Family Bonds- Ava and Seth (Amore Island Book 5), Natalie Ann [world of reading TXT] 📗

were gray pumps on her feet, raising her up several inches and making his mouth water.

“Thanks. Better than my UGG boots or sneakers?” she asked. “You can say it. I do know how to dress like something other than a college kid.”

He grinned. “It’s funny. That is what I thought of the first time I saw you in my office.”

“It’s comfortable,” she said. “I’m on my feet daily.”

“And do you wear scrubs or dress up?” he asked. For some reason the only image he had was Ellen’s OBGYN and the woman was in a long lab coat or scrubs at the hospital. Nothing else. He didn’t think he paid attention to it on those doctor’s visits and just remembered the hospital. It wasn’t even the same doctor that delivered Adele, as Ellen had changed when she was pregnant the second time.

“I only have scrubs on in the hospital. During the day I’m pretty dressy. I guess you could say it’s the equivalent of your normal daily wear, but I don’t wear heels quite this high there.”

“So just for me?” he asked, grinning and feeling himself warm up.

“Special occasions,” she said. “I think this might call for one on both of our ends.”

“Really?” he asked. “You’ll have to tell me your reason for that when we are seated.” He held his hand out for her to proceed when he really wanted to put it on her lower back but decided not to push it for either of them. “Young,” he said to the hostess.

“Follow me,” the hostess said, bringing them to the back of the restaurant in a corner booth. He couldn’t have asked for a better placement and wondered if luck might be on his side for once.

“This is nice,” Ava said. “I’ve never been here before.”

“Me either.” He didn’t want to say that he tried to find a place not owned or operated by a member of her family. It’s not like all establishments were, but there were enough. “I’ve heard good things about it from some at work.”

The waitress came over and they placed their drink orders. He got a desperately needed beer while Ava ordered wine. He’d make note of what she liked for future reference. If they got past this night.

“So, you asked why this was a special occasion,” she said. “I think for you maybe it’s a turning point. Or so I hope and if I’m presuming, then you can tell me to shut my trap.”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t do that. And yes. I know you want to know more and wouldn’t ask. Or at least wouldn’t in front of Adele. I appreciate that.”

“It wasn’t the place and I figured if we ever got to this point, you’d tell me what you wanted me to know without me asking.”

“I will. But first tell me—what’s special for you about tonight? Or is it just you got me to meet you here?”

She laughed. “I am happy you called me. I won’t deny that.” He liked the sound of that. “But I might have a lead on a place to stay. Maybe.”

“That’s great. I was going to ask how that was going. Where, if you don’t mind sharing?”

“My cousin Drew called me earlier this week. I’ll try to make this short and not bore you with history, but I think you know most of the major players since you’ve brought their names up yourself. But Drew got engaged in February. His fiancée is renting a house from Bond Realty. That is how they met. She’ll obviously be moving in with Drew soon, but she has one roommate. That roommate is dating Mac.”

“Mac Bond?” he asked of the chief of police.

“Yes. Sidney had some trouble last week. An ex had been stalking her and no one knew. He showed up on the island and made his way into their house and was attacking her. Choking her, from what I heard. Mac arrived on time when the guy pulled a gun on him and Mac shot him.”

“Wow. I hadn’t heard this,” he said. Not that he paid too much attention to the local news. Though now that he thought of it, he remembered a lot of side conversations in the bank but walked past them like always. “I hope everyone is okay?”

“They are. Thankfully. But Drew is positive Mac is going to push the issue that Sidney move in with him now or very shortly. Amanda, Drew’s fiancée, said that Sidney wanted to transfer the lease in her name and Mac kept asking her to hold off. Maybe there is another engagement coming. Not sure and I don’t want to assume, but that would make the house available for me.”

“You’d want to stay where there was an attack and shooting done?” he asked, his jaw dropping.

She grinned at him. “Stuff like this happens all the time in life. It wasn’t random, I’ve got no worries.”

“I guess so. That might make me nervous.”

“Don’t try to talk me out of this. Even my own parents weren’t this bad,” she said, tilting her head at him.

“Sorry. Maybe it’s the Dad genes coming out. You’re an adult and I shouldn’t be telling you what to do.”

She laughed this time. “You aren’t telling me what to do. We are just talking. I don’t mind the concern. It’s kind of nice, if I’m being honest. But it’s all good, and again, nothing is set in stone. I could be getting excited over nothing. Either way, I can stay with my parents until I get my own house. Or Eli offered me a place at the casino.”

“You’re considering living at the casino?”

“Your face is priceless,” she said. The waitress brought over their drinks and asked if they were ready to order and it gave him time to get control of his reactions to what she was saying and try not to blow this.

“Sorry,” he said once the waitress left with their orders. “I just didn’t think of that.”

“I’m not considering it,” she said. “Even if I get