a woman, he’ll adore her, and pamper her ridiculously, and completely drive her crazy. But…she’ll always feel safe with him. He’d cut off his own arm before he hurt someone he loves—especially women. He’s been that way since…Greer.”
Hala got quiet for a moment, then she finally said something about that. “I’m sure he will.”
Talk turned to Chantal and Genny and whether they were going to have a double wedding or not. And then they were talking about their friends Aubrey and Ayla. And speculating about just what was going on with Gunn and the little blonde. No one knew what was going on there at all—Hudson definitely didn’t, though he thought Gunn had a thing for her.
Ryan ended up on Gia’s lap, while Hala stepped up to the counter to speak with a former classmate and take care of the bill with the card Hudson gave her. Somehow, Ryan got Gia’s hair undone, and was running sticky fingers through it, while he snuggled closer. “I’m sleepy. I like it when you hold me. You smell pretty.”
“He’s still not sleeping well because of the cast,” Hudson said. “I can take him.”
“I don’t mind.” She settled Ryan expertly in her lap and rocked gently. Ryan’s hand tangled in the lapel of that stupid brown jacket of hers.
“He’s getting pancake syrup all over your jacket.” He liked seeing the two of them like that, with his sister, too. The peoplewho mattered most to him, right there in front of him. Nothing could replace that feeling.
“It’ll wash.” Her arms tightened on Ryan in a way that melted Hudson straight through. “They are only this little for a short while.”
“I know.” He definitely wanted more kids. With a woman he trusted to love them as much as he would. In that moment, Hudson knewexactlywhat he wanted going forward.
Hudson wasn’t used to hesitating when he knew something wasright.Call it gut or intuition, but it hadn’t ever served him wrong.
Lunch ended quicker than he wanted. He had a meeting in thirty minutes and needed to prep for it. Hala was going to take Ryan back to Hudson’s place and stay for dinner. Gia stood, Ryan almost asleep in her arms. Hudson put his hand on her back, to steady her.
His hand lingered. Hell, he just couldn’t help himself. He wanted to touch her. He pulled her closer when a crowd of retirees came by, chattering. He smiled when one older man turned to him and told him he had a beautiful family, so quietly Gia didn’t hear, while she was speaking with a woman she knew at the next table.
Hudson thanked the man softly. Then looked at her, when she turned back toward him, a question in her eyes.
He wanted the right to kiss the hell out of her right there for the entire town to see. He wanted to shout that Giavonna Hiller was going to behis,no matter what.
What in the hell had the womandoneto him? Sexual attraction—yes, he’d rather not missedthat.But this? This felt so much more than that.
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