Page 208 of Bridesmaid By Chance
“You wouldn’t.”
He wets his lips, wraps his arm around me, and presses his hand to my lower back, pulling me in tight. Then with his other hand, he tilts my chin up and lowers his mouth only a few inches from mine.
“I would have no problem kissing you all goddamn night, Sloane.”
I stare into his eyes, the same eyes that used to make me feel weak in the knees. “Don’t, Hudson. Don’t try to change my mind with…with this attention. What you did was wrong.”
“I know that,” he says quietly, still holding me softly. “I handled the entire situation so incredibly wrong, Sloane. There is no excuse for me other than I’m an asshole, and I’m sorry I put you through something you didn’t deserve.”
That’s…uh…that’s an apology that I wasn’t quite expecting.
His hand smooths farther up my back. “You have put yourself out there for me, you’ve helped me, you’ve saved me in ways that I don’t even think you know, and yet, I treated you like you meant nothing to me. You deserve so much better.”
“I…I do,” I say, a little shocked.
His nose rubs against mine before his cheek slides across mine and his lips find my ear. “When we get back, I promise you, I will make it up to you.”
Still stunned, I stand there, unsure of where this is coming from. “Wh-why are you saying that?”
“I need to do right by you,” he whispers.
And for some reason, that raises a red flag. What’s with the quick change of heart? He doesn’t talk to me for a few days, and then all of a sudden, he’s here, holding me, saying he needs to do right by me.
That’s not a sentence he would say.
It’s almost like he’s being forced to say it.
But who would force…?
I lean back and look him in the eyes. “You spoke with Jude.”
“I didn’t,” he replies.
“Don’t lie to me. You spoke to him, and that’s why you’re being nice to me.”
“No, I didn’t,” he replies. “I tried to speak to you before I knew that Jude was aware of our marriage. But you wouldn’t let me. This is what I’ve wanted to say; you’re just listening now.”
“I don’t believe you,” I say, my voice trembling.
“It’s the truth.”
“So you didn’t speak to Jude…or Hardy…or Haisley.”
His eyes dart to the side and that’s all the information I need.
“Oh, so you did.”
“I spoke to Haisley and Hardy,” he says quickly. “But what I’m saying to you is what I meant to say to you when I got to the hotel.”
“Spare me.” I roll my eyes. I do not trust this man. I can’t. He’s too hot and cold and he’s a damn good liar. So, no, I’m never going to trust him again. “God, you’re such…you’re such a manipulator, Hudson.”
“I’m not manipulating you.”
“Yes, you are,” I say in a low tone so no one can hear me. “You know damn well I’m attracted to you, that I…that I have feelings for you—” I catch myself as the words fall out of my mouth.
“You what?” he asks, lifting away.
Oh shit.
