by Brenda Novak
“How close?” He seemed all business.
“Together?” she ventured. “A couple? It would only have to be like that for a few weeks—not long at all,” she added quickly. “Then we can ‘break up’ and tell people we’re going to continue living together for the sake of the baby. Boom. Everything’s explained.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Done.”
She almost couldn’t believe he was so amenable, but she was happy about it. Now maybe his friends and associates wouldn’t be predisposed to hate her from the beginning. “Really? That’ll be okay? Because if you’re seen with someone else before we—” she used her fingers to create quotation marks “—break up, it could create a scandal. Make you appear to be a cheater, which wouldn’t be flattering for either of us.”
“You mean I’d look like the womanizer you’re assuming me to be?” he said drily.
“I’m not assuming anything,” she explained. “Merely pointing out that our plan would require some fidelity—if that’s the right word—from both of us. It’s just...that part will be easier for me, since it’ll take time to get to know men I might find appealing.”
The flight attendant started the usual preflight safety message, but Hudson spoke over that.
“I understand my responsibilities—and I’m sure I can handle them.”
She heard the sarcasm in his voice. He wasn’t happy that her expectations of him were so low. But it was important to be clear. Otherwise, why even start the charade? “Thanks.” She smiled to show her gratitude. “I’ll give my folks the same story when I tell them about the baby. That should make things easier all the way around.”
“Your parents don’t know you’re pregnant?” he whispered in surprise.
“Not yet.”
He pushed his sunglasses higher on his nose. “When do you plan on telling them?”
“In a couple of months.”
“They’re not going to be angry that you waited so long?”
She nibbled at her bottom lip. “They might be.”
* * *
Ellie fell asleep almost as soon as they took off. Hudson wished he could do the same, but flying made him anxious. He hated the fact that he had no control over the plane. Although he tried to distract himself by using his tablet to get on the internet, the flight attendant wouldn’t leave him alone long enough to sink into a movie. She kept coming back to ask if he’d like another drink, something to eat, Dramamine, a chance to join the Mile High Club. She didn’t specifically make that last offer, of course, but the opportunity was implied.
“I’m fine,” he told her for probably the tenth time. He was disappointed that having Ellie with him didn’t seem to make any difference to the flight attendant. He would’ve thought the presence of a possible girlfriend would stave off some of the behavior she was exhibiting. But he’d seen women come on to other players while they had their wives at the same party. So he figured he shouldn’t be too shocked. Fame seemed to interfere with some people’s ability to think clearly. He was just glad Ellie didn’t respond the way a lot of women did. His “celebrity,” as she put it, didn’t seem to affect her—except that she didn’t like the attention he attracted, and he couldn’t blame her. Most of the time, he didn’t like it himself.
He chuckled as he remembered how strongly she’d argued for a coach ticket. She’d been hoping to leave him in first class, where he’d have to deal with his own fame, and she could relax and do whatever she wanted. But he hadn’t let her off the hook, and not only because he was trying to be courteous. He enjoyed having her with him.
He glanced down to see her head sliding toward his shoulder. Generally she caught herself before settling against him. She’d wake up, realize she was too close and straighten—only to fall right back asleep, at which point her head would start to droop again.
He leaned closer, to offer her the support she needed before she could wake up in time to avoid contact. He managed to accomplish that, but it wasn’t fifteen minutes later that the damn flight attendant was back.
“Would you like some more cookies—or any other snacks?” she asked eagerly.
Clenching his jaw so that he wouldn’t snap at her, he responded with a polite and soft “No, thanks. I’m good.” He was hoping not to wake Ellie, but almost as soon as the flight attendant was gone, Ellie lifted her sleepy eyelids, noticed she was leaning on him and drew back as if she’d encountered a snake.
“Oops! Sorry about that,” she said. “I should’ve bought one of those neck pillows I saw in the terminal.”
He took off his hat and settled it back on his head. “It’s not like I mind. At least one of us is getting some sleep.”
“It’s that flight attendant,” she complained with a grumpy scowl. “She’s obsessed with you. Why don’t you go into the bathroom and do her already?”
Hudson couldn’t believe he’d heard her correctly. “What’d you say?”
She shook her head, looking flustered. “Nothing. I’m not quite awake.”
He started laughing.
“What?” she said.
“I thought we promised to leave other people alone until we ‘break up.’”
The way she stretched suggested she was extremely uncomfortable. “I’m willing to make an exception. Anything to get her to leave us alone.” Her gaze flicked to his iPad. “What’re you watching?”
“A documentary on India.”
“Really?”
“Why does that surprise you?”
“I thought it would be sports related, I guess.”
“I can think about other things—now and then—when I’m not out smashing female hearts, that is.”
“A hopeful sign.”
He shot her a dirty look but she merely smiled, as if she’d meant to give him a little grief.
“Is it good?” she asked and acted so interested that he ended up handing her one of his earbuds so they could watch it together.
* * *
“It was a long flight. Would you rather we stay at my home here in LA to rest up, or are you okay with heading out to Silver Springs right away?”
Hudson was driving the almost-new 4x4 truck that’d been waiting for them in long-term parking. Ellie was curious whether this was the type of vehicle he usually drove, but she didn’t ask. She didn’t want him to think she was too interested in his possessions—especially after insisting she wasn’t. She was wearing the necklace he’d given her, despite what she’d said about that. “I’m not fragile. I can go on.”
“Great. Since it’s the off-season, I have more responsibilities in Silver Springs.”
“No problem. It’s barely a two-hour drive.” Hard to believe she’d made that same drive just a week earlier, that she was now living across the country and had brought only two suitcases, both of which Hudson insisted she wasn’t to touch, even though they had wheels. While she was in the hospital, the doctor had suggested she not lift anything, and Hudson was taking that to heart. He barely let her carry her own purse, since it was the big hobo kind that contained everything she could ever need or want. She’d been tempted to pretend it was too heavy to see what he’d do, but she knew how badly he’d be teased in the locker room if someone happened to catch a picture of him with a purse dangling from his shoulder.
“You hungry?” he asked. “Should we stop and eat before we set out?”
“That’d be nice,” she replied. “Do you know a good place?”
“Babe, I live here.”
She grinned at his response. “Does that mean you know all the great restaurants?”
“It means I know a lot of them.”
The place he took her for lunch was an upscale, locally owned bistro with a private room, where the owner and chef greeted him personally. She accepted Hudson’s recommendation on the hand-cut rosemary pappa
rdelle, which was delicious, but insisted on choosing her own dessert. When she ordered two, because she couldn’t decide between the bananas Foster and the carrot cake, he raised his eyebrows in surprise—then ended up eating most of both.
“You said you didn’t want dessert,” she complained as they left.
“Those were huge portions! You were way out of your league,” he said, completely unrepentant. “Don’t tell me you’re going to order like that whenever we go out.”
“Absolutely! Why not? I’m eating for two, after all.” She was testing him to see what his response would be—if her physical appearance would embarrass him—but he never missed a beat.
“Finally a girl who’ll be able to do justice to the food I provide.”
“Whoa! You won’t be providing my food. Take it out of my paycheck. Except for those desserts, of course. Those are on you, since I just got a few bites.”
“You ate as much as I did!”
“Not even close.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine, if you want to quibble. Anyway, we’ve already made the financial arrangements. Don’t try to change things now.”
She whirled on him. “Since when did we agree that you’d pay for my food? We’ll split groceries, as well as all the other household expenses. That’s what roommates do—they buy their own stuff and share the cost of utilities.”
“Really?” he said. “Because you don’t make enough to pay 50 percent—and I should know, since I’m your new boss.”
“You’re not my boss. I have all kinds of skills. I could get a job anytime.”
She had an education, but her skill set wouldn’t fit in just anywhere. Fortunately, he didn’t call her on that. “Manner of speaking,” he said, and his laugh let her know he enjoyed getting a reaction out of her.
“Not the best manner of speaking. Anyway, this is your vacation house, right?”
“It’s still big. Has to be in order to protect my privacy.”
She slowed her step. “How big is big enough to protect your privacy?”
“The utilities are very likely more than your rent.”
He lived a lifestyle she couldn’t even imagine. “I see. Okay. Well, you’re the one who bought such a monstrosity. I guess that’s your problem, then. Free room and board and five thousand a month. I’ll consider it a raise.”
“I can tell you how to get another one...”
His devilish expression revealed exactly what he’d suggest, so she steered clear of that comment. “I’m satisfied.”
“Hopefully you won’t remain that way.”
She ignored that statement, too. “But since I always try to be fair—” she cringed “—I’ll let you attend the birth. If everything goes well from now on, that is.”
“Why is that so distasteful to you?” The question was serious, even though he followed it up with a more playful “After all, I’m such a nice guy.”
“Have you ever seen a birth video on YouTube or watched a farm animal have offspring or...anything?” Her new ob-gyn would, no doubt, suggest they attend birthing classes. So he’d learn what to expect soon enough. But those wouldn’t start until she was much closer to the end of her pregnancy.
“No. They had farm animals at my high school, but I didn’t pay much attention to them.”
“There you go. I know what I’m in for—and I don’t want an audience,” she said as she climbed into his truck. She didn’t add “Especially you,” but that was what she meant.
18
Hudson’s house wasn’t the rambling Mediterranean Ellie had expected after seeing that so often in the wealthy neighborhoods of Miami. Although his home was spacious and new, it was built like a nineteenth-century farmhouse with white-beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, heavy-paned windows and tons of built-in cabinetry. The light fixtures, some of the best she’d ever seen, were as rustic as the expensive rugs. A theater room and an equally impressive gym took up most of the basement. She figured, worst-case scenario, she could spend her pregnancy down there, watching movies.
She could feel Hudson’s eyes on her as they passed through the game room, complete with neon beer signs hanging from the walls, an antique jukebox in one corner and a bar, reaching an elaborate barbecue area, deck and swimming pool. “Not bad,” she said as she ambled over to the edge of the property—the only place where the ten-foot perimeter fence was made of wrought iron so as not to obstruct the view—and gazed at the mountains beyond.
“You like it?”
She felt a bit intimidated, but she managed a careless shrug. “I’m sure I can put up with it for a few months.” She pointed to the far corner of the yard. “What’s that little house over there?”
“Don’t get any ideas,” he said. “That belongs to the housekeeper.”
“You have a housekeeper? And you’ve never mentioned it?”
“I didn’t think it mattered. Maggie won’t bother us.”
“When does she come to the main house?”
“If I’m here, only when I ask her to—which means I’m desperate for food or laundry or both.”
“You have her live in a separate house for the sake of privacy?”
He winked at her. “You got it.”
He hadn’t shown Ellie the bedrooms yet, just the basement, game room, gourmet kitchen—with its massive stone hearth, kitchen utensils hanging over a sizable island, copper-hooded stove and stairs leading down to a wine cellar—and living room, with its even bigger stone fireplace, enormous flat-screen TV, leather couches and ottoman.
“How often will I be able to use the gym?” she asked.
“Whenever you want,” he replied.
“When do you work out?” She hoped to avoid showing up at the same time. She’d failed in her New Year’s resolution to maintain a good exercise routine, didn’t want him to notice just how out of shape she was.
“Are you thinking you’d like to work out together?”
She laughed. “The opposite, actually. I was planning to stay out of your way.”
“How could you get in my way? There’s plenty of equipment. I forgot to show you, but there’s even a steam room you might want to use after you’re done with your workouts.”
“I can’t get in a steam room or a whirlpool, not while I’m pregnant,” she said. “Raising my core body temperature wouldn’t be safe for the baby.”
“Good information to have. You’ll want to avoid those, then—along with the wine in the wine cellar. I guess my house is fraught with danger.”
He had no idea that he posed the biggest threat—maybe not to the baby but to her peace of mind.
“Should we go up to your room?” he asked.
“Sure.”
He led her back through the house and up a wide, curving staircase. “There are four bedrooms, one of which is on the main floor, but I think you might be most comfortable here.” He stopped by the double doors at the end of the hall to show her a room with a giant four-poster bed sporting an expensive-looking duvet and linen set, heavy furniture (something the room demanded since it was so big) and a bathroom with a walk-in shower.
“This is perfect,” she said. “If we don’t get along, we won’t even have to see each other.”
“Except my room is right next door.”
She’d guessed as much. “Why don’t I take that room on the main floor you just mentioned? I mean, with the size of the house, there’s no need for us to cram ourselves into the same section.”
He seemed surprised by the suggestion. “What if you need me?”
“I have a cell phone.”
“This will work,” he said as he carried her suitcases to the closet.
The problem was, she’d always be listening for him to come down the hall... “We can try it out, I guess. See if we need more space.”
He shot her a curious look. “What are you planning to do in here?”
“Nothing. I’m just...used to living alone.”
He shook his head. “Damn, you’re skittish. Well, I’ll try not to cramp your style.”
Perhaps she hadn’t sounded grateful enough. “This is beautiful, though. Really beautiful.”
His expression said those words were too little, too late, but she couldn’t believe she’d truly offended him. Surely he had plenty of other people to praise and envy him and his belongings.
“Do you have any preference on what I cook for meals?” she asked. “What types of groceries you’d like me to buy?”
“Other than organic, no. You can make whatever you want, but there’s no need to shop. Just email a list to Maggie. She’ll take care of it and stock the fridge and cupboards.”
“Oh, because I won’t have a car, right?”
“I have two vehicles here—the Porsche I drive to and from the city, if I don’t have luggage, and the truck I use in town. Feel free to take the Porsche whenever you need to go somewhere.”
“Did you say Porsche?” she asked.
“You can drive a stick shift, can’t you?”
“My first car had a standard transmission. But I’d rather not be responsible for such an expensive vehicle.”
“It’s insured,” he said as if she was crazy for worrying about that sort of thing. “I’ll let you get unpacked and relax. It’s been a long trip.” He started for the door.
“Hudson...”
“Yes?” he said as he turned.
She couldn’t stay here. She had no doubt she’d enjoy it, but...how was she going to feel when she fell back to earth? “I’m thinking I’ll be more comfortable if I rent a small place of my own in town.” Something that wouldn’t be too hard to leave when the time came...
He frowned. “Why? You’ll have everything you could possibly need here.”
“That’s just it. This feels...odd. I’d rather take care of myself.”
He leaned against the door frame. “Give it a couple of weeks. If you don’t like it, you can always leave.”
