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“You didn’t have to do that,” Hudson tells me quietly, holding my hand on the table and giving it a squeeze
“I wanted to. I know Harvey loves planes.” I shrug. I should have spent the money on getting Mom a new blanket for her knees or maybe on the screen door, but instead I went to Tony’s Toy World and picked up the plane, knowing how much it would mean to Harvey. I can get the new blanket for Mom next week and the screen door will be fine until next month.
“Can we do it? Can you come over tonight and we can do it together?” Harvey says, his eyes wide, face still plastered with surprise and shock.
“Oh, I…” I start to say, because while I thought we could do it together, I hadn’t planned on it being tonight. My eyes flick to Hudson to gauge his reaction. I should have probably asked him before I brought his son something. I’m not totally sure of the rules around this kind of thing. I think it’s a nice gesture, but many parents may feel differently. But his smile is warm, the love in his eyes that he has for his son obvious, and when he flicks his gaze my way, it doesn’t falter.
“Come over tonight. Let me cook you dinner?” Hudson offers, and I take a deep breath. I’m trying to balance all my responsibilities, but the guilt I’m feeling for leaving Mom at any time is eating me inside.
“Please, Lacy? Pleeeaasssee,” Harvey says, bouncing in his seat, and I laugh lightly. I have no idea how I’m meant to turn him down, let alone his handsome father, whose eyes haven’t moved from me the entire time I’ve been here.
So I find myself nodding with just as much giddiness. “Okay. Sounds fun.” I take a deep breath and quickly run through my mental to-do list. I know Mom will be fine to spend tonight alone. She has her cell, and I’m not too far away. Jennifer and I have ensured her independence has grown these past few weeks, and I know she likes to have some alone time. She will probably appreciate me being out of the house tonight.
“Great. Let’s get our afternoon treat, and then we can take you home, pack you an overnight bag, and bring you to the ranch,” Hudson says, leaning back, happy that the decision is now made.
“I got your usuals,” Rochelle says, sliding up to the table, with one sundae and one brownie, both with extra cream today.
“Thanks, Rochelle, they look delicious.” Hudson gives her a broad smile, and I think I see her blush.
“Anytime, Doc. Looks like a nice gift you got there, little Harvey.”
“Lacy got it for me!” Harvey says excitedly, and I suddenly see spots in my vision. I blink them away as I hold on to the table tightly, feeling a little faint.
“Did she now?” Rochelle says, smiling, and I can tell she is pocketing that information for later. Probably to tell my mother or share it with her friends down at the community center, where she plays a weekly game of bridge. Although I don’t know how much bridge they all play; it’s more like one big gossip session in front of a deck of cards, if you ask me.
“Harvey is very spoiled, and Lacy is very generous,” Hudson says, watching me, before he curls his fingers in mine, still on display on the table. Rochelle notices themove immediately, and her smile widens even more, like we have just given her the best gift.
“Treats are on the house today,” she says, grabbing the menu cards.
“You don’t have to do that.” I frown, confused. Over the years, Rochelle has treated me on the house a few times. Typically, when I have come in super sad after one of Mom’s particularly bad weeks. But today, that isn’t the case.
“Oh, nonsense. It’s nice to see young love blossom. You don’t see a lot of that around here.” Her eyes twinkle, her lips twitching before she steps away.
“She has had one too many coffees today, I think,” I quip, before I let go of Hudson and grab my spoon, the sundae in front of me teasing me. My vision has cleared up, but I’m a little nauseous. Maybe my blood sugar is low.
“So how was this morning?” Hudson asks, eyeing me carefully.
“It was fine. Just like the last time, over pretty quickly.”
“Any dizziness? Fatigue?” he asks in his doctor voice, and I roll my eyes.
“I am fine, Hudson,” I say, grinning as I wave him off. I don’t need him worrying about me. I’m already feeling better as it is, anyway.
“Are you going to eat that cherry?” Hudson asks, one eyebrow rising with a sexy smirk on his lips. I swallow, my eyes flicking to his son, who is completely oblivious to our flirty banter.
“You want to watch?” I ask quietly, my tone laced witha trace of seduction, my eyebrow quirking to meet his in a challenge.
He doesn’t say anything, but he leans back, throws his arm over the back of the booth, and his eyes hook on me as Harvey shovels in his brownie next to us. Hudson’s jaw ticks, and flames heat my insides, my stress from everyone's eyes on us before now all forgotten.
“Put it in your mouth.” His request almost comes out as a demand, and I swallow before I grab the cherry stem, letting the glossy red ball dangle before I place it in my lips and taste it. I suck the juices, dropping it into my mouth, and as I do, I hear a small rumble from the man sitting opposite me, whose eyes are burning into my own.
He waits and watches as my tongue darts around in my mouth, and I swallow the fruit before I grab the stem from my lips, perfectly tied, and place it on my napkin.
“I have a new admiration for cherries,” Hudson murmurs as he sits forward again, grabbing his spoon, our little show for two over.
“They are my favorite,” I tease, smirking.
“And you are mine,” he says quietly as he digs into my sundae, and my stomach flutters at the sincerity in those words. My weekly treat is now one I share with a man I think I am falling in love with.