by Lucy Snow
When I was done using the bathroom I crept back out into the bedroom and got very quiet. Off in the distance I could hear some commotion, and I decided to head in that direction.
It took a little bit of sleuthing - the condo was bigger than I thought, and there were a few rooms in between where I started and where the sound was coming from. Along the way, I stopped for a minute in each room, looking at the art on the walls, the family photos propped up on end tables. The photos were all of people smiling - the art was all landscapes or abstract stuff.
It had never occurred to me that the team prankster Hudson Asher would also collect art. It just struck me as the biggest contradiction I’d come across in a long time, and I could only shake my head and laugh.
I had to say this, though, he had really good taste. There was a lot more to Hudson Asher than just a gorgeous body.
Though to be fair, I wasn’t discounting how sexy that body was. Nope, I couldn’t do that, not for a second.
Finally, I made it to the source of the sound. Turning the corner, I arrived at the kitchen, and found Hudson standing on the other side of the kitchen island, facing away from me. All I could see was that he was wearing loose pants and no shirt.
But he also had an apron and chef’s hat on. My eyes flicked to the clock on the wall. It was 6am.
“Ahem,” I said, clearing my throat.
Hudson spun around. “Mack!” he said, a smile coming to his face. “You’re awake! How do you feel?”
I smiled back. “Good, thanks. I feel pretty good, all things considered.”
Hudson’s apron said “KISS THE CHEF” on it in big letters, and his chef’s hat said “CHEF” on it, with an arrow pointing down. I cracked up, almost doubling over in laughter.
“Excuse me?” Hudson had his hands on his waist, but he was smiling. “Are you disrespecting the chef in his own kitchen?”
“No, no, nothing like that!” I managed to squeak out, still laughing. “I would never do that.” I leaned agains the island, holding myself up. “You’re clearly a very accomplished chef.”
“That’s a little bit better,” he said, sliding a steaming mug of coffee over the island toward me. “That’s enough to get you coffee. Cream and sugar are extra.” He winked at me.
It was a sexy wink. Though I had to be honest with myself, at this point, Hudson Asher could read the phone book out loud to me and I’d get turned on.
“No cream and sugar for me,” I said, picking up the mug and breathing in the scent. It smelled perfect. I took a quick sip, closing my eyes and feeling the warmth flow through me. I hated that coffee was so important to me, but I had long ago stopped fighting against my addiction.
“That’s rare for a girl,” Hudson said as he turned around and focused on the stove behind him.
I set the mug back down after a few sips and watched him cook. He didn’t have a shirt on, so I could see his tattoos snake out over his broad back, covered in muscles that pulsed and moved as he did his thing. I’d seen the tattoos before, but never with just the two of us present, with the time to look at them and see how intricate they were.
I knew I was staring and I didn’t care.
After a couple minutes, Hud finished cooking, turned off the stove, and poured the eggs he’d made into a big plate. On the other side, he set down sausage links and bacon strips, cooked to crispy perfection, just as the toaster oven announced that the hash browns were done.
My mouth was already watering as Hudson put the plates on the small high table with two almost-standing chairs next to it. I brought my coffee over and sat down, but before he did, Hudson took off the apron and chef’s hat, setting them on the kitchen island.
If it looked weird that I was at the table in a cocktail dress from the previous night, and my erstwhile protector wore nothing except sweatpants that said “PATRIOTS” down the leg, I didn’t notice, mainly because I was way too hungry to care, but also because I liked looking at Hudson in various states of disarray.
We ate in mostly silence, both of us wolfing down the food as fast as we could. I knew I had to get out of there soon, because I had to get my car back from the hall and get ready for a full day at the office, and Hudson had to get to the facility soon too for morning meetings and workouts. It was playoff time, and it was all hands on deck during business hours.
There was one more thing, though. “Hudson,” I said, putting my spoon down. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me last night.”
“Don’t mention it, Mack,” Hudson said, still eating, but slower now. “I would have done it for anyone; that guy was totally wrong for you.”
While it felt good to hear that Hudson was a great guy, I couldn’t deny the twinge of unhappiness when he said he would have helped any woman out in that situation. I wanted to feel like I was special in his eyes, as bad as that sounded. “Well, all the same, I’m really grateful.”
Hudson nodded and kept eating; I was shocked at how much food he could put away until I looked at my own empty plate and realized I was still hungry. “Go on,” Hudson said, indicating the big plate in the center, “take more, there’s plenty.”
I smiled and pulled more eggs and bacon onto my plate. The food was delicious, simple but with just the right amount of kick. I looked around the room and saw all the cooking gizmos and tools he had lying around, all of them looking well used. Hudson was clearly no stranger to the kitchen - yet another thing about him that I wouldn’t have guessed.
There was much more to this 14 year old trapped in a 32 year old behemoth’s body than met the eye. Though my eyes certainly enjoyed the view all the same.
“There’s one more thing, Hudson,” I piped up in between more bites.
“Yeah?”
“This is gonna sound weird,” I started, seeing Hudson tense up as he understood my words, “but please don’t tell anyone about what happened last night. The whole thing with Steve, you know.”
“I remember, Mack.” His face was stark and dark. “I was there.”
“Yeah, well, it worked out alright, I just don’t want to make a big deal out of it, OK?”
“You’re sure that’s a good idea?” Hudson sounded skeptical.
I set my spoon down, breathing out. “Yeah, I’m sure. I know it may not seem like it, but I think that’s best for me. I don’t want to deal with it right now, not with the playoffs here, not with my father the way he is.”
At the mention of my father, Hudson’s eyes clouded over. Then he slowly nodded. “Alright, Mack, it’s your call. I won’t tell anyone. But I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Thank you.” I looked up at the clock and realized the time. “I have to get home, Hudson. And then both of us need to get to the facility.”
Hudson started to stand up. “I can give you a ride…” He gathered my plate and his and went to the sink, washing them.
“No, no, thank you, but you’ve done enough.” Truth was, I wasn’t relishing another ride on his motorcycle so soon, even though I would love to be that close to him again. “I’ll call a cab.”
Hudson nodded, and I went back to the living room and found my purse, pulling my phone out and calling for a cab. I went back to the kitchen, watching as Hudson methodically did the dishes, taking his time and being thorough.
I watched while checking my phone every few minutes for the cab. It struck me as hilarious that in a couple hours this giant of a man would have pads on and be running around a field charging into other men similarly bent on beating him up, but right now he was the very model of tranquility.
It was really appealing.
My phone chimed, and I saw the cab had arrived. I put my shoes on and went to the kitchen. Hudson seemed to have forgotten I was there, he was so wrapped up in his kitchen stuff. I didn’t want to disturb him, but I had to leave.
I tapped him on the shoulder. Hudson put the dishes down and turned around, wiping his hands on a towel. “My cab is here,” I whispered.
“Yeah,” he whispered back.
Hudson sighed. “You’re welcome, Mack. I’m glad I could help.”
I pulled back, staring into his eyes, then I leaned in, pressing my lips against his, inwardly laughing at the shock I could feel ripple through him. Then he was kissing me back.
It was perfect. I felt his bare chest on me through my dress, and his strong arms keeping me up, and he tasted wonderful as we kissed over and over again. I felt his hot breath on me, and his heartbeat went up, but not even close to how much mine was racing.
My phone chimed again, almost angrier this time, and I pulled back, breaking the kiss.
Hudson slowly let me down to the floor, but it was clear that neither of us wanted to let go. “What was that for?” He breathed.
“Your apron told me to,” I whispered back, then grabbed my bag and headed out. I didn’t even look back, but I knew Hudson’s eyes followed me as long as they could.
It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but in the moment, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
CHAPTER 06 - HUDSON
When you have a morning like that, and a kiss like that to start your day off after a good meal, the rest of the day feels like the volume has been turned down.
I couldn’t even remember showering and getting dressed, couldn’t tell you how bumpy the ride to the facility was, and I didn’t even remember who I had talked to on the way to the locker room after the first meetings of the day.
It was all a haze. A haze that smelled like Mackenzie Mayfield, a haze that lingered on my lips like Mackenzie Mayfield’s lips did.
All of a sudden I shook myself out of my stupor as I trudged onto the practice field with my brothers and started stretching away the tension all throughout my body, all while Coach Armstrong barked orders while walking up and down the lines of players.
Despite the cold and the snow shoveled just off the field in large piles by the groundskeeping staff and fan volunteers, the sun had come out and beat down on us, making me squint as we got up and started running plays.
After practice was over, Drake, Lance, and I went to the cafeteria for lunch. After we got our food and sat down, we naturally started talking about the event last night, once we were done with football talk.
“Where’d you go last night, man?” Drake asked me, pressed up against the back corner of the booth. “We were all wondering.”
“Yeah, we figured you had found a girl or something,” Lance added, smirking. “That was it, right?”
I didn’t say anything.
“My man,” Drake said, and he and Lance gave each other a high-five across the table. “Well, go on, mountain man, tell us all about her.”
Lance stepped in, locking eyes with Drake. “Oh, rookie, how much you have to learn. Our boy Hud here is a legend with the ladies, but you will never hear it from him.” He looked at me, then back to Drake, holding his hand up to his mouth to disguise his words, but I heard. “Just ask the ladies,” he whispered.
Drake roared with laughter. “For real? No details, nothing?”
Lance shook his head. “Never in the years that I’ve known him. Dude’s locked up tighter than a safe at Fort Knox.”
“I just don’t see the point,” I added, talking for the first time in this conversation. “I’m not exactly collecting panties to hang up on the wall.”
Now it was Lance’s turn to look at me. “Shit, you don’t collect them?!” He punched me in the shoulder. “Come on, man, that’s like half the fun.”
I laughed. “You’re so full of shit, Lance. You ain’t collected anything in months now that Charlotte has you.” I looked over at Drake. “And you, rookie, you been wrapped up by Lily since like a day after we met.”
Both of them nodded, smiling. “You’re right,” Drake said.
“And I gotta say,” Lance added, leaning back and clasping his hands together behind his head, “it really is the better way to go.” Drake nodded, and I could see the happiness and contentment etched on both of their faces clear as day.
They were right - finding the right girl agreed with each of them.
That didn’t mean I couldn’t mess with them on it.
“Man,” I said, “if the two of you now met up with the two of you from 4 months ago, those old guys would slap the shit out of you both now.”
“Yeah,” said Lance, “but afterward the two of us now would go home to our girlfriends.”
I shook my head. “It’s like you’ve been replaced with pod people, both of you. This is some ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ level shit right here.”
On cue, both Drake and Lance pointed at me, screaming out intelligible sounds just like from the movie.
“Ugh, forget I said it.”
“So,” Lance asked, “who was she?”
“She was no one. You’ll never meet her. This conversation is over!”
“Like a sphinx,” Lance said, looking at Drake. “Didn’t I tell you?”
Drake nodded. “You did, you did.” He took a french fry from his plate and held it up to me. “Hud, my man, you know I love you.”
I put my head in my hands, groaning. “Please, Drake, spare me from wherever this conversation is going. For my own health, please.”
When I looked up, Lance had picked up a french fry and also pointed it at me.
“You know I love you,” Drake started again, “and I say this with all the love, but someday, you’re gonna meet a girl that you can’t stop talking about.”
“And then,” Lance added, a huge smile on his face, “you’ll be…”
“ONE OF US, ONE OF US,” they both shouted in unison, before collapsing in laughter.
“Laugh it up, assholes.” I said when they had composed themselves just a little bit.
I turned to Drake, who was wiping his eyes. “Maybe when I’ve met a girl like that, I’ll get Lily to write a book about it. Could be another hit?”
Drake got serious real quick. “Don’t even joke about that shit, man. Not cool.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “Oh now it’s not cool. I see how it is.” I pulled out my phone and pretended to dial. “Hello, Lily? It’s Hud. Have I got a story for you!”
Drake just shook his head. I looked at Lance, and he had his hands behind his head again, the picture of peace and tranquility. I shook my head. “I gotta get moving,” I said, looking at my watch. “Front office meeting.”
Lance’s eyes opened. “Can you work on getting us better food in here?”
“Dude, I’ve been trying for years.”
Drake piped up. “Mackenzie Mayfield will be there, yeah? Turn on that Asher charm.”
“What?”
Drake held up his hands. “Peace, brother, I didn’t mean anything by it. Just talk to her and maybe we’ll get some good shit in here.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“That’s all we’re asking.”
I tossed my tray and left the cafeteria, making my way to the front office. As I walked through the facility, everyone got better dressed as I got closer to the front office itself. For the hundredth time that month I thanked my earlier self for having the presence of mind to get a job where I could dress like a slob for a living.
