Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Whitney

I took one last look around my bathroom and found a tube of lip balm that I'd missed. I added it to the box of essential items to take to Hudson's apartment. Eventually, I'd have to sort through the rest of the apartment and either toss, donate, or box my things for the storage unit Hudson would rent. My stomach dropped. A chapter in my life was ending, and it felt like a cliffhanger.

The doorbell rang, and Mr. Darcy skittered under the bed. He'd been on high alert all morning while I packed the necessities into suitcases and a few boxes. I couldn't blame him—my nerves were on edge, too. Moving into Hudson's apartment made the marriage much more real.

I opened the door, and Hudson's warm smile and kind eyes put me at ease. "Ready to do this?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." I showed him the box and suitcases we were moving. He grabbed the box, and I snagged the handle of a rolling suitcase. It wasn't long before we transferred the essentials .

I peered under the bed. "Mr. Darcy," I cooed. "Come here, baby boy." I made kissy-kissy noises.

He gave me a stink-eye and refused to budge.

Hudson got down on his hands and knees and stuck his head under the bed. "Mr. Darcy. Let's talk man-to-man." He pulled something out of his pocket. "I brought you a special treat." He held a green, fish-shaped morsel in his fingers. Mr. Darcy's nose twitched.

"What's that?"

"Emily bakes homemade cat treats. I asked Chase to bring some to this morning's practice."

His thoughtfulness warmed me. And his good thinking. Because the bribe was working. My cat crept forward, sniffing the air. Hudson backed up until Mr. Darcy was out from under the bed and then gave him the treat. The furball scarfed it down, and I quickly snatched him before he could run under the bed again.

"He'll never trust me again." Hudson pouted like a toddler.

"Keep giving him homemade treats, and he'll love you more than me." Especially since I fought to stuff all four of his legs into his carrier. But I finally smooshed him down and slammed the top grate. I pushed my glasses up my nose. Whew.

Hudson's lips mashed together, but his shoulders shook with laughter.

I pointed a finger at him. "You laugh now, but wait until it's your turn to put him in the kennel." I bit back my smile, my heart lifting.

I carried the howling kitty to Hudson's apartment, and he transferred Mr. Darcy's cat tree, bed, toys, litter box, food, and water and food bowls. If that wouldn't ingratiate Hudson to Mr. Darcy, I didn't know what would. We temporarily set up my baby in the spare bedroom and closed the door to allow him to settle down. We'd gradually introduce him to the rest of the apartment.

Hudson rolled a suitcase into his bedroom, and I followed with the smaller one. I halted inside the door. A king-size bed with a massive, dark walnut headboard took up most of the space—and my attention. A thick comforter and pillow shams in shades of cream and tan topped the mattress. I froze and couldn't look away from the elephant in the room.

Just thinking about sleeping in the same bed as Hudson flipped my stomach. I'd never slept the whole night with anyone. Not even Benjamin.

And I wanted to spend every night with Hudson, even though sex was off the table. He was my partner in crime, the only person I could turn to when I faltered. He soothed me.

Hudson strode to the head of the bed and plumped an already-fluffy pillow. "You, uh, can sleep on this side, nearest the bathroom. Let me know if you want me to buy you a softer pillow, different sheets…whatever." He ran a hand down the back of his neck. "I want you to be comfortable."

"I'm sure I will be." As comfortable as I could be while trying to sleep without touching Hudson.

He stepped to the dresser along the wall and opened a drawer. "I cleaned this out for you until we can move your dresser over here." He swept an arm. "And you can have half the closet."

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

In one long stride, he stood in front of me and cupped my shoulders. "No, thank you . When I spoke with Gramps this morning, he couldn't wait to get back on his feet and visit."

My nerves jangled. I wasn't ready for a visit from Gramps, for putting on a show. Not yet. But maybe once I got settled into the apartment, I'd feel better about it .

"Can I help you unpack?"

I shook my head. "I'm good, thanks. But…" I strolled into the living room and found my box. I pulled out the first two books in the Dangerous Dukes Club series. "Do you read print or eBooks?"

"I read on my Kindle app on my phone."

I replaced the paperbacks into the box. "Text me the email address for your Amazon account, and I'll gift my books to you."

He pulled his phone from his pocket, held it up, and smirked. "Already downloaded the first book in the series. I'm on chapter three. Lady Penelope is hiding in the library during the ball, and I expect the duke is going to stumble across her." He tapped the screen. "I can't wait to see what happens."

My heart swelled with pride. I'd hooked a nonfiction-reading hockey player with my writing. I winked. "The duke might surprise you."

Hudson settled on the bed to read, his back propped up against the pillows and his long legs stretched out in front of him. He occasionally laughed, called out comments on the plot and characters, or read passages aloud that he particularly liked.

I unpacked my toiletries and clothes while grinning. When finished, I moved into the closet and hung up my clothes. Hands on my hips, I surveyed my handiwork. A row of flowing sun dresses and pastel tops led into a line of crisp button-down shirts and tailored suits. Our lives were becoming entwined, even if the marriage was fake.

I left the closet and loaded a drawer with my lingerie while Hudson was absorbed in the book and not paying attention. I slid the drawer shut. "Tomorrow I have an appointment with a new doctor. I should be able to get my prescription refilled. "

His gaze raised to mine, eyebrows lifted. "Glad to hear it. But let me know if you have any problems, and I'll talk to the team's doctor."

My heart warmed at his concern. "It shouldn't come to that, but thank you."

His phone dinged, capturing his attention. "I just got a text from my agent. He said to check Instagram." Hudson tapped his screen and scrolled. His eyebrows rose. "The marriage announcement has over a thousand Likes and hundreds of positive comments and congrats." He frowned and scrolled some more. "There are a few trolls, but I can't win everyone over right away. That's going to take time." He raised his gaze. "What about your social?"

"Shoot! I didn't post anything!" I pulled out my phone and posted, Married my real-life hero! @Hudson_Talbott35 #Whitney&Hudson #InLove My stomach churned at misleading my readers, but Likes started adding up immediately. My fans loved a good romance, after all.

Why did the announcement feel like another nail in the coffin of my deception? And yet, when my gaze fell on the handsome man stretched out on the bed—the one who brought homemade treats for my cat and read my book—my heart settled. He was a good man who rescued me and wanted to be a role model again. We could easily become friends. Under different circumstances, I could grow fond of him.

Maybe even love him.

If he wasn't adamant that he wouldn't fall in love.

I sighed, my heart sinking. I'd committed to a loveless marriage. I'd known that going into this. Suck it up, buttercup.

Hudson crossed one long leg over the other, his gaze fixed on the book on his phone. "Kiss her, Arthur! What are you waiting for, man? "

I burst out laughing. Hudson would do just fine for a fake husband.

Never mind that I wanted more.

My jaw cracked with a massive yawn, and my eyes watered. My Kindle drooped in my hand. "I can't put it off any longer, Mr. Darcy," I croaked, my voice rusty.

The cat had crept out of the spare bedroom late in the evening and had warily curled up next to me on the sofa. Hudson had long since gone to bed because he had an early-morning skate. But I couldn't keep putting off the inevitable.

This was as close to a wedding night as I was going to get, yet I was avoiding going to bed as if my life depended on it. It was another failed dream resulting from a fake marriage.

I turned off the lamp and shuffled into the bedroom by the dim light seeping in around the blinds. Hudson lay on his side, facing away from me, his breathing deep and even. I pulled back the covers and slipped into bed as gingerly as I could, so I wouldn't disturb him. I lay stiffly on my back, the smooth, cool sheet clutched in my fingers, and stared at the ceiling. Despite being exhausted minutes ago, I was wide awake.

"You can relax," Hudson rumbled. "I won't touch you."

I jolted. "Sorry I woke you."

"No problem. Just…go to sleep. Everything's fine."

Everything wasn't fine. I caught a whimper before it could escape. I was in bed with a virtual stranger and every fiber of my being longed for the familiarity of my apartment. However, this was my new life, and I had to get used to it.

But Hudson was a good man. An honorable man. I was safe in bed with him. I could close my eyes and rest for a…

My front was deliciously warm, like I'd snuggled up to a heated blanket. A heavy weight on my hip purred, the sound vibrating through the quiet bedroom. My pillow shook as it chuckled, low and deep.

The heck? My eyes flew open, and I was met with the sight of a chiseled, bare chest. My head lay in the crook of Hudson's shoulder. "Oh, my God!" I sat up, dislodging Mr. Darcy from my hip.

Hudson grinned in the early morning light, dark brown hair tousled and eyes hooded from sleep. "I promised I wouldn't touch you, but you never said you were a cuddler."

"I'm so sorry." Heat crept into my cheeks, and I pulled the sheet up to my chin even though I wore a modest sleep tee and pajama shorts.

He shrugged. "I sure didn't mind. But I promise I won't take advantage of you. Not unless you change your mind." His warm brown eyes invited me to trust him. And I did.

But did I trust myself?