Hudson turned to face his brother and Allie was struck by the overwhelming family resemblance. She’d never really noticed it when they were young, but despite Nick’s current condition, he looked so much like his older brother. Same jawline and nose, same dark wavy hair—although Nick’s was considerably longer and, from the looks of it, hadn’t been washed in a few days. Their most distinguishable feature, though, was their eyes. Hudson’s were a clear blue while Nick’s were a deep brown. Allie’s chest tightened as she focused her attention on Nick’s dark circled eyes. Once so warm and full of life, his eyes were now vacant as they darted anxiously around the room.
“They’re after me. Bastard’s probably got my place on watch.”
“Look, you’re crashing and not making any sense,” Hudson said, but Nick didn’t appear to be listening. All his attention was focused on scraping the label from his water bottle. Without warning he jumped up and began pacing like a caged animal. When he was within arm’s reach, Hudson snagged him by the collar. “Come on, you can sleep it off downstairs or in the theater, take your pick.”
Nick shrugged out of his hold. Hudson stared at him for a long moment and then shook his head as he turned away. Allie ducked back around the corner, afraid she was about to be discovered. She was inching toward the master bedroom when Nick’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“You’re not listening to me!” he yelled.
“Hearing you loud and clear. What kind of money are we talking about?”
There was a lengthy pause, and when Nick finally spoke, his voice had grown quiet. “A shit ton.”
“How much, Nick?”
Nick muttered a few words she couldn’t hear.
“Fuck!” Hudson exploded. “How could you be so stupid?
Allie flinched at the sound of a fist pounding into a hard surface.
“I didn’t mean for shit to get real. I swear, Hudson, this is the—”
“Don’t you dare finish that fucking sentence.”
A cabinet opened in the kitchen. Glasses clinked. A bottle was set down with a thud. And then nothing but an uncomfortable silence.
When Hudson finally spoke, Allie could tell he’d used the time to reign in his temper. His voice was level though his words were still razor-sharp. “You’re going to listen to me carefully, because the terms of this deal are non-negotiable. I’ll bail you out one last time, but you’re checking into rehab. Tomorrow. Consider it repayment.”
“I got this, bro. Don’t need rehab.”
“There’s only one right answer here, Nick.”
Nick mumbled his reply, and the next thing Allie heard was the sound of Hudson’s footsteps on the living room floor. Shit! She scampered down the hall and was sitting cross-legged on the bed when he entered the room.
“Everything okay?”
“Fine.” Hudson strode through the room without so much as a glance in her direction. His face was taut with tension as he stripped his watch from his wrist and tossed it on top of the dresser. Pockets were next. He emptied them, carelessly dumping his wallet, change, and cell phone into a pile. When he was done he yanked open a drawer and grabbed a pair of pajama bottoms before disappearing into the bathroom.
Clearly he wasn’t fine.
Allie crawled up the bed and slipped under the covers. Exhaling, she leaned back against the headboard, crossed her arms, and waited. When Hudson emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, his clothes had changed but not his mood.
He threw back the duvet and stretched out on the bed with his forearm resting over his eyes. Allie lowered herself to the pillow next to him, watching the heavy rise and fall of his chest. After a while it became clear Hudson wasn’t going to say anything about his brother’s late night arrival. It was up to Allie to address the elephant in the room.
She took a deep breath and confessed. “I was listening.”
Hudson lifted his arm and stared at her, his expression unreadable. “Were you now?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. You were just so upset . . .” Allie fumbled with excuses as Hudson dropped his arm back over his face, offering no reaction or further explanation. “I had no idea.”
“What? That my brother is a drug addict?” There was a quiet resignation in his voice and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was the first time he’d ever admitted it to himself, let alone said the words out loud.
“How long has he been using?”
Hudson scrubbed a hand down his face. “Nick had a hard time.” There was an overwhelming sadness in his eyes, and for an instant something else, something darker. “Especially after Mom died.”
Their mom died? This was news to her.
It was a while before Hudson spoke again and when he did his voice had softened to barely a whisper. “Nick’s the one who found her.” His eyes drifted shut. “He was still trying to wake her up when I got there, shaking her, shouting her name.”
Allie’s throat tightened at the thought of the moppet-haired boy she once knew clinging to his dead mother. Her eyes welled up as she imagined how scared he must have been. No little boy should have to bury his mom, let alone discover her lifeless body.
A muscle in Hudson’s jaw flexed. “This is all standard operating procedure for Nick—showing up late at night, asking for money—but tonight was the worst I’ve ever seen him.” He drew an unsteady breath. “If he keeps going the way he is, he’ll end up just like she did, overdosing on God knows what. Shit, I can’t . . .” Hudson’s voice trailed off and his body tensed. A moment later he cleared his throat, and when he continued it was with a steely determination. The CEO was back, handling the issue. “I need to get him some help.”
“Did he take the deal, agree to rehab?” she asked. Her voice was thick with unshed tears.
“He said he’d go.” Hudson didn’t sound completely convinced.
“We should cancel our trip. You need to focus on Nick right now.”
“No, I’ll take him in the morning, then swing by and pick you up. Can you leave at lunchtime?”
“That should be fine.” Allie studied his face, trying hard to gauge his expression. “Are you sure?”
“Not much I can do while he’s in detox.”
Hudson grew quiet again. She could only imagine how helpless he felt, because that was how she felt when she looked at him. Helpless to ease his worry and pain.
Allie shifted closer. Hudson wrapped his arm around her, welcoming her comfort by tucking her into his side and pressing his lips to the top of her head. She reciprocated, planting a soft kiss on his bare chest, and felt him relax beneath her touch. This was the comfort she could offer. If only for the night, he could lose himself in her.
Her hand slid across his stomach, gliding over the ripples of his abs as she left a trail of openmouthed kisses along the slope of his pecs. His chest expanded, and when her tongue flicked over his nipple, an appreciative groan vibrated in the back of his throat. Her mouth drifted further, softly sucking and nipping the skin along his ribs. Hudson ran his hand up and down her back as her questing fingers drew rhythmic patterns. She glanced up at him. His eyes blistered with heat as he watched her explore his upper body with her fingers and tongue.
Wanting more, she reached for the drawstring of his pants. When she tugged them open, his erection sprang free, hard and glistening at the tip. Featherlight touches teased him as her fingers traced the honed contour of his hips. He twitched when the back of her hand brushed the hard ridge of his arousal, and a satisfied smile tugged at her lips. Oh yes, she could do this. She could turn the tables on the game he played so well.