Page 58 of The Seal's Promise

He was all business, but she liked the way he saidus.

“Yes.”

“Good. What time can you get away?”

“She said to drop him off around five at her place.”

“Perfect.” He finally turned to face her and lifted his sunglasses. “Try to rest up because you’re going to need your energy.”

She took a sip of her water, suddenly thirsty, and watched as he walked off to stand with the coaches along the fence next to Max’s team’s dugout. If he stayed the entire time she wasn’t going to be able to focus on the gameorher book. She kept finding herself admiring Dalton’s muscular back, his strong legs, his gorgeous profile.

“So who’s this friend you’re hanging out with so late tonight you need Max to sleep over?” May asked, plopping down next to Brooke on the blanket.

“No one you know, just my friend from nursing school who still lives in Savannah and has been after me to get together. I figured I’d drive out there if you’re sure you can handle it.”

“You’re overdue for a girls’ night. I’ve got Max covered, video games, gummy bears, and a campout in the living room.”

“Wow, maybe I want in on that instead.”

“You know what else you’re overdue for?” May asked, leaning over to bump her shoulder against Brooke’s.

“Stop.”

“I think I know just the man to take care of it too. And I just overheard a few moms saying Dr. Dalton should be manning the kissing booth this year at the Summer Solstice, so you better stake your claim.”

“I am not making any claims. I’m too busy with Max, and Dr. Dalton is only here for the summer.”

“A long, hot summer. Just how we like it,” May said, sipping an ice coffee from her mobile coffee shack.

She couldn’t help but laugh at her silly younger sister’s ability to make any situation seem playful with a tinge of sexuality.

“Speaking of, I don’t see you taking any of your own advice. You haven’t dated anyone seriously since you started your coffee garden four years ago.”

“Oh, I am fully booked up, dear sister, and it is some of the hottest sex I have ever had,” she said, fanning herself. “And I have no intention of telling anyone who it is because that’s when things get weird.”

“By weird you mean, commitment, marriage, and babies?”

“Exactly, weird. You know I don’t believe in any of that nonsense.”

Brooke let out a sigh. “I’m not sure I do anymore either. It’s more like a Disney fairy tale to think you could fall in love with one person and spend the rest of your lives together.”

“Or maybe we only get to see that one chapter in the book for those princesses’ lives, and they skipped the part where she gets her heart broken and finds herself entangled in a steamy, sex-only relationship,” May joked.

Brooke nearly spit out her sip of water and whipped her head over to look at her sister. “May Garcia, you better tell me who this person is so I can properly thank them for making you so agreeable.”

“Don’t worry, I thanked him all night long last night. Now it’s your turn to get yours tonight. You know, when you’re out with your friend, in Savannah.” May looked at her with a big, knowing grin on her face.

“In all seriousness, is there any chance there’s something to this hookup of yours? How long has it been going on?” Brooke asked.

“No, there is no way I would ruin such a hot no-strings-attached non-relationship by trying to make it something it’s not.”

Brooke waited for May to say more, recalling how when they were kids her sister was so chatty that she would tell on herself. She knew if she waited long enough, May would tell her everything.

May sighed. “No, this man is not settling down with the quirky town barista type.”

“You’re a successful small business owner, endearing, beautiful, and any man would be lucky to have a chance to love you.”

Her sister shrugged. “You forgot killer salsa dancer, and I bake the most delicious chocolate chip scones this side of the Atlantic Ocean.”

---