by Natalie Ann
He left by the private entrance like he normally did, taking the staff elevator to the basement to get to his car.
He drove to the house that Kayla lived in. It was a nice area. Most of the homes around here were the saltbox style. Some small, some big. This was one of the bigger ones. Since she said she had three roommates he should have expected a bigger house.
He pulled into the driveway behind Kayla’s beat-up old car that he recognized from her first day of work and got out. She was opening the side door before he could even make his way there.
“Hi,” she said. “Sorry it took so long. I just wanted to change and put my hair up if we were walking around outside.”
“You look nice,” he said. She still had jeans on but another pair. These were darker and hugged her body like a second skin. She was one slim woman. She had a white T-shirt on that was fitted, showing some curves on top but not a lot, and a green sweater in her hand. There wasn’t a lot of makeup on her face, the same as every day at work, and her blonde hair was pulled back in a braid.
She looked casual, sexy, and feminine at the same time. Much different than she did in the store and on her interview. Even when she was at work.
“Thanks,” she said. “I wanted to be comfortable as I wasn’t sure what we were doing or where we were going today.”
“I thought maybe we could get some lunch first if you don’t mind.”
“That works,” she said. “Guess it’s a good thing I haven’t eaten yet today. My body is so out of whack with time that I eat when I’m hungry and I’m just starting to get hungry now.”
“Perfect timing on my part then,” he said. They climbed into his car and he started to drive. “So you know there is one major road that takes you from one end of the island to the other, right? There are other ways from one end to the other, but it’s taking a lot of different roads. This is what we dub the highway that goes from north to south.”
“Yep. I do know that, but I haven’t been to that end of the island yet.”
“Then let’s go for a drive. Ask me any questions you want,” he said.
“Why did you ask me out today?”
He laughed. She pulled no punches. “I meant questions about the island, but we can start with that. You said you wanted to explore and I figured I could show you the island better than if you were on your own.”
“Okay. You said that. I guess I wasn’t sure if there was another reason.”
“Did you want there to be another reason?” he asked, wondering if this would be an easy conversation after all.
“You’re my boss.”
“Yes, I am, to an extent,” he said.
“I don’t want people to talk.”
“Which is what I figured and why I picked you up rather than have you go to the hotel.”
“I don’t sleep with people for the hell of it.”
He laughed. “Good to know. Neither do I.”
She was silent after that, just looking out of the window. “Did I insult you saying that?”
“No. Let’s get this out in the open. I don’t date. I haven’t been with anyone in a long time. I work a lot and it seems to be my entire existence. I’m too young for that and I saw an opportunity to go out and do something and took it.”
“So it’s nothing more than that?”
“Do you want it to be more?” he asked. This was stupid. He knew that. His father might ream him out if he knew he was spending the day with an employee, but damn it all, he wanted a life and he was sick of people wanting him for his name. He had a feeling Kayla wasn’t like that. And he didn’t want to come off as desperate either so figured this might be the best way to play it.
“It’s wrong,” she said.
“Is it?”
“I like my job. I know it’s only been two weeks, but I’m starting a new life and I don’t want to risk that.”
Interesting. “New life?”
“And this is where I tell you about my history. I’m just keeping it short. No reason to go into details. I was a foster kid most of my life. I’ve been on my own since I was eighteen and don’t have any family. I’m just trying to survive and better myself anyway I can. Well, not any way I can. That came out wrong. Forget I said that part.”
“I get it. You’re a hard worker. I’ve seen it and it explains a lot.” This made more sense to him on why she was confused about the date and scattered. She probably kept to herself most of the time.
“What does it explain?”
“You’re a loner. I can see that. You’re friendly and eager to learn. Those are words from Patrice, but I’ve seen it myself. You just try to get through life without making waves.”
“Exactly. Going on a date with my boss isn’t just making waves, it’s the chubby kid doing a cannonball into the shallow end.”
“You say the funniest things. Here goes. I’d like to consider this a date of sorts. I’m not looking to get you in my bed, but I wouldn’t fight you off if you ended up there.” He paused when she snorted, but he continued on. “Your job is safe regardless. But we should just keep this quiet if something comes from it. For both of our sakes,” he said.
“That works for me,” she said. “I don’t know what will or can come of this. You are considered royalty on this island. Or your family is. I’ve got no family. And the last thing I want is you or anyone to think I’m falling for any of the island lore or funny stuff.”
“Funny stuff?” he asked.
“Romeo and Juliet. Love at first sight? Those things. Fanciful thoughts that don’t belong in my mind or my life. It’s not me and never will be. Just putting that out there.”
He laughed, then frowned over her comment about having no family.
As someone who couldn’t walk a hundred yards half the time without running into family, he found how truly sad that statement was from her. Maybe that was part of the vulnerable side he was drawn to also.
“Let’s just take it one day at a time then.”
“Sounds good. So give me some history on the island. I’ve read that Malcolm was offered Elizabeth Rummer’s hand in marriage to save the company, but he only had three days to find the island or the offer went to someone else.”
“Yes. That is what the story says. That Malcolm encountered a massive storm veering him off course. He thought all hope was lost but when the sun rose he saw land and made his way to it.”
“And Elizabeth and her mother were there waiting?” she asked.
“They were. It was said he fell in love at that moment and fate guided him toward the land when all hope was lost. Amore Island. The island of love. Now everyone comes here hoping for that too.” He knew he said it sarcastically and hoped she didn’t comment on it. At one point he believed in it, but now after trying and failing, he’d pretty much given up.
“Why would her mother only give three days to find the island or take the offer back?”
“I’m guessing greed. She wanted to make sure Malcolm was the right man to continue the company. She didn’t really care about her daughter’s happiness as much as she wanted to make sure the company didn’t fall into the wrong hands. They wanted their business to continue to grow and Malcolm was an English captain that did business with his wife’s family.”
“I guess it was meant they be together then by the sounds of it.”
He snorted, but he continued. He’d heard that statement enough in his life. “There were five kids. Edward was the oldest and I come from that line. Then James, twin girls Catherine and Patricia, and the baby was William.”
“So Malcolm named the island after his love for his wife?” Kayla asked.
“We’ve heard mixed stories over the years. Malcolm’s mother was Italian. She was a servant in the house Malcolm’s father had visited in Rome. The month he was there, he’d fallen in love and brought her back to England. Love at first sight,” he said adding a wink. “That’s what we are known for on the island. Or part of it.”
“Oh, I get it now. Amore is
love in Italian. So that’s what the draw is here? People want to find that love from a stranger?”
He laughed. “I’m not sure it’s always love at first sight. But I think people move here or vacation here hoping to find something they couldn’t find elsewhere.” This might be the most he’d ever talked about the history of the island with someone. “There are varying stories of the true name, but I guess no matter how you look at it, it all means about the same. Little by little the island grew. It started out with vacation homes for the family, then more homes for others and then a tourist area. My great-great-grandfather, James, built the hotel. The first hotel on the island.”
“It’s got to be confusing with the names. One would think you came from the original James, Malcolm’s brother. James Bond, that is,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.
She laughed and he had no choice but to follow. “Yeah, I know. But the family is so big many took pride in some of their ancestors and named them after others. Stories change according to whomever you listen to, but there are a lot of documents on things too. Anyway, it just continued to grow and grow and now the island is self-functioning.”
“I guess I find it funny that once the last ferry has left for the day there is no way on or off the island,” she said. “It’s kind of scary too. What if there is an emergency?”
“That is what helicopters are for. Two of my family members have choppers and they can get people on and off the island if need be, but there are police and medical choppers out of Boston too. Also many have boats on the island. We have our own police here on the south end, but the state police have a small barracks on the north end. We aren’t secluded by any means.”
“I didn’t realize that,” she said.
“Which is part of today’s lesson. Just think of the island as a decent-sized city. You aren’t going to find a mall here, but it’s not that far to get to one. Just a ferry ride and there are three different cities to get to. It’s the perfect location. A slice of paradise that not many get to say they are part of.”
Some of his family thought he was nuts when he said that, but he’d always felt that way about the island. Big city living wasn’t for him. Not like his sister or his parents.
“I think that is why I was drawn here. I’d never heard of it before. I’ve moved around a lot in my life and have never had a vacation or anything. The thought of living on an island made me think I could almost have a vacation every day of the year. Or at least days I’m not working.”
“Then that’s something we think alike on. Though the truth is I work more than I should and need to cut back.”
“Something tells me that you never will.”
“Probably not. And with summer coming it gets nuts. My parents will be back soon and some of the burden will be taken off my shoulders for the busy season.”
“I hear most of the hotels and resorts are booked steady year round,” she said.
“They are, but during the summer many come over for the day on the ferry. Not so many do in the colder months. Though the casino is a big draw now. Eli hit gold with that.”
“Eli?” she asked.
“Eli Bond. He is from James’s line. The original James. Edward and James are the wealthiest lines in the family for the most part, but there are a few others who made their marks and own wealth too. Those brothers were a lot like their father. Catherine and Patricia both married well and continued to be successful lines, but they aren’t Bonds. Or weren’t after they married.”
“It matters if they are a Bond or not? Their last name?” she asked.
“Not to me, but to some businesses, it’s in the family to stay with the Bond name. My sister, Hailey, said if she marries she’s keeping her name. She’s a lawyer though, so it makes sense.”
“I think it’s great you’ve got a name that means so much. I don’t even know who my father is. I’ve got my mother’s name, but that doesn’t mean much. She was sixteen when she got pregnant and thought she wanted to raise me but decided she’d rather go out with her friends. Her parents didn’t want anything to do with the embarrassment that their daughter brought home and kicked my mother out.”
“Wow, I’m sorry,” he said, not able to imagine that. His family would never give up on one of their own. Someone would always take another in. It would go against everything their name and this island stood for. The legend and the myth.
“Don’t be. My mother couldn’t handle having a child and social services stepped in after she’d left me home alone a few times when I was only three. They took me away and I ended up in foster care. My father’s name isn’t even on my birth certificate and my mother and grandparents have never wanted anything to do with me since.”
“You haven’t seen or talked to them at all?”
“I made the mistake of reaching out to my mother on social media after I found her a few years ago. I thought maybe she might want to know how I turned out. I wasn’t looking for anything. I just wanted to see her.”
He could tell by her voice it didn’t go well. “She didn’t want to see you?”
“She had another life and they didn’t know about me and she didn’t want them to. Or so she said. I don’t know what to believe.”
He reached his hand over and laid it on hers that was resting on her thigh. “Now I’m sorry. Sounds like you’ve been hurt a lot in your life.”
“Not really,” she said. “I just say I’ve got a black cloud over my head that follows me from place to place. I’m hoping it gets lost now that I’m on the island in a little slice of paradise.”
Kayla laughed when she said it. He didn’t know if she was joking or serious, but when he turned to look at her, the truth was in her eyes. “You mean that, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. I’m not good at making things up or lying. Too hard to keep it straight. I get into enough binds and messes without adding lies to my life.”
He was curious what she meant by messes or binds but figured maybe now wasn’t the time to ask. “I don’t want this to be a mess in your life. We’ll keep it simple.”
“Simple is how I’d like it to be,” she said, but when she threaded her fingers through his he knew that simple flew away like the tin roof of a trailer in a tornado.
10
Changed Your Mind
Must be he wanted it simple because she hadn’t heard a word from him since he kissed her senseless like they were two teenagers in his Porsche afraid to be caught by strict parents when he dropped her off.
They’d pulled into the driveway after spending most of the day together. A date like she’d never had before. A history lesson mixed in with the romance of the island and she was seeing stars when she should have been seeing the ominous cloud that always floated over her head.
Hunter was using her, she knew. He had to be. What other explanation could it be?
It was a good thing she didn’t let him into her humble home to meet Amanda, but Bri and Sidney were back too and there was no way she was introducing her boss to her roommates.
He must not have wanted to go in anyway since he put the car in park, patted her leg to get her attention and said, “I had a good time today.”
“Me too.”
He leaned toward her, she leaned to him, and their lips met softly. It didn’t stay that way long, his hand going into her hair and holding her head in place, his tongue nudging her mouth open and slipping in.
He tasted exotic, rich almost. Not like money rich, but indulgence rich.
And now two days later as she was getting ready to go into work she should have reminded herself that an indulgence wasn’t something she had often in life and she now knew why. It was like a tease that never lasted long.
So she squared her shoulders and drove into work, parked her barely running car that reminded her she needed to find a garage to have it looked at soon, and walked into work.
“Hey there,” Nikki said to her. “You’re a little early. Now I can brief you quickly and get out of here.”
>
Kayla looked at her watch and saw there were fifteen minutes before her shift started. Shocker, since she was normally running out the door, but she supposed deep down she was eager to get here in hopes of seeing Hunter. He had some explaining to do in her eyes.
“What’s going on?”
“Yesterday was a ridiculous day with the holiday and all. The weather was nice and it seemed to bring in a lot of crazies from the mainland.”
“Does that happen often?” Kayla asked as she locked her purse and keys up in the back room with Nikki on her heels.
“Yeah. You don’t work weekends so you get to miss most of it. But not only that, someone had too much to drink Sunday night and got into a fight. Security was called and Hunter had to be brought down. The room was trashed. It was a nightmare. We’ve been moving people around for two days because the room can’t be rented until it’s fixed.”
“Yikes,” she said, having a hard time imagining something like that happening in a place like this. “I hope they were arrested.”
“The police were called, but there were no charges pressed. They paid for the damage.”
“How would they know how much it would cost?” Kayla asked.
“Hunter spent all day with contractors yesterday to get estimates. The couple was detained until it was figured out. Hunter got the quote, handed it over, made sure he got a certified check and then let them go.”
Okay, so maybe she shouldn’t have assumed that Hunter was avoiding her. It sounded like he had his hands full.
“I’m sure he wasn’t too happy about it,” she said.
“No. And we hate calling him at night. I know he lives here, but still. Anyway, security was called first and then they went up and got him.”
Kayla knew there was security here, but she didn’t see more than one to two people when she was working. “How many security work here? I don’t see them much.”
“There are two at night that patrol around, more during the day when things are active. Someone is always in the back monitoring the cameras.”