The room grew still, and it took me a minute to realize it was because the shower water had stopped. Shit. I quickly hung the jacket back in the closet and left the bedroom. Panic overwhelmed me. There was no way I’d be able to sleep tonight with the way I was feeling, nor would I be able to lie next to Aiden and pretend everything was fine. It was no longer a question of whether I was going to violate his trust and sign into his credit card online. I had to in order to keep my sanity.

My fingers shook as I called up the website on my phone. The damn thing took forever to load, and every two seconds I glanced up at the half-closed door to our bedroom. When the data finally populated, I scrolled to this month’s bill. Relief flooded me when I saw there were no charges at all. Overwhelmed with guilt, I went to sign off, but then I noticed the payments section had a payment of $261. I figured it was probably just the way they showed a credit given for that incorrect charge, but since it left a niggling feeling, I clicked to check.

And froze seeing it was an actual payment made weeks ago from a bank account ending in 588. I felt the blood draining from my face. That was Aiden’s checking account.

It had to be a mistake. I clicked over to the disputes tab. No disputes in the last ninety days. Feeling freaked out and lost, I closed the website and did something I should have done a month ago. I Googled Drummond Hospitality.

The results sent my heart into my throat.

Drummond Hospitality is the owner of four New York City boutique hotels.

CHAPTER 25

Stella

“This I could certainly get used to…” I’d woken up to find Hudson standing at my stove, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and a backward baseball cap. His sculpted back was so muscular and tan. I wrapped my arms around his stomach and squeezed him from behind, placing a kiss on his shoulder.

“I just got back from a run and haven’t showered yet. You’re probably kissing dried sweat.”

“Pretty sure my skin isn’t much different after last night.”

Hudson turned and wrapped his arms around my waist. The dirty smile on his face told me he was recalling just how sweaty we’d gotten.

He smirked. “You broke the bed.”

I pulled back. “I didn’t break the bed; you did.”

“Pretty sure you were the one on top of me when the frame gave way.”

“Maybe, but you weren’t just lying there. You top from the bottom, you know.”

Hudson chuckled. “What the hell does that mean?”

“You might appear to let me take control, but you never really give it up.”

His face changed, and he looked a little concerned. “And you don’t like that?”

I grinned. “No, I like it a lot. But that means you contributed to breaking the bed.”

Hudson smiled and swatted my ass. “Go sit. Pancakes are almost done.”

“Okay.”

The week since we’d gotten home from California had been absolute bliss. Hudson and I were inseparable. We worked late every night getting things for Signature Scent ready, and we alternated between sleeping at his house in Brooklyn and my apartment here in the City. I probably should’ve been concerned that we were spending too much time together, but I was too happy to let anything spoil it.

Hudson set a plate in front of me.

I laughed. “This is adorable.”

He’d made one big pancake and decorated it into a smiling sun with halved strawberries forming pointed sunrays and bananas and strawberries creating a face.

“That’s how Charlie likes it. But don’t be too impressed. It’s the only dish I make other than macaroni and cheese. I don’t want you to get your expectations up.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

Hudson could’ve sucked at most everything else and I’d still be swooning over him based on how thoughtful he was—and how incredible in bed. To say I was falling for this man would be an understatement. A few times this week, I’d caught myself sitting at my desk randomly smiling. I hadn’t even been thinking about anything in particular. I just felt…happy.

“In case that doesn’t fill you enough…” Hudson set a banana next to my plate.

I was just about to say I’d never eat pancakes and a banana when I saw the ink on the yellow skin: I’m bananas about you.

When I looked up, Hudson winked and went back to the stove as if he hadn’t just turned my insides into a pile of mush.

He looked back over his shoulder, pointing to my plate with a spatula. “Eat. Don’t wait for me. It’ll get cold.”

Just as I put the first bite into my mouth, my front door swung open.

“Honey, I’m home!”

Shit. Fisher. I’d been single ever since he moved into the apartment next to me.

Hudson turned around, and Fisher caught sight of him and froze. “Crap. Sorry, man.”

“It’s fine. Come on in.”

Fisher looked over at me and I nodded, so he walked into the kitchen.

Hudson extended his hand. “Hudson Rothschild. I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced.”

Fisher shook. “I guess the wedding doesn’t count. Fisher Underwood.”

Hudson pointed to the table with the spatula. “Have a seat. Stella already filled me in that feeding you is part of the package deal I get with her.”

Fisher smiled. He swiped a handful of blueberries from the open container next to the stove and popped a few in his mouth. “You have my blessing to marry him.”

Hudson and I both laughed.

He made Fisher a plate of pancakes with a side of fruit, but not the fancy smiling sun he’d made me. Surprisingly, breakfast wasn’t awkward once the three of us were at the table.

Fisher shoved almost a half a pancake into his mouth. “So, what are you guys up to this weekend?”

“Hudson has his daughter. I have a few errands to run, but other than that, I’m open. You going to be around?”

“I was thinking about hitting the flea market,” Fisher said. “It’s my paralegal’s birthday next week, and she loved the handmade ceramic mugs you picked out for her last year, so I figured I’d go back and see what else they have.”

“Oh, awesome. Maybe I’ll come.”

Hudson’s forehead creased. “I thought we were taking Charlie to the park. You said something about an ancient playground.”

I thought back to the conversation we’d had earlier. “You said you were thinking of taking Charlie to Central Park, and I asked if you’d ever taken her to the Ancient Playground. I didn’t realize you wanted me to come, too.”

“I guess I just assumed you would…”

“Alright, well, I’d love to spend time with you and Charlie—if you don’t think it’s too soon.”

Hudson shook his head. “I don’t think she’s ready to see you in my bed yet, but she needs to start spending time with us to lead up to that, right?”

Wow. It gave me a fuzzy feeling in my belly to know I wasn’t alone in seeing a future for us. Reaching over, I squeezed his hand.

“That sounds great.”

“I’ll tell you what, I have to stop home before going to pick her up at two. Why don’t you guys go to the flea market, and we can meet up at the park after?”