Page 40 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

“Hey,” he said. “Where’s Frankie?”

“I figured it’d be best if he stayed home,” she said. “We don’t need the distraction.”

“No,” he said. “We don’t. But you can bring him next time.”

“See,” she said. “A keeper.”

12

HER EVERYTHING

“Have you had enough?” Kelsey asked two hours later. It was barely seven, they’d eaten half a pizza and she’d been going through the financials for all three of the hotels in the past year.

“Yeah,” he said. “My eyes are crossing. How the hell do you do this?”

“Years of practice,” she said. “Numbers never lie. It’s just trying to find the best way to the present. Plus they don’t talk back.”

He grunted. Back to his manly noises.

“Unlike some blondes with a sharp tongue and a potty mouth?” he asked. “How do you keep it in all day long?”

“I shut my door and play the music when I can. Loud rock that has my head banging up and down as if I’m in a mosh pit. When my staff hear that they enter with caution.”

“You’re something else,” he said.

“Why, thank you, sir.”

She bowed her head for him with a flourish of her hand.

“We can call it a night on this,” he said. “Considering I’ve gotten some nice deposits into my account the past few months, it’s safe to say your father is doing well for my business ventures.”

“Yours?” she asked, grinning.

She was happy he was taking ownership. Maybe her father was right and he needed time.

Regardless of what happened between the two of them, her heart broke for Van and what he’d gone through.

Her family was her everything.

She’d be devastated if she thought they’d betrayed her, let alone she couldn’t trust them.

Van needed something in his life that he could anchor himself to.

If she was hoping she’d be one of those things he’d attach to, she’d keep that little tidbit to herself.

“For now,” he said.

“Do you think you might sell?” she asked.

“I don’t want to,” he said. “But I think it’s best to not make any promises right now.”

She read that in more ways than one, but she’d push it aside.

“Promises are overrated. Actions are better in my mind.”

He pushed back from the desk. “Why don’t we close this down? There is a wine cellar in the basement I discovered. I’m not much of a wine drinker. There is some damn good scotch I opened this week though.”

“To feel closer to your grandfather?” she asked.

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