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‘’I guess I too failed to ask the right questions then, I just presumably thought you were old enough’’ he said courteously taking the glass from me and placing it back on the coffee table.

‘’Oh no I am, it’s just I never have before’’

He took a step closer and looked down at me… ’’how old are you Taylor?’’

‘’How old are you?’’ I countered with a teasing grin.

‘’I’m 34’’

‘’Ha ha, that’s old’’ I playfully mocked.

‘’Oh trust me, I’m capable of doing more things now that my younger self could only dream of’’

‘’Like vote?’’ I smirked up at him.

‘’That too’’ he laughed, and my adorning eyes stood watching as Hudson’s perfect lips took a gentleman’s sip from his tall glass of red wine, and at that moment my mind suddenly grew curious…

‘’Question…’’ I said cocking my head to one side and looking at him ‘’won’t your um…wife, girlfriend, maybe both, be kinda mad at you that I’m staying here?’’ I asked with a coy smile.

He placed his glass back down and looked at me with a coy smile of his own before answering ‘’I’ve never married, and I don’t have a girlfriend. I did once, a long time ago…but she broke my heart, so’’

Great going Taylor….I muttered in my head.

‘’I’m sorry to hear that Hudson. I certainly didn’t mean to pry into your personal affairs’’ I said feeling bad now.

‘’It’s no problem Taylor, really’’ he replied warmly ‘’I don’t talk about her much as admittedly there’s still a little hurt there, but every once in a while is okay I guess’’

‘’Okay’’ I said looking at him with a comforting smile.

‘’Although my original question still stands… how old are you Taylor?’’

‘’I’m 26’’ I told him.

HUDSON POV:

26 huh?....I thought looking her slowly up and down, suppressing the smile my filthy mind made at learning her ripened age, where I instead offered an observed extension of kind wording to her…

‘’Well, take this as a compliment Taylor, but I find you very mature for someone so young still’’

Her once-humored smile dimly faded into a faraway look ‘’I had no choice. The situation I found myself in meant I was forced to grow up beyond my years’’ she said looking down at her feet.

I took another small step closer to her, somehow feeling every vessel of her pain course right the way through me ‘’I’ve um, I’ve waited patiently the entire night to ask what your story is. At the same time of course I in no way wish to overwhelm or pry into your past. I believe in things developing naturally, trust being one of the most important. With that said, just know whenever you’re ready to talk Taylor, I’m here’’

Her soft blue eyes raised and looked into mine, gracing a warm expression towards me that I could see was genuine gratefulness.

‘’Thank you Hudson, that means more than you ever know, and I’ve gone through more than you could ever imagine. With that said, I feel confident even at this early stage to voice to you that I feel you somehow truly understand me’’ she smiled up at me ‘’however it’s not easy just opening up like that. But I want you to know that when I do, you’ll be the first person I’ll talk to’’

‘’I’m glad’’ I smiled softly at her, and the moment caught us both looking again into the other’s eyes, much like earlier in my car by Madison Square.

Taylor was the first to look away, her hand reaching now for the glass of wine on the table and taking a confident swig, before wheezing out a small but sweet cough as the rich alcohol tingled her virgin lips.

‘’Perhaps some juice next time’’ I chuckled taking the glass from her.

‘’I think that might be best’’ she laughed back.

CHAPTER 11

Her excitement fascinated me, like watching the eyes of a child experience its first Christmas, as I escorted an exuberant Taylor room to room around the apartment suite, familiarising her with any and everything she needed to know, so she could make it just as much her home as it was mine.