Page 54 of Starlight Bay

She was too young, too beautiful, too free-spirited for me.How could I even think about tying her down?Marrying Lana would be like pinning a rainbow to the sky.

An impossibility.

She wasn’t the one for me. Even her estranged mother could see that.

I was a damn fool.

Luckily, I hadn’t involved her in our lives too much. Huddy still thought we were just friends, so at least his little heart wouldn’t be too broken.

I couldn’t do that to him again.

I parked in the driveway, exhaling hard, all the air in my lungs whooshing out against the windshield. My chest ached, but it would pass. Eventually.

I just needed to stay far away from Lana.

My gut tensed, heat building in my groin; that region of my body didn’t get the message yet. Thinking about her—that smile, those eyes—had all the blood rushing south.

Forget about it, Grant. You have to move on.

I unlocked the car, grabbing my messenger bag, and walked to the house. I let myself in and was greeted by the sound of splashing from the bathtub. Taylor must be giving Huddy a bath.

I dropped my bag, fixed myself a double bourbon.

Knock, knock.

I opened the door and there was Lana with her bike, her hair windswept, her cheeks rosy from the ride.

“Grant,” she breathed, a pained look on her face.

I ducked out of the house, closing the door behind me. “I don’t want Huddy to hear,” I said.

She nodded. “Of course. Listen, I’m so sorry you heard that.”

“Don’t, Lana,” I said, my voice hard. “It’s fine. Your mother’s right.”

“What?” Her face twisted up, pain flashing in her eyes.

“I have no business being involved with you. You’re too young.”

“Grant, that’s bullshit and you know it. There’s not that many years between us; it’s fine. Age is just a number.”

“No, Lana, it’s not. I’ve lived nine more years than you, almost ten, and I’ve had all these life experiences you haven’t had the chance to have. How can I even consider taking that away from you?”

“What? No. You’re not taking anything away from me. That’s only my stupid mother’s take on the situation, it’s not how I feel at all!” She shook her head, blonde hair sweeping side-to-side on her tanned shoulders. I ached to reach out and touch her, feel her skin beneath my fingers, swipe away her silky hair and kiss those full, pink lips.

But I couldn’t. It wasn’t fair to her. And it wouldn’t be fair to Hudson if we didn’t work out.

I needed to walk away, even if it hurt like hell.

“She’s right, Lana. It’s unfair of me to ask you to make sacrifices you didn’t sign up for. I have a kid. I have to do a lot of stuff that isn’t fun. I’mresponsiblefor him. You don’t want this life, trust me.”

“Well, that’s unfair,” she said, crossing her arms across her chest in a huff. “You’re just assuming you know what’s best for me—what I want—without even asking me. Talk about Daddy complex.”

Ouch.That stung, but I took it in stride. It was about time I stepped up, took it like a man. I needed to end this.

“Exactly. Because that’s what I am, Lana. I’m sorry I overstepped with you. It’s not personal and eventually you’ll thank me.”

“That’s the first asshole thing you’ve ever said to me,” she said, tears welling in her eyes. “Of course it’s personal, Grant. You basically said I’m not mature enough to know what I want or make decisions for myself. Well, fuck you. If that’s how you feel about me, you don’t know me at all. Maybe we shouldn’t be together.” Her lower lip quivered and my fingers twitched; I wanted to take her face in my hands, wipe away the tears glistening in her eyes, make things right with her.

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