Page 55 of None Of Your Business

Hudson chokes.

“But you can’t say anything,” I continue, the lie gaining speed like a runaway train. “Because Madison and Beckett will get weird. Look at my head. The sex is so wild, he drove me through the headboard.”

Piper’s mouth falls open.

Hudson stops coughing long enough to step out of the bedroom, smoothing his sweater with a remarkably steady hand.

“Hi, Piper,” he says, his voice smooth. “Please excuse your sister. She’s obviously experiencing a severe brain injury, none of which has anything to do with me or the furniture.”

He meets my eyes, and for a second, I catch a flash of dark amusement in his expression.

“We happened to be in the same place when Rowan fell. I was just checking in. Medically.”

Piper points a finger at me. “You told me you fell in the studio.”

“I had a man hiding in my bedroom. It was the best I could come up with.”

She pinches the bridge of her nose. “But why was he in your bedroom?”

“Because I thought you’d think we were having mind-blowing sex!”

The what-the-fuck look she gives me is enough to know I messed up.

“Rowan, I thought he was an intruder. Sex was the furthest thing from my mind until you brought it up.”

Seeing his opportunity to escape, Hudson steps between us toward the entryway. “I’d… better go. Ice your head, Rowan. Seriously.” He gives Piper a polite nod. “Nice to see you again.”

I offer a weak smile and walk him to the door. As he steps past me, he leans down, his breath warm against my ear.

“Mind-blowing, huh?” His voice vibrates against my skin, making me shiver. “Good to know I have a reputation to live up to.”

Before I can slap him, he’s out the door.

I close it and spin around.

“You,” Piper says, pointing a finger at me, “have so much explaining to do.”

∞∞∞

“You had a man locked in your bedroom! Actually, scratch that. You had Hudson locked in your bedroom.” Piper is saying all those words, but she’s still frowning.

“Why do you look disappointed?”

“I thought it was a puppy,” she pouts.

I grab her shoulders. “A puppy is such a good idea. We should totally go to the shelter right now.”

I try to step past her, but she catches my wrist. “You’re not getting away that easily. Explain.”

“It was a soft lock. He could leave anytime.” I step back toward the refrigerator. “Water? Orange juice?”

“Turn around, Rowan.”

“I’m thirsty.”

“You told me five minutes ago that Hudson gave you a concussion during sex.”

I close the refrigerator and rest my forehead against it for a long, pathetic moment before facing her. “I panicked.”