Page 14

Chapter 13

Penelope

I gently rock Hudson as he cries in my arms, squirming, and my head pounds. I’ve been home for twenty minutes, and in those twenty minutes, my darling son has picked up on my anxiety. He hasn’t stopped crying, which is making my anxiety heighten.

“Hudson,” I rasp as I maneuver him over my shoulder and pat his bottom before he makes a noise and suddenly I feel warm wetness spread down my back, and I pause.

Great, not only can I not control my emotions, which have all crashed down on me on my way home, hence the tear-stained streaks on my cheeks, but now I have baby puke down my back.

Awesome.

Hudson’s crying gets louder, and my eyes tear up and for the first time since returning home, I suddenly regret returning to my apartment.

It’s only been a month since he’s been born; my hormones are still all over the place, and this day has kind of tipped me over the edge. I’ve just spent two hours listening to Harry badmouth me and my son, something my sister had to be held back to stop hitting him for, only for my body to light up, shocking me before locking eyes with the ones I see in my son every day.

Taking deep breaths, I ignore the vomit and continue to walk back and forth in my living area, hoping to calm him down enough so I could maybe at least rinse the puke off of me, even though I would love a nice hot shower.

I can’t believe Taylor was at Harry’s; I can’t believe he remembered me.

For months, I’ve been trying to find him, but not once did I believe the connection between us would still be there, that I’d want to fall into his arms. I thought it was all in my head, even after seeing him on TV. I truly believed my feelings were down to the fact I gave him my virginity, or well, it’s what I made myself think anyhow.

Hudson’s screams get louder, and my tears fall as I gently hold him before me, my hands cupping underneath his head while his body rests on my forearms.

His face is red, tears soaking his cute chubby cheeks, and his bottom lip is out, even upset, the boy is adorable.

“Sweet boy,” I whisper, and he belches out another scream, making me wince.

Boy, does he have a pair of lungs on him!

“Please Huddy….” I rasp as a knock sounds at the door, and I look towards it, knowing it’s most likely my dad checking up on me, something he does every evening, and for once, instead of feeling irritated, I’m happy he is here because I think I’m about to break.

A knock sounds again, I gently place Hudson over my shoulder and walk to the door. I open it without looking through the peephole, and like de-ja-vu, I stand shell-shocked at the person before me, but instead of it being my dad, it’s the man I dream of every night. A man I’m pretty sure I gave my heart to as well as my virginity that one night.

All of the conversations we had, the laughs, the little touches in just that one night together come back, and the urge to jump in his arms hit hard, but I don’t move, too shocked and frazzled, all while Hudson cries.

Taylor looks me over, his brows furrowed before his eyes focus on my face.

Concern etches off him but also… Lust.

Seriously, I look a hot mess and smell terrible while he looks absolutely delicious, his black shirt hugging his muscles nicely, yet he’s looking at me like he wants to devour me.

I swallow hard and try to ignore my lusty brain, knowing this man is way out of my league and most likely has someone in his life who hasn’t just dropped a baby on him.

I say without thinking, “I’m covered in puke, and yet you’re looking at me like a meal you want to devour.” my mouth deciding to say exactly what I’m thinking, making me want to face slap myself while Taylor smirks.

Hudson screams louder, making me wince. Taylor frowns with concern, then steps forward and gently takes our screaming son from my arms, my eyes tear up when he quietens instantly.

Great, so I was the problem.

“Don’t look like that,” he says firmly, and I lock eyes with his.

“Like what?” I whisper, and his eyes soften as he replies, “Like you’re doing something wrong,” he gently moves our son over his shoulder. He holds his back with his large hand, then cups my cheek with his other, gently rubbing his thumb over my skin, and he reminds me, “You’re stressed. You’ve spent months trying to find me, months being pushed back by a…” he eyes our son then spells, “B-I-T-C-H,” and I can’t help but grin making him smile.

“You’ve had a shock, and he can pick up on how you are feeling because of your bond. Don’t feel like you are doing something wrong because you are not,” he finishes, and I sniffle.

This man cannot be real….

“How are you so calm right now?” I ask.

“It’s part of my career to stay calm. Believe me, it’ll hit me later when I’m alone, but right now, my mind is driving forward like it does in a game,” he says, and a few tears fall down my cheeks.

He catches them with his thumbs, frowning.

“Come on. You go take a shower, and I’ll watch Hudson,” he says, then wraps his arm around my waist to guide me back inside, but I step away, making his jaw tick.

I give him a tight smile and admit, “I’ve got puke down my back.”

His eyes soften and without a single thought, he again wraps his arm around my waist and guides me inside, shutting the door behind us.

I watch him as he looks around my space, and I swallow hard, waiting to see how he reacts to it.

It’s not like my parents' place or Harry’s or even his penthouse, but it’s mine, and I did it all on my own, unwilling to take my parents' money.

I’m proud of it.

Taylor looks back at me and smiles, then nods to where the hallway goes and says, “Go shower, I’ll watch Hudson.”

A lump forms in my throat. I know he’s good with kids. I mean, according to Mindy, before she got fired, a hot hockey player came in several times to see Kaylah. I just didn’t know it was this hot hockey guy.

“I promise he’ll be okay,” Taylor reassures me when I don’t move, and I sigh.

“Okay. There’s um uh milk in the fridge in milk pouches, um the bottles are…” I start, but he cuts me off and says, “I’ll find them. I always made Kaylah’s bottles when my sister slept, now go.”

My eyes race between his before I look at our boy whose head is now tucked in Taylor’s neck, and I sigh but nod. I turn and walk away, fully aware that he can see the puke down the back of my dress.

“Alright, buddy, let’s get to know each other while mommy has some much-deserved mommy time, shall we?” I hear Taylor say, and my tears fall again as I walk into my room.

I grab some lounge pants and a long-sleeved top on autopilot, then walk into my en-suite and turn on the shower.

I don’t think my heart rate has lowered since I saw him again, and I know it won’t drop now, either. I barely know him, I mean, I know he’s a good guy, but I don’t know how I feel about leaving him alone with Hudson right now.

I wipe my cheeks and quickly undress, then climb into the shower. I know this will be the quickest shower I’ve ever had.

“Good job, buddy,” I hear Taylor say as I leave my bedroom. I twiddle with my fingers, unsure what to do, as I see him leaning against the counter separating the kitchen and living area, gently rubbing Hudson’s back and as if feeling me he looks up, and our eyes connect.

He gives me a gentle smile and asks, “Better?”

I nod once, walk over to him, and go to take our son. Reluctantly, he hands Hudson to me, and I smile at the beautiful boy.

“Thank you,” I say, looking back at Taylor, and he grins at me.

“Of course… I, uh, I threw away the first pouch of milk; it tasted sour but so did the second so I guess that’s just the taste of the one you’re using,” he says as he gently cups Hudson’s head and my eyes widen in shock.

“You tasted it?” I ask, and he hums in confirmation. I can’t help it, laughter bubbles up, making him look at me with a raised brow.

I try to hide my grin and clear my throat, then shock him by saying, “It tasted sour because it was breast milk.”

His mouth drops open, and his eyes go to my breasts, then our son, then back to me. I grin wide but look at him with shock when he asks, “Do I still get them even if they’re full of milk?”

My mouth drops open, and he gives me a cheeky grin.

Damn, man has rendered me speechless.

I shake my head and walk over to the couch, taking a seat before moving Hudson so he’s lying in my arms. Taylor follows and sits next to me, and I sigh.

“I think we should stay um, uh friends…” I start, but he chuckles, making me glare at him, but he doesn’t shy away. Instead, he gently tucks my wet hair behind my ear and says, “With our connection, we can’t be just friends, and you can’t sit there and tell me you don’t still feel it.”

I bite my bottom lip, and he gently pulls it with his thumb.

“Get to know me,” he says, and my eyes race between his. “Date me, let me get to know you while I get to know our son. All I’m asking for is a chance. I can guarantee the chemistry we feel will only blossom,” he tilts his head, “It’s been nearly a year, Firecracker, and I’ve been trying my hardest to find you. Surely that means something. Please, just give me a chance, give us a chance before you write us off because I promise, you’ll regret it if you don’t. You’ll always wonder, what if?”

He gently cups our son’s head again and whispers, “We’re meant to be, and all I’m asking for is for you to try.”

“And what about Hudson?” I ask, “You’re a hockey player, time is limited, and I’m a nurse and due to return to work soon. He has to come first, not your one-night stand.”

He cuts me off again and says, “I’ll make time. You’re working, and when I’m in town, I’ll have him; we have an away game, and it’s close, and you’re not working, then I’ll have you in a family box. We’ll make it work Pen,” his eyes race between mine, “You know it was more than just a one-night stand. You can’t sit there and tell me you wanted to leave that morning. Just get to know me, please.”

He seems so sincere, but I don’t know if I can do it. He looks like such a great guy, but he barely knows me and I only know what the news anchors say about him.

Hasn’t he been with other people since our night together, and shouldn’t Hudson come before everything, including me?