Page 59 of The Seal's Promise

“So you must meanyoudon’t want anything more serious.”

But before she could respond a shadow fell over their blanket.

“Serious about what?” Miles asked, sitting down on the blanket next to Brooke.

Brooke looked from Miles to May, wondering if he might be the secret hookup, but neither of them seemed to flinch.

“Serious about building my sister a tree fort so we can have a better view of the games,” May said with a big smile.

“Well, if anyone could get the city to agree to that it would be you,” Miles said with a kind smile as he watched Max take a step off second base.

“What are you doing back here with us when you could be sitting in your fancy private rooftop dugout box?” May teased, referencing the Banks-sponsored dugouts for the baseball field that each featured private air-conditioned box seats above.

“You see those matriarchs up there just as clear as I do, and we all know that there’s only one reason those ladies are sitting at this ballfield in ninety-degree heat,” Miles said, fiddling with a piece of tall grass and folding it into some kind of shape.

“They’re hunting for suckers to man the booths at the Summer Solstice next weekend,” Brooke guessed.

“Oh, I see, so you’re trying to dodge your duty?” May asked.

“If you mean the duty of any single man between the ages of eighteen and eighty to spend the day setting up booths, hanging banners, and accepting pies for payment, then yes. I am attempting to dodge that draft this year.” Miles tossed a twisted grass ring to May.

“But Max was hoping to get you in the dunk tank again,” Brooke said, looking between them both again and deciding there wasn’t anything going on.

“Yes, I’ll gladly pay good money to see you in that onesie bathing suit again,” May said, and they both started to laugh.

Miles’s grimace only made them both laugh harder. “The librarian said I had to cover up or I’d be too distracting, all wet, in the tank.”

May sputtered and started to choke on her laugh.

“I’m sure there’s a compliment in there somewhere, Miles,” Brooke offered.

“Maybe you’re right; I should go ahead and volunteer for that dunk tank before I get stuck with the kissing booth,” Miles said, standing up.

“I already signed up for the beverage booth,” May said.

They turned their eyes on Brooke. “Oh no, I’m not falling into that trap again. I’ll be manning the first aid tent.”

“Getting off easy,” Miles said.

“Looks like my break is over; I’ll see you tonight,” May said to Brooke as she walked off to the aqua Airstream camper she’d turned into a mobile coffee shop, and where Wes Hart stood waiting for a coffee.

“Looks like the kids are going to need more Gatorade today, I better go too. But I’m glad to get a minute alone with you.”

Her stomach flopped with dread.

“I didn’t know Tyler wasn’t paying any child support, and I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I told him I won’t support his attempt to shortchange you or Max. And if he doesn’t pay up, then I will.”

“It’s not your responsibility—”

He cut her off. “I don’t see it that way, Brooke. Max is my only nephew and he is a Banks, like it or not. I know you don’t want handouts, and that you like to keep your distance a bit from us. I understand. But we’re your family too, and we take care of our own. I don’t know what happened to make Tyler so selfish, but we’re not all cut from the same cloth.”

Tears pricked her eyes. Miles had always been nice, but he’d never spoken so plainly against his brother.

“Hopefully the judge will decide for Tyler and it’ll be settled.”

Miles nodded. “Just don’t let him bully you into dropping this. Tyler is long overdue for being forced to be responsible.”

Brooke caught Dalton watching as Miles walked away toward the large water thermos with the Banks logo on it. She couldn’t see Dalton’s eyes through his sunglasses but she couldn’t look away. He stood in the sunshine, sweat covering his T-shirt, and his muscles flexed as he clapped for the boys coming off the field as the coach told them to line up for water. But Max bypassed the line and gave Dalton a big hug, then he said something and they both laughed. Max was definitely falling for Dalton, and she couldn’t deny that she might be too. As long as she didn’t let Dalton or anyone else know, she still planned to fully enjoy their summer together.

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