Tequila Haze (The Tequila Duet Book 1) Read online

  Backing me into the dressing room door, he kisses me harder, deeper, more urgent, and it’s not long before we’re clawing at each other like two wild animals in heat.

  Hudson’s hand skirts up the front of my shirt and right as he starts to toy with the waist band of my jeans, a knock vibrates against my back.

  “Fuck.” Hudson freezes, dropping his forehead against mine.

  “Five minutes,” a man’s voice calls from the hallway.

  “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” Hudson chants under his breath, grinding his hard length into my stomach. “Think we could make five minutes work?” He pulls back and smiles down at me.

  “Unlikely.” I sigh, shaking my head. “But don’t worry, I’m all yours later,” I promise, pushing up on my tip toes to kiss the side of his mouth.

  “Later can’t come soon enough,” he groans, kissing me again. His tongue does one long seductive sweep against mine before he pulls away.

  Reaching into his jeans, I’m practically salivating at the mouth as he adjusts his erection, his dark eyes locked on mine as he does.

  My god, this man drips SEX.

  “I guess I should go,” I say, swallowing hard. If I don’t leave now I’m likely to jump him. “Have a good show. I’ll be the crazy person screaming from the side of the stage.” I laugh, backing my way toward the door.

  “I’ll be the one on stage dreaming about kissing the crazy girl screaming from the side of the stage.” He closes the distance between us in record time, his hand sliding to the side of my head as he dips down to kiss me.

  “Just kissing me?” I purr against his lips.

  “Oh, I’ll be thinking about a whole hell of a lot more than that. All of which are things I will show you when I have you alone later.”

  “I can’t wait.” I peck another kiss to his lips before reaching for the door handle behind me.

  I have just gotten the door open and am turning to leave when Hudson’s voice pulls my attention back to him. It’s a muttered phrase, something under his breath that I don’t quite catch.

  “Huh?” I question, letting my eyes fully take him in for the first time since arriving. His messy hair, dark eyes, and crooked smile are enough to make any girl weak in the knees.

  “I said...” he pauses for a long moment, his gaze holding mine. “I’m lost in you, Lennon Claire.”

  My heart instantly takes flight in my chest and I grip the edge of the door, afraid that if I let go I will topple to the ground.

  Taking a deep calming breath, I let it out slowly. The look in his eyes is so intense I’m not sure if I want to run to him or away from him. The way this man makes me feel is terrifying.

  Realizing he’s waiting for me to respond, I do the only thing I know to do. I speak from my heart.

  “I’m lost in you, Hudson Demasi,” I repeat his statement, enjoying the brilliant smile that takes over his entire face for a brief moment before turning and quickly exiting the room.

  Chapter Twenty

  Watching Hudson on stage is even more incredible the second time around. The way he moves about the stage and commands the audience is magical.

  He’s nearly finished his set but I’ve been so enamored the entire time it feels like I’ve only blinked once since he went on.

  He was right when he said the audience has changed. They’ve sang along to nearly every word of every song and watching the sheer joy that brings Hudson does something crazy to my insides.

  Such a short period of time and already I feel so strongly for him. His happiness is my happiness. His success is my success. To see him out there, doing his thing, makes me feel like I’m on top of the world. And it’s not even me out there.

  “You must be Lennon.” I jump at the voice, my eyes widening when I look up and lock gazes with none other than Travis Travers.

  I’ve seen him a billion times on television, magazines, and even once in concert, but nothing could have ever prepared me for standing face to face with him.

  He’s very good looking. Not Hudson good looking – then again in my mind no one is – but he’s still a solid nine point five on a ten point scale. Brown hair that hangs just past his ears and curls up around his backward baseball cap, green eyes, and a body that rivals Hudson’s and yet doesn’t hold the same appeal to me.

  It’s easy to see why the ladies all go crazy over him. He’s rocking this bad boy country vibe that immediately makes you notice. Yet he’s got this sweet smile that crinkles the skin around his eyes a little.

  “I...” I stutter, more than a little caught off guard. “You know my name?” I finally manage to pull myself together.

  “Hudson hasn’t shut up about you since Nashville.” He smiles, looking out onto the stage. “When I saw you standing here and the way he kept looking over at you, I just assumed.” He leans in, talking over the music.

  “And what would you have done if I wasn’t Lennon?” I cock a brow and cross my arms over my chest.

  “Felt like a total douche.” He chuckles, his country drawl much thicker than Hudson’s.

  “Glad I could save you.” I smile, flipping my gaze back out to Hudson.

  “I’m Travis, by the way,” he says, drawing my attention back to him and the hand he’s extended my way.

  “I know who you are.” I laugh nervously, giving his hand a quick shake. “My sister’s a major fan girl. If she were here I would bet money she’d be on her knees weeping at the sight of you.”

  “But not you?” he says in a playfully cocky way that’s quite sexy.

  “I’ve got my own hot country star. No need to fawn over anyone else.” I shrug nonchalantly.

  “Damn shame too.” His smile widens and even though I’m not the least bit interested, my pulse quickens at his words. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Lennon,” he says, turning to walk back to his dressing room.

  “Wait,” I holler. “Can I get a picture with you? My sister will never believe this if I don’t.”

  “It would be my pleasure.” He snags my phone I just pulled from my pocket and clicks the camera icon.

  Holding it up over us, he drops an arm over my shoulder and pulls me so close I can smell the mint gum he’s chewing. He snaps two pictures of us smiling and then turns, snapping one just as he drops a kiss to my cheek.

  “That should really get her going.” He speaks low in my ear, sliding the device back into my hand.

  “She’s going to die,” I practically squeal. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime.” He winks and spins on his heel, disappearing around the back of the stage.

  I turn my attention back out to Hudson just as he finishes his final song. He says a few words to the crowd, throws up a fist, and quickly runs off stage toward me.

  He slides off his guitar and hands it to one of the sound guys and then I’m in his arms, my feet leaving the ground as I’m secured tightly against his chest.

  “You were incredible.” Pulling back far enough to cup his face with my hands, I lay a hard kiss to his mouth.

  The scent of sweat, soap, and Hudson’s cologne invade my senses and I swear it’s the best smell in the world. He smiles against my lips before turning to say something in my ear.

  “I see you made a friend,” he rasps, his hold on me tightening.

  “I did?” I question, my brain taking a moment to catch up. “You mean Travis?” I pull back just in time to see him nod slowly.

  “You two were getting pretty cozy in front of the camera.”

  “I asked him to take a picture with me to send to Starr. You know she’s obsessed with him.”

  He seems completely at ease but I can’t help but feel he’s not happy with me. That feeling only increases as he lowers me to my feet and takes a full step back.

  “She the only one?” He cocks his head to the side and I swear my stomach bottoms out at the look he’s giving me.

  “Oh my god,” I say in disbelief. “You’re jealous.”

  “Travis Travers just had his lips on my girl. I’m not
jealous, babe. I’m pissed.” His nostrils flare slightly and I have to physically bite back the laugh that works its way into my throat.

  “Hey.” I grab his hand and pull him back to me. “Travis Travers has nothing on you. But more importantly, he doesn’t have me. You do. Now stop being pissed and kiss me, you handsome, sweaty man.”

  He smiles and seconds later his lips are on mine, kissing me the way he should have kissed me when he ran off stage.

  “You’re killing me woman,” he groans against my lips.

  “I know the feeling,” I breathe, tangling my fingers into the back of his hair.

  “Come on.” He drops his hold on me and snags my hand, pulling me down the stairs and around the corner, ducking us into a dark hallway.

  His body is pressed firmly against mine, sandwiching me between him and the wall, his mouth working desperately against my lips when we hear a throat clear behind us a couple minutes later.

  Hudson, completely unphased that someone has caught us, makes no attempt to detach his body from mine as he turns his head toward our audience, my view completely blocked by his tall frame.

  “Uh, sorry dude,” Colton says and within a second Hudson’s hold on me drops.

  “Kelly.” Hudson grabs my hand and tugs me to his side, his arm going around my shoulder right as my eyes land on a very pretty brunette.

  I know instantly that she’s Hudson sister. Even if he hadn’t said her name, there’s no denying the resemblance between them. Same dark hair, same dark eyes. It’s like looking at a petite female version of the man next to me.

  “You’re lucky it’s just me. You’d give our damn mother a heart attack if she caught you like this.” Even as she lectures him, the smile on her face spreads, revealing she too has a dimple on her right cheek. “Come here you.” She drapes her arms around his neck and gives him a quick hug. Hudson does not release me, hugging her with the opposite arm than the one that’s around me.

  “It’s good to see you, Kel,” Hudson says as his sister steps back, her gaze falling to me.

  “And you must be Lennon. My brother did always have good taste,” she says, making no qualms about checking me out in one thorough sweep of her eyes. “You are gorgeous.”

  “Um, thank you,” I sputter, completely caught off guard.

  “Ignore my sister. She doesn’t get out much.” Hudson chuckles.

  “It’s true. I have mommy brain.” She shakes her head. “Lord, where are my manners. I’m Kelly.” She holds her hand out.

  “Lennon.” I smile, sliding my hand into hers and shaking lightly.

  “It’s nice to finally meet the woman who has my brother so twisted.” She eyes Hudson with a wide smile on her face as she releases my hand. “Colton tells me everything.” She elbows Colton who’s standing next to her.

  “Why you gotta go getting me into trouble, Kel?” he asks dramatically.

  “Boy never could keep his mouth shut.” She laughs, poking her finger playfully into his side.

  “So, what did you think of the show?” Hudson sweeps in and saves his friend, drawing his sister’s attention back to him.

  “It was amazing, Hud. So amazing. Of course, we knew it would be. Mom cried the whole time. Dad seemed a little star struck. And me, well you know me, I screamed like a crazy person the whole time.”

  “Speaking of mom and dad, where are they?”

  “You know dad. He’s always gotta be the first one out. He and mom are waiting in the car while I figure out where you guys wanna go for dinner.”

  “Lennon?” Hudson looks down at me.

  “I’m good with anything.” I tighten my arm around his waist, loving that his first instinct is to take care of me.

  “Let’s do that hibachi grill over on 2nd,” he suggests to his sister.

  “Maguro?”

  “Yeah, that’s it. You remember how to get there?”

  “Not really. I haven’t been there in years but I’m sure I can GPS my way there.”

  “Colton can ride with you guys. I’m gonna go change. Lennon and I will meet you there shortly.” Hudson’s fingers trace lightly up and down my forearm as he speaks. “Cool if we take the truck?” he asks Colton.

  “Now you ask.” Colton rolls his eyes and digs the keys out of his pocket, tossing them at Hudson who snags them mid-air with no effort.

  “Give us about a half an hour,” Hudson tells Kelly who arches a brow at him.

  “It takes five minutes to get there,” she reminds him.

  “And I need a shower,” he informs her dryly.

  “Yeah, I bet that’s all you need.” Her gaze jumps to me and then back to her brother before she snags Colton’s arm. “Come on, be a gentleman and walk me to my car. Thirty minutes, Hudson. Not a minute more,” she hollers over her shoulder as they walk away.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he mutters under his breath before meeting my gaze. “See, that wasn’t so bad, right?” He chuckles, taking off toward his dressing room with me still tucked into his side.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  HUDSON

  “What do you mean you haven’t told her?” Kelly looks at me across the table like I’ve lost my fucking mind.

  “Just what I said. I haven’t told her,” I grind out, trying to keep my voice down.

  This was a conversation I wanted to have with my family before we had dinner together, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. So when Lennon excused herself to go to the bathroom shortly after we arrived, I decided it was now or never.

  “Hudson.” My mom gives me the look that says she’s seconds away from breaking into a full on lecture.

  “I didn’t want to open up right out of the gate and spill my shit on her. I had no idea it would turn into anything.”

  “Well it has,” Kelly interjects. “How do you think she’s going to feel when she finds out you’ve been keeping secrets from her? Hudson, you can’t build a relationship on a foundation of lies.”

  “Spare me your bullshit, Kel. I’m not building a relationship on lies. I have omitted some things, sure, but at the end of the day it doesn’t change how I feel about her.”

  “No, but when she learns the truth it might change how she feels about you.” She pauses, shaking her head.

  “I’m aware.” I drag a hand through my hair. “I just need her to hear it from me.”

  “We won’t mention it, sweetheart.” My mom reaches over and pats my hand. “I understand your hesitance, but honey, you’re going to have to tell her eventually.” She gives me a soft smile.

  “I know. And I will. When the time is right.”

  “I don’t know that the timing will ever be right,” Kelly interjects. “You’re going to have to bite the bullet and get it over with. If she cares about you the way I think she does, she’ll be okay with it. I mean, I think she’ll be pissed that you weren’t upfront with her, but ultimately, I think it’s something you can get past. But not if you wait too long.”

  “I agree with your sister, dude,” Colton adds in. “Lennon is crazy about you. Tell her the truth and see where it lands.” The words have barely left his lips when his eyes dart behind me and he does a little motion with his head.

  Seconds later Lennon reclaims the seat next to me, her hand instantly reaching for mine under the table. I blow out a soft breath and meet her gaze, not able to shake my sister’s words. When she learns the truth it might change how she feels about you.

  It’s probably the one thing I’m the most worried about. That when it’s all said and done and everything is out in the open, Lennon won’t look at me the same.

  I can’t escape the mistakes of my past but I damn sure can try to move beyond them. It’s about time I bury the past to make way for my future. A future that is currently looking at me like I’m the only thing in the world she sees.

  And that’s when I know I’m not just falling anymore. I’ve fallen. And there’s not one damn thing I can do about it.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  “So Lennon, H
udson tells us you’re a designer.” Hudson’s mom takes a drink of her sweet tea, her eyes on me. We’ve been at the restaurant for about thirty minutes and I swear Mary Demasi knows my life story. Sitting caddy corner from me at the hibachi grill, she hasn’t stopped asking questions since the moment we arrived.

  “I am.” I nod, lifting my wine glass to my lips and taking a small sip.

  I’m usually not much for wine but there was no way I wasn’t going to have a drink. Desperately needing to calm my nerves. For some reason wine seemed more acceptable for dinner with Hudson’s parents.

  “Tell us more about that.” She leans forward slightly.

  “Dear lord, Mary,” Hudson’s father, Thomas, grumbles next to her. “Give the poor girl a break. You’ve been grilling her since they arrived.”

  Hudson looks a great deal like his father, as does his sister. As a matter of fact, if you erase the salt colored hair that peppers his temples and a few years’ worth of wrinkles, Hudson and his father would look like twins. Well, Thomas would need to gain a few pounds in muscle too. Though he’s got a pretty good build, it’s not as full and defined as Hudson’s.

  “That’s okay.” I smile, taking another sip of wine as Hudson’s hand settles just above my knee and squeezes.

  “Lennon’s boss buys run down houses in desirable areas and rehabs them. Lennon goes in with a blank slate and gets to design the house from the ground up. There’s this incredible beach house she’s working on right now.” He smiles at me and I swear I fall a little harder.

  “That’s really cool,” Kelly chimes in. “It’s like one of those shows you see on HGTV. You’re like the chick from fixer upper.”

  “Joanna,” Mary interjects.

  “Yeah. Joanna Gaines.” Kelly laughs.

  “I mean, yeah, it’s kind of like that. Though we have very different design styles, my job doesn’t look much different than what you see her doing on television.”

  This spins the conversation into an entirely different direction and we spend the next several minutes listening to Kelly and Mary discuss some of their favorite shows to watch, Hudson and I only chiming in when called for.