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Sterling. Damn, she couldn’t escape the man. He’d thoroughly infiltrated Haven Bay, and her life here.
“Okay,” she said quickly. “I’ve got to go. Call me when you’re ready to talk.” Hanging up, she took a long, shaky breath. She needed to get out. She went and retrieved her bike from its usual spot, then hopped on it, aimed it toward town, and started peddling. She bounced over the gravel, crossed the bridge and passed onto the smooth road. Then she worked her legs as hard as she could until she’d passed through town and reached the end of the street, stopping outside the mansion where Anderson Gray, an ex-Hollywood-starlet-turned-temperamental-recluse, lived. Not in the mood to be yelled at, she turned around and headed back toward the town square, and Bex’s gym for a workout. Hopefully the exercise would help clear her mind.
* * *
Sterling wandered aimlesslyalong the beach until he realized he’d walked so far he’d reached the pavilion. It was occupied by tourists who, like him, didn’t need to be at work midway through the day. He strolled into The Shack, bought a carrot cake and cream cheese flavored ice cream from the quirky redhead who insisted on calling him Alexander, then crossed the street and dawdled in the town square. When he’d finished the ice cream, he went into The Den and greeted Logan, who poured him a finger of whiskey.
“What’s the news?” Logan asked, leaning against the bar.
“I’m staying in Haven Bay,” Sterling replied, the words rolling off his tongue easier than he expected. The decision hadn’t come easily, especially with Kat’s rejection so fresh, but he’d spent a long time thinking it through before he broached the subject with her, and while she’d weighed heavily into his choice, his reasons for staying were still valid. He wasn’t ready to give up the new way of life he’d only just begun to embrace, and it was past time for him to strike out on his own in the business world. He also wasn’t giving up on Kat. Not just yet.
“That so? For how long?”
He shrugged. “At least a couple of months. Maybe permanently.”
Logan nodded, and the tips of his hair dripped on his shoulders. Presumably he’d been out surfing. “Good for you. And good for this town. We could use someone a little more…”
“Uptight,” Sterling suggested.
“Efficient,” Logan amended with a wink, “around here.”
“Kat doesn’t seem to think so.”
“Oh, really? She tell you that?”
He sighed and stared at the amber contents of his glass. “I told her I cared about her, and she told me she won’t be able to see me anymore.”
Logan winced. “That sucks, man. Sorry to hear it. Maybe she’ll come around.”
“You probably know her better than I do.” Though admitting as much hurt. “Do you think she will?”
He waved a hand noncommittally. “Hard to say. She’s a stubborn woman. Still hasn’t driven anywhere since she’s been in town. Not even in the passenger seat.”
“She never drives anywhere?” Sterling let that sink in. If it were true, that meant she literally never left the bay. He tried to recall seeing her in a vehicle—surely she’d been in one at some point during his stay—but came up empty. She only ever traveled on her bike or on foot, and insisted he not drive her anywhere, either. “Whoa.”
“Intense, right? The point is that Kat doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to. If she wants to move on and be with you, she’ll find a way to make it happen, but if she wants to cling to the past, there’s nothing you can do about it.” He shrugged. “Accept it, bro. The ball is out of your court.”
“You’re right.” Relief washed over Sterling, lifting the dark cloud that had lingered above him since he and Kat parted ways. There was nothing he could do. Whatever happened next, it was out of his control, and coming to terms with that felt fantastic. He felt like announcing to everyone around: My name is Sterling Knight, and I’m a recovering control freak.
“I need to make a call,” he said.
Logan nodded, and Sterling stepped away from the bar, pacing to the back of the room and dialing Eli’s work phone.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on holiday?” Eli asked upon answering.
“I am,” he replied. “That’s what I’m calling about.” He was much surer of himself than he’d expected to be. He owed Eli a debt of gratitude, or at least, he’d always believed he did. Not because Eli had said as much, but because his friend had chosen him over older and more experienced candidates to bring into his new business, back when he’d started it fresh out of university. Now, he realized he owed Eli nothing. He appreciated the opportunity he’d been given, and relished the challenges he’d been able to sink his teeth into, but he’d proved his worth a dozen times over. He’d been a good investment, and he was under no obligation to stay at Lockwood Holdings.
“Did you seal the deal?” Eli asked.
“No, I’m afraid not.”
A moment of silence demonstrated Eli’s shock more effectively than any words could. Finally, his friend ventured to say, “That’s not like you.”
“I know. But here’s how it is. I’m not certain that the ‘me’ I’ve been for the past few years is really all the ‘me’ there is.” He sighed, frustrated by his inability to express himself. “That came out wrong. I don’t know how to explain it. This place has me second-guessing everything I thought I knew about myself.”
“Just the town?”
“Perhaps the people, too. One in particular.”
