Remind Me

by Ann Marie Walker

  Hudson blew out a resigned breath. “I’m on my way.” He ended the call with a jab of his thumb and tucked the phone back into his pocket.

  The valet pulled up with his car, a gunmetal gray Aston Martin DB9. At top speeds the thing looked like a bullet shot out of a gun. Hudson palmed the kid a tip, unbuttoned his jacket, and slid into the car.

  As he pulled out into the Chicago traffic, he wondered what he’d find waiting for him this time.

  ***

  Thirty minutes later, the DB9 rolled to a stop in front of Anchors. The dive was even shittier than Hudson remembered.

  He knew who was waiting for him inside, what condition the “who” would be in, and how this shit was going to play out. The only thing that was ever a variable was the when.

  The DB9’s cooling system ticked and hissed, cutting through the silence in the car.

  Fuck.

  This was the last place he wanted to be.

  Hudson curled his fingers around the door handle, jerked the lever, and unfolded himself from the luxury craftsmanship. He shoved the key fob into his pocket, not bothering to activate the alarm. This would only take a minute. Besides, anyone who’d try to take his car for a joyride had to have balls of steel. The thing was fashioned with one hell of an antitheft system and GPS. The little blue light flashed “I dare ya.”

  Hudson walked over to a door that looked like it had once been dark green, and cranked a knob for which he was going to need a tetanus shot .

  At the bar the owner pulled his attention away from a long pour of something straight. He didn’t need to look to know when to stop; the guy just knew. Skills of someone who’d been slinging drinks as a career.

  Setting the bottle back in its trough, the owner took out the cigarette that was pinched between his lips and exhaled. The smoke rocketed out of his nose in two streams before curling upward. Hudson kicked his chin at the guy, then did a fat sweep of the room, spotting Nick hunched over a table. Out cold.

  Cursing under his breath he cut through the bar, skidding a couple chairs out of his way as he passed a jukebox bellowing some Johnny Cash tune. As he drew closer he could see the top of Nick’s wallet, the leather one he’d given him last Christmas, peeking out of his shirt pocket. At least someone had had enough decency to put it back and not rob the guy completely blind.

  A soft snore greeted him. Shit, he was totally wasted.

  “Hey, Nick.” Hudson’s palm clasped Nick’s shoulder and he gave him a gentle shake. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Nick lifted his head, his eyes half-closed, and smiled. “Hudson, my favorite brother.”

  “Your only brother. You’ve worn out your welcome.” He grabbed Nick by the armpit and hauled him out of the chair. “Time to go home.”

  “One for the road?” Nick slurred as if his tongue was too big for his mouth. He tugged his arm out of Hudson’s grip.

  “We’ll get one on the way.” Fucking hell they were.

  Hudson’s face was drawn with grim lines as he watched his brother take a couple steps, then go tilt-a-whirl. He caught Nick by the bicep, his weight barely registering.

  He guided Nick toward the front door, his legs pretty much gone to rubber, and somehow managed to keep him from face-planting. Pulling a Ben Franklin out of his pocket, Hudson slapped it on the bar and slid it toward the bartender. “Thanks, man. That should cover it.”

  The owner dried his hands off on a rag, then dropped it on the counter and picked up the hundred. “Don’t mention it.”

  Hudson pushed the door open with his hip and dragged Nick over to the DB9. He lowered him into the passenger side, stretched the seat belt across him, and clicked it in place.

  Nick opened his eyes. “Shit, you brought the good car.”

  Ignoring Nick, Hudson didn’t waste any time getting behind the wheel. Nothing but the purr of the engine interrupted the silence that stretched out between them as he drove. And as it did, Hudson looked over at his brother; Nick’s head jerking up and then falling back again. “I saw her, Nicky,” he finally said. Man, it’d been so long since he’d talked about her. Make that never talked about her.

  Nick’s head jerked up. “No shit?”

  His head fell back again. The guy was starting to look like a goddamn bobblehead. “All that pussy you get and you’ve still got it bad for that one, huh?”

  More silence.

  “I liked her.” Nick’s voice was quiet in the darkness of the car. “She was nice to me.”

  The lights from oncoming cars flared and faded. They passed squatters in alleys. Then tall buildings.

  “And you . . .” A teasing laugh burst out of Nick’s mouth. “You were so whipped for that chick.” His head rolled on the padded headrest. “What was her name again?”

  Hudson glanced briefly at Nick. “Alessandra Sinclair.” He paused, then looked back at the road. “Allie.”

  Nick clapped his hands, having a eureka moment. “Allie, that’s right. All the stupid shit you did to try and impress her.”

  Hudson’s jaw tightened.

  “Pussy whipped motherfucker. Tell me you hit that?”

  “Shut up, Nick,” Hudson growled. “And don’t puke in my car. Took me forever to get that smell out last time.”

  Chapter Seven

  Allie couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to Lincoln Park Zoo. When she was eight or nine, maybe? For the life of her, she couldn’t imagine what had made her choose it as a meeting place. Harper had been talking about the fund-raiser there with Neon Trees; maybe that was it. Either way, she’d been so flustered by Mr. Sex-on-Legs that she’d blurted it out and now, against her better judgment, she was standing in front of the main gate.

  At least it was a relatively safe place to meet. Despite being nestled in the shadow of the city’s skyscrapers, the zoo wasn’t exactly the type of place her friends and family frequented. She pulled her sunglasses out of her purse and slipped her cardigan off, tying it in a loose knot around her shoulders. It was the end of September, but unseasonably warm in Chicago.

  She took a deep breath and smoothed the wrinkles out of her charcoal-gray pencil skirt. Might as well get this over with.

  The zoo was busier than she’d expected. For a moment Allie wondered if she should have been more specific with her instructions, but it didn’t take long to find him. In a sea of strollers and school children, it wasn’t hard to pick the billionaire CEO out of the crowd. He was standing by the seal pool, his back to her, looking every bit the powerful executive. In his navy-blue pinstripe suit, Hudson towered over the toddlers who stretched on tiptoes for a better view.

  Her gaze slid over his muscular frame. She knew exactly what it felt like to have that hard body pressed against hers, and every image evoked a memory. Her fingers winding through his unruly hair. Her hands raking over his broad shoulders. Her heels digging into his firm ass.

  Snap out of it, Sinclair.

  Hudson turned around as she approached. Damn. The view from the front was even more devastating than the rear.

  “Hey,” he said, running a hand back through his hair. “Thanks for coming.”

  As if she’d had much choice. “I couldn’t risk you showing up in locker rooms all over Chicago.”

  “Or just the ones north of a certain street?”

  Allie stiffened. How dare he insinuate that she only frequented certain parts of town? She was about to counter his ridiculous claim when one of the gray seals splashed out of the water. Pointing his nose to the clouds, he stretched his mouth open wide and barked at the sky. The sound was deafening as it echoed off the rock formations.

  Hudson glanced over his shoulder. “Christ, helluva spot you picked.” Firmly cupping Allie’s elbow, he led her away from the pool and past a vendor selling popcorn out of what appeared to be a small red fire truck. She watched as Hudson surveyed the area before dragging her under a shady tree near the lion exhibit.

  “Why are we here?” she asked, stuffing her sunglasses back in her purse.
>
  Hudson smirked as he leaned his hip against the railing and crossed his arms. “You have a fondness for exotic animals?”

  She was not amused. Much. “I mean why were you so hell-bent on seeing me?”

  “Because you owe me. I know how you like to cut and run, Alessandra. But not this time.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t play fucking coy, acting as if nothing happened in my office the other night.” His tone turned sensual. “You were right there with me.”

  Allie’s mouth opened on a small gasp. How her traitorous body had responded to his that night was irrelevant. They were in public. Someone could have heard him, for God’s sake. She glanced around nervously and was relieved to find only a squirrel within earshot. “Lower your voice, please.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Right, same with all you debutantes. Taking a walk on the wild side is the perfect rebellion against mommy and daddy, just so long as no one finds out about it.” He pushed away from the rail, looming over her at full height. “Does dark and dangerous add to the thrill? Does it turn you on?”

  Allie blanched but held her ground. What she’d felt for Hudson all those years ago was real, and her heart had the scars to prove it. She wasn’t about to let him reduce it to nothing more than a rebellious fling. “It was never like that and you know it.”

  “Actions speak louder.”

  His words were scathing but Allie saw some unknown emotion cross his face. Was it pain? Sorrow? She couldn’t say for sure because as quickly as it appeared, it vanished.

  “And you sure as hell didn’t want your parents to know you’d been slumming it with me, did you? You wouldn’t even look me in the eye that last night on the boat, the same boat where you’d been half-naked under me the night before.”

  His words were like a cold, hard look in the mirror. The reflection staring back at her might have only been seventeen, but it didn’t excuse the way she’d acted. Hudson was right; it was shameful the way she’d ignored him that night. It was something she had always regretted.

  “Instead you latched on to some pansy-ass bastard.” Hudson let out a harsh laugh. “Way to shrivel a guy’s balls right up.”

  Latched on? Allie had no idea what he meant.

  High-pitched squeals surrounded them as a field trip of preschoolers was suddenly everywhere. The children pushed and shoved each other out of the way as they vied for a better view of the lions, leaning over the railing and roaring at the top of their lungs.

  “Fuck, are we the only people here over three-feet tall?” Hudson stalked away from the exhibit.

  “Who are you talking about?” she asked, struggling to catch up to him in her three-inch heels.

  Eyes forward, he never broke stride. “The prep in the summer whites. Hell, the guy looked like he was afraid he’d wrinkle. Your parents must have been so proud.”

  Allie reached for him. “Hudson, stop.” His gaze darted to where she’d grabbed his arm and she withdrew her hand. “I wasn’t with that boy. He was the son of my dad’s friend, not my date.” She swallowed, shoring up the courage to offer an apology that was ten years too late. “But yes, I was horrible to you that night. I panicked, and I’m sorry.”

  He threw it right back in her face. “And in my office, more panicking?”

  “No.”

  Hudson stared at her. Allie knew he was waiting for her to continue, to offer some sort of explanation, but she had no idea what had come over her in his office that night. How the hell was she supposed to explain it to him? Silence stretched between them until Hudson offered up a theory of his own.

  “I see. So you make a habit of sliding underneath donors? Sharing is caring and all that. Hell of a motto, Alessandra. No wonder the project is ahead of schedule.”

  Tears stung her eyes and she bit down on the inside of her cheek.

  Don’t you dare let him see you cry.

  “You’re right. A lot has changed in ten years. You’ve turned into a bitter asshole. Good-bye, Hudson.”

  She made it all the way to the cab before the first tear fell.

  Chapter Eight

  Allie watched as Harper poked at her bowl of field greens. Rosebud had some of the best salads in the Loop, but the sight and smell of the gnocchi, ravioli, and cavatelli being served to the other tables always put Harper in a foul mood. Not to mention the fresh bread. When the man next to them dredged a slice through olive oil and cheese, Allie half expected her to reach over and grab it out of his hand.

  “I don’t understand,” Harper said, turning away from the Italian feast one table over. “I eat rabbit food five days a week and barely lose a pound. Then one margarita and Bam! My thighs grow three inches.”

  Allie fought back a laugh. “It might have more to do with the chips and salsa.”

  “Mmm, I would kill for a basket of chips with a side of guac right now.” She was practically salivating. “Want to hit Blue Agave tonight?”

  As much as Allie would have loved a night out at their favorite Mexican restaurant, the list of things she needed to get done was as long as her arm. Her mom was all over her about wedding plans and her projects at work were piling up faster than she could get to them. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to concentrate on much of anything. For the past few weeks she’d been in a fog, speaking and nodding at appropriate times, but never fully there. Harper had even caught her staring out the window, daydreaming. Twice!

  It was all his fault. She’d been completely distracted ever since the night Hudson Chase strolled out of her past and into her life, turning the world as she knew it upside down. Until that night everything had been so clear, so black and white. She knew exactly who she was: Alessandra Sinclair, heir to the Ingram Media empire, director of fund-raising at Better Start, and fiancée of Julian Laurent, the man poised to take the reins of her family’s company.

  But Hudson’s return had brought memories so vivid, ten years felt more like ten days. She found herself recalling every detail of the time they’d shared, from the first time he brushed his lips against hers to the moment she knew she was falling in love. But she also remembered the ride back to Chicago that August afternoon and the nights she’d spent crying herself to sleep. Had it really all been over some terrible misunderstanding?

  Not that it mattered now. Hudson was Allie’s past. Julian was her future. They might not share the same blazing passion she felt when she was with Hudson, but it was safe. It was smart. And there was certainly nothing about being with Hudson Chase that was safe. Or smart. The feelings he’d awoken in her ten years ago had been like a wildfire, hot and all-consuming. But in the end she’d been burned and no high was worth that low. Calm and steady had suited her just fine since then, and that was exactly what she had with Julian. They were compatible, they were content.

  Everything was exactly as it should be.

  Then why couldn’t she get Hudson Chase out of her mind? She’d hoped his appalling behavior would have gotten him out of her system, but it had been almost two weeks since she’d left him standing in the middle of the zoo, and so far nothing had changed.

  “Hel-lo, earth to Alessandra . . .”

  Oh God, not again.

  “So what do you say, girls’ night?”

  Allie took her aggravation out on her lunch, stabbing a piece of grilled chicken with her fork. “I can’t.”

  “Why not? Mr. Fancy Pants is out of town, isn’t he?”

  She shot Harper a look, then nodded. “He left for New York today.”

  “Then let’s go out. We haven’t been out for drinks since . . . well, since you got engaged.”

  “I know, and I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Allie saw her friend raise a skeptical brow and quickly added the word “soon” to the end of her sentence. “But you wouldn’t believe the box my mother dropped off at my condo. Fabric swatches, pictures of floral arrangements, cake designs—”

  Harper’s head snapped up from her salad. “Oh, count me in on th
e cake tasting.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and Allie noticed for the first time that her earrings didn’t match. For a moment Allie wondered if it had been an oversight until she realized they were both the same emerald-green as her ballerina flats. It was an odd combination paired with her navy print dress, but on Harper it worked.

  “I’m not sure there will be time for a tasting. The note in the box said she needed my selections ‘immediately, if not sooner.’”

  Harper’s phone vibrated on the table. “Shit,” she mumbled as she read the incoming text.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “One late package and you’d think the world was ending.” She reached for her bag. “And apparently I’m the only one in our office capable of tracking a blasted cardboard box. Must be why I get paid the big bucks.” She laughed at her own joke as she dug a twenty out of her wallet. “Sorry to rush off.”

  “Don’t worry about it, I have my Kindle. I’ll just read a bit while I finish eating.”

  “Kindle, eh?” She stood up, slinging her messenger bag over her shoulder. “Must be pretty juicy.”

  Allie couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “No, just convenient.”

  Palms out, Harper raised her hands in an expression of innocence. “Hey, no judgment here. Nothing wrong with a little smut.”

  Allie’s breath caught. Hudson was suddenly standing behind Harper along with three other men. All four were dressed impeccably in dark, custom-tailored suits, but it was the sight of Hudson, in a light blue tie that perfectly matched his eyes, that made her mouth go dry.

  “Ladies,” he said with a slight nod of his head. His smooth, deep voice startled Harper and she jumped. Within seconds her face was as red as her hair.

  Hudson turned to his colleagues. “Everything sounds good. I’ll be in touch,” he said, effectively dismissing them before shifting his gaze to Allie. Her nipples hardened under the heat of his stare. Damn it. She crossed her arms over her ivory sheath dress, hoping he hadn’t noticed. Yeah, fat chance.

  Harper looked back and forth between the two of them for a second. “Alrighty then, I guess I’ll see you back at the office.” She took a step behind Hudson and fanned herself in an exaggerated motion. He glanced over his shoulder and she stopped midfan, quickly turning the gesture into a wave and flashing him a broad smile before ducking out the door.