Moore To Love (8 page)

“Stop it! All of you! First of all, if you must know,” I lower my voice so the whole world doesn’t hear. “I already have a very nicely groomed garden, thank you very much.”

Tatum and Ashley share a prideful glance. What is it with these two? Is nothing sacred anymore? I ignore their happiness over my who-ha and continue. “And second of all, can I just freaking relish in this accomplishment for one second without having to worry about the next thing I want to cross off my list? I mean, cut a girl some slack. I’ve been skinny—well, skinn
ier
—all of three minutes and the four of you are like Chuck Woolery from the
Match Game
.”

“I think you mean Gene Rayburn. Chuck Woolery was the host of the
Love Connection
. Get your game show hosts straight, doll.” G.I. Jane a Game Show trivia guru? Who woulda thunk?

“Whatever. You know what I mean.” I roll my eyes.

“Ash, you saw that! Go get Mr. Martini! She rolled her eyes again.” Tatum—the bitch who’s supposed to have my back over every other chick at this table—throws me under the bus and sets Ashley dashing toward the bar.

“Ashley!” I call out. “Don’t you dare!”

But she dares. Before I can hide under the table in embarrassment, my soon-to-be sister-in-law—make that my soon-to-be-
dead
sister-in-law—is cozying up to one of the hottest specimens I’ve ever seen this side of the Hudson.

It’s funny because when he comes over to introduce himself, that’s exactly what his name is.

Hudson regales us all for the next half hour, his eyes never leaving my fidgeting hands. No one else seems to notice it, but it’s hard for me not to since I seem to have his constant attention. No matter what he says, I can’t stop squirming. He mentions his French Bulldog puppy and I squirm. He goes on and on about an art show he attended at his friend’s gallery last week, and I squirm. The dude belches, and I squirm. There is nothing that comes out of this handsome man’s mouth that doesn’t have me wiggling around in my seat and clenching my thighs with nerves.

“Leni, can I buy you another?” Hudson points to my empty glass and his pearly whites sparkle like the ones in the toothpaste commercials.

This time, I don’t squirm, but I do almost fall off my chair. “Um—um—you—”

Ashley cuts in and saves the day. “Yes, Hudson. Leni would love another. In fact, why don’t you grab it and she’ll meet you back at the bar after she freshens up.”

I’m momentarily dumbfounded and I fear oxygen has stopped pumping to my brain. Did this guy really just ask
me—
out of all the beautiful women at this table—if he can buy me a drink? And did I just stutter like a bumbling fool and have my friend do the talking for me?
God, right about now would be the perfect time for a meteor to hit New York City like it does in so many end-of-the-world movies. Please, please, pretty please?

But the world keeps on spinning and Hudson merely nods as he walks toward the bar, looking over his shoulder for another glance at me.

When he’s out of earshot, my fantastic four huddles close and giggles. “Leni’s getting laid, Leni’s getting laid,” Tatum chants and the rest join in.

I look around to make sure no one can hear and my cheeks and ears become so hot and tingly I must be ninety shades of crimson. “Guys! Please! Stop it! You’re making me uncomfortable.”

“Oh, I bet Hudson can remedy that. Don’t you think so, Janie?” Mandy does her best giddy girl, kissing her wife at the nape of her neck.

“I wouldn’t know since he’s doesn’t have the kind of equipment I like to play with, but—I don’t have to be a man-loving woman to see that that man digs you, Leni. You better cut the shy schoolgirl act and give him what he wants!”

“And what exactly is it that you think he wants? I have no idea what Ashley said to him to make him come over here, but I’m sure he’s not at that bar pining over me.”

“And that’s where you’re wrong, Madeline Moore.” Ashley downs the last of her Cosmo and slams the empty on the table. “He asked if you were single before I even invited him to join us. Dude’s definitely interested, so run with it and shut the hell up.”

I’m usually quick with a comeback, but not this time. I’m floored. If Ashley’s telling the truth, this is a first. A thousand negative scenarios run through my head, but I notice that he’s alone, without a group of buddies to heckle with. Images of Alex and his frat boy dare make me uneasy, but this man is no frat boy and he’s not with anyone who can dare him to do anything.

Could it be? Does
he
actually find
me
attractive?

“Say something, I’m giving up on you,” Tatum sings.

I take a second to collect myself, to let it all sink in. I’ve worked hard and it’s finally paying off. I may not be exactly where I want to be, but hell, Hudson doesn’t know that and he doesn’t seem to care that I’m a little curvier than most of the women here tonight. As much as it scares me to step outside my comfort zone, I deserve this and I’m going for it.

Lowering off the stool, I grab my clutch and smooth out my new top. Boldness takes over as I gulp the last sip of Tatum’s wine and announce. “Well, butter my biscuit! I’m glad my garden’s in good shape. If anyone needs me, I’ll be over there flirting with
my
Hudson.”

I’M NOT BUTTERING MY OWN
biscuit for very long. In fact, after two more drinks and lots of flirting, Hudson leans in with dreamy bedroom eyes and soft, sweet breath against my ear, “Can I take you back to my place, baby?”

Baby.
Me? Baby! That term of endearment has never been uttered from a man’s lips while directed at me. Unless of course you count the time my brother pointed at me at the fifth grade dance and announced that “nobody puts Baby in the corner” because I was sulking over not being asked to dance.

But this has a totally different, sexier, suggestive connotation. And I fucking
love it
. Something comes over me. Be it the alcohol, my new confidence, or the vibe Hudson’s rubbing off on me, and I pull him by the collar and whisper back, “Yes, please. I’m all yours.”

Hudson takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, then nods to the bartender for our check. I excuse myself to say my goodbyes to my girls with a smile brighter than the north freaking star. I can already see the crazed looks on their face when I tell them I’m going home with Mr. Martini.

“Ladies,” I interrupt their chit chat.

They all look up at me with puppy dog stares. I think I see Tatum wiping drool from her face as she slips her waggling tongue back inside her mouth.

“Wow. Were you guys watching us the whole time?”

“Yes!” They all broadcast.

“God, get a life.”

“Who needs one when yours is so entertaining at the moment? Damn, Leni, that guy has not taken his eyes or his hands off you since you sat down next to him.” Ashley is a giddy fool, beaming with excitement. I have to hand it to her. It’s sweet that she’s rooting for me.

“Well, it’s time to call it a night.”

Looking a little disappointed, Ash and Tatum pull their bags off their chairs, and Mandy and Jane rise from their seats. The four of them dig into their wallets and throw some money onto the high-top table.

Oh! They must’ve got the wrong idea. They think I’m going home with
them.
I reach into my clutch, pull out my lip gloss, and reapply it with a cocky smack of my lips. “You guys don’t have to leave yet. I just came to say goodnight because Hudson invited me back to his place.”

The look on Tatum’s face is priceless. I wish I had my phone in my hand because I’d snap that shit so quick she wouldn’t know what hit her. “Are you serious? O.M.G. You’re serious!”

“As a heart attack. I’ll text you in the morning. Thanks for celebrating with me.” I act as nonchalant as I can when on the inside I’m screaming for advice and for someone to hold my hand.

As I turn to reunite with Hudson, I hear them mumbling behind me. Giggles, snickers, and oh my god’s fill the air as I sashay my way back to the man who’s about to cure my dry spell.

Ashley rushes up behind me, followed closely by Tatum. They both take turns barking out orders in the form of pert whispers.

“Make sure he wears a condom.”

“Have fun.”

“Be yourself; that’s what snagged him in the first place.”

“Call me if you need a ride home.”

“Call me if he does anything stupid.”

“Ride him like the stallion he is.”

“Okay, that’s enough. Goodnight. I’ll call you tomorrow with a full report. Happy?”

“Ecstatic.” Ashley croons.

“Delighted.” Tatum beams.

“Buh-bye.” I wave and find my way into the arms of a man who, two hours ago, was just a good looking stranger from a daydream.

The walk back to Hudson’s is surprising. He’s chatty, funny, and polite. I find him reaching for my hand as we turn the corner after the bar, and I gladly accept his offer by tangling my fingers with his.

“I don’t usually do this,” he admits.

I find that hard to believe but I go along with his rouse. “I don’t
ever
do this, so I got you beat.”

“Not possible. A girl with your curves and those eyes—I was shocked when your friend told me you’re single.”

Oh, Hudson.
Keep feeding my ego because the two pieces of grilled chicken I had for dinner aren’t doing shit to curb my hunger. Fortunately, a different kind of hunger is at the forefront of my mind. “You’re extremely flattering. Thank you.” I don’t usually know how to accept a compliment. Then again, it’s been a while since a man had something nice to say about me.

We walk the rest of the way making small talk about the weather and simply enjoying each other’s company. He stops a few yards from a building with a doorman outside.
This must be his place.
Before I have time to ask, I’m pinned against a brick wall with a strong, roving hand tugging at my hair. “Oh my,” I breathe when Hudson’s lips are an inch from mine, his gaze dark and seductive.

“I’ve been wanting to do this all night.” It’s the last thing he says before his lips crash to mine and a thousand sparks I’ve long since forgotten could exist flicker within.

I’m dying for control of my hands so I can grab his hair, his arms, his ass, but they’re pinned against the wall above my head in the sexiest position I’ve ever been in. I moan against his mouth as our tongues slide and tangle together, and before I can fight the urge to break free of his hold, his lips leave mine and his arm is curled around my waist.