tea was thrown together, and chilling in the fridge. While all that was going on, she went to work on supper. Hudson had called earlier to say he’d be
home early tonight and could she please set out three or four t-bone steaks for supper.
Sprinkling seasoning on the meat, she smiled. The man was typical of most panther
males and had a very healthy appetite. After wrapping several large baking potatoes in aluminum foil, she tossed them in the oven but paused at hearing the sound of
Hudson’s truck roaring up the driveway.
She caught her breath as primal hunger swept her body and she suddenly wished
she wore something a little nicer than her comfiest shorts and a simple tee shirt.
76
Panther Moon
Trea paused when Hudson opened the door from the garage and stepped into the
room.
“Hudson,” she said, her breath catching. Sexual anticipation zipped through her
veins. Oh yeah, she was a goner for sure if she couldn’t look at him without creaming her panties. “You’re a little early. I’m just—” When Hudson moved farther into the
room, she realized he wasn’t alone so she instantly squelched the idea of running into his arms and climbing up his big body like a spider monkey. “Oh. Hi.”
Hudson’s companion was a huge, dark Latino and from his scent she knew he was
also panther. They sure grew their men gorgeous in this neck of the woods. Yum. Yum.
Like Hudson, he wore the standard black tee shirt featuring the Declan Technologies
crest over the breast pocket. His indigo denim jeans were belted, like Hudson’s, with black hand-tooled leather and a pounded silver western-style buckle featuring the
Turquoise Moon Tribe’s symbol of a full moon inlaid with turquoise stone. He carried a fistful of white and yellow gerber daisies and had what looked to be a bottle of wine tucked under one arm.
Belatedly Trea realized she recognized him from her parents’ funeral but had yet to
be introduced. Hudson moved to her side, wrapped an arm around her and squeezed
her waist gently. “Trea this is my friend, Rio Santana.”
Rio stepped close and taking her hand, pressed his forehead to the back of it in an
Old World gesture that wasn’t lost on Trea. She suddenly knew why he was here
tonight but stayed silent, waiting for confirmation. When Rio finally looked up and
pierced her with his black gaze, her heart thumped. There could be no other reason for the way he’d greeted her or the way he looked at her now. She must’ve looked like a
scared little bunny because his expression went gentle. “I didn’t have a chance to talk with you last night but you have my condolences for your loss, little one.”
“Thank you. Did you know them?”
“ Si . I knew your father. He was a good man.”
“He was.”
77
Regina Carlysle
Hudson’s hand on her waist was warm and when his fingers flexed, she looked at
him.
“Rio will be having dinner with us tonight. I hope that’s all right.”
“Of course. I just put potatoes in the oven and steaks are ready for the grill.”
Hoping to keep things light, she grinned at their guest. “I assume you like t-bones?”
“Damn straight.” The sexy Latino held out the flowers to her. “For you. And wine.”
When she took the daisies, he winked and held up a dark green bottle. “I know lots of ladies prefer wine over beer.”
Trea laughed. “This lady does. You are so thoughtful.”
Rio shrugged. “What can I say? My mama raised me right.”
When Hudson stepped away, she felt tension radiate from his body in waves. For
the first time, she noted he held the handle of a black bag featuring a gold logo she didn’t recognize. He glanced at Rio and then back at her. “I’ll put this away in the
bedroom and let you two get acquainted. Be right back.”
“Sure,” she said carefully. She wanted to ask what was in the bag but it wasn’t her
business so she stayed quiet. “I’ll just put these flowers in some water.”
After Hudson left the
home early tonight and could she please set out three or four t-bone steaks for supper.
Sprinkling seasoning on the meat, she smiled. The man was typical of most panther
males and had a very healthy appetite. After wrapping several large baking potatoes in aluminum foil, she tossed them in the oven but paused at hearing the sound of
Hudson’s truck roaring up the driveway.
She caught her breath as primal hunger swept her body and she suddenly wished
she wore something a little nicer than her comfiest shorts and a simple tee shirt.
76
Panther Moon
Trea paused when Hudson opened the door from the garage and stepped into the
room.
“Hudson,” she said, her breath catching. Sexual anticipation zipped through her
veins. Oh yeah, she was a goner for sure if she couldn’t look at him without creaming her panties. “You’re a little early. I’m just—” When Hudson moved farther into the
room, she realized he wasn’t alone so she instantly squelched the idea of running into his arms and climbing up his big body like a spider monkey. “Oh. Hi.”
Hudson’s companion was a huge, dark Latino and from his scent she knew he was
also panther. They sure grew their men gorgeous in this neck of the woods. Yum. Yum.
Like Hudson, he wore the standard black tee shirt featuring the Declan Technologies
crest over the breast pocket. His indigo denim jeans were belted, like Hudson’s, with black hand-tooled leather and a pounded silver western-style buckle featuring the
Turquoise Moon Tribe’s symbol of a full moon inlaid with turquoise stone. He carried a fistful of white and yellow gerber daisies and had what looked to be a bottle of wine tucked under one arm.
Belatedly Trea realized she recognized him from her parents’ funeral but had yet to
be introduced. Hudson moved to her side, wrapped an arm around her and squeezed
her waist gently. “Trea this is my friend, Rio Santana.”
Rio stepped close and taking her hand, pressed his forehead to the back of it in an
Old World gesture that wasn’t lost on Trea. She suddenly knew why he was here
tonight but stayed silent, waiting for confirmation. When Rio finally looked up and
pierced her with his black gaze, her heart thumped. There could be no other reason for the way he’d greeted her or the way he looked at her now. She must’ve looked like a
scared little bunny because his expression went gentle. “I didn’t have a chance to talk with you last night but you have my condolences for your loss, little one.”
“Thank you. Did you know them?”
“ Si . I knew your father. He was a good man.”
“He was.”
77
Regina Carlysle
Hudson’s hand on her waist was warm and when his fingers flexed, she looked at
him.
“Rio will be having dinner with us tonight. I hope that’s all right.”
“Of course. I just put potatoes in the oven and steaks are ready for the grill.”
Hoping to keep things light, she grinned at their guest. “I assume you like t-bones?”
“Damn straight.” The sexy Latino held out the flowers to her. “For you. And wine.”
When she took the daisies, he winked and held up a dark green bottle. “I know lots of ladies prefer wine over beer.”
Trea laughed. “This lady does. You are so thoughtful.”
Rio shrugged. “What can I say? My mama raised me right.”
When Hudson stepped away, she felt tension radiate from his body in waves. For
the first time, she noted he held the handle of a black bag featuring a gold logo she didn’t recognize. He glanced at Rio and then back at her. “I’ll put this away in the
bedroom and let you two get acquainted. Be right back.”
“Sure,” she said carefully. She wanted to ask what was in the bag but it wasn’t her
business so she stayed quiet. “I’ll just put these flowers in some water.”
After Hudson left the
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