Page 37 of Too Broken to Love

Mine.

Hell no. Tessa wasn’t his. She was his duty, and fuck, his new obsession he hadn’t seen coming.

That shit had to stop.

Tessa fiddled with the ring on her finger as she stared at Hudson’s profile. Why had he looked at her like she’d stabbed him with a fillet knife after she’d given her opinion about Sam’s study? Had she overstepped?

She’d meant every word, but maybe she shouldn’t have had that extra glass of wine to dispel her doubts.

Screw it.

She’d needed the liquid courage. While she’d dressed, she’d wondered herself into a frenzy about how the rest of the family would react to her presence. Out of all the scenarios that had streaked through her brain, Hudson defending her hadn’t been a blip on her radar.

She snuck a glance at her champion who wore a suit like he commanded it and absorbed his confidence. Even though she struggled to breathe, Sam wanted her here. She reminded herself of that as Malcolm steepled his fingers under his chin and lowered his gaze.

Clearing his throat, he looked back up. “First, I need to tell you that Sam didn’t want a funeral or a memorial service. His wishes are to be cremated with no audience and his ashes scattered in the surf behind the house.”

“That won’t do.” Vivian’s bracelets clinked against her wineglass. “I already sent Shayla to the club to start planning the luncheon after the service.”

Hudson crossed his arms and stared over her head. “Unsend her.”

Vivian huffed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with and Tessa can be on her way.”

“Tessa is not going anywhere until we figure out why she was targeted and what it has to do with Pop.”

Vivian scoffed. “It probably has something to do with that house I didn’t know about that blew up.”

Nathaniel stopped typing on his phone and touched her shoulder. “Calm down so Malcolm can tell us what we⁠—”

“Don’t tell me to calm down.” Vivian pointed at Tessa. “Am I the only one who thinks she didn’t meet Sam by accident?”

A low growl rumbled from Hudson. “I’ve been telling you for years that not everyone saw dollar signs when they looked at Pop. Leave Tessa alone.”

A warm feeling blossomed in Tessa’s chest. She wasn’t sure which was stronger—Frank’s voice telling her to run from the accusations, or the thrill she got from Hudson’s defense.

Twisting in her seat, she looked at Vivian. “Did Sam tell you why he bought the house in Belmarva?”

Vivian toyed with the pearls around her wrist. “I have no idea.”

“I do.” She raised her eyebrows, daring Vivian to question her.

Vivian’s fingers stilled on her pearls. She opened her mouth. No words came out as she sat back and offered a nod so slight, Tessa almost missed it.

Defending herself felt good.

Ralphie’s low, “Atta girl” filled her with pride.

But Hudson’s gravelly “Fuck, Tessa,” rivaled the first time Sam called her family.

Hudson moved behind Pop’s desk and rested the back of his head against the window. He couldn’t hear the roar of the ocean through the cool glass, but it called to him.

Tessa stared out the window too as Malcolm detailed Sam’s charity bequeathments. Was she also thinking about ditching everyone and grabbing a couple of poles and a bucket of bait?

Shrugging out of his jacket, he rolled up his sleeves. He caught Tessa watching as Malcolm explained to Ralphie and Josie they’d each been left five million dollars.

“But I don’t want it.” Ralphie rose from the couch. “Not any of it. I just want Sam back.”

Josie stood next to him and wiped tears from her eyes. “It’s too much. Too much.”