Page 34 of Too Broken to Love

Tracing her collarbone with his finger up her neck, he pressed just hard enough to coax a little gasp. She bit her bottom lip, her eyes swirling from soft amber to liquid gold as he hooked his thumb under her chin.

“That’s it, little thief, show me more.”

“More of what?”

He dipped his head, his mouth inches from hers, eager to learn more little details about her. “More of everything.”

Malcolm’s voice boomed from the stairway.

“Fuck.” Hudson dropped a quick kiss on Tessa’s mouth. The air between them crackled as he stepped back. Or maybe that had been his frustrated groan.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Malcolm stalking into the suite perpetually reserved for him at the top of the stairs. The door thundered shut as Lia stomped down the hall.

She stopped in front of Hudson and wagged her finger. “Your friend deserves to sleep in the pool house. I’m assuming you have one since this place looks as big as a resort.”

“Resort?” Tessa snickered. “Sam would have laughed if he heard you say that.”

“She’s right. You two get some sleep.”

As he turned and headed toward his suite at the end of the hall, he could feel Tessa’s eyes on his back. It was his turn to shiver as he pulled up the photo of her he’d taken on the boardwalk this morning. When he woke in a sweat later, he wanted Tessa’s face fresh in his mind, and the thought of her in that big guest bed to counter the bad dreams.

“This is gorgeous.” Tessa touched the emerald-colored dress hanging in the walk-in closet in her suite. Where had all these clothes come from? Hudson said he’d take care of it, but he’d been exhausted. He couldn’t have arranged all this while she’d slept.

She’d awoken a few minutes ago from a rare, nightmare-free sleep. For a moment she panicked, but it had only taken the faint scent of bourbon to remember where she was.

She’d felt Sam in this house the moment she’d stepped into the foyer. After Hudson had left her and Lia at the door, they’d talked until exhaustion won. As Tessa drifted off to sleep in the biggest, most comfortable bed she’d ever slept in, a piece of their conversation replayed in her mind.

And I’m your duty.

In more ways than one, little thief, and in some you might not like if you don’t listen to me…or maybe you will.

She might defy his orders and find out.

Josie appeared in the doorway. “Good morning, or shall I say good evening. I’m glad you’re up. It’s time to get ready for the will reading.”

Tessa turned to the stout, petite woman she’d met last night. “Hi.”

“Is Lia still asleep?”

“Yes.” Tessa tightened the belt of the burgundy satin robe she’d found next to the shower. “I just checked on her.”

“Good. Sleep will make her cut heal faster. Ready to get dressed?” Josie placed a travel mug on the shelf. “I brought you tea. There’s food in the sitting room. Wine too.”

“Thank you, but you didn’t have to do that. I could have gotten it myself.”

Josie smiled. “You aren’t used to someone taking care of you, are you?”

“No. Not until Sam.”

“You’d better get used to it when I’m around.” Josie extended an arm. “What do you think?”

Tessa spun slowly, taking in the array of clothes and shoes. “Where did all this come from?”

Josie picked up a pair of jeans and refolded them. “Hudson asked me to call a personal shopper, so I called the one Vivian and Shayla use. They’re uppity, but they have great taste in clothes.” Josie swept her arm to the half-dozen dresses and matching heels lining the back wall. “And I figured you’d need armor for your first meeting with Vivian.”

“Thank you.” Tessa twisted the belt of her robe into a knot as tight as the one in her belly. “Is Vivian really that bad?”

Josie sighed. “Yes, but she’s family.”