Until You Loved Me (Silver Springs #3)(98)

Ellie sat down and rested her head on the back of her chair. She wished that was all it was, but she had a feeling it had everything to do with Hudson. “I hope you’re right.”

“So do I,” she said. “What happened to being cautious?”

“I can’t be cautious and still give him what he needs.”

“What he needs? Doesn’t look like he needs anything.”

“He’s human, Amy. He has the same needs we all do. But he’s so...contrary. Resists what he wants most.”

“Yep. You’ve succumbed, all right.”

Ellie slumped in her chair. “Completely.”

“Maybe you should take a break from him, come out here for a visit.”

“I’m already twenty-eight weeks along. I probably shouldn’t fly.” She couldn’t leave Hudson right now anyway.

“I’d come there if I could, but I’m so busy at work, and I need the money.”

“I’d rather you came after the baby’s born. You’ll want to meet him, won’t you?”

“Of course. I’m the godmother, don’t forget. Have you told your parents?”

“Just this week.”

“Wow. A lot’s changed, and you haven’t even called me!”

“I’ve been too involved with Hudson. I’m sorry.”

“I understand. I’d be pretty involved with him, too,” she said with a laugh.

Ellie asked about her love life and how her parents were doing, and talked more about her own parents and their reactions to her news.

“They weren’t happy to be left out of the loop, but they understand why I did it,” she said.

“Are they coming home?”

“Not for a few weeks. They’ll be here for the birth, but I told them I’m in good hands—and Hudson and I are in California and need some time alone to bond.”

“That was a smart answer.”

Considering Cort Matisson’s visit, Ellie was especially glad she’d acted to protect her time with Hudson. He didn’t need any more stress at the moment. “I think so.”

“Well, don’t forget to find me an NFL player,” she said. “I could use a break from the salon.”

Ellie wished they still lived close. “That’ll be easier during the season. I haven’t even met the team—only Hudson’s best friend, who’s already married.”

“Do you think Hudson will ever find out who his parents were?” Amy asked.

Ellie caught her breath. “It’s possible, I suppose. Why?”

“Just wondering. It would be so hard—knowing you were abandoned and having no clue where you came from.”

The only thing worse was finding out—at least when it was someone like Cort Matisson. “I’d better go,” she said. Ellie was afraid that if they continued to talk about Hudson’s background, she’d blurt out everything she’d been worrying about.

“Okay, but before you hang up, I wanted to tell you that Don came in to get his hair cut, and he brought Leo.”

Being engaged to Don suddenly seemed like a century ago—and almost insignificant now. “He did? What’d they have to say?”

“Not much. Just asked how you and the baby were doing.”

“What’d you tell them?”

“I showed them the last picture you sent me, and Don stared at it for so long, I got the feeling he misses you.”

Ellie shoved her hair out of her face. “I guess, when I think about it, there are things I miss about him, too. He understood my work and my love for it—shared that with me. In many ways, we were a lot alike.”

“And you and Hudson are totally different!”

“That’s true. But maybe that’s why we work better as a couple. At least, in my mind we do.”

“I’m so glad you’re happy.”

“Thanks,” Ellie said. Problem was...nothing this good ever seemed to last. And—she drew a deep breath as she gazed at the papers strewn across the dining room table—she had a feeling Hudson would not take the news well if the results of that DNA test came back positive, even though he was expecting it.





25

Samuel Jones called just before Hudson was supposed to go in for the team meeting. Bruiser glanced over when Hudson answered and must’ve been able to tell from the look on his face that this was the moment he’d been waiting for. He immediately stepped up to tell everyone that Hudson had to take care of a personal matter and would join them in a minute.

Hudson turned away. “So? What’d Matisson say?”

“His daughter’s not doing well,” Jones replied. “He won’t wait, says he’s desperate.”

Tilting his head back, Hudson closed his eyes. “So...how fast is he talking?”

“If he doesn’t get the money today, he’ll go to the papers.”

Bullshit. He’d sell his story to one of the gossip rags, capitalize on it. Why would he give it away for free? “So he’s not willing to let me meet Julia? Speak to her?”

“No, he’s too nervous about that. He’s afraid she’ll guess what’s going on.”

“How could she guess—if she thinks her baby died?”