Until You Loved Me (Silver Springs #3)(76)

“So you met Hudson at a club,” Bruiser said when Hudson was gone.

Ellie hung up the dish towel she’d used to dry her hands. She could hardly excuse herself now. She needed to stay and entertain Bruiser until Hudson returned. “Yeah. Kind of ironic, since I don’t usually frequent those places.”

“Hudson told me you’re a scientist.”

“I am. Or I was—before I quit my job. I’ll go back to immunology after the baby.”

“You must be a little frightened of the future, given your situation and the fact that you don’t know Hudson very well.”

She was frightened. She hadn’t anticipated her life taking such a drastic turn. The unknown, what might happen, worried her, but she was more concerned that every time she looked at Hudson it felt as if the floor was falling out from under her—and that sensation only seemed to be getting more pronounced. Hudson had apologized for breaking down last night, but holding him like that, feeling his pain and helping to soothe it, had made her feel closer to him than she’d thought possible.

She was falling in love with the unattainable.

“I’m tentatively hopeful.” She was attempting to throw Bruiser off the scent of what was really going on in her heart and mind, but he was more intuitive than she’d expected.

“He’s a good man, Ellie. One of the best.”

“Thanks for the reassurance.”

He gave her a look that said “Not so fast.” “There is one thing...”

At the solemnity of his words, she took a deep breath to prepare herself. “And that is...”

“He struggles with trust. He had so many foster parents give up on him, send him back. He can’t believe anyone will stick it out through the rough patches.”

She’d read about his childhood, knew from last night that the rejection had left a lifelong impact. “Are you trying to tell me it would be a waste of time to...to hope for a meaningful connection with him?”

“I’m trying to tell you it won’t be easy, but it’d be worth the effort,” he replied with a wink.

Surprised that he’d taken her into his confidence so quickly, she moved closer. She was interested in learning more about Hudson’s demons—those newspaper articles hadn’t divulged nearly enough, and last night had whetted her curiosity—but Hudson walked back into the room at that moment, and Bruiser acted as if they’d been engaged only in small talk.

“How’s Aaron?” he asked.

“Fine,” Hudson replied. “They have a new kid at the school who’s acting out. Aaron thinks I might be able to reach him. I said I’d head over.”

“To New Horizons?”

“Yeah. I told him I’d bring you with me.”

Bruiser got to his feet. “Let’s go.”

Hudson turned to Ellie.

“Don’t worry about me.” She raised both hands for emphasis. “I’m going to get settled in, maybe go into town to explore.”

“Great. Keys to the Porsche are upstairs on my dresser.”

“Thanks,” she said, but she had no plans to drive his car.

*

Hudson ended up spending much longer at the school than he’d intended. The boy who was “acting out” threatened to kill himself, so Hudson had contacted Aiyana, who’d called in one of the psychologists under contract with the school. By the time the psychologist reassured them that the new student would be okay, off-season weight training for the New Horizons football team was about to start, and once the boys knew Bruiser was in town, they were begging Hudson to bring him.

The students loved interacting with Bruiser. He spent more time wrestling and play-fighting with them than he did spotting with the weights, but so many of the students needed the attention, especially from a man as well-adjusted and easy to love as Bruiser.

Bruiser talked Hudson into going to the field afterward to throw a football with the guys who were the most reluctant to see them leave.

Even after Bruiser went back to LA, Hudson didn’t head home. He ran into Aiyana and spent almost an hour talking to her about the new kid and what they could do to help him settle in.

It was nearly eight and well past dark when he got home, which was why he was surprised to find that Ellie was still gone.

He tried to call her cell, but her voice mail picked up, so he texted his housekeeper, Maggie.

Have you seen my guest?

The woman? came her response.

Yes. Name’s Ellie Fisher.

Since you gave me her name, I guess I’ll be seeing her again?

Definitely. She’s going to have my baby.

This is Maggie. Did you mean to share that much? Because you don’t usually tell me anything about your personal life.

I have no choice with this. You’ll probably read it in the tabloids soon. You might as well get the facts directly from me. She’s five months along. She’ll be staying with me until after the baby’s born. She should’ve been here when you stocked the kitchen.

I saw her leave earlier, when I was at the mailbox.

What time was that?

Not too long after you drove off with Bruiser.

At one-thirty? And you haven’t seen her since?

No.

Where could she have gone?

She took a few seconds to reply.

I have no idea. I’ve never even met her, remember?