Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Austin comes to sit next to me on the couch. He puts his arm around me and squeezes gently. “It’s okay, Elle. No one blames you.”
“You should,” I sob.
He’s patting me on the shoulder, and I’m leaning forward with my face in my hands. “Look, this is who Huddy is. He was like this when we were little. He’s a protector. There’s no changing that, and let me tell you, don’t start talking about how you wish you hadn’t come to Whiskey Run or to Blaze Whiskey. There’s a reason you came here to us. One of them being is to make Huddy happy. Damn, I’ve never seen the guy smile. Maybe when we were kids, but he’s always been no nonsense. He’s smiling now, and that I do blame you for. He’s going to be okay.”
I try to soak in his words. Could I be enough to make Huddy happy? But I can’t think of anything except to wonder if he’s safe. “Why haven’t we heard anything? We should have heard something by now.”
I no sooner get the words out than the front door opens. Huddy walks in, and his gaze goes around the room and finally lands on me. I should stay where I’m at. His brothers are all up and moving toward him, and I try to wait my turn, but I’m too impatient. I need to have my hands on him. I slide around the guys and stop next to Huddy. He opens his arms and pulls me into his side before kissing the top of my head.
I know I look a mess. I have no makeup on, my hair is still in a knot on the top of my head, and I’m wearing my oversized sweats and sweatshirt. I’m no prize, but as Huddy pulls me in close, none of that matters. All that matters is he’s okay. He’s home and he’s okay.
Each of the guys hug him, but he never lets go of me.
“So what happened?” Austin asks.
We’re all standing around the island listening to Huddy as he talks about what happened. “It was actually pretty low key. The waiting for him to get there is what took so much time. Walker wanted to get him for stalking too, and the only way to do that was for him to actually break into Elle’s apartment. He crossed the threshold of the apartment, and I apprehended him while the others arrested the dad in the car.”
Austin points at Huddy. “You did? Why didn’t a cop or something do it?”
Huddy shrugs. “It took some convincing, but there was no way I was going to lose this guy. I convinced them to let me do it. Of course, Walker told me I couldn’t kill him. He may have come out with a few bruises, but he’s alive.” He turns to me and puts his hand to my cheek. “He and his father are going away for a long time.”
I search his eyes, and we stand here, looking at each other. It’s quiet in the room, and I almost forget we’re not alone until Austin says, “Well, we’re going to get out of here.”
It pulls me out of my trance, and I stand back as Huddy goes to each of his brothers and thanks them for staying. I echo the sentiment, and they all take turns hugging me too.
As soon as they leave and Huddy closes the door behind them, I wrap my hands around his waist and bury myself into this side. “Hey, hey… it’s okay now. You’re going to be okay. No more running.”
My hand is in a fist, and I hit it against his chest gently. “It’s not that. I mean of course, I’m happy about that, but I hate that you did this for me. I was so worried about you, Huddy.”
He walks me to the couch and sits down, pulling me into his lap. “I’m fine.”
I take a deep breath and try to let it calm me. “You are now. For five hours, I didn’t know what was happening to you.”
He pulls me in tighter, and I put my hand on his arm to turn around. He lets out a small grunt, but what is most noticeable is the way I can feel his body as he inhales deeply. I rear back and look at him. “What’s wrong?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing’s wrong.”
I climb off his lap and stand over him. “Hudson Blaze, you’re hurt. Where are you hurt?”
He shakes his head as he slides to the end of the couch. “I’m fine.”
I tap my foot on the ground, and my arms are crossed over my chest. “Stand up.”
He smiles and stands up.
I reach for the thin jacket he’s wearing and pull it off. “Honey, if you want me naked, all you have to do is say so.”