Page 21 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

They ate some more in silence for a few minutes. “Do you think you’d like another date or am I too much to handle? I should know if I need to freeze my dating accounts or not.”

It was the grin on her face that had him saying, “I’m positive I can handle you just fine.”

And when their date was done thirty minutes later, they were standing outside ready to leave and she yanked him by his shirtfront close to her and plastered a quick kiss on his lips. “You look like you could use it. I’m not sure what is going on with you, Van, but I’m a good listener. Don’t make me wait too long to set up that second date.”

He watched her walk to her Mercedes SUV and climb in, then pull away.

He liked she left it in his hands. As if she knew not to push.

But it also meant he had to figure out the whole “how long to wait” game that he hated too.

7

CODE OF HONOR

Van rolled over the next morning with the sun glaring in his eyes.

He threw the covers back and sat on the edge of the bed.

The skin around his waist tugged some, but he was getting used to that.

Nothing hurt inside and he’d have to get over the tightness of the scars.

He winced when he stretched, then moved side to side and stood up to go in the bathroom.

When he was done taking a piss, he brushed his teeth, then turned on the shower and looked around the gray updated primary bath.

The whole house had been remodeled in the past five years by the looks of it.

The old man had some nice minimalistic taste and style.

He dropped his underwear and stepped into the massive shower and under the rainfall spray. It was nice to be able to lift his arms over his head and not touch the damn ceiling while he washed his hair.

When he was done cleaning up, he got out and dried off, then made his way to the kitchen.

The white oak hardwood floors were cool on his feet. He’d pulled up all the throw rugs. He didn’t need them and didn’t like them.

He might think differently in the winter, but for now this was better.

After placing a mug under the one-cup coffee maker and hitting the start button, he went in search of food.

There wasn’t much to choose from so he grabbed the loaf of bread and popped two slices in the toaster oven and pulled the peanut butter out of the pantry.

He had to figure some shit out.

Life shouldn’t be this complicated, but he was finding that he wasn’t getting his wish.

He wanted to see Kelsey again and that was hard for him to admit when he hadn’t been around women before that made himwantto go back a second time.

But he also had to figure out his next step now that he knew Kelsey was Kyle Raymond’s daughter.

His grandfather’s business partner in the three hotels that he’d inherited half of.

Obviously Kelsey knew nothing about it. Or didn’t recognize his name.

Then he realized he never gave his last name. Just said Van. Which wasn’t even his legal name.

He’d yet to step foot in any of the hotels. All of them were on Cape Cod.

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