“I’m not sure he meant I needed to redecorate immediately,” I muttered, not for the first time, as Katie dragged me toward the home furnishings store in Denver the next day.
She’d needed to come into the city to pick up supplies for the fundraiser that evening, and I’d thought that was all I was tagging along for.
“Oh, I beg to differ.”She flashed a triumphant smile as we stepped into the high-end store.“He knew you’d need a nudge, and I’m all too happy to be that nudge.Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a black card in person.”Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“He gave you his credit card?”I gaped at her.
“Well, technically, he gaveyouhis card.”She pulled it out and placed it in my palm.“Come on, girl, this is like a fairy-tale moment.”She clapped her hands, her enthusiasm so contagious I couldn’t help but grin.
“Miss Kincaid?”A woman stepped from behind the counter the moment she spotted us.“I’m Janet, one of the interior design managers here.Can I help you get started?”
I looked at Katie with a raised brow.She held up her hands in surrender.“Not me.This is all your man.”
I snorted, not all that surprised as I tapped out a quick text to the man in question.
Lucy:You are so busted.This is a bit over the top, even for you.
His response was immediate.
Hudson:No such thing when it comes to you.Pick something good for me to lay you down on, baby.
I fought the full-body shiver his text inspired before looking up at the manager.“Okay, let’s have a look.”
A few hours later, after loading the last of our purchases into the SUV, we hit the freeway and headed for home.Katie smiled over at me.“That was too fun.”
I had to admit, once I’d gotten into the spirit, it truly had been.We’d picked out all new bedding, beautiful pillows, and a throw so soft I wanted to live in it.I chose a soft green color scheme to bring the gorgeous colors of the surrounding trees indoors.
I added picture frames I was eager to fill with memories and some cookware I was excited to put to use.
With the new home purchases and Katie’s supplies for the fundraiser, my SUV was packed to the gills.
We weren’t far from home when my gaze flicked to the rearview mirror again as Katie sang along to the radio.Dread coiled in my belly as I confirmed the same sedan I’d seen in the store parking lot was on our tail.At first, I’d thought I was being paranoid, but as we neared home, I was almost certain we were being followed.
“What is it?”Katie asked when I stopped singing and my posture stiffened.
“I’m fairly sure we’re being followed.”
She immediately craned her neck to look out the back window.“The gray sedan?”She seemed remarkably calm.
I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised.With her experience working at the hospital, she was well accustomed to emergency situations.
“Yeah.”I sighed in resignation.“I think we’d better call Hudson.”I grimaced, knowing how worried this would make him.
I hit his number on my infotainment system.“Hey, baby.”His deep voice filled the interior of the car.“You almost home?”
“Yeah.But, um, don’t freak out.I’m pretty sure we’re being followed.”
There was a brief pause before his response came, calm and soothing, through the line.“Okay, darlin’, you’re driving?”
“I am.”
“I want you to drive straight to the police station.How far out are you?”
“About fifteen minutes.”That felt like an eternity, but I forced myself to stay calm.Panicking would do nothing to help us now.
“Katie, can you get the license plate?”Hudson asked.
She craned her neck to peer out the back window.“Yes.”She read it to him.