“I get the feeling you’re hiding something from me.”
“Again, it’s your imagination,” Fox told his mate, then closed the door, locking it before the man could say anything more.
Fox smiled, looking down at the ring box. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Alistaire’s face.
* * *
“Hello, Mrs. Rosemary,”Ava said, greeting Alastaire’s grandmother.
“None of that,” Rosemary told her. “Remember it’s Grandmother, now.”
Ava smiled, and Alistaire saw the blush creep into her cheeks, mixing with her freckles.
“Grandmother.”
“Good.”
They were meeting at the Chef Corner for lunch. “How are you adjusting to everything, Ava?”
Alistaire had explained everything about Ava’s situation to the other family members. And in Vale fashion, they’d accepted things as they were—pulling Ava into the fold. Poor Ava, who’d been on her own for a bit, now had a large family between him and Crevan. She also now had a job as the family’s babysitter for the little ones.
“I’m doing great,” Ava answered. “I’m not alone anymore, and Fox said I could have my friends over anytime I want as long as their parents are okay with it.”
“You like Fox quite a bit?” Rosemary asked.
Ava nodded grinning. “He’s so cool, much cooler than someone else I know.” She looked at Alistaire out of the corner of her eyes.
“Pet carrier,” Alistaire said.
“Fox said you can’t threaten me with that anymore. He said he’d make you sleep on the couch.”
“Fox said…Fox said…” he mimicked Ava. “Is that the only thing you know how to say these days?” Alistaire grumbled.
Alistaire looked across from him when he heard Rosemary chuckling.
“You two are delightful to listen to.”
“Don’t encourage her.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“Alistaire, I just got a text from my friend Cindy. She’s over at Bella’s Diner and wants to know if I can meet her there. Can I go, please?”
Alistaire rolled his eyes, wondering if he’d done the wrong thing by getting her a cellphone. She was always on the damn thing. “I thought you wanted to have lunch with us?”
“Oh, let her go,” Rosemary said before Ava could answer. “We’ll have more lunches together, and it’s obvious she wants to hang out with her friends.”
Alistaire sighed and reached for his wallet, pulling out some cash and handing it to Ava. “Fine, but be ready when I come to get you.”
Ava hugged and kissed him on the cheek and ran out of the restaurant before he could change his mind.
“So,” Rosemary said. “Have you told Crevan about Fox?”
Alistaire shook his head.
“How about Euan Gillies.”
Again he shook his head. “He knows some about Euan from what my dads told him but nothing else. I can see he wants to ask about both things, but he’s afraid. And truthfully, I don’t want to talk about it.”
