Maribel

I dig my toes into the sand, staring out at a pitch-black ocean painted in golden Montauk moonlight.

“You cold?” Hudson grabs a spare serape blanket and wraps it around my shoulders, scooting closer. His hand rubs small circles into my back.

“Thank you.” I pull the fabric tight around me, gathering a handful to hold it together.

An hour ago we came back from the party, changed into pajamas, and decided to sit on the beach for a bit.

I’m still reeling—for better or for worse—about the fact that my baby’s father walked into the party tonight. I couldn’t let myself react though. I had to hold my head high, slap a smile on my face, and do my job.

“So are you and … Alec … close?” I ask, the wind having its way with my hair.

“We were best friends growing up,” he says, bending his knees and wrapping his arms around them as he stares at the sea. “Alec is a bit of a free spirit. I sort of stuck around the city after college. He never stayed in one place for very long.”

“He seems nice,” I say.

“He’s a nice guy, yeah. Hard to believe he and Audrina are related, huh?”

I chuckle, silently relieved and simultaneously disgusted that my unborn child will have Audrina as an aunt.

That is … if Alec decides he wants to be in the baby’s life.

A free spirit like him might not want an obligation like this.

My body shivers, and whether it’s from the cold or the reality that there’s a high chance I’m going to be flying completely solo on this mission, I’ll never know.

“You want to head inside?” he asks, reaching for my ice-cold fingertips and warming them in his hand. “You’re freezing.”

I nod, waiting as Hudson rises before pulling me up beside him. He turns me to face him, our eyes locking as he cups my chin softly in his hand.

“What are you doing?” I offer a nervous, breathy laugh.

“Kissing you,” he says it like it’s a done deal, a non-negotiable declaration of his intentions.

“Why?”

His lips draw closer to mine, and I inhale the clean scent of his cologne as it emanates from his warm skin.

“Because I want to.” His lips skim against mine. “Because I feel like it.” He exhales. “And because I couldn’t take my eyes off you all night, and I knew, Mari, that this moment was completely unavoidable.”

“You’re making this extremely complicated, Hudson.”

He answers me with a kiss, his lips pressing against mine with an impatient greed, his fingers slipping behind my neck and knotting in my hair as he guides my mouth.

The lights above the porch on the back of Sea La Vie flick on, illuminating the large expanse of private beach which, a second ago, felt cozy and secluded … a little island of our own.

I pull away from him.

“They’re home now.” I gather the beach blankets in a hurry. “We should head in.”

* * *

Rinsing my face in the marble sink of my suite bathroom, I blot it dry with a fluffy gray towel before lifting my fingertips to my mouth, tracing the places Hudson’s lips resided moments earlier.

I don’t know why he’s doing this, but if he keeps it up, it’s not going to end well for any of us. And despite the fact that I’m well aware, I can’t deny how good it feels to be wanted by a man like him.

Just weeks ago, I used to ruminate about all the reasons I couldn’t stand this man, and now I find myself quietly admiring his confidence and intelligence while I mentally replay that intense night we shared together in his bed.

Exhaling, I shake my head in the mirror.

This is wrong.

I can’t let this go any further—at least not physically.

A soft knock on my bedroom door sends my heart into a freefall and my thoughts scattering like leaves to the wind.

Fuck wrong.

Running across the room, I grab the door handle and pull it wide, unable to wipe the devilish grin off my face.

“Audrina.” My smile vanishes.

“You’re pregnant.” She pushes past me, causing the door to swing open and slap against the wall.

Scrambling to close it, I make sure no one’s in the hall before turning back to her. Hands on my hips, I watch her pacing my room like a crazy person.

“It makes perfect sense,” she says, though I’m not sure if she’s speaking to me or just thinking out loud. “And it’s the only reason Hudson would marry someone like you so quickly.”

“Someone like me?” My jaw hangs. I hate this bitch.

“Plus you’re not drinking. You toasted with fucking water at your engagement party and you haven’t so much as touched a drop of wine all weekend.”

“I don’t drink.” I shrug, stating it with conviction.

“Sweetheart, I saw the tattoo on your ankle.” Her tone is smug, and I want to rip that smart-assed smirk off her pretty little face. “You’re not some conservative Mary Poppins.”

“Tattoos have nothing to do with alcohol,” I say. “And I’m not pregnant, so you can just put your little theory to rest.”

She stops pacing in front of me, her eyes lowering to my belly.

For a fraction of a second, I consider flipping up the bottom of my shirt and showing off my still-flat belly, but I won’t lower myself to her level. I don’t have to prove anything to her, and my pregnancy is absolutely none of her business.

“You’re lying,” she says, eyes all crazy and tightening in on me as her lips pucker.

“Audrina, it’s late,” I say. “And I’m tired. And I don’t have time for this, so just go.”

I move to the door, pulling it open and waiting, yawning.

“Still don’t believe you,” she says as she struts toward me. Stopping, her eyes fall to my stomach once more and she huffs. “You’re so fucking full of shit, and it drives me fucking crazy that I’m the only one who can see right through you.”

Laughing, I roll my eyes. “Goodnight, Audrina.”

“They’re going to find out,” she blurts. Or is it a promise?

“Goodnight, Audrina.”

Shutting and locking the door behind her, I press my back against the smooth wood and exhale the deep breath I’d held far too long.

Shit.