Page 73 of The Seal's Promise
Wes opened both bottles with a whistle and handed one to Dalton. “Well, Gran was right again.”
“Right about what?”
“Like I said, she plotted to draw you back to Sandy Point, get you a job, and hope fall in love. Said you wouldn’t be able to leave again. Then she could focus on getting Levi to come home.” Wes laughed.
Dalton shook his head. “I’m betting she has some grand plan for you too, so you better wipe that smirk off your face.”
“I will not be falling for any of Gran and her friends’ wild matchmaking schemes,” Wes said.
“I’ll remember you said that,” Dalton said, tipping his bear toward his big brother.
Dalton stayed and chatted with Wes, and before long he realized it was after midnight. It was odd but nice to visit with his brother and not have any secrets between them.
“You sure you’re okay with me staying in Sandy Point?”
Wes’s smile faded. “One hundred percent, and not because I need help with Gran, or the estate, or think you need to pay any penance. Selfishly, I want both my brothers to live in Sandy Point. We’re the only family we’ve got.”
Dalton nodded. “Great, you can tell Levi he needs to build a new house when you and Gran scheme to get him to return.”
He could hear Wes’s laughter as he headed toward the front door. Now that he’d told Wes why he’d left home, now that he knew the truth, there was nothing keeping him from staying in Sandy Point. He needed to tell Brooke and find out if she would give him a real chance. He just needed to do one more thing.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Brooke
Raining and Pouring
The saying “goodthings come in threes” must also apply to bad things: not only was Brooke freaking out about Tyler having Max for his first custody visit, but she still had to work with Dalton at the hospital the rest of the summer while trying to get over him,andshe forgot she had two new applicants arriving that day to tour the hospital. She also needed to finalize the medical tent supplies for the Summer Solstice that started tonight.
“Wow, you look so pretty today,” May said to Brooke as she shook her head. Her sister was lying through her teeth.
“Don’t start, it was a terrible day yesterday. I’ll give you the shortest version if you promise not to ask me any questions.”
“I don’t accept those terms, but speak now or I’ll follow you around like a stalker all day until you do.”
“Tyler stopped by my house unexpectedly last night and is fighting me for fifty percent custody of Max, and I ended things with Dalton because I’m already too attached.”
May’s mouth fell open.
“Now make me a double espresso iced latte, so I can maintain enough energy to convince one of the doctors visiting the hospital today to stay in Sandy Point.”
“Oh, I bet those two are your doctors,” May said, gesturing over to a man and woman sitting in the small seating area.
Brooke cringed at what they’d probably overheard and turned to find not one, but two extremely attractive people sitting with fresh cups of coffee.
“They must be early birds like you,” May said, and then the sound of steaming milk shattered the awkward quiet.
The man stood first and moved to shake her hand. “I’m Dr. Jack Patterson. You must be Brooke Banks?”
The woman stood also. “Hello, I’m Dr. Misha Ford Patterson.”
“Oh, you’re a couple?” Brooke asked. Both were dressed in sleek suits and looked like they were going to a glossy photo shoot instead of an interview.
“Yes, we wanted to wait and tell you in person in case that affected your review of our applications,” Dr. Misha said.
Brooke laughed. “Oh no, if anything I see that as a benefit. Sandy Point is a small town and I think that fact has been discouraging to the younger unattached applicants. I’m hoping it’s one of the major reasons you’ve applied?”
They both grinned and Dr. Jack put his arm around his wife. “You would be right, Mrs. Banks.”
