Grant wanted to blame his friend, but it wasn’t Derek’s fault. It was one hundred percent his.
“Can you stay with her a couple hours?”
“Wait, you’re leavin’?”
“It’s for the best.” He ground his teeth together, more pissed at himself than ever before. “I didn’t hear you pull up until you were already parking. Didn’t hear her come outside just now.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, G. You just got distracted for a minute, that’s all. Happens to the best of us.”
He whipped his head around. “Not to me, it doesn’t. I won’t put her at risk because my head’s not in the fucking game.” Grant inhaled deeply. “Besides. I’m pretty sure after hearing me run my mouth, she’ll be more than happy to see me go.”
“Whatever you want to do, man. I’ve got your back.”
Nodding, Grant mumbled, “Give me a minute.”
Once inside, he found Brynnon standing in the kitchen. Her eyes were red and her adorable-as-fuck nose flush, both telltale signs she’d been crying.
Motherfucker.
Removing his gloves, Grant set them on the table before trying to explain his way out of the giant mess he’d made. “Brynnon, I—”
“Don’t apologize.” She stared up at him, the light in her gorgeous eyes dimmed. “It’s not like we made each other any promises or anything.”
He ran a hand over his jaw. “What you heard...I was just pissed at myself and—”
“You don’t owe me an explanation, Grant,” she cut him off again. “After all, you warned me. From the start, you said you weren’t the man for me. I guess I thought maybe...” She shook her head, swallowing back emotions he knew she didn’t want him to see. Her smile didn’t come close to reaching her eyes. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. The last couple of days have been fun, but that’s all it was, right? Fun. Now, it’s over, and we can go back to the way things should’ve stayed. With you as my bodyguard and me as your client.”
Brynnon turned to dump her coffee down the drain as Grant went to get his things. When he came back downstairs, she was still standing in the kitchen. Staring at the window, she didn’t turn around when she spoke.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
Grant’s heart hurt knowing he’d caused her pain, another validation that he was making the right decision.
“I called Coop. Derek will stay with you until I can get to your father’s office to relieve him.”
Even from behind, he could feel the disappointment rolling off of her.
“Fine.”
Goddamn it, he needed her to understand. “I let myself become distracted. By you...by us. I can’t”—he shook his head— “I can’t risk you getting hurt because I’m too lost in what’s happening between us to see the threat.” When she remained silent, he added, “I can’t protect you like this, Princess.”
“Don’t call me that.” Brynnon spun around, glaring back at him. “And there hasn’t been any sign of danger since we spoke to Wright and his daughter, so don’t try to pretend you’re leaving for anyone else but yourself.” She stormed past him, parting with a final, “You know the way out.”
Grant stood there, quietly watching as she walked up the stairs. It wasn’t until the bedroom door slammed behind her that he made his way out of the cabin.
This is exactly why you never mix business with pleasure.The thought continued running through Grant’s mind as he drove his truck away from that fucking cabin. Away from Brynnon.
Not only had he lost his chance with the first woman to break through his defenses, Grant would probably get an ass-chewing of epic proportions once Jake found out what he’d done.
Maybe it was for the best. Hell, he’d warned her. She’d even said so herself. He’d warned her away from him because Grant knew damn good and well something like this was bound to happen. So why had he allowed it to in the first place?
Because you love her.
No, that wasn’t it. He couldn’t love Brynnon. Grant Hill didn’t do love.
Years ago, after Baylee and that whole shitshow, he swore he’d never open himself up to that kind of pain again. Since then, he hadn’t allowed himself to imagine laying down roots.
He didn’t do strings or think about having kids. He sure as fuck hadn’t entertained the thought of growing old with someone. Not until Brynnon Cantrell came along.
