“You’re going to pay, cowboy. Not sure how yet, but I’ll think of something.” He leaned on Jack. “I bet this place is cute in the snow.”
“It’s amazing. You a Christmas guy? Lights and tree and stuff?”
“I didn’t do a tree in Denver, but I did decorate the apartment with lights, and I have some goofy stockings. We could do a big tree in that living room, since the ceiling is high.” Sounded like Jack was a tree guy. Or wanted to be. Just one wrench in the works. “I usually head to Boston to see my sister around Christmastime. I’ve always been the one without a family.”
“Well, we got lots of time. If you need to go there and all without me, I got Mackey. No guilt. Hell, I don’t even have to have a tree. I don’t got ornaments.”
“What? I wouldn’t go without you, idiot.” He gave Jack a playful smack on the head. “But your ‘I’ll just eat worms’ face is kind of adorable.”
“Don’t be a bitch, now. I was trying to be nice. I’m not used to it.”
“Well, don’t be that nice.” He stopped Jack and looked him in the eye. “We’re family now. You can have expectations.” He smiled at Jack. “Anyway, I was thinking of inviting them out here. Maybe not Christmas Day because of the kids and all, but after.”
“I bet the house will be ready by then, and we got space. That would be great. We could have a family shindig.” Oh, that was a happy grin, damn near eager.
“Right? You’ll meet my niece and nephew—ourniece and nephew. My brother-in-law is kind of corporate but cool. My sister’s practically perfect in every way.” She’d been a staunch supporter his whole life. She was a knockout too, beautiful like Mom, who he hadn’t seen since he was a teenager.
“I had a brother like that. Perfect.” Jack grinned at him. “How old are the kiddos?”
“Young. Amy is six and Patrick is nine. He’s a smart kid, quiet, kind. She’s way too smart-ass for her own good.” And he loved them both to pieces.
“That’s cool. I can’t wait to meet them. I tend to do okay with kids.”
“Definitely. Soon.” Hudson shrugged. “Don’t take this wrong, but I just have to tell them about you.” He bit his lip and watched Jack. “I’ll call her tonight.”
“No stress, darlin’. You take your time. I’m a little much for folks.”
“That’s not why I haven’t told her. I just… didn’t know what to say. I’ve never mentioned you before because what was I going to say? Hey, I just had my yearly hot-as-fire booty call in Anaheim?”
“Oh, I like it. You could have said, ‘Hey, I have to go see my favorite cock this weekend’…”
Naughty!
“She would have hung up on me.” He laughed though. “It’s just I’m not sure how to tell her that I bought a house and moved in with someone she has never even heard of. She’s going to grill me like a side of beef.”
“Sorry, you’re mine to grill. She’ll have to be decent.” Every so often, Jack said something that felt so good.
“I’ll be okay. I’ll explain it. And then she’ll probably demand to meet you.” Maybe Ginny would fly out to an event on her own. They could hang out, and she could see how amazing Jack was in the ring.
“Sure. You want to bring them to an event? I can get tickets.”
And there was Jack, anticipating him again. So unexpectedly thoughtful, but he was getting used to it. “Yeah, maybe. I’ll offer when we talk. Thank you.”
“Sure. You know me. No stress.” Right. No stress. Jack could make the hardest things seem like they didn’t matter, but Hudson knew better.
“She’s going to love you.” He nipped at Jack’s chin. “Maybe not as much as I do, but that’s a pretty high bar.”
“Listen to you.” Jack grinned at him, crow’s feet deepening. “Come on, let’s find a place to stop. You hungry? I want a steak.”
“You literally always want a steak. Lead on.” ‘I want a steak’ usually meant Jack wanted to spoil him and who was he to say no? It made Jack as happy as it did him.
“I do. There’s a nice place up here. They got fancy desserts and good wine like you like.”
“Cheesecake?” He hung on Jack’s arm. “Do you ever think about going somewhere on vacation? I don’t mean soon, we have the house and all, but one day?”
“Sure. I’m a go-baby. I’ve been all over, especially in the States. Where do you want to go?”
It was the most amazing sensation—he was usually the one with the power, with the money. But his cowboy treated him as if he was… precious.