“There’s more for tomorrow,” Adam piped up. “We were strictly forbidden to touch them. Millie’s our cook,” he said for my benefit. “She’s amazing.”
“Now that the little one’s been fed,” Mira said, rubbing her belly, “I can give a proper greeting. Laynie!” She wrapped her arms around me. “I’m so glad you came!”
“Thank you,” I said, stunned by her exuberance.
“How was the trip? Did you get anything to eat?”
“Are you offering to fix them something?” Adam put his hand near his mouth and mock-whispered, “Mira doesn’t cook.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, playfully. “I know how to use the microwave, though.”
“No need to prove anything. We stopped in Sayville,” Hudson said.
“The clam bar? Ooh, I’m jealous.” Mira moved to her brother and hugged him, giving him a light peck on the cheek. “I’m still glad you’re here. It’s been ages since you’ve come out.”
Hudson slipped out of her grasp, but smiled. “I am too. Did Dad come?”
Mira took the empty pie plate to the sink and filled it with water before leaving it to soak. “Yeah, he’s already gone to bed for the night. Or he’s hiding from Mom. He’s in the guest house.”
I exchanged glances with Hudson, remembering our earlier conversation about his parents’ loveless marriage.
“Where is Mother? And Chandler?”
“I’m here.” I looked behind me to see Sophia Pierce leaning against the arched doorway. She wore a dressing robe and had a glass of something light brown on ice. “Chandler’s out with the Gardiner girl. I don’t expect him until late.”
“Hello, Mother.” Hudson walked over to her and kissed each of her cheeks.
“You made it.” Sophia glanced at me. “Both of you.”
“Alayna and I are seldom apart,” Hudson lied, pulling me to him.
“Good evening, Mrs. Pierce.” I had been dreading seeing her again, but I made my greeting as warm as possible. Hudson’s arm around me helped. “Thank you for the invite. Your house is lovely.”
She nodded. “I’m sure you want to get settled. I chose a room for you in the west wing.”
Hudson straightened. “I told Martin to set up the master suite in the east wing.”
Electric tingles spread from my lower belly throughout the rest of my body. Hudson and I sharing a master suite…the thought made me squirm. I’d tried not to dwell on how we’d spend our nights in the Hamptons—whether they’d be filled with sex or considered on-duty hours, I didn’t know. But now that the idea had been firmly planted, I couldn’t stop thinking of the carnal possibilities.
Sophia obviously didn’t feel the same way about her son and me sharing a bed. “Hudson, that’s so far away from the rest of us.” Her ire was evident. Like Hudson, I had a feeling she rarely had anyone oppose her. I imagined the shared trait made for some pretty uncomfortable family meals.
And I was about to share several of them before the trip was over. Lucky me.
Hudson knew how to handle his mother. “We need the distance, Mother.” His tone was final.
“Why? We don’t bite.”
“Alayna does,” he grinned wickedly. “And she can be quite loud.”
I turned ten shades of scarlet. Did he actually believe every pretend girlfriend wanted their sex life discussed with the mother? Though, I really could be quite loud.
It was Sophia’s shocked look that Hudson responded to, her expression likely the intended outcome of his scandalous remark. “Oh, Mother, don’t look at me like that. Neither Alayna and I have been virgins since we were sixteen.”
Sophia pursed her lips and walked past us, finishing her beverage before placing it in the sink.
Hudson leaned into whisper in my ear, the warmth of his breath sending a shiver down my spine. “Well, what do you know? That virginity fact did come in handy.”
I elbowed him in the ribs, exasperated at being the victim in his poke at his mother.
“Don’t get pissy, Alayna.” He pulled me in front of him and wrapped his arms around me, my backside to his chest. “Trust me—we want a room away from them.”
I sighed into his touch, aware that we were on show, but enjoying the contact nonetheless.
And maybe he enjoyed the contact, too. Or he simply wanted to get away from his mother because he excused us then. “We’ll see you in the morning. It’s late and we’d like to get to bed.”
Or maybe he really did just want to get to bed. God knew I did.
Chapter Sixteen