Chapter 1
Hudson
“This is your new idea of fun?” Thad gives a dramatic shudder before sitting on my hours-old sofa. He crosses his Berluti-covered feet and drops them on the glass coffee table, then leans back to smirk. “Come on, are you really moving home and settling for middle-class suburbia after six years in DC?”
I glare at my friend for a second before walking over to stare out the French doors. We’ve had this same argument daily for the last three months, and I’m not sure how to convince him this makes me happy. Beyond the large covered patio is the overgrown and unkempt backyard. It’s been raining non-stop since I moved in three days ago and the grass is ass-high. The neighbors in my new “upper-middle-class” subdivision will be complaining soon. Thad may find it hard to believe, but I look forward to activities of normal life—like mowing the lawn. “This isn’t settling. My last year in Washington was hell.”
Thad sighs behind me, frustrated because he doesn’t understand my desire to move home. It didn’t take me long to become disillusioned with my job on Capitol Hill. Within months of me upsetting the incumbent and winning the Senate seat, reality hit me in the face. I discovered overnight that the job wasn’t what I’d always envisioned but fought long and hard to ignore my misery. Hoping things would change, I stuck it out and tried to make a difference. During my six years on the Hill, I was miserable and finally decided it was time to find a new path.
Moving home to Atlanta, Georgia, and accepting the Chief Legal Counsel position at Russo Inc. seemed appealing after so many years of loneliness and dissatisfaction. My parents created the company years ago with a chain of automobile dealerships, which has now grown into a financial empire. My family always assumed I’d stay in Atlanta and work at Russo Inc., but I secretly longed for a career in politics. Becoming a United States Senator at thirty-two seemed like a dream come true until I experienced my first day on the job. After resigning from the Senate at the end of the term, I stayed in DC long enough to sell my condominium and get all my affairs in order, and then I came home. It’s been three-and-a-half months, and I’m ready to start the next phase of my life. This is the direction I should’ve taken right out of law school.
“So, I’m really heading back to DC without you?” Thad complains before stomping into the kitchen. I met him in my first week on Capitol Hill. Both brand-new Senators, we bonded while trying to find our way around all the more experienced politicians. I never realized how much I depended on my large family until I moved away. Having a friend in DC helped with the loneliness but didn't replace my loved ones. Last week, I returned to Atlanta, and Thad took time off to assist with my relocation. Tomorrow, he’s heading back without me. I’ll miss my friend but not Washington DC or my old seat in the Senate.
Rolling my eyes, I look out the window again as a flash of white-blonde catches my eye. My snide response dies on my lips when I see the stunning girl walking across the backyard next door. I blink several times, sure my mind is playing tricks on me. “Hey, dickhead.”
“Fuck off.” She’s wearing the tiniest pink bikini imaginable, and my cock turns to stone in my pants. From this distance, the girl looks years too young for me, but neither my heart nor my dick fucking care. I can picture the articles now. The ex-Senator Daddy and the girl next door.
“That is one hot piece of ass.” Thad looks over my shoulder at the gorgeous girl and whistles quietly.
As red-hot rage roars through me, I spin and grip my best friend around his neck. Pushing him back against the French doors, I press my chest to his and growl into his shocked face, “Don’t fucking call her a piece of ass.”
Thad clears his throat after I step back. He opens and shuts his mouth several times before holding up his hands. “Look, I was just making a joke. I didn’t realize you knew her.”
I run my hand down the back of my neck and breathe deeply. What the hell is happening to me? I’m not ready to explain the situation to my stunned friend.
“I’m going to run over to the hotel and change before dinner. I’ll meet you at your parents’.” Thad is still rubbing his throat as he walks to the door. “Are you okay?” He turns and stares at me.
“Yeah, just a little out of sorts,” I lie. I keep the truth to myself—I’ve lost my fucking mind over a girl. And I’m praying she’s legal. When I leap off the deep end, I dive hard.
After rushing Thad out the door, I pace my living room floor, trying to erase the gorgeous blonde from my memory. By the time I’m ready to leave for my parents’ house, I’ve convinced myself that stress over my new job caused my reaction to her, and tomorrow, I’ll be back to normal.
Three hours later, I’m ready to strangle Thad as he entertains my parents. “Those are all lies. Now you know why he’s still a fucking politician.” I glare at the asshole as my mother reaches over and smacks the back of my head.
“Watch your language at my dinner table, young man.” My dad holds his napkin up to his lips to hide his laugh, so he doesn’t receive a blow from Mom. “Thad, are you ready for dessert?”
The asshole looks over and smirks at me before turning to my mother. “I’d love some of your delicious dessert, Mrs. Russo.” Fucking politician.
“Mother, Thad would eat horseshit and smile to stay in a registered voter’s good graces.”
She turns with her hand raised toward me again, but Thad bursts out laughing and agrees with me before she can make contact with my head. “While that’s certainly true under normal circumstances, your parents aren’t in my district and your mother’s cooking really is divine.” I roll my eyes and run my middle finger up the side of my head to flip the fucker off. Watching my mother melt and gush over my “gentlemanly” friend gags me.
Thad entertains us the rest of the evening before we call it a night. He has an early morning flight and decides to head back to the hotel once we finish dessert.
“I expect you for our family dinner Saturday night.” My mother corners me before I make it out the door. I’m racking my brain for an excuse to refuse when she looks over at my dad for support. He raises an eyebrow at me. Fuck.
There’s no way they’ll let me have any peace. I sigh. “Text me a time and I’ll be here.”
I drive home envisioning a stunning little blonde the entire time.
Chapter 2
Hudson
Although the grass is nearly knee-high and the flowerbeds need attention, the sight of my new home soothes my soul. Living and working in DC lost its appeal quickly. I’ve been unhappy for way too long, but moving home to Atlanta has made me happy. After pulling into the garage, I sit in my SUV and stare at the blank wall. Tomorrow, I need to make a trip to the local hardware store and buy some supplies. Fuck, I don’t own a lawnmower.
I walk into the dark kitchen and toss my keys on the breakfast bar. Looking around at the starkness, I make a mental note to buy a key rack and a few other decorations, too. After grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator, I drag myself up the stairs. Not bothering with the light, I walk past the king-sized bed and pull my polo shirt over my head. The moonlight shines through the open blinds, and a shape travels along the wall and catches my attention. Turning, I stare out the window and into my neighbor’s brightly illuminated room. A shadow bounces back and forth past the open doorway. To my absolute shock, the figure moves out of the bathroom and into my full view. My cock turns to stone at the sight before me. She’s perfection and I have no business standing here watching her. As I tell myself to turn around and close the blinds, my cock laughs at me. My hands clench at my sides as desire blasts through me to tug on her long, white-blonde hair while pounding into her tight little pussy from behind.