Allie rolled her eyes as she snatched the garter out of Hudson’s hands. “That’s not supposed to be in there.”

“Suit yourself. But this,” he said, smirking as he held up her pink lace baby-doll nightgown, “is definitely making the trip. A survival necessity.”

“Give me that.” She tried to swipe the skimpy nightgown from him but he pulled it out of reach.

“Oh no, this is coming with me. For safe keeping.” Hudson pulled Allie between his legs. His broad palms swept over her rib cage before cupping her breasts. “Unless you’d like to put it on now?”

His hopeful grin made her insides melt like warm honey. She grinned back at him as she pulled away. “If we start this now, we’ll never leave.”

“True. And the sooner we get there, the sooner I’ll have you naked.” Hudson stood and swatted her playfully on the ass. “Pack it up.”

***

Allie leaned her head back against the black leather seats of Hudson’s Range Rover Autobiography. They’d been driving for about an hour, and the farther they got from the city limits, the more she felt herself relax.

It had been so long since she’d been out of the world of concrete and glass that Allie had forgotten how beautiful the countryside was this time of year. A few of the trees were still green, but most had begun to turn despite the warm temperatures. Vibrant shades of gold, orange, and red dotted the landscape like Mother Nature’s own version of Monet.

As they grew closer to the town of Lake Geneva, the rolling hills gave way to luxury resorts, lush golf courses, and riding stables surrounded by white wooden fences. The town itself was quaint with brightly colored shops and restaurants lining the water’s edge. It was the kind of place where city goers shelled out big bucks to “get away from it all,” and there were dozens of retailers more than willing to help them spend their money. Art galleries, antique shops, and jewelry stores filled both sides of the street, along with a few high-end sporting goods stores catering to outdoor thrill seekers. A sign advertising zip-lining hung in one of the windows. Allie’s stomach plummeted at the thought. She glanced at Hudson, hoping that dangling from a harness in the woods wasn’t his idea of enjoying the great outdoors.

“Anything special you’d like to do while we’re up here?” she asked.

Hudson raised a curious brow and cut his eyes at her. “Are you giving me carte blanche, Miss Sinclair?”

She felt her face flame. “I meant something more along the lines of golfing or riding horses. That sort of thing.”

Hudson chuckled. “I prefer my Harley to a horse.” The Range Rover rolled to a stop at a red light and Hudson’s dark gaze met hers. “As for the rest of the time we’re up here, I believe I made my intentions clear back at your brownstone.”

His eyes never left hers as he reached for her hand and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. The feel of his lips against her skin had her shifting in her seat. She wanted to feel that mouth on every inch of her skin; kissing her, licking her, making her come. Hudson’s eyes widened infinitesimally as she squirmed under the heat of his stare. He knew exactly what he was doing to her. But instead of being annoyed by his look of smug satisfaction, she found herself fighting the urge to slide his hand up the inside of her thighs so he could feel for himself just how right he was.

The light changed and Hudson gave her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it to place both of his on the wheel. His foot pushed down hard on the accelerator and the car surged forward, pressing her into the supple leather. She turned toward the window to hide her grin. If the speed of the car was any indication, she wasn’t the only one fighting urges.

Allie gazed across the water as the SUV sped along the shoreline. The sun was just beginning its descent and the late afternoon rays made the surface of the lake sparkle like silver glitter. In the distance, the paddle wheel of a double-decker steamboat churned through the water. The old-fashioned riverboat looked like it would be more at home on the mighty Mississippi than a nine-mile lake, but it was charming nonetheless.

“We’re here,” Hudson said. The Autobiography took a sharp left through a set of stone walls flanking either side of a winding drive that led to a clearing at the top of a hill. Allie peered out the window. A wood and stone house towered above her with a high-peaked roof and windows that soared over two stories. Hudson parked the car in front of the house alongside a wide staircase. At the top was a wood plank door with a glass inset. Allie leaned forward, her eyes following the lines of a wide deck that wrapped around the entire house. When she looked back, she found Hudson watching her expectantly.

“It’s lovely,” she offered.

The corner of his mouth turned up in a shy smile. “I can’t wait to show you the rest. Wait there.” A moment later he was at her door, taking her hand as she stepped out of the car. He led her up the stairs with an almost childlike excitement, but stopped abruptly when they reached the top. Allie heard the faint buzzing of a cell phone as Hudson reached into the pocket of his jeans. He frowned when he read the screen, then silenced it with a push of his thumb. Clearly not the call he’d been hoping for.

“Give me a minute to grab the bags and check my messages, then I’ll show you around.” He unlocked the door and flipped on a few lights before disappearing down the stairs with his phone pressed to his ear. Allie hoped he’d be able to reach Nick, even if only to hear his voice and know he was okay. But as she thought the words, she realized the odds of that were slim. Nick wasn’t ready to accept Hudson’s help. She shuddered at the thought of how much worse things might get before he was.

Allie wandered around the great room as she waited for Hudson to return. The modern rustic style was the complete opposite of his sprawling penthouse. Dark beams of distressed wood crisscrossed overhead while wide planks spanned the length of the floors. A fireplace made of tan and gray stones ran the full height of the two-story ceiling, as did the windows that looked out over the treetops. A row of bookshelves held an impressive collection of hardbacks, but the centerpiece of the room was the oversize leather sectional that curved around a tufted ottoman. It was weathered brown leather, the kind she knew without touching would be buttery soft, with tapestry pillows piled on each end.

To her right was the kitchen. The beamed ceiling and planked floors flowed into the open space, and the same stones that were on the fireplace created a similar hearth around a twelve-burner cooktop. A large island sat in the middle of the room with copper lights strung from the ceiling above it. There was a slab of marble on top that was bigger than most dining room tables, and six barstools were arranged around two of the sides. It was obvious the house had been designed for entertaining.

A set of glass doors led to an expansive deck off the kitchen. Allie opened them to find a cluster of teak chairs with green-and-tan cushions facing an outdoor fireplace. There were gas torches placed at intervals along railing posts, and in the corner a large hot tub sat perched atop a platform.

Bet that could tell some stories.

An unwelcome pang of jealousy twisted in her stomach and she turned her attention back to the view. The sun was beginning its descent and the fading rays cast a gold reflection on the lake below. She sighed. It was the perfect romantic getaway. She knew it was ridiculous, but as she leaned against the railing and gazed out over the tops of the pine trees, part of her couldn’t help but wonder how many other women had enjoyed the same view.

The door opened behind her. “There you are,” Hudson said.

“Gorgeous view. How long have you owned the place?”