“Honestly, it was nothing short of a miracle Elizabeth didn’t see the way you were looking at that man last night.”

All she saw was a few heated glances? Allie would have exhaled in relief if it weren’t for her mother’s piercing stare.

“I won’t be humiliated by your indiscretions, Alessandra.”

The waiter eased toward their table. Victoria gave him a tight smile and asked for the check before turning her attention back to Allie. “I think this will be a lovely location for cocktails, don’t you agree?”

Allie’s brow knit together. “Cocktails?”

Her mother gave a small nod and took another sip of tea. “Yes, before the reception. They clear the couches and chairs out of the way and bring in a few high-top tables. Of course we’ll have them draped in silk, dress them up with votives and fresh flowers. The catering manager suggested a pasta bar or a carving station, but I went with passed hors d’oeuvres. Silver trays and white gloves are so much more elegant than a line forming in the corner. This is the Drake, not the Sizzler, for heaven’s sake.”

Victoria continued to describe her vision of the perfect wedding reception. Staring straight ahead, Allie noticed she had a clear view of the doors to the ballroom in the distance. The words “Gold Coast Room” seemed to float over her mother’s head as she covered everything from the height of the centerpieces to the size of the dance floor. Every detail had been carefully planned, right down to the location of their meeting.

Allie listened without really hearing, somehow managing to nod at the appropriate moments. She rubbed her palms on the velvet couch. Where the hell was the waiter with that check?

She made her escape as soon as the bill was paid, practically running down the stairs. The gust of fresh air was a welcome relief until she looked across the street at the entrance to the Palmolive building. Her chest tightened. She had to end things with Hudson. Postponing the inevitable was getting them nowhere, and it was only going to be harder the more time she spent with him. And now that her mother was suspicious. . . .

“Taxi?” the doorman asked.

“Yes, please.” Her phone pinged with a text and she looked down at the screen.

It was from Hudson. Cleared my schedule. Early dinner at my place?

Only four thirty and Hudson was willing to ditch work. For her. She glanced up at his building. Was he already there, waiting?

“Ma’am?”

She turned to find the doorman holding open a taxi door.

“Still want the cab?”

Allie looked back at her phone and quickly typed a reply. Can’t. Lots of work. Call you later.

Without looking up, she pressed Send and ducked into the cab.

Chapter Twenty-seven

“Drink this. You look like you need it.” Hudson offered Allie a squat glass. She shook her head and continued her pacing from the fireplace to the couch, looping back for a scenic route along the windows. “Then I need it, because I have a feeling I’m not going to like whatever it is you have to say.”

“I can’t keep running over here with my toothbrush and a pair of panties in my purse.”

“I’d offer you a drawer, but that’s not the issue, is it?” When there was nothing but silence, he continued. “This is when you tell me what’s really going on.” Hudson took a long drink from his glass, his throat working on a swallow. He tracked her movements, willing to go all in that this had something to do with the horseshit text she sent him about having to work late. “Spill it.”

She stopped by the fireplace. “I can’t do this anymore.”

“You don’t get to decide that.” He tossed back the rest of his scotch, leaned over, and set the glass down on the coffee table a little harder than intended. “Not this time.”

“My mother summoned me to the Drake today, Hudson. Apparently she saw us at the CSO and felt the need to discuss it over tea and scones.”

“I see.”

“She’s going to be watching my every move.”

Any trace of levity drained from Hudson’s face. Victoria Sinclair was taking up more space in the room than he was. Fuck that, she saturated it. “Your mother’s playing games within games, Alessandra.”

Allie’s face clouded over and she turned toward the fire.

Hudson stepped closer. His tone softened as he slipped a finger under her chin, turning her head to meet his gaze. “You have the power to take control of your life.”

The simple words lingered between them, and as the weight of them settled, he realized he needed to pull Allie out of the eye of the shit storm. She was ready to run, he could see it on her face. Hell, she already had one foot out the door. But words were not going to be enough. He was going to have to show her, make her see that what she wanted was standing right in front of her. “Go away with me this weekend. Just the two of us.”

She shook her head. “I can’t just disappear for the weekend.”

“You’re not falling off the face of the earth, and there is cell reception . . . in most places. Unless you think your mom is tracking your phone; then I’ll see that it finds a new home at the bottom of the lake.”

Allie laughed. “I don’t think cell phone destruction will be necessary. Not that she wouldn’t track me if she could, but the woman barely manages a text message.”

“What do you say?” With his eyes he traced the delicate little crease that wrinkled her brow. The one she got when she was weighed down with uncertainty, confined by the pressure of indecision, or rankly pissed off.

“I don’t know.” Allied chewed on her bottom lip. “It’s Thursday night, where would we even go on such short notice?”

“I have a little place a couple hours from here on Lake Geneva. It’s beautiful this time of year when the leaves have all turned. We can go out on the lake or we can stay in so I can kiss every inch of your perfect body.” He flashed a grin. “Besides, I miss my bike.”

“Finally saved up enough to buy that motorcycle you wanted?” she teased.

“Managed to scrape a few bucks together. And I can’t wait to take you on it.” He dragged his mouth down her throat, leaving a trail of featherlight kisses in his wake. “There’s an idea.”

Allie tilted her head to the side. “It does sound tempting.”

“It’s settled, then.” He lifted his head and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Now how about that drink?”

“Yes, please.”

Hudson strolled around the breakfast bar, then yanked open the door of the wine fridge. The majority of his collection was stored downstairs, but he always had a few bottles on hand in the kitchen. He’d just pulled a California chardonnay from the rack when the phone rang. He set the bottle on the granite counter and snatched the receiver from the cradle. “Chase.”

As Allie approached, Hudson did a tight 180 while running a hand through his hair. “Send him up.” He hung up the phone and cursed under his breath before turning back to face her.

“What is it?” she asked.

His jaw tightened. “My brother.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

“Nick’s here?” The last time Allie saw Hudson’s little brother he was all of twelve years old. Crooked grin, mop of unruly hair, and big brown eyes filled with hero worship for his older brother. Allie smiled. She couldn’t wait to see him again.

“Yeah, but now is not the time for a reunion.” Hudson moved quickly toward Allie and cupped her elbow. “I need you to wait in my room.”

“What?” Allie frowned. “Why do I need to wait in there? It’s just your brother.” True, she’d just had a meltdown over her mother seeing them at the CSO, but this was different. This was Nick. He’d kept their secret ten years ago. She certainly wasn’t worried about him blowing their cover now.