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  "None. I had just finished up a business meeting."

  "Is that what the drawer of dildos was for? Business?"

  Hudson's face blanched. "You saw that?" he asked quietly.

  "Damn right I saw it," she said. "And let's just say it was a little off-putting to find out I wasn't in a hotel room that you'd booked spur of the moment, but somewhere you own just to bring women, from the looks of it. So what is that? Just a regular Friday night for you? You wait in the bar until some poor sap gets stood up, then bring her up to your pleasure den for some pity sex?"

  "I didn't plan anything," he growled. "And you certainly weren't pity sex."

  "I know where you really live, Hudson. I saw a whole spread in Forbes that showed you at home. Your real home."

  "Yes. I use the condo for trysts," Hudson admitted. "I don't let just anyone into my personal space. They have to gain my trust."

  "Well, I don't let just anyone in my personal space either. I thought I could trust you," she said. Her voice was on the edge of breaking but she wouldn't allow it to. She had better command over herself than that. She sat down on the edge of one of his low-slung chairs. "Especially after ... especially after what you said."

  "What I said?" he asked, seeming confused. It clearly hadn't meant anything to him. "Tell me what I said, Kay."

  She didn't want to. It made her feel foolish to say it out loud, to admit how much she'd latched on to it, clung to it when it was something he probably said to everyone he brought there.

  "Please, baby," he said, walking over to kneel in front of her. He looked into her eyes with those deep blues, and it broke her resolve.

  "You said ... you said I was yours."

  Chapter Eight

  Hudson

  "You are mine," he said. "I meant it, and I hoped you meant it too."

  Her lip quivered and it ripped at him. How could he have been so quick to assume? Why hadn't it occurred to him that she may have seen something that gave her the wrong impression? He was an idiot.

  "You can trust me Kay," he said, taking her hands in his. "I'm sorry I brought you there. I truly am. It didn't occur to me what you might think. I haven't even used that place in months. I just wanted ... I wanted to make sure you wouldn't bolt."

  "Bolt?" she asked.

  "You just seemed so ... unsure. About me. I didn't want to complicate things by asking you back to my place."

  Kay wiped her eyes, but she wasn't saying anything. Her eyes were sad, thoughtful. She seemed to be studying him, considering.

  "I'm so sorry, baby," Hudson said. "Can you please forgive me?"

  "I don't ... I don't know what to believe right now."

  "I understand that. I do. You have every right to be cautious, but please give me a chance to make it up to you."

  Kay looked at him again, seeming more hopeful than before, but still holding that same sadness in her eyes. He wished he knew how to extinguish it.

  "Let me take you out to dinner tonight. No sex. No expectations. I just want to spend time with you. Get to know you better."

  "Okay," she said. "I'll go out with you."

  His heart leapt. "Thank you."

  "But I can't tonight. I have plans."

  "With who?" he growled, possessiveness rising in his chest. "Your asshole of an ex?"

  "You don't get to ask that," she said, but she had a small grin on her face. He didn't know her expressions yet, and so he wasn't quite sure whether that smile meant she was meeting her ex, or she was laughing at him. He wasn't going to take any chances.

  "When I said you were mine, Kay, I meant it," he said. "I don't share."

  "Calm down, cowboy," she said. "I'm not meeting my ex. It's a family thing."

  "Perfect. I'd love to meet your family," he said.

  She laughed. "No, you wouldn't."

  "I'm going to have to meet them eventually," he said.

  "Really?" she said sarcastically, but the sarcasm was laced with amusement.

  "It's inevitable, Kay," he said.

  Kay laughed again, hearty and full. This laughter, he knew. It was happy. She was happy. And so it was his favorite sound in the entire world.

  "I'll say one thing," she said. "You never fail to surprise me."

  He grinned. "So you'll let me tag along?"

  "I have a feeling I couldn't stop you if I tried."

  "What time should I pick you up?"

  "How about you meet me there?"

  "Fine," he said.

  "And Hudson?" she asked. "Wear a tux."

  #

  Kay had given him instructions on where to meet him--the ballroom at the Executive Towers Hotel downtown. He wasn't sure what kind of family thing required a tux and a ballroom, but he didn't care. As long as he was spending time with her, he was happy.

  He waited in the lobby for her as she requested. When she walked in, it felt like the earth stopped moving. She was wearing a deep red ballgown that hugged her luscious curves. It was made of that wispy material that always reminded him of gauzy curtains. But on her, it made her look like a Grecian goddess.

  And as if that wasn't enough, her lips matched the dress. If he hadn't promised her that tonight came with no expectations, he would have taken her home right then and pressed his mouth against those red, red lips.

  "You look," he said, resting a hand on his heart to keep it from beating out of his chest. "You look stunning, Kay."

  Her eyelids fluttered, and she looked away. "Thank you," she said, seeming a little embarrassed.

  Her reaction broke his heart. He wanted her to own her beauty. He'd hoped for her to retort with a sassy comment that told him she knew exactly how gorgeous she was. This hesitancy was frustrating. He wanted to find whoever had made her feel like anything less than the incredible creature she was and bash his head in. He wanted to erase her past and replace it with a future in which she was loved and valued.

  One day. One day he would make her understand how incredibly beautiful she really was.

  For now, he simply held out his elbow. She took it.

  "So the Lewis Foundation Gala, huh?" he asked. He'd seen the signs. "Does someone in your family work for the foundation?"

  "Sort of, I guess."

  "Sort of?"

  Kay sighed. "My parents are Cord and Bridget Lewis."

  Hudson's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "You're Cord Lewis's daughter?" he asked.

  "Yes," she said as they entered the ballroom. It was decorated lavishly with fresh flowers in towering arrangements on every table. The ceiling was hung with silky bunting from end to end and people milled about in their finest attire--some even danced on the dance floor--as a band played jazz ballads on stage.

  "The Cord Lewis?" Hudson asked, still disbelieving. "The man who founded the most powerful tech company in the world out of his garage?"

  "The one and only," she said, a bored tone in her voice.

  "But your last name is Hennessey," he said.

  "They gave me my mother's maiden name when I enrolled in preschool. It was less complicated. Safer. There had already been a kidnapping attempt."

  "Jesus, Kay," he said. "I didn't even know he had a daughter."

  "That was sort of the point. Money attracts some unsavory attention. But I'm sure you know that."

  "I do," he said. It was crazy to think that his mate knew that even better than he did. But there was one thing he still didn't understand. "Why didn't you mention that in your interview?"

  "How do you know what I said in my interview?" she asked. "You promised you weren't going to interfere."

  "I didn't. Trey Jenkins came to me this afternoon to ask for approval on an unusually large offer he wants to make you. So I asked him to pitch you to me."

  "You were snooping," she said with a laugh.

  "I was doing my due diligence. I like to know how my money is being spent," he grinned, even though he had definitely been snooping. He would have approved any number just to know she was working inside his building, just
to keep her close.

  "Sure you do," she said.

  "Anyway, he didn't mention anything about you being Cord Lewis' daughter. And trust me, he had a lot to say. So why didn't you mention it?"

  "I'm not going to build a career on my father's back," Kay said. "When I succeed, I want to know it's from my own skills."

  Damn. Hudson respected the hell out of that. Even he'd used the trust money his parents had left him to make his first investment in Royce Capital. There would be no Royce Capital without it. But his mate was strong and independent and ballsy as hell to have gotten as far as she had on her own, and done it so young. He liked that. He liked how tough she was.

  "You're a hell of a woman, Kay Hennessy," he said, squeezing the hand that was nestled in his elbow.

  She smiled. "Why, yes. Yes, I am."

  There was that confidence he was looking for. Why did she seem to have it about her skills, but not her looks? Regardless, he had a very strong instinct to plant a kiss on those plush red lips. But just as he thought it, two people walked up to them and interrupted his thoughts.

  "Kay?" the woman asked with a smile. "Who is this? I didn't know you were bringing anyone."

  Hudson held out his hand, "Hudson Royce," he said. "And you must be Kay's parents."

  Cord took his hand and shook it firmly, but his expression was anything but friendly.

  "Pleasure to meet you both," Hudson said

  "Kay, say goodbye to your friend," Cord said. "They need you up front to go over the presentation."

  Kay looked confused. "I'm not speaking tonight, Daddy."

  Cord huffed "Of course you're speaking. You're the head of the damn foundation."

  "Was the head of the foundation. But I resigned the same day I resigned from your company."

  "This isn't a time for a temper tantrum, young lady. I told you I wasn't filling your position and I haven't. It will remain empty until you come back where you belong."

  Hudson did not like the tone in the man's voice. No one should speak to Kay that way, even if it was her own father.

  "Actually, sir. You might want to fill that position after all," he said. "Your daughter has already accepted a job with my firm." It wasn't true yet, but Hudson was going to make it true. He'd offer her whatever she asked.

  Cord smirked. "So that's how you're going to play it, are you?" he said to Kay. "You learned well."

  "I'm not making a play. Plenty of people want my skills, Daddy. You've shown me you do not. So I'm taking them elsewhere."

  "I'll pay you double whatever this kid is paying you," Cord said. "Triple."

  "It's not about the money," Kay said. Hudson could see a different kind of flush rising on her cheeks, rising right along with the volume of her voice. "It's never been about the money."

  "You think I didn't want to choose you, Kay? Well, you're wrong. And now you're just being stubborn," Cord said.

  "Where do you think I learned that from?" Kay retorted.

  "Calm down, both of you," Bridget said. "This is neither the time nor the place. Cord, I'll handle the presentation. Kay, why don't you take a turn around the dance floor with your friend and calm down?"

  "Fine," Kay said, tugging Hudson away.

  "What was that about?" Hudson asked.

  "It's complicated," Kay said.

  "I'm going to kick myself for saying this, but if Cord Lewis wants to offer you a job at triple whatever I'm paying, you should take it. I don't care how complicated it is. It's just good business."

  Kay looked at him with fire in her eyes. "He knows my terms. I'm not stepping foot back inside that company unless I'm running it."

  Hudson smirked. "Fair enough," he said, pulling her close as they stepped onto the dance floor. "I'm not going to argue if you're working for me."

  "I haven't accepted your offer, either," she said.

  "You will," he said, looking down at her full mouth. "I can be very persuasive."

  He leaned in to kiss her, but felt a tap on his shoulder.

  "I'll take it from here, boss," a man said.

  Hudson frowned, looking the guy up and down. "Yeah, I don't think so."

  "Where'd you dig up this guy?" the man asked with a snort. "Trying to make me jealous?"

  "He's my date," Kay said.

  "Sure he is," the man said.

  "Just leave us alone, Chase," Kay said.

  Hudson looked between the two of them, then he realized. This guy must be the asshole ex.

  "Look, I don't know how much she paid you to be here tonight," Chase said. "But I'll double it if you leave right now."

  Hudson was on him in an instant, his fingers clenching the guy's bowtie. "What the fuck did you just say to me?"

  Chase tried to speak, but only managed to make choking noises. Hudson didn't care to hear whatever the rat said anyway. He'd kill the bastard. He felt a prickle on his skin, felt his bear begging to rise and fight.

  "Hudson. Let go," Kay said.

  Hudson took a deep breath to calm himself.

  "Now," she said. "I'm serious."

  As much as it killed him to let the guy take another breath, he wouldn't go against what she wanted.

  "Apologize to my girl," Hudson commanded, loosening his grip.

  "Your girl?" Chase laughed. "No way, man. I'm not buying it."

  Hudson was about to choke the douche again, but Kay stepped in front of him. She pursed her lips and gave him a look that told him in no uncertain terms to back off.

  "I won't let him talk to you like that, Kay. Don't ask me to," Hudson said.

  Kay turned to Chase. "You. I'll meet you outside the coatroom in two minutes. Go."

  Chase obeyed her, which was probably the smartest thing he'd ever done.

  Kay turned back to Hudson. "I just need a minute with him, okay?"

  "I don't like it."

  "Five minutes. That's it. Get some fresh air and I'll meet you outside."

  Chapter Nine

  Kay

  Kay stormed out of the ballroom and into a small hallway that held the counter to the coat check room where Chase was waiting. "What the hell did you think you were doing out there?" she demanded.

  "Trying to apologize, but your lug-head bodyguard out there wouldn't let me."

  "He's not my bodyguard. He's my date."

  "Is that what they're calling escorts these days?"

  Kay crossed her arms. "He's not an escort either. Believe it or not, other men do find me attractive."

  "Whatever," Chase said, seeming to Kay like an animal licking his wounds.

  "Well, you have your chance now."

  "For what?"

  "To apologize. That's why you were bothering me, right?" Kay doubted very much he intended anything of the sort.

  "I'm sorry, okay?"

  "For what? I'm starting to lose track."

  "What I said the other day. I thought I could have my cake and eat it too, but I was wrong."

  "No shit, you were wrong."

  "After you left, I got to thinking and I realized something," he said. "I realized that I love you, Kay-Kay. At least, I'm starting to fall in love with you. I see that now."

  "Uh huh," Kay said.

  "It's true. Why wouldn't you believe me? I'm pouring my heart out to you here."

  "Oh, I don't know. History?"

  "That's what I'm saying. We've put so much time into our relationship. We've already been through the hard times and we know each other better because of it. Are you really going to throw all that away now that I've finally realized what's important to me?"

  "You're so full of shit, Chase. The minute you see me with another guy you're suddenly falling in love with me?"

  Chase stepped toward her. "It's not about that other guy. He's nothing. This is real. Let me prove it to you"

  "No. I'm done with you. I don't want you to call me. I don't want to talk to you. I don't want you talking to my mom to try and win her over either. I will not change my mind about this. I'm done."

  "Co
me on, Kay-Kay. Just let me remind you how good we were together," Chase said. Then he grabbed her face and kissed her.

  Kay pulled at his hands, tried to pull away, but he was holding her too tight.

  That's when she felt a rush of air sail past her.

  WHAM.

  Chase hit the floor.

  "Don't you ever, ever lay a hand on her again. Do you understand me?" Hudson said. He was standing above Chase with a raised fist. He'd moved so fast, Kay hadn't even seen him come in.

  Chase didn't say a word. He looked outright terrified. He was shaking, whimpering, and clutching his bloodied nose as it dripped down his expensive tuxedo.

  Hudson looked like he was angry enough to kill Chase. As much as Kay liked seeing Chase on the ground, liked that Hudson had protected her, she didn't want him to take it any farther. There was something in his eye that told her he would. Something in his eye that told her he was right on the brink of a breaking point he couldn't come back from. And Chase wasn't worth it, not even a little bit.

  "It's okay, Hudson," she said with a calm tone. "I'm okay."

  She looked Hudson in the eye and put her hand on his raised fist. "Let's get out of here, okay? I've had enough of this little event to last me a lifetime."

  Finally, after a few deep breaths, he lowered his fist.

  "Ready to go?" Kay asked.

  Hudson nodded. She put her arm through his and started to walk away. Then she stopped. She turned back to Chase, still huddled in fear on the floor.

  "You were right about one thing, Chase. I don't look like a CEO's wife. I look like a goddamned CEO."

  #

  "I'm really sorry about all that," Kay said as Hudson's driver pulled away from the curb. "I shouldn't have brought you into that mess. It was a mistake."

  "You have nothing to apologize for," Hudson said. "I'm only sorry you wouldn't let me kill that bastard."

  "He learned his lesson. He may be an asshole, but he's not stupid."

  "Was he the man you were waiting for the night we met?" Hudson asked.

  "Yes," Kay admitted.

  Hudson shook his head. "I don't get it. How did someone as amazing as you end up with someone like him?"