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

two single consenting adults and what we do in our own time is not anyone’s concern.”

“I’ve liked you from the day you started,” Brenda said. “You’re calm and always in control. Professional too. You don’t let anything get to you, but you put them in their place if you need to.”

He wasn’t sure he’d ever been described that way before. “Thanks, I think.”

Brenda smiled. “How is that cutie pie of yours at home? We haven’t seen her lately.”

He’d brought Adele in from time to time. Or his mother stopped in with her to drop her off before he left if she was busy. “She’s doing great. Has a sitter for the summer and is excited to be around other kids.”

“Is your mother going to miss having her?”

“She is going to travel some this summer. She is leaving this weekend for a month.”

“And you’ve got vacation coming in a few weeks too,” Brenda said. “Do you have any plans?”

“Not yet,” he said. “It might be nice to do some day trips or get off the island, but nothing major.”

He hadn’t made any plans and wondered if it’d be too soon to see if Ava could take a day trip with them or not. Then tried to think how that would go over with Adele if they stayed somewhere for the night.

Nah, couldn’t worry or think of it right now.

“I’ll let you get back to work,” Brenda said and left.

But it wasn’t meant to be hours later when his phone rang and he was told Dr. Carson Mills was downstairs. Good Lord.

“Send him up.” He put the phone down and waited. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” he said to Ava’s other brother. “I’m sure you know your brother was here this morning.”

Carson laughed. “I do. I’m not going to grill you or anything like that. I need to get into my safety deposit box and they said only you could do it if the manager was out.”

“That’s true,” he said, standing up. He wondered why that wasn’t told to him when Brenda told him Carson was here. Unless the staff downstairs didn’t tell her. It didn’t matter at this point either.

He got the keys for the room that was needed along with a keycard and a security code that was randomly generated.

They walked out and down the stairs to the first floor, then down another set of stairs to the basement. He got the room opened and let Carson go in while he stayed outside. He never went in and watched. There was no reason to unless it was legally required.

When Carson was done, he came out and said, “Thanks. I’m sure I’ll see you for the party next weekend.”

Seth laughed. “I’m sure you will.”

“What do you mean my brothers were both in your office today?” Ava asked hours later. She was having dinner at Seth’s before going home. They hadn’t seen each other since Saturday and hadn’t made plans yet for this weekend either, but her mother had called her earlier in the day to talk about a July Fourth cookout and she’d said she’d bring it up tonight when she had dinner at Seth’s.

“It started out with Hudson and then later Carson came to get into his safe deposit box. I had to bring him.”

“So one was there for business and the other to grill you?” she asked, stabbing at her chicken. Seth was a pretty good cook.

“There was no grilling done today other than my dinner,” he said.

“Daddy is a grill master,” Adele said. “That is what he tells me when he goes outside to cook.”

Ava looked up to see Seth’s face turn a little pink and suspected that maybe it was a joke between father and daughter. “I think he is one. This chicken is the best.”

“Thanks,” he said.

“Anyway. My guess is Carson didn’t need to do anything, but if he found out Hudson was there then he had to go too.”

“You know your family.”

“I do,” she said. “My mother called earlier to bring up a cookout she is planning.”

“It was mentioned by both of them,” he said.

“I knew it,” she said, pointing her finger with the fork in it and the chicken flew off causing Adele to laugh. “Sorry about that.”

“No worries,” Seth said. “Keep eating, Adele, and don’t even think of doing that too.”

“You’re no fun,” Adele said to her father.

“I’m a lot of fun. Just asked Ava’s brothers.”

Ava looked over and scowled at him. He thought this was funny. “What did they say?”

“Nothing major. Hudson seemed to think I needed a forewarning about the cookout.”

“Are we going to a party, Daddy?” Adele asked almost jumping in her chair.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “That would be up to Ava.”

“Thanks for putting me on the spot,” she said, going back to her dinner.

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” he said. “But if you’d rather not.”

“It’s not that,” she said.

“Then what is it?” he asked.

She angled her head to Adele, surprised he wanted to talk about this in front of her. “Do you want to talk about this or not? I’m afraid certain things might be said.”

“About our...friendship?” he asked, grinning.

What did he find so funny about this? “Yes.”

Seth turned and looked at Adele. “What would you say if Ava and I were more than friends?”

She was shocked Seth was doing this. She had said she’d leave the timing of it all up to him, but didn’t think he’d do it now or at least without letting her know beforehand.

“Like a boyfriend and girlfriend?” Adele asked, her smile lifting.

“What do you know about boyfriends and girlfriends?” Seth asked frowning now.

“That they hold hands and hug and do fun things together,” Adele said. “Sometimes they kiss too.”

Ava laughed this time. She supposed that was a good description.

“They do that too,” Seth said.

“So are you?” Adele asked, looking back and forth between Ava and her father.

“Would you be upset if we were?” Seth asked his daughter.

“No. I like Ava. And I’d like