Your One True Love (The Bennett Family 8)

We toast to Alice’s return, and afterward I take out my phone, intending to call her. A Facebook notification distracts me, from Caroline and Martin’s opening party tomorrow. Frowning, I open the app.

I read the top announcement on the event page.

Don’t forget, the opening party is tomorrow instead of next week! An all-day event! Coffee and cake will be on the house.

I check the details of the event. A lot of people canceled after the date was changed. Moving the event on such short-notice wasn’t the best business move, but Caroline tends to decide with her heart most of the time. It’s one of the things I’ve always loved about her, but that won’t pay the bills.

I glance up at my siblings, weighing the pros and the cons of spilling the beans on this. No way will I be able to pass this up as just a casual favor I’m doing for a friend. They know me well enough. Telling them will mean having everyone in my business. But a dozen Bennetts would make that coffee shop/bookstore appear fuller, which would attract customers more than an empty shop. First rule of business: fake it until you make it.

“What are you all doing tomorrow?” I ask.

“Taking Ava and the kids out on the ocean in the morning. Logan and his troop are coming too,” Sebastian says.

Summer shrugs. “I’m going shopping.”

“Clara and I are doing a baby photo shoot in the morning. Why?” Blake asks.

Here goes nothing. “Anyone up for an afternoon snack at a coffee shop that’s opening tomorrow? Well, technically it’s a bookstore—”

“Yes!” Summer claps her hands. “I—this is Martin’s bookstore, right?”

Sebastian holds up a hand. “Wait... Martin Dunne? Caroline’s dad?”

“Yes,” I clarify.

“Are you and Caroline—” Logan begins, but Blake interrupts.

“Look at Summer. She looks like you just told her sales season is here early. All signs point to yes.”

“They renovated the bookstore, integrated a coffee shop, and are reopening tomorrow. It’d be nice if they had a full house, or at least some company,” I say.

Blake lifts a brow. “Nine years and now you finally make a move? What happened?”

“Yeah, Daniel. What happened?” Summer props her chin on her palms, grinning. “The shoe delivery escalated quickly, huh?”

“What?” Sebastian and Logan ask at the same time.

“Never mind. Can you drop by?”

Sebastian nods. “I’ll check with Ava, but I’m sure we can. As long as we can bring the kids.”

“You can. They have a kids’ corner with games and stuff.”

“We’ll drop by too,” Logan says. “And I’ll spread the word to the rest of the family.”

Blake chimes in next. “Baby naps in the afternoon, and Clara tries to nap at the same time, but I’ll be there.”

“Excellent, now that everyone answered your question...” Summer drums her fingers on her cheeks. “Details, please. No dirty ones, just the romantic stuff.”

I groan, glance around at my brothers. “Help!”

“Men don’t talk about this stuff, Summer,” Logan says patiently.

“I’m just saying, if I don’t get some facts, I’m going to construct my own scenarios. My mind is a dangerous place.”

“Jesus, Summer, slow down!”

She bats her eyelashes at me, but I just shake my head, fully aware of how bad my track record is when it comes to giving in to Summer.