Shadow of Perceptoin

by Kristine Mason

  He followed her into the kitchen. “We’ll go to the station in the morning, then to Elliot’s offices. By then Rachel should have a list of people we could meet. She’s also running a background check on him. Considering he does have a medical license, I doubt she’ll find anything criminal, but his finances might give us another route to explore.”

  “Perfect,” she said as she pulled the pizza from the oven. “Tomorrow I can finally put my segment to rest, then give my full concentration to this case.”

  “I’d rather you concentrate on your health,” he said as he searched for plates.

  She moved past him, opened the cabinet above his head, then handed him the plates. “I told you I’m fine, and I promised that I’d take better care of myself. Watch and witness,” she said, and grabbed a piece of pizza. “I haven’t had pizza in almost four years.” The doorbell rang. She dropped the uneaten pizza on the plate. “Are you expecting someone?”

  He shook his head. “No. Stay here. I’ll see who’s at the door. And don’t touch that pizza until I get back. I want to witness the miracle,” he said with a grin.

  When Hudson left the kitchen, Brutal pawed at her leg. She looked at the dog, then to the cat sitting expectantly by its dish.

  “I guess you guys want to eat, too,” she said, then began filling their dishes. As she turned to stow the food into the pantry, she froze.

  “Hey,” Celeste said, as she moved into the kitchen with her arms open wide. “How are you feeling?”

  Eden set the food aside and hugged her sister. “Good, thanks. Is John with you?”

  “Yeah, he’s in the living room with Hudson. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the hospital yesterday.”

  After closing the pantry door, Eden shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. I wasn’t there long.”

  “I know, but Will didn’t make it, either. One of us should have been there for you.”

  She’d told Hudson that the lack of her brother and sister’s presence at the hospital hadn’t bothered her, but it had, and still did. Other than Hudson, no one had given a damn about her condition. Well, except for the killer. Even he’d left her a note and flowers.

  She had no one to blame. She’d alienated herself from her family, and hadn’t bothered to work on her relationship with Celeste. Hudson was right, she and Celeste were two different people, but more importantly, they were sisters. She loved Celeste, and was determined to set things straight between them. Starting today.

  “It’s okay,” she said, then stowed the pizza back into the oven.

  “I still feel bad. At the same time, I think your being hospitalized might have been a good thing.”

  Eden turned, and frowned. “Oh?”

  Celeste slipped out of her coat, then rested it on the chair. “Well, you’ve had an obvious eating disorder for years, and have gotten way too skinny. Just look at yourself. You’re swimming in that sweatshirt, and your legs look like sticks.”

  “Thanks for your concern.” Although irritated with Celeste’s comments, Eden kept her tone light. Damn it, she would keep the peace and take every effort to make amends with her sister. She did eye Celeste’s abundant curves, though. She’d always been jealous of her sister’s big boobs, tiny waist, full hips and butt. Even at her heaviest, Eden couldn’t attain an hourglass figure. Built more like her dad’s side of the family, she’d been forced to deal with long, thin legs and a flat chest. She suddenly wondered if Hudson preferred Celeste’s body type over hers. As a wave of jealousy hit her she added, “And I don’t have an eating disorder.”

  “So you’re not making yourself throw up anymore?” Celeste asked.

  Her sister had known? “No.”

  “Okay, then you’re just anorexic now.”

  Celeste wasn’t making things easy. Eden wanted to blow up at her, and tell Celeste to kiss her ass. But she could be the better person. She would be the better person. “Are you just about ready to open the bakery?” she asked, hoping a change of subject would help.

  “Don’t avoid the obvious, Eden. You have a lot of issues you need to deal with before you really cause harm to your body. I think you should see a psychologist.”

  “I was just thinking about your cheesecake before you and John got here,” Eden said, ignoring Celeste’s ridiculous suggestion. “I haven’t had any of your bakery in forever.”

  “Stop it,” Celeste shouted. “I’ve called Dad, and told him about you being hospitalized, and my concerns. He’s flying into Chicago next weekend. When he gets here, Will’s going to join us and we’re going to have a long talk.”

  “Are we? Is this some sort of intervention you’re planning?”

  “If that’s what you want to call it, then yes.”

  “Too bad you couldn’t make it to the hospital yesterday. This pep talk of yours has been very inspiring,” Eden said, then took a step forward. She’d tried to make amends, but Celeste had crossed the line. “Anything else you want to comment on before I make you leave?”

  “Make me leave? Little juvenile don’t you think?”

  “How do you expect me to react when you walk into my house, full of apologies, then turn on me with all this bullshit?”

  “I expect you to have the decency to listen,” Celeste responded, and folded her arms over her ample chest.

  “You expect? Here’s what I expect. I expect you to respect my privacy. I also expect you to act like my sister, not my mother. One of the reasons I don’t call or want to get together with you is because when we do talk, you spend the entire time telling me what I’m doing wrong with my life. Get your house in order before you come in and judge mine.”

  “My house is in order,” Celeste said.

  “Oh, that’s right. I’m sure you have no daddy issues.”

  “That was a little low, don’t you think?” Celeste asked, and fisted her hands to her sides. “And for the record, I’m fine with Ian being my biological father. My relationship with our dad hasn’t changed. Got anything else you want to throw at me?”

  “No, Celeste, I don’t. You’re perfect. Got yourself a Mr. GQ fiancé, the bakery, a couple of daddies…just perfect.” Eden turned away, hating the bitterness of her tone. She couldn’t help herself, though. Being near Celeste reminded her of how imperfect her life was sometimes. Yes, she had a nice home. Yes, she had an awesome career. But she couldn’t help longing for what Celeste had…security. Her sister oozed confidence, was secure with herself, and had the love of a man who would literally kill for her.

  Celeste placed a hand on her shoulder. “I never said my life was perfect. And I’m sorry you feel the way you do. I do wish you’d try to get to know John, though.”

  Eden moved to the counter. “The first time I met him, he made his opinion of me clear. Sorry if I don’t feel like wasting my time impressing your fiancé.”

  Hudson let out a soft whistle, and looked at John. “Do you think they realize we can hear every word they’re saying?” he asked, still shocked by Eden and Celeste’s argument. After listening to Celeste berate Eden over her eating issues, when she’d acted as if she’d come to the house out of concern, he’d begun to understand why Eden didn’t talk with her sister.

  “I don’t think they care,” John said, then winced when a cabinet door slammed shut.

  “Now you’re going to tell me how to handle my love life?” Eden asked, her voice carrying from the kitchen to the living room.

  “While we’re at it, I might as well,” Celeste answered just as loudly. “I know all about the affair you had with Hudson, and I hope you don’t plan to make the same mistake twice. You could do better if you bothered to try.”

  “Kiss my ass. And by the by, did you find out about Hudson through office gossip or did you get that out of your crystal ball again?” Eden asked.

  “Uh-oh, first me, now they’re talking about you,” John said. “Maybe we should take that dog outside before we hear something we shouldn’t.”

  Hudson shook his head. He wanted to hear what Eden
had to say about him. Hell, he wanted to hear her defend him against Celeste. Eden tended to flip from hot to cold, and he needed to know where he stood with her. The emotions ping ponging through his head and body whenever he thought of her, or was near her, sometimes left him in a weak position. Vulnerable. He wanted Eden in every way. To open his heart and mind to the idea of commitment, monogamy, love, and then have it squashed again? No way would he leave the room when he had a ringside seat, and could hear everything between the sisters.

  “Stop with the jabs about my ability,” Celeste shouted. “I’m sick of it.”

  “Your ability. God, Celeste, you make yourself sound like a fricking superhero.”

  “And you sound like a bitch.”

  “Now who’s being juvenile?” Eden countered. “Look, thanks for stopping by. As stimulating as this conversation has been, Hudson and I were about to eat, then we planned to have a lot of really hot sex.”

  Hudson bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Sex hadn’t been on the agenda—not that he wouldn’t rearrange the evening’s schedule to accommodate her. He’d never stopped wanting Eden, but hadn’t planned to push the physical part of their relationship yet. Making a move on a women just released from the hospital bordered on tacky.

  “Um,” Hudson began. “You realize Eden’s just trying to get at Celeste. I don’t want word getting back to Ian that we’re—”

  John waved a hand. “What you do is your business.”

  Before Hudson could thank him, Eden stormed into the room. “You know where the door is. Use it.”

  Celeste trailed behind clutching her coat. “This is so typical of you,” she said to Eden. “When you don’t want to hear—”

  “Obviously your psychic abilities aren’t helping you understand me,” Eden interrupted. “So let me clue you in on something. I’m a grown woman. I don’t need you to tell me how to run my life. If I choose to starve myself, that’s my business. If I choose to have hot monkey sex with Hudson, I will. So back off.”

  “How eloquent and classy,” Celeste said, then she turned to Hudson. “I’m sorry. I assume you two heard our conversation.”

  He nodded as John said, “Yeah, pretty much every word.”

  “I see,” Celeste said. “Again, Hudson, I’m sorry. You seem like a nice guy. But, no offense, I think what you two are doing is a mistake.”

  “Oh my God, Celeste,” Eden shouted. “Listen to yourself. Why can’t you let it go?”

  “Come on, Eden,” Celeste countered. “Do you honestly believe you and Hudson can have a real relationship like John and I have?”

  Eden looked at him, and Hudson sucked in his breath. He’d seen Eden dressed in her finest, her hair and make-up perfect. But now, wearing a ridiculously big sweatshirt that hid her body, no make-up, and her hair falling from a slack ponytail, she’d never looked more beautiful to him. The fire in her eyes and the color in her cheeks had nothing to do with the obvious anger she harbored for her sister. Not with the way she slowly trailed her hungry gaze from his shit kickers, up his legs, to his chest, then to his mouth. When she settled her eyes on his, she released the door knob, then with seductive grace, moved toward him.

  She took his hand, placed his palm on her back, then reached her arms around his neck. His eyes riveted on the heat radiating from hers, everything and everyone in the room disappeared from his mind. His sole focus lay with the beautiful woman tantalizing him with her inviting lips and intoxicating scent. Before he could clear his head from the sensual fog she’d induced, and gain a moment’s worth of sense, her lips parted and he gave into temptation.

  Eden kissed him hard, fast and without passion, then abruptly turned to Celeste, leaving him at a loss. Had the kiss been nothing but another way to needle her sister? He’d sworn there had been longing in her eyes. More than that, he’d sworn he’d seen pride and admiration. For that brief moment, before she’d walked across the room and kissed him, he’d honestly thought she cared about him, about them. That she believed, as he did, they already had what John and Celeste had, maybe even more.

  “If you don’t mind,” Eden said to Celeste, and trailed a finger along his chest. “We’d like to get to that pizza and hot monkey sex.”

  Celeste shook her head, and sent Eden a half-smile. “Thanks for the show. I’m sure that’s all it was,” she finished with a shrug.

  Eden stiffened in his arms. With her body taut, Hudson worried she was preparing for another scathing remark that would only continue this useless argument. “John,” he said, and led her to the couch. She veered away, and headed for the kitchen instead. He watched her go, then turned to the other man again.

  John had already moved to the front door, which stood open, letting in the cold, November air. Celeste no longer remained in the foyer, and must have decided to leave. With his hand on the door knob, John said, “I’m going to pretend the whole evening never existed.”

  Hudson cracked a smile. “I doubt the girls will.”

  “Right. I’m sure I’ll have to listen to Celeste rehash the entire argument for the rest of the night. For the record, whether she’s right or wrong, I’m always going to have Celeste’s back.”

  Hudson nodded. “After seeing firsthand how things are between them, I think I understand why Ian didn’t ask you to handle this case.”

  John pulled the coat collar around his neck. “That and he wanted us to focus on the wedding plans. You know what’s funny about tonight? Celeste had planned on asking Eden to be her maid of honor.” He released a sigh, his breath a puff of vapor against the cold. “I better go before she freezes to death.”

  After Hudson closed, then locked the door, he headed for the kitchen. When he didn’t find Eden there, he moved to the bedroom. She sat on the bed stroking Fabio’s long blond mane with one hand, and Brutal’s scrawny little body with the other. When she looked up at him, the sizzle that had been in her eyes earlier had faded to shame.

  “I’m sorry you had to witness that,” she said.

  He folded his arms across his chest, then leaned against the door jamb. “Just tell me one thing. And please, no lies or no half-truths.”

  She nodded. “Of course. What is it?”

  “When you kissed me…was it like Celeste said? Was it just for show?”

  Chapter 13

  Eden stared at Hudson as anger, shock, and mortification tore through her and blended together like a potent, toxic cocktail. She could blame her sister. Celeste had goaded her, belittled her relationship with Hudson. Instead of simply coming to his defense and leaving it at that, she’d kissed him in order to prove to her sister that they had something passionate and good together. In doing so, she’d made a fool of herself, and a mockery of their relationship. Now Hudson stood in the doorway of her bedroom questioning the authenticity of the kiss.

  Rubbing a shaky hand across her forehead, she held his gaze. “No. The kiss wasn’t for show.”

  Still holding his arms across his chest, he shifted his stance. “I don’t believe you.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. She blinked them back, shocked by the sudden wave of sadness. The last time she’d cried had been when she’d ended things with Hudson. Was this the beginning of the end already? Had she screwed up bad enough that he might have changed his mind about her, about them?

  “No lies or half-truths,” she reminded him, and wiped a stray tear. “The kiss wasn’t great, but it was real.”

  He shook his head. “Bullshit.”

  “What? How could you—?”

  With hurt and anger darkening his eyes, he pushed off the door jamb, and in two strides hauled her from the bed. Holding her by the upper arms, he crowded her. Then, with a touch that belied the hardness of his face, he caressed her lips with the pad of his thumb. “It’s been a while, but I know…I remember your kisses. This one, though. This one…there was no passion.” He released her, then turned away. “No nothing.”

  Another tear escaped as he headed for the door. “Where are you go
ing?”

  “I’m not leaving if that’s what you’re wondering. I can’t.”

  “Because I’m an assignment?”

  He didn’t answer, and instead, took another step toward the door. She couldn’t let him go, not without knowing the truth. She realized it was time to pull on her big girl panties. Hudson had to understand her reasons for the kiss. He had to know how she felt about him, and for once, she had to stop looking for ways to sabotage their relationship in order to prevent the hurt she’d assumed would eventually come, and take a chance. She’d wasted two years away from him. There had been many lonely nights during those years when she’d thought about what could have been if only she’d tried. Would they have fallen madly in love? Married? Had a child? While she wasn’t sure if she was necessarily marriage or mommy material, she was sure that she’d once loved Hudson. Damn it, she never stopped. Now she had to fight for them.

  “You’re right,” she blurted. “The kiss wasn’t real.”

  He turned. The shock and anger widening his eyes made her want to take a step back. Even Brutal and Fabio jumped off the bed and fled the room. But she held her ground.

  “When Celeste said she thought we were making a big mistake, then acted as if only she and John had something good going, I…I wanted to show her she was wrong.”

  “I see,” he said then tightened his jaw.

  She reached up, and placed her palm on his rough, hard jaw line. “I don’t think you do. When I had turned to you in the living room, and saw the way you looked at me…” She blew out a deep breath, then smiled. “I hope I’m not mistaken, but I swear I saw pride, respect and passion in your eyes. For me. No one has ever looked at me like that before.”

  When he remained stoic, she held his face with both hands. “I wanted to kiss you so bad. All I could think about, even with Celeste and John in the room, was you and me. Your skin against mine, your body twined with mine. Your lips on mine. And when I finally walked across the room to kiss you, I realized it was all wrong. What I wanted to show you…I didn’t want anyone else to see. I wanted it to be for just you.”