Mira beamed as if grateful for conversation. “Adam and I want to hit the beach. Don’t we, sweetie?”
“Uh huh,” Adam mumbled without looking up from his phone. What was with the men around here? Always sucked into their electronics.
If Mira minded Adam’s distraction, she didn’t show it. “It’s perfect weather for it. We can relax and soak up some rays. Millie could pack us a lunch. Want to come with us?”
I’d been in the Pierce estate for more than a day and still hadn’t ventured down to the ocean at the edge of the Hampton property. The beach sounded wonderful. “I’m up for it. Hudson?”
Hudson grinned a little too wide, but I was probably the only one who noticed. “Wherever you are, baby, I’m there.”
I surprised myself by not cringing at his choice of endearment.
“Hudson, you’ll get sand in your computer,” Sophia said. “And we don’t get great Wi-Fi down there. Wouldn’t you rather work up here?” Her assumption that Hudson would spend the day working fit right into my scheme. Now, would he follow through with his part? He’d never quite agreed.
He set his fork down and looked directly at Sophia. “Actually, I’m not doing any work today, Mother.” He moved his hand from under the table to my neck, stroking gently under my hair. “I promised Laynie I’d give her my full attention for the rest of our trip.”
I would have preferred that he’d played it like he couldn’t even concentrate on work because of me, but, besides his version being much more believable, his use of my nickname was perfect. Even Adam looked up long enough to exchange a surprised look with his wife.
Sophia’s reaction, though, was priceless. She gaped.
As much as I would have liked to take in every second of Sophia’s shock, I slid my focus to Hudson. “Thank you, H.” My gratitude extended deeper than the superficial show we were performing. I appreciated that he’d listened to my suggestions, that he heard me and then acted on it.
Hudson’s deep gray eyes erased our spectators from my view. “It’s nothing,” he murmured. “You’re worth it.” Was his response as genuine as my thanks? Or was he just an excellent actor?
“Mom? Join us at the beach?” Mira practically bounced in her seat, the idea of a family outing right up her alley.
Sophia’s expression was unchanging, her voice level. “Sure. Why not?”
Jack guffawed. “Sophia spending the day in the sand? This I have to see.”
Again Sophia ignored her husband, but Jack seemed pleased all the same.
“Adam,” Mira elbowed her husband in the ribs. “Go wake up Chandler. We can take the Jet Ski out.”
“Uh, okay.” Adam stuffed his phone into the pocket of his khaki carpenter pants, crumpled his napkin into a ball, and stood, appearing grateful for the excuse to leave. It occurred to me that I’d never seen him around Sophia. Perhaps he had buried himself in his phone to avoid interacting with her. Smart.
Mira turned her attention to Jack. “And Dad, if you wear a thong again, I swear to God…”
“Fine.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ll dress like an old man. But only for you, ladybug.”
While her family conversed around her, Sophia sat solemnly, her eyes calculating. At least, that’s how I interpreted her narrow gaze, fixed at nothing in particular on the table in front of her, her hands laced together.
“Hudson,” she said finally. “The Werners are arriving at their Hampton house this evening.”
“That’s nice.” He poked at what was left of his ham with his fork, his features even. “Why are you telling me this?”
I put my hand on Hudson’s knee, bracing myself for where this conversation was going.
“Celia’s coming, too.” And there it was—Sophia’s bombshell. “I know how long it’s been since you’ve gotten to spend time together so I invited her for brunch tomorrow.”
Hudson’s face was steel, his jaw tight as he set his fork down with a noisy clink.
I imagined my heart plummeting through my chest, landing in my stomach with the same clink. Celia was a weak spot for me. She fueled my jealousy in ways that were absurd and unreasonable but real nonetheless. To keep from betraying my emotions, I bit my lip. Hard.
Mira’s face went red. “Mom! Why would you do that?”
Jack, who had rolled his eyes at Sophia’s announcement, now leaned toward his daughter, his arm resting on his knee. “Honestly, Mira, does this type of behavior from your mother surprise you?”
Sophia’s eyebrows raised in mock innocence. “What did I do?”
Mira groaned in response. Hudson remained silent, anger rolling off his body in waves.
Sophia either delighted in her son’s rage or didn’t recognize it. “Anyway, we’ve been talking about redecorating the main rooms. I figured this was a great opportunity for her to show us some ideas while catching up with her dear friend.” She turned up her sickening sweet smile. “Alayna, you’ve met Celia. Did you know that she did all the decorating for Hudson’s offices and penthouse?”
I glanced at Hudson who was barely containing his fury. “I did.”
I took a sip of coffee, preparing my next words. The loft above his office wasn’t where Hudson lived. I’d never been to his penthouse, but, of course, Sophia assumed I had. Anything I said I’d have to phrase carefully. “Celia’s got excellent taste. I think she managed to capture Hudson’s style quite well in both his living and working space.” It was true of his office and the loft, anyway. Hopefully it held about his penthouse.
“Which is your favorite room?”
“Sophia.” Jack’s tone was a warning.
Hudson tensed beside me, and I shoveled a mouthful of eggs into my mouth to stall. He’d hinted that he never took women to his penthouse, which had seemed like a good safety net for me—I couldn’t stalk a man’s house if I didn’t know where it was. But did Sophia know he didn’t take women there? Was she trying to trap me or was I being paranoid?
And underneath the concern of responding correctly was the punch of jealousy: Celia had been in Hudson’s private home. She had to have been if she had done the interior design.
I swallowed the bitter sting with my eggs and gave Sophia the only answer I could, lame as it was. “Oh, I love all of it. I could never pick one room.”