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“It is. Any recommendations on where we should put our blanket?” I glanced around the beach, scoping out potential spots.
“Not too close to the water,” Lana said. “The tide’s coming in.”
“Noted. How about over there?” I pointed to an empty spot closer to the dunes, only about fifty yards from the rental.
“Looks good.”
Five minutes later, I’d spread out our blanket and Hudson had found some friends from the Rec Center. They were running around on the beach, laughing and waving glow sticks through the air.
“Thanks for hanging out with us today. I know Hudson really enjoyed himself.” I stretched out on the blanket, resting on my elbows, trying to ignore the sweet coconut scent of Lana next to me.
“My pleasure. Huddy’s a sweet kid.” She tucked her legs up under her, shifting, and her fingers brushed mine, sending electric sparks racing up my arm.
Damn it.This was harder than I thought.
I cleared my throat, trying to push my desire down. “Thanks. He’s great, a real trooper. He’s been through a lot.”
Lana tilted her head, her dark green eyes peering over at me. “Not to pry—and you totally don’t have to answer this—but what happened with Hudson’s mom? He told me she’s in Europe and he doesn’t see her.”
My stomach lurched, my pulse picking up speed. Just thinking about Hudson’s mom pissed me off. I sighed, took a deep breath, exhaled. “My ex decided she wasn’t ready to be a mom.Aftershe had Huddy. She met a ‘rock star’ at a concert—basically a wannabe guitarist—and ran off with him. She sends the occasional post card in the mail, but Hudson doesn’t remember her at all. She left when he was three months old and never looked back.”
“Whoa. That’s tough. I’m so sorry,” Lana said, rubbing my arm. My skin sparked at her touch, nerve endings I didn’t even know I had lighting up.
“It’s fine. Probably better than the alternative—constant fighting over every minute detail. That’s what I deal with in my day job and it’s not pretty. I’d rather call the shots anyway, be in control.” I locked eyes with Lana; her mouth parted and she licked her lower lip.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I leaned forward, taking that luscious lower lip into my mouth, kissing her hard right there on the beach.
So much for being in control.
She responded, her hand moving up to my chest, resting lightly on my pec. Touching my heart. I vaguely wondered if she could feel it hammering beneath her long, delicate fingers.
At the moment, I didn’t care.
Even though I didn’t want to, I pulled away slightly. “Could we resume this conversation later, after Hudson’s in bed?” I murmured.
She nodded, a soft smile teasing the corners of her mouth.
“Huddy! C’mon, fireworks are getting ready to start!” I called out, motioning him back to our blanket on the sand.
Even though my body thought they’d already begun.
Hudson ran over, flopping down on the blanket between us, curling up against Lana. I reached behind him, resting my hand on Lana’s ass, tracing light circles on the satiny fabric of her romper. She glanced at me over Huddy’s head, her green eyes dancing as the fireworks exploded above us.
This was definitely going to be a Fourth of July to remember.
I only hoped I wasn’t making a huge mistake.
Lana
By the time the fireworks ended, Hudson was fast asleep in my lap, his breathing soft and even against my thigh.
“Here,” Grant murmured, scooping Hudson up and lifting him to his chest in one smooth motion. Hudson’s eyes fluttered open for a split second, then he snuggled down into his dad’s shirt, falling right back asleep.
“I’ll get the blanket,” I whispered as Grant stood with Hudson.
We trudged up the beach towards the bungalow, Hudson fast asleep in Grant’s arms. The rest of the crowd dispersed into the night; some headed back to the town square to continue the party, while most of the families walked to their cars, going home for the night.
Grant unlocked the patio door, and I slid it open for him. “I’ll be right back,” he mouthed over Hudson’s head.
