The Hudsons: Max, Bella and Devlin

“Not yet.” Dana’s gaze tracked him to the opposite side of the room where he now stood talking to his cousin Jack and David, Max’s uncle and Jack’s father, with his back to her. David was Honor’s director. She tried not to feel hurt by Max’s neglect, but she had expected to be by his side tonight, not on opposite sides of the room.

Dana returned her attention to Bella. They’d known each other superficially for years because of Hudson Pictures, but not all that well until they’d gotten to know each other better while on location in France. Bella was not only beautiful, she was feisty and a lot of fun—when she wasn’t wrapped up in her costar.

Dana scanned the room for Bella’s man of the moment. Bella had played Lillian in Honor. Ridley Sinclair, a box-office star and Bella’s current beau, had played Charles. Dana wasn’t crazy about Ridley and thought Bella could do better than a guy so self-absorbed, but their off-screen romance had burned pretty hot.

“Is Ridley joining us tonight?”

“No. He’s off doing…whatever.” She waved a dismissive hand, but sounded a bit put out.

Markus patted his daughter on the shoulder. “I’ll leave you ladies to catch up.” He left to rejoin his wife.

Bella hooked her arm through Dana’s. “Excuse us, Valerie and Dev. Dana, do you remember Cece, Cousin Jack’s wife?”

“Yes, I do. Max worked quite a bit with Cece on fine-tuning the script.” But Dana let herself be led to Jack, Cece and Max’s side, hoping Bella hadn’t seen the same lovestruck expression on her face that Valerie had displayed earlier. David stood on the fringe of the group.

Cece was a petite brunette, a brilliant scriptwriter and obviously in love with her husband. She grimaced as Dana and Bella approached. “They’re talking shop again. Didn’t Lillian forbid that tonight?”

“I did,” Lillian called out. She winked at them and beckoned Dana.

“Excuse me,” Dana said before going to Lillian’s side. She kissed the papery cheek.

Lillian squeezed her hand. “You’ve made progress.” Dana drew back. “I’m sorry?”

“He was watching you while he was talking to me.”

Dana’s heart skipped a beat. She started to turn and look at Max, but Lillian caught her hand. “Don’t look, dear. Never give all your secrets away. It gives a man too much power.”

“Max was watching me?” she whispered.

Lillian nodded.

A blush scorched Dana’s cheeks. “We’re spending a lot of time together. Working,” she added hastily, because there were some things you just didn’t share with a man’s grandmother.

On one of Dana’s recent visits Lillian had confessed she’d known about Dana’s crush for years and kept hoping her grandson would wise up. But she’d also warned Dana that Max’s love for Karen had been all-consuming and her loss devastating. She wasn’t sure Max would ever love that deeply again.

“Of course you are, dear. I’m glad he’s giving you a chance to pursue your dream and that he brought you tonight. Keep up the good work. And remember, Dana, the best things in life are worth waiting for.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll try not to forget.”

“Take care of him.” The after I’m gone remained unspoken. But those silent words put a lump in Dana’s throat.

“You know I’ll do my best as long as I’m with him.”

Lillian shoed her back to Max’s side. Dana desperately wanted to take his hand, but didn’t know if the gesture would be welcomed.

“No little man tonight?” she asked Cece.

Cece and Jack both smiled at the reference to their son—the son Jack hadn’t known about until he’d tracked Cece down to ask her to write the script.

Cece shook her head. “We left Theo at home. This would be too late an evening for him.”

“Good point.” Dana had seen Theo only a few times, but he looked exactly like his black-haired, blue-eyed daddy, and he was completely precious. An old familiar ache squeezed her chest. Way back when, she’d believed she’d have several children of her own by the time she reached twenty-eight. “Let me know if you ever need a babysitter.”

Cece grinned mischievously. “Don’t make that offer lightly. I know your number.”

Bella, her eyes brimming with excitement, shifted on her heels. “So is everything ready for the sixtieth anniversary bash and the movie preview?”

Jack nodded. “My staff has everything under control.”

Bella looked at Dana. “I can’t wait to see the first cut to see if I did Lillian proud. I mean, I saw the dailies, but…”

Dana touched her arm. “Bella, from what I’ve seen so far, you have nothing to be worried about. And once Max works his magic…”

Bella gave her a quick hug. “The three of us, you, me and Cece, are going to have to do some serious shopping. Oh, and we should probably include Valerie. I want a drop-dead gorgeous dress for this.”

David rolled his eyes. “Shopping. That’s one topic guaranteed to run any man away.” He excused himself and went to his mother’s side.

Max’s gaze followed him and then he turned to Jack once David was out of earshot. “Is everyone behaving tonight?”

“Yes. Your father and mine are keeping it civil. For a change.”

David Hudson did not get along well with his older brother or his brother’s wife. There was a tension between them that Dana hadn’t figured out yet despite the numerous interactions between David and Max. As director and producer they worked closely together.

Max scanned their little gathering. “Hannah said there was going to be a celebration. Anybody know what’s going on?”

Jack shook his head. “No clue. Cece and I have no news. You?”

Dana tensed and waited, holding her breath, but Max shook his head. “Not me.”

Her hopes sank like lead. She’d waited so long for it to happen that she really wanted to share the news that they were a couple. It was practically bubbling inside her.

Dev joined them with Valerie trailing behind. “I can answer your question.” Dev turned to the room and used his key to tap on his glass. “May I have everyone’s attention?”

He waited until the room fell silent. “Valerie and I eloped yesterday.”

Gasps and surprised grunts filled the room. After a startled moment, Sabrina and Markus made their way across the room. Sabrina hugged her son and then her new daughter-in-law. Markus shook Dev’s hand and then briefly embraced Valerie.

“Valerie, darling, welcome to the family,” Sabrina said, and then turned her hurt eyes on Dev. “I wish you’d let me arrange your wedding. Your father and I would have enjoyed sharing such a special moment.”

Dev shrugged. “We didn’t want fanfare.”

“A wedding on the estate grounds would have been nice,” Lillian added.

“Oh, that’s a lovely idea,” Valerie gushed, but then seemed to regret her words. “But Dev and I couldn’t wait.”

Dana thought Valerie looked as if she would have liked some pageantry.

“Are you pregnant?” Bella asked bluntly, but not unkindly.

Valerie’s cheeks turned crimson. She dipped her chin. “No. Oh, no. That’s not what I meant.”

An awkward silence descended. Dana moved forward to hug Valerie and break up the uncomfortable moment. “Congratulations. Perhaps I could arrange a belated bridal shower for you?”

Valerie’s eyes filled with gratitude. “That would be nice, Dana. Although I’m sure we won’t require any wedding presents. Dev tells me he’d like to live here in his suite of rooms.”

“Every woman needs gifts. Sexy lingerie, for example,” Bella said with a wicked smile that made Valerie blush more.

“I’ll call next week and we’ll work out the details.” Dana stepped aside and let others offer their good wishes.

She glanced at Max and found his narrowed eyes focused on her. What was he thinking? From his forbidding expression she’d bet he wasn’t remotely interested in following in his brother’s footsteps to the altar.

All she had to do was find a way to change his mind, because there was nothing she’d like more than to marry Max on the grounds of Hudson Manor and begin her own fairy-tale romance.

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