Family Bonds- Drew and Amanda (Amore Island Book 2)

by Natalie Ann

  They were both women, so she dropped her jeans and pulled Bri’s on. They were a perfect fit with stretch, not tight at all. “Holy cow,” she said, shocked to see herself in them.

  “You’re going to knock him on his butt when he sees you in those pants. Take them. They are totally yours now.”

  “Really?” she asked. “I’ll pay you for them.”

  “No. It’s a gift. You’re always doing stuff for us and I kind of never do anything in return. Have fun tonight. Payment can be filling me in when you’re done with your date later. I’ll wait up. I know you. You won’t go back to his place. You’re too much of a good girl for that.”

  Guess she did a good job hiding her past. Bri wouldn’t think she was such an innocent good girl if she knew she’d been a pregnant teen.

  “Yikes,” Drew said when he picked Amanda up. “I think my heart just stopped.”

  She laughed. “Not too much?” she asked, turning in a half circle one way and then another. Almost like a slow tease at her body he found he was dying to get his hands on.

  “Just right.”

  She had on a pair of pants that might be illegal in some states. He didn’t take her as a flashy woman, but she could walk on a runway right now.

  “Good. My roommate talked me into these pants. Bri actually bought them for herself but didn’t like how they looked and told me to try them on. I toned it down with my top.”

  The purple and black top that fit her body perfectly, just laying over her hips and letting him appreciate the effort she was putting into the date.

  “Your shoes push you over.”

  “I’ll go change them.”

  He reached his hand out. “Oh no, you won’t. They’re perfect.”

  Simple black stilettos that pushed her average height to that model height that would walk on the runway. She was still a few inches shorter than his six foot two inches, but he liked how they fit so well together.

  Her hair was styled beautifully. It was down with curls artfully arranged. Her makeup was minimal and only enhanced her natural beauty and clear blue eyes.

  “If you say so. You look nice,” she said back to him, her eyes roaming over his clothes. Dark jeans and a blue oxford shirt and brown shoes. He pretty much looked like he did daily for work and felt bad about that.

  “Thank you.”

  “Are you going to introduce me?” he heard behind Amanda.

  “Bri, this is Drew Bond. Drew, one of my roommates, Bri.”

  “I’m the one who gave her the pants that look so magnificent on her. You can thank me by setting me up with one of your family members.”

  He laughed, thinking she was joking. “It’s time to go,” Amanda said, grabbing a purple blazer on the hook and putting it on. When they got in his SUV she apologized. “I’m sorry for that. Bri is so superficial. She always wants guys with money or older than her. Anyone to take care of her. She’s a little tweaked that I’m going on a date with you.”

  “Because I’m a Bond?” he asked, not sure he liked where this was going.

  “Yes. She was jealous of Kayla dating Hunter and now she thinks she has something to be jealous of with me. I didn’t tell her how this date came about. I wouldn’t do that and blow your cover.”

  He was trying not to be insulted. “My cover?”

  “Why you asked me. Because of your mother.”

  “That’s not the only reason I asked you out,” he said. “So, get that out of your head.”

  “Ah. Okay.”

  They didn’t talk much more after that and he felt bad. “Sorry. I just meant I find you very attractive and my brothers and I have had to dodge women like your roommate our whole lives.”

  “I understand. That is why I apologized. I’m not like that. I think Bri was more tweaked over the fact I haven’t had a date since she’s lived with me.”

  He thought for a second. “She’s been with you over a year,” he said.

  “She has. I don’t date often. Just a few when I moved here and they were busts. That alone should tell you that I’m not after your money.”

  She was grinning when she said it. He hadn’t really thought that anyway since he approached her.

  “I can normally spot people a mile away that are.”

  The rest of the thirty-minute drive was taken with them just talking about the island more than anything. He was okay with that himself.

  When they arrived at the restaurant, she got out before he could open her door. “That’s twice now you haven’t given me a chance to show you my manners.”

  “Chivalry is a lost art. I’m not used to it. But you get points for even wanting to.”

  They weren’t seated more than ten minutes when he heard his name called. “Eli,” he said to his cousin.

  “Come to donate to the casino tonight?” Eli said. “And who is this lovely lady?”

  “Eli Bond, meet Amanda Moore.”

  Amanda put her hand out and shook. “My cousins are getting lucky with the ladies it seems. I’ll let you enjoy your night. Maybe I’ll see you at the craps table.”

  “Not unless I want to embarrass myself tonight in front of Amanda.”

  The minute Eli was gone she said, “Well played.”

  He laughed. He understood what she was saying. “It would have been if I planned it that way, but I didn’t. Of course it does help that someone in my family saw us out tonight. But I hadn’t expected it. Eli is all over the place and rarely in the restaurant unless he is dining himself. My brother Bode thought I was making you up. He got suckered into the auction and isn’t happy with me.”

  “I could have set him up with Bri,” she said, batting her eyes.

  “He’d rather get on stage in a speedo than date your roommate. Sorry.”

  “I understand. I really do. I know the type of person she is and I’d never set her up with anyone because of that. She’s dating someone right now but is annoyed that he doesn’t spend a lot of time with her. I think he’s married, but she can’t see the flaws. She wouldn’t even go visit with Sidney at the bar tonight because she was afraid Mark would find out and be mad at her.”

  “Like I said, we are used to it. Maybe that is why there are so many of us still single.”

  “How close of a cousin is Eli to you? I know you’re all related. Neither of you could be from the same branch as Hunter since there is only one male per generation.”

  “Hunter is from the Edward side. Eli’s father and mine are brothers so we are first cousins. We are on the James side. There are a lot of boys there.”

  “Does Eli have brothers?”

  “Two brothers too. Ethan and Egan. Not a lot of girls for James’s side of the family, as I said.”

  “His parents like the letter E I see,” she said smiling.

  The waitress came over and delivered their salads, both of them picking up their forks and starting to eat. “My Aunt Janet and my mother are both romantics. Which has nothing to do with the letter E and I’m not sure why I said that.”

  He picked his beer up and wondered if it was spiked with something else.

  “I think that’s sweet. I mean, after all, we live on Amore Island. Isn’t everyone supposed to be romantic? Present company excluded.”

  “Oh sweetie,” he heard himself say. “I didn’t say I wasn’t. I just said that my mother and aunt were too.”

  9

  Time Of Her Life

  Amanda hadn’t known what to expect of this date, but it wasn’t to be leaning over a craps table and blowing on dice while she tossed them. Drew standing behind her, his hand on her hip, the heat of his body just burning her up making her wonder if she was running a fever.

  Yeah, this was out of a scene from a movie in her eyes.

  And she was having the time of her life.

  But like all things, the night must end and she wasn’t going to be one of those women that went home with a man on the first date. Especially because she wasn’t sure what it was they had at the moment.

&n
bsp; Yep, one date. It was so he wasn’t lying to his mother about saying he was seeing someone.

  But would there be another date? One before the fundraiser? She wasn’t sure, though she kind of hoped there was.

  “I had a good time tonight,” she said when they were parked in her driveway. The lights were on in the front living room telling her Bri was waiting up. Go figure. It was only ten though, not that late.

  “You sound surprised over that statement,” Drew said. “Though you did win two hundred dollars and I lost three hundred.”

  “I guess I kind of am surprised. And don’t be jealous. I had the magic touch it seemed.”

  “I’m trying not to take offense to you being surprised. But I got to touch you so I’m not jealous in the least.”

  Considering the wealth behind his name she knew it was a ridiculous statement that he’d be jealous over a few hundred dollars. To someone like him it was pennies.

  “Well, we did go on this date under false pretenses,” she argued but had a big grin on her face.

  “Maybe in your mind. Not in mine.”

  Okay, that sounded promising. “So now what?”

  “Now I’m going to kiss you unless you slap my face over it.”

  “I’ve never slapped a man’s face in my life and I’m not about to start tonight.” Though she sure the hell felt like she wanted to a time or two in her life.

  His smile filled his face. He leaned toward her, she leaned toward him, and their lips met softly. Tenderly. Then his tongue came out and nudged hers apart and swooped in.

  The taste of him was filling her with more heat than when his fingers were on her lower back earlier.

  She reached her hand forward and wrapped it around his neck, her fingers teasing his nape. She was dying to get her hands in his hair again, so she inched them up. So soft and smooth.

  She scooted closer to him and wished she could have just climbed in his lap and rubbed against him like a cat in the back alley begging for anything he’d give her.

  And when that thought popped into her head she yanked back. She didn’t beg anyone for anything.

  “Whoa,” he said. “Now talk about a pleasant surprise. I kind of wish you didn’t have roommates, but something tells me you wouldn’t invite me in anyway.”

  “You’re right,” she said. “There are rules in the house about men being there overnight.”

  “Really? No one brings a man there?”

  “They bring them to visit. We’ve all met Hunter plenty of times, but he’s never stayed the night. Why would he? Bri’s guy has a house on the island. I don’t date much and Sidney rarely does.”

  “Well, you’re dating now.”

  “I guess I am, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, you are. So, what are your plans tomorrow?”

  “Moving fast...” she said, stunned but pleased.

  “It has nothing to do with proving a point to my mother and everything to do with being with you, but now I just remembered I’ve got a family dinner tomorrow at my parents.”

  “And I’m wedding planning with Kayla and Hailey tomorrow.”

  “Are you in the wedding?” he asked. “Stupid question, right?”

  “I’m the maid of honor. Hailey is a bridesmaid. Kayla has no family and I was extremely honored to be asked. It’s a small wedding party.”

  “Okay, how about Monday? You said you are off on Mondays? Dinner?”

  “Dinner sounds great. I love to cook, but wouldn’t ask you to my place because we wouldn’t be alone. I’m sorry about that.”

  “You can cook at my house if you want.”

  She thought for a second and realized she might like that. “I’m going to say yes. I’ll bring everything. I like going out to eat as much as the next person, but the truth is, I’m kind of a homebody. Or a homemaker. I’m the mom of the house I’ve been told.”

  “And you bake like a dream, so I’m dying to know if you cook that way too. I tend to eat out and make the basic things. I can cook, but don’t often since it’s just me.”

  “I love to cook. The more people I can cook for the happier I am. My roommates all love it.”

  “I find that very sweet,” he said, leaning in to kiss her one more time. “I’ll text you my address before Monday and you can let me know what I need.”

  “Nothing,” she said. “I’m bringing it all. I’ll see you Monday. Have fun at your parents’ tomorrow.”

  He rolled his eyes, she saw when she opened the door and the dome light came on. “It’s never fun there, but since she won’t be targeting me, it will be entertaining to watch my brothers squirm.”

  “Night, Drew.”

  “Night, Amanda.”

  She walked to the front door while he drove away. She normally went in the side but knew Bri would be in the living room waiting to pounce on her like a tiger going in for its meal.

  “You sat in the driveway for a while,” Bri said before the door was even shut. Just like that tiger, not giving her a chance to get a toenail in the doorway.

  “We did,” she said back, hanging up her jacket and moving to the living room to sit down. Bri was wrapped in a blanket with an empty wine glass on the coffee table next to a half-filled bowl of popcorn.

  “Does he kiss well?”

  “He does,” she said back.

  “I’m sure once he’s committed he’s all in.”

  “Are we talking about kissing or something else?” she asked.

  “Kissing. If it was me, I would have been at his house tonight to find out the rest.”

  And that was why Bri ended up with the men she did. She didn’t leave anything to the imagination. There was no slow dance. There were no questions and answers.

  There were only heat and naked bodies and then hurt feelings when Bri felt more than the men did.

  “I’m not you,” she said with a grin.

  “But I bet you wanted to end up in his bed,” Bri said.

  Amanda wasn’t admitting she did. Wanting, getting, or taking wasn’t the same in her mind and they never would be.

  “If it makes you feel better, I had a great time. Dinner was wonderful. I won two hundred dollars on the craps table and we set up another date for Monday.”

  “Ooh la la. Where is he taking you on Monday?”

  “I’m going to cook him dinner Monday. You know I’d rather cook than go out.”

  “We get to see him Monday? Or are you kicking Sidney and me out since Sidney is off too?”

  “I’m not cooking here. I’m going to bring the food and cook at his place. And no, I’m not staying the night, nor am I going to end up in his bed.”

  “Who says anything about a bed? There’s a couch, a chair. Even a floor or wall works in a bind. Come on, Amanda. Have some imagination.”

  “I’ve got plenty of imagination and it’s not time for any of it to be put to work yet. Dinner and some more conversation. I like him. I think he likes me. But that doesn’t mean I rush into anything.”

  “I should have figured. I mean it’s your first date that I’m aware of since we’ve known each other. You and I are like the tortoise and the hare.”

  “And who won in the end?” Amanda asked, standing up and walking out of the room. She wanted the last word, but the truth was, she wasn’t trying to win anything.

  10

  She’s Real

  “How was your date with the cookie lady?”

  “Shh,” he said to Bode when he walked into the family room. “Don’t get her going.”

  “Don’t get me going,” his mother shouted from the kitchen. “I hear everything. You boys should know that by now.”

  “What is she talking about?” Coy asked.

  “Drew had a date last night. That’s how he got out of being up for auction. He told Mom he was seeing someone.”

  “Was it a lie?” Coy whispered.

  “No,” he said. “I had a date last night. If you don’t believe me, ask Eli. He saw us at the Casino for dinner, then at the craps tabl
e.”

  Bode laughed. “How much did you lose?”

  “Three hundred.” It’d been totally worth it though. He’d won in other ways.

  “When are you going to learn that gambling isn’t your thing?” Coy asked.

  “I’m not worrying over it.”

  “Of course not,” his father said when he walked in the room with four beers on a tray.

  Now that was a welcome. His father was always good at countering his mother’s meddling. “Thanks, Dad,” he said, taking one off the tray.

  “Your mother said you found yourself a woman,” he said quietly. “I expected Bode to do that, not you.”

  Bode and Coy started to laugh. “She’s real,” he argued. “She’s cooking me dinner tomorrow night too.”

  His mother walked in. “You found someone that can cook? What was the cookie lady comment about?”

  How did he know it was going to be turned into this?

  “She gave Drew a dish of snickerdoodles the other day. They were to die for. He wouldn’t share either, Mom. Didn’t you teach us we had to share and not be selfish?” Bode asked.

  “Yet you somehow knew how they tasted because you stole them?” his mother asked.

  “I wouldn’t have had to steal them if Drew would have shared.”

  Before his mother or he could reply, Coy jumped in, “Sugar isn’t good for your teeth.”

  Drew picked up a pillow and tossed it at his younger brother. “Neither is beer yet you’re drinking that.”

  Coy grinned. “So she brought you cookies? What does she look like?”

  “She didn’t bring him cookies,” Bode said. “And no one knows what she looks like. She rents one of the houses and he had to do the visit and introduction. She had cookies ready for him and coffee.”

  “That’s very sweet,” his mother said. “Manners. You boys could all do well to learn some more manners.”

  “How old is she?” his father asked.

  “She’s a cougar, isn’t she?” Coy asked. “I bet she has kids in their twenties.”

  He ground his teeth and decided to continue to play with them. “She might. We didn’t get that far. There aren’t any in her house though.”