by Natalie Ann
What the heck was Crew doing back at her house? Not only that, he had a brown bag in his hand and a smile on his face.
She could just ignore him, but he had to figure she was home. Maybe he’d think she was sleeping. Of course he must want to wake her up if he thought she was sleeping because he hit the doorbell again.
“I’m coming,” she yelled, then opened the door.
“Soup,” he said, holding up the bag.
“What?”
“I brought you soup,” he said. “When I don’t feel good and am grouchy—don’t tell anyone because I don’t like to admit it—chicken soup makes me feel better. If you don’t like that, there’s a spicy vegetable one. Spice is good for congestion. My grandmother always tells me to have a tablespoon of hot sauce when I’ve got a head cold.”
“Eww,” she said.
“Yes, it is. I did it as a kid when she watched me because I thought it’d be cool. I thought wrong, even if it did work.”
“This was very sweet of you,” she said, reaching her hand out for the bag.
“I figured you take care of me on hot and cold days when you’re here. Water or coffee, cookies. I could do the same when you were feeling a little under the weather.”
“Under the weather,” she said. “That’s the understatement of the year.”
When she started to cough, he backed up a step. “Hope you feel better,” he said, turning to leave. “But I’ll just stay back here.”
She felt herself smile. “I was feeling better and the three-hour nap I took helped a lot.”
“Did I wake you?” he asked.
“You did, but you get a pass because I really need to get some work done and find I’m starving and this smells good. So thank you once again. I feel like I owe you more than the date you paid for.”
“As I said. Just doing what you have done for me.”
She nodded her head and watched him walk away trying hard not to stare at his butt. He still had his uniform on but also wore a big bulky jacket, and she realized that he wasn’t getting in a mail truck but rather a silver SUV. Must be his own car and he was done for the day.
She turned and went to her kitchen and pulled out the two containers of soup, then took the lids off of both. The chicken one smelled good and she was thrilled her sinuses were still cleared enough that she could notice the aroma.
All of a sudden she realized she hadn’t eaten anything since some toast and tea this morning and found she was starving so she got a spoon and attacked the soup with gusto. Once that container was done, she went for the second one. It wasn’t nearly as spicy as she thought it’d be but her sinuses were burning a bit. Maybe they’d stay clear for the night.
By the time her belly was full, she went back to the living room to get work done and decided the least she could do was send a text to Crew to thank him once again. She couldn’t remember the last time any man she was dating, let alone a friend, took care of her.
Not that she ever wanted any man to do that. She’d always been adamant she didn’t need anyone to take care of her. That she had it covered.
This time she was wrong though because the soup hit the spot and she was going to let Crew know that.
She went back and forth in her head what to say and finally typed, Thanks for the soup. I feel so much better. There. That was the truth.
The bubbles were flashing on the screen. Anytime. Hope it continues.
Short and sweet and to the point. It didn’t require a response and she tossed her phone on the couch next to her. But then picked it back up. Should she say something else? Should she mention the date? It’s not like she could forget about it. He even joked he didn’t want to do it until she was better.
And when was the last time she was indecisive over anything in her life? Never! So she tossed the phone back and tried to get to work and told herself to focus and keep her eyes off the small device hoping Crew might text her or she could think of something else to say to him.
3
Gossip About
“Are you sure that you feel up to this?” Crew asked Emily when he picked her up at her house on Saturday. Though she’d looked better when he’d gone back with the soup in the afternoon, he knew she’d been pretty sick.
“I feel great,” she said. “And I didn’t want to leave you hanging either. You paid for this date and I need to honor it.”
“Gee,” he said. “Thanks for that.”
Here he was thinking he’d made progress with her with the conversation and the soup and yet he could see she still didn’t want any part of this date.
He didn’t know what he could have been thinking that she’d be interested in some blue collar worker. Could he tell her he was worth over fifty million dollars? He could, but he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to attract a woman that way, and if that was what would get her to look at him differently, then she wasn’t worth it. He’d been down that road way too often and was sick of doubting people’s intentions.
He’d get this date over with and have fun and then move on.
“I’m sorry,” she said, reaching for his hand. She didn’t seem like the type of person to reach for a man either but she didn’t even hesitate. “I didn’t mean it that way. And I should apologize for what I said the night of the auction too.”
“What’s that?” he asked, frowning.
“I had no idea who was bidding on me. The light was in my eyes and I was just nervous to be up there. Then when I saw who won and that I knew you, it was a relief and I just let it slip. My comment about this being the only way to spend time with me. It wasn’t meant as an insult to either one of us.”
He had been slightly insulted when she’d said it and was glad that she was acknowledging it. But he had to know. “Why would it be an insult to you?”
“No one wants to think the only way they get to go on a date is if someone buys them. Nor do I want anyone—especially you—to think I’d only spend time with someone that put up cash.”
That was interesting. Not that he thought for one minute that she saw him as anyone other than the mailman she said hi to now and again.
“We can put it behind us. Are you ready to go?”
It was Saturday afternoon and she’d called him on Thursday to see if he was available. She worried he’d be working and he was, but was done by two. It didn’t take him long to shower and pick her up.
“I am. Can you tell me what we are doing? All you said was to dress casual, which I did.” The date should only be a few hours long and he had no plans on spending it in a restaurant talking about the weather.
“And you look great in jeans and your little designer sneakers. Of course I normally see you dressed to go to work. You start late?” he asked
“I go in at all times, but if I am expecting packages I try to stay home and go in later so they aren’t sitting on the porch long. Not that I can predict that. But with Penelope and me running the hotel, we are there so much and at all times of the day and sometimes night. We don’t really have set hours between us.”
“And probably more hours than the average person works,” he said, knowing that the Bonds on the island that he’d met or heard about were all hard workers. Not one of them with money sat back and counted their dimes in the living room while drinking a glass of champagne.
The ones that didn’t have millions, maybe even billions, they worked hard like him. William’s side, he’d heard. It’d been interesting what he’d learned on this island and what people were willing to gossip about too.
“I don’t even want to know how many hours we put in, but it’s our dream and dreams are worth it,” she said. “But they come at a cost and that cost is my personal life.”
He smiled. “Which is why today is about fun. I’ve got a feeling you don’t get a lot of fun in your life if it’s not work related. And that makes me kind of sad.”
She wrinkled her nose adorably. “When you put it that way it makes me feel even worse. But now I’m dying to know what fun we hav
e in store today.”
“Bowling and darts,” he said.
“Seriously?”
He wasn’t sure what to make of her expression. Confusion for sure, but not in a bad way. Her brown eyes looked more cautious, then sort of lit up. “Yep. What’s more fun than throwing a ball down an alley and picturing all the frustrating things in life on those pins and you get to knock them down.”
She laughed. “That does sound like fun, but if I don’t knock any over then it might be more frustrating. Darts though, oh yeah. I’ve got lots of people’s faces I can picture on that board.” She was rubbing her hands together. “I’m game for this.”
He was glad because he’d put some thought into this date and figured someone like her was used to fancy dinners and wine. That wasn’t him one bit. He’d done it and hated it. Most of the time it was forced on him by women who knew he had money and wanted to live the high life.
Shit, money or not, he was who he was and this man wanted a burger, beer, and some darts. That he was getting a hot woman that was out of his league was just a dream that he was hoping he could make a reality. Hadn’t she said a lot of work had to go into making a dream come true? Or something like that. He’d been biding his time to be with her, even if it was only for a few hours.
It was probably stupid on his part to even be doing this, but since he was alone so much and he had the money, why not use it to get close to someone he wanted to get to know better?
Life was short. He knew that. He didn’t want to have regrets, and admiring Emily from a distance and not having a chance to at least get to know her would be one.
If nothing came of it, then he’d just move on. He was used to doing that in life anyway.
She grabbed her jacket and purse and then they made their way to his SUV. She still didn’t really let him in the house more than her foyer and that was fine. He was ultimately a stranger to her and he understood, but what he’d seen told him she had simple but classic style.
Her house was older, in a nice neighborhood by the water. She probably had a great view even though she wasn’t right on the water, but had it across the street. It was a bigger house and she had neighbors but not that close by.
There was a lot of wood and charm and simple decorations for sure from his quick glance of bringing those boxes in. He’d say there probably wasn’t one thing simple about Emily though.
“So when was the last time you’ve been bowling?” he asked. “I have to admit it’s been years for me. Maybe in college.”
“You went to college?” she asked.
“Don’t look so shocked,” he said.
“I’m sorry again. That was rude of me. What did you go for?”
“No clue,” he said. “Everything and anything and I dropped out my senior year. I changed enough, I liked to party and wasn’t passing anyway. So I guess your shocked expression had merit.”
He’d been doing those things because he had all the money he wanted at his disposal and no one really cared if he worked or not. He’d been making it rain with Benjamins the same as his parents had.
They were stupid and careless with their winnings, spending it like it’d last forever and giving away more at times. Thankfully they’d won almost a hundred and fifty million dollars. But by the time taxes and the one-time payment was issued, it was damn near half that. When his parents died there was about forty-five million dollars left to him. He’d been smart with investments, both in property and stocks, and increased it by another five million in the past ten years. If his parents had still been alive, he wondered if they would have blown through it all. If he would have helped contribute to it too.
“Everyone has periods of their life they might regret.”
He smiled this time. “We do. But I had a lot of fun and I’ve turned it around.”
“You seem pretty stable to me,” she said. “What’s the saying, ‘through rain, sleet, and snow’? I’ve seen you through rain and wind. No snow or sleet since you only started my route this summer.”
“I’ve only lived on the island since early summer,” he said.
“I know. You had to clear a background check before this date could happen.”
“What?” he said, turning his head to look at her. Maybe he should have read the fine print when he signed the document.
“You don’t really think my family would risk something like this for anyone without knowing who someone was, do you?”
“I suppose not.”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I told them they didn’t need to do it. You worked for the federal government so you couldn’t have a criminal record.”
“I don’t,” he said. “Not even a speeding ticket.” Because of course lawyers got him out of them, but he wasn’t that stupid kid anymore either.
“All Mac told us was that you lived here since this summer and had a clean record.”
“Mac Bond, the chief of police, did the background check? Not some private security firm?” he asked, surprised.
“That is what I told my father to have done. He knows Mac well, since he’s on the town board. My father or Mitchell could have had our security firm do it, but there was no reason. What everyone else decided was up to them. I’m sure whoever won Hailey for the night got run through the wringer if Hunter had anything to say about it.”
“Hailey is Hunter’s sister?” he asked. He was still trying to figure everyone out but heard jokes about Hunter upping the bid on Hailey. And he knew Hunter owned The Bond Retreat on the island. The oldest hotel and resort. The guy and his family were probably worth close to a billion he was sure, if the rumors were correct.
“Yes. She’s a lawyer and oversees the Bond Trust and has her own firm in Boston where she lives. She has an office here on the island too and takes care of most of the business for our family. He is very protective of his sister though.”
“She seemed like she could hold her own just like you.”
“I can,” she said. “And back to your question about bowling. I think it might have been in high school. I didn’t live on the island growing up.”
“You didn’t?” he asked. “I thought most of you did.”
“No. Hunter and Hailey didn’t either. We lived in Boston. My father, Mason, works with Mitchell Bond, but he oversaw the office in Boston while Mitchell worked on the island. We have a family home here and came on the weekends and holidays and normally the summer, but my sister and I went to school in Boston.”
“What made you want to come here and put up a hotel then?”
“I just love this island. I looked forward to the time we spent here. And hotels are in my blood, you could say. I’m not sure how much you know of the history of the island.”
“Not much more than what I read or hear people say. Five kids from Malcolm and Elizabeth Bond, right? I always hear people say things like, ‘They are from Edward’s side, or William’s and so on.”
“Yep. That is how we are classified and it’s nuts. I’m from Patricia’s side,” she said, laughing.
“So I’ve heard,” he said. “I won’t grill you on your family history. I don’t think many people like it and I’d rather not have a history lesson for the little bit of time we have.”
“Thanks for that,” she said. “I sometimes feel like it’s never ending though it is fun to tell those that don’t know everything and see their shocked expressions.”
“I’m not sure I’m shocked as much as it’s kind of antiquated. We should be judged on who we are today not who we came from or the actions of others.”
“You’re darn straight,” she said. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
He could take that statement in so many ways and had to tell himself to not go where she didn’t mean it.
He parked his SUV, as it didn’t take long to get to the bowling alley. “Doesn’t seem too busy here right now. I just figured we could get a few games in and then go get dinner at one of the bars that had some darts and pool tables in it. You still up
for that?”
“Absolutely. This might be the most expensive date someone has taken me on and it’s going to be by far the most enjoyable.”
“We don’t know that yet,” he said.
“Just the fact I’m wearing jeans and get to have a beer and throw things at targets is enough for me. And my appetite is back so I can’t wait to chow down on a burger.”
“You are much more down to earth than I thought you’d be.”
“Don’t judge a book on its cover,” she said, winking at him.
They walked inside and got their shoes, then were assigned an alley, and walked around finding the right balls to use, laughing the entire time.
“So I’d ask how your Thanksgiving was, but I have a feeling it was pretty crappy.”
“Why do you say that?” she asked.
“Weren’t you sick?”
“Not until the next day. My Thanksgiving was about what it normally is. Just the four of us at my parents’ this year. It was quiet and the way I like it. Especially since I’d been traveling for days before. I always seem to get sick when I’m done traveling.”
“The air on the planes,” he said.
“I know. I wish Egan could just fly me everywhere rather than to Boston when I need to go at times.”
He held back his snort. That was where money talked. Rather than take the ferry she took a private chopper. “That does sound like a much better mode of transportation than the ferry.”
“And now you think I’m spoiled saying that. I don’t mind the ferry but don’t care for it in the winter. Egan is flying back and forth to Boston daily for business or his other pilot is. If I know I’ve got to catch a plane, I just ask if I can bum a ride. I’d never ask him to go out of his way. I’m just squeezing in as a lot of us do at times.”
It made more sense and seemed reasonable enough. She made a comment about not judging a book by its cover and yet he just did it.
“Still a nice perk,” he said.
“It is. So, do you have family on the island or did you get to visit anyone? I’d hate to think you were by yourself, but you probably had to work the next day. This time of year I bet you’re working a lot.”