Around four, I decided to get some coffee at the shop nearby. Reynold was talking on the phone this time so rather than bother him with my plans I let him think I was going to the bathroom and slipped out the back door. Stepping into the light of day, I remembered how much I loved the outdoors. Sure, I preferred the earlier hours before the heat and humidity became sweltering, but if it weren’t for my recently acquired stalker, I’d definitely be in the fresh air more often. Damn, Celia.
Thinking of her made a trickle of sweat bead at the back of my neck. Perhaps I should have brought Reynold along after all. Traffic rushed around the circle next to me. A cab was idling at the curb. A limo pulled up behind it. I was surrounded by people—why did I suddenly feel so anxious?
As if spawned by my anxiety, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, while another covered my mouth, stifling my scream. I was hoisted and pulled into the back of the limo and onto the lap of Hudson Pierce.
“What the fuck?” I scrambled to a sitting position, my heart beating at a rapid pace. “Hudson! You scared the shit out of me!”
“Where’s your bodyguard?” he asked pointedly. “You on the sidewalk without him scared the shit out of me.”
I scowled. “Terrifying me isn’t any way to prove a point.”
“It isn’t?” He grinned, pulling me into his arms.
I struggled, still fuming about his prank, but I wasn’t a match for him. He easily restrained me against his chest. Besides, in the end, I enjoyed being in his arms. “What are you doing here, anyway?” I nestled into him.
“I’m kidnapping you. Obviously.” His hand slid up and down my bare leg, leaving gooseflesh in its wake.
I wrapped my arms around him and beamed. A night out with Hudson was exactly what I needed. “Awesome. Are you taking me to dinner or something?”
“Or something.” With his elbow, he nudged the intercom on. “Let’s go,” he said, and the limo pulled out into traffic.
My concern for the unattended club outweighed my usual concern about riding without a seat belt. “Wait! I haven’t locked up the club or anything.”
Hudson tightened his hand around my waist, holding me in place, and moved a finger up to my lips to shush me. “I was talking to Reynold when you left. He’s taking care of securing the building. Why were you sneaking away?”
I stuck my tongue out and licked the length of his finger, the salty taste lingering on my lips. He pulled it away with a stern look. It seemed he wanted answers before he was willing to play. “I wasn’t sneaking away.” Okay, maybe I was. “I was only running next door for coffee. No big deal.” The crease in his forehead said that he didn’t agree with my assessment of the situation. “All right, I won’t do it again.” I leaned up and pecked him on the lips. “So seriously, where are you taking me?”
He smiled mischievously. “I said I wanted you out of town.”
“What?” I bolted upright, straining against his hold. “I can’t leave town, H. I work tomorrow night. And I don’t want to leave town. We talked about this.”
He grabbed my wrists and held them as if he feared I would push the intercom and ask the limo driver to stop. Which I was considering.
“Settle down, precious.” He pulled my hands up to his mouth and placed a kiss on each one. “I simply thought a weekend away might be good for us.”
“Both of us?” I’d been very much opposed to the idea of running away, but a weekend away with Hudson was an altogether different idea. Sweet. Romantic.
“Yes, both of us. I’d send you away if you’d let me, but I’m glad you won’t because I can’t bear to be away from you.” He circled my nose with his before settling a kiss on the tip of mine. “I arranged for David and Gwen to cover The Sky Launch tomorrow. We’ll be back Sunday night.”
“I’m the main manager now. I can’t just take off whenever I want.” There wasn’t any fight in my protest though. I was only pointing out the facts so that I wouldn’t feel guilty.
Hudson had no such guilt. “I’m the owner. Yes, you can.”
“I feel like I should be irritated at you about this.” I grinned. “But I’m not. Thank you. I’d love to be away with you for the weekend.”
“I think you need it. We need it.”
“You’ve never been more right. And that’s saying something since you’re right an awful lot. But don’t let it go to your head.” I wriggled out of his arms, eager to get into my own seat where I could buckle up.
I snuggled as close to him as I could with my belt on. “Where are we going? Are we stopping at the penthouse so I can pack some clothes or did you take care of that, too?” Knowing him, he probably did.