Page 106 of Broken Prince

“Next summer, when Benny is older, I’ll make it happen.” He smiles down at my mom with so much love. I hate how much Logan looks like his father. He gave me a pretty similar look the night everything went to hell. While he was buried inside me, confessing his feelings, begging me not to leave him.

A rock forms in my stomach. Now is not the time to cry, Laney.

“Now,” Mom says, giving me a stern look. “Want to tell me why I went on my honeymoon and came back to find you moved out?”

“Would you believe me if I said I wanted the full college experience?” I ask, grimacing. Mom cocks a brow, and I sigh. “Didn’t think so.”

“Spill, Laney.”

“Me living here was causing more harm than good.”

“How so?” Mom’s brows furrow.

“Were the boys giving you a hard time?” James asks, frowning. “I thought you all were getting along fine.”

“No, it’s not the guys. They’ve been amazing. It’s... well, you know Stacy?”

James’ face morphs into anger. “I really wish I didn’t.”

“Well, I guess she’s just a miserable bitch and wants to make Logan’s life hell.”

“Trust me, I know,” he growls, clearly hating the mother of his grandson.

“Stacy doesn’t like me. I don’t know why.” I lie because now is not the time to give them any idea that Logan has a thing for me. “But she didn’t like the fact I was watching Benny. Maybe she didn’t want another woman around her son? Doesn’t matter. I moved out so that I wouldn’t be an issue for Logan with Stacy. I’m new here, I don’t want to be the cause of disrupting someone’s life, especially not an innocent little baby’s.”

“She can’t just ask you not to live in your own home, right, James?” Mom questions, anger filling her eyes.

“I know, my love. But Stacy and her family...” James’ face falls. “There’s a lot I can do, but there’s a lot her father can do too. It’s messy, love. Very messy. Trust me, if it was easy, Benny would be here full-time.”

He looks to me. “We’re working on it, behind the scenes. I can’t say much, but the goal is to get her father out of the way so that she doesn’t have that leverage to throw around anymore. Then, we can take her to court for full custody. Until then, our hands are tied.”

Surprise takes over me. Logan hasn’t mentioned any of that to me. But why would he? He doesn’t owe me any personal information.

“I hope you're able to figure out something.” I wrap my arms around myself. “The idea of Benny in her care makes me worry.”

James’s face softens. “Thank you, Laney.”

“For what?” My brows pinch.

“You care about my sons and my grandson. You’ve taken them in like they’re your family. I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried you all wouldn’t get along. With combining families so late in life, sometimes it can be hard. But you’ve all been so amazing with each other. You didn’t have to, but you stepped up and helped out with Benny. You have no idea how much of a big help that was. Logan has a lot going on, and I know every bit of help means a lot.”

My stomach drops. “It’s easy to love Benny.” I give him a sad smile, missing that little man so badly. “And your sons are good men. They’ve treated me with nothing but kindness.”

He smiles. “I think they always wanted a sister. They couldn’t ask for a more perfect one.” His cheeks pinken slightly, and he scratches the back of his head. “And I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect daughter.”

Damn it. My eyes well as I throw myself at James. “Thank you,” I tell him before stepping back. “Thank you for loving my mom and for accepting me. I didn’t have a dad growing up; my mom was more than enough. But having you now, it’s nice.” I smile.

“Who’s cutting onions in here?” James turns around. Mom and I look at each other and smile. She gets up and wraps her arms around her husband.

“I love you,” she tells him.

The sound of a baby crying has me on alert. “Is Benny here?”

Mom nods. “Logan had to go to practice, and the nanny doesn’t start until tomorrow, so we’re watching him. We don’t go back to work until tomorrow anyways, so it all worked out.”

“Nanny? Since when does Benny have a nanny?”

“Well, with you no longer able to help out—and that’s totally understandable, you have no obligations to—Logan’s been struggling. With our work schedules looking tight for a while after taking time off for our honeymoon and his brothers’ busy schedules, it’s needed,” James explains.

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