Page 25 of Best Kept Secret

Her hand rested on the cushion, and he slowly reached out and placed his hand over it. As simple as it was, she felt his touch in every cell in her body.

“We didn’t get to finish our conversation,” he said.

“You were about to tell me why you invited me here.” She felt so giddy she was surprised she’d made a complete sentence.

He gently brushed his thumb across the back of her hand. “Would you go out with me sometime? Just the two of us, I mean.”

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she swallowed hard. “Yes,” she said and nodded as additional confirmation.

His face broke into a huge smile, and if Jared wasn’t just around the corner, she might have leaned in and kissed him. Then she heard the bathroom door open, and she quickly pulled her hand away.

Hudson stood up and started walking toward the kitchen just as Jared came around the corner. “I’ll set the table,” Hudson said, as if that had been his plan all along.

“Thanks,” Jared said.

You wouldn’t be thanking him if you knew what almost happened, she thought. Smiling innocently at her brother, she patted the cushion beside her. “Sit down and tell me all about the new woman in your life.”

He chuckled, but he sat down and began to fill her in. Later she’d have trouble remembering what he’d said other than the woman’s name. Her mind kept wandering, and all she could think was, I’m going on a date with Hudson. Just the two of us. Alone.

Eight

Aweek had passed since he’d asked her out, and he still hadn’t followed up on it. After he’d asked, he realized it was a big mistake, and now he wasn’t sure how to get out of it. He’d decided to turn to his sister for advice, only she didn’t know that yet.

He swung into her driveway, parked, and then opened the back door to retrieve his precious cargo. “Ready to see your aunt Emily?”

Annie blinked at him, and he took that as a yes.

He unhooked the car seat, something he’d become quite adept at, threw the diaper bag over his shoulder, and went up to the front door. He was just about to knock when the door swung open and Emily greeted him with a joyous smile.

“There you are. I couldn’t wait to see you!”

Emily’s smile was aimed at Annie more than him, but he could hardly blame her. His daughter looked adorable in the gingham dress and matching hairbow Sonia had dressed her in.

He followed Emily into the living room of her quaint bungalow and placed Annie’s car seat on a chair. He lifted her out and immediately handed her off to his sister, who was practically jumping up and down with impatience.

“She looks bigger than the last time I saw her,” Emily said as she hugged Annie to her chest.

“It was only a couple weeks ago.”

“It felt like longer than that.”

He was starting to feel the same way between visits with his daughter. It made him even more determined to find a house so he could have Annie over more often. Whenever he’d asked Sonia if Annie could spend the night, she’d shot him down, insisting that a bachelor pad was no place for their daughter. He hadn’t wanted to argue with her, so he’d let it go—for now.

“I love her little dress,” Emily gushed as she sat down with the baby on her lap.

“I think she has a pretty extensive wardrobe.”

“Hers is probably better than mine.”

He pulled some toys out of the diaper bag and handed them to Emily. Then he sat down on the couch beside her.

“How’s everything going? Are you and Sonia getting along okay?” Emily asked.

She was his only sibling, and they’d always been close. He appreciated her even more since he’d become a dad. Emily had supported him from the start, and he was extremely grateful for it.

“Eh. We’re doing okay, I guess. I just wish she would trust me more.”

“Give it time. This is probably hard on her too.”