by Natalie Ann
It was both, but she wasn’t going to admit it. She didn’t think Crew would appreciate being talked down to. Or thought of as someone trying to date a Bond to step up in the world. Nor did she want anyone to think she was a sugar mama.
“I don’t know what is going on. It was two dates. We went out for his date and people saw us. It was very public knowledge who bought dates with whom. There was no hiding that. But maybe I just wanted a quiet night in where I could be myself.”
“You never show yourself to many people,” her mother said. “Just like tonight. You’re smiling and laughing with staff and coworkers, but you aren’t relaxed like Penelope. You aren’t laughing as much. It’s like the little girl you once were is gone.”
“I’m not gone. I’ve always been more serious than Penelope. More driven too.”
“You’re both driven and your sister has put just as much work and effort into this hotel as you. She had the same vision as you and the two of you are doing wonderfully. Your father and I couldn’t be any prouder than we are.”
It was always good to hear that. Everyone wanted to make their parents proud even if they said they didn’t.
“Thanks. And I pick on Penelope a lot, but I know she works hard.”
“She does. And she loves her sister and wants to see her happy. She thinks you like this guy. Do you?”
Emily sighed. “I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“Fine. You know I’ll ask you more at the holidays. But are you thinking of maybe bringing him to Hunter’s wedding?”
“I hadn’t thought of it.”
“Maybe you should,” her mother said and walked away leaving her there to wonder what the heck just happened.
9
A Goal In Mind
“I know you don’t like going to restaurants much,” Emily said when Crew pulled his SUV into Duke’s two days later. For a Monday night they were busier than she expected they’d be, but it was just two days before Christmas and she knew she was pretty full at the hotel.
“It’s not that I don’t like them,” he said. “It’s just I don’t always like dressing up.”
“But you put a suit and tie on for the fundraiser,” she said.
“I had a goal in mind that night. It was worth it.”
She was glad to hear him still say that since it’d been two weeks since they’d spent any time together. She’d heard what her mother said a few nights ago and wanted to prove her wrong.
Or maybe her mother wasn’t wrong and Emily took it as it was time to put her fears behind her and be seen in public. If she had to defend Crew, she was darn well going to, but she hoped it didn’t come to that. At least it wouldn’t in her family...she prayed.
“No suit tonight, but is it still worth putting on pants and a nice shirt?”
He started to laugh when they walked to the front door, then he pulled it open and held it for her. “You make it sound like I can’t wear anything other than that lovely postal uniform daily or jeans. I can assure you I’ve got plenty of other clothes.”
She was making a complete mess of this. “I didn’t mean it that way. Let’s rewind and start over.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “I don’t come off as the type of guy to dress up. I get it. I am who I am and like that person now.”
“Now?” she asked. “Rauch for two,” she said when the hostess looked up at them.
“Follow me.”
They moved behind the hostess and walked to a booth in the back. Even better in her mind. It was six thirty and the back of the building didn’t have many seats filled. Maybe they’d be in and out without running into too many people.
Once they were seated, Crew said, “I told you I dropped out of college. I spent a lot of time partying and hanging out with people that weren’t right for me. I guess even in my twenties I was trying to find my place and realized that I’m better being comfortable in my own skin than conforming to others.”
“I like that,” she said. “I think I might use that the next time someone makes a snarky comment about my personality.”
“And what snarky comment would that be?”
They waited while their drink orders were taken and then she’d said, “You even said I needed to loosen up. I know it. But I’ve had a vision of what I wanted most of my life. Penelope did too. It’s hard at times to be a woman in the business world and when you come from the Bonds, people look at you more. They think you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but not all of us are.”
“Yeah, I heard about William’s side. Sorry if I find the whole thing funny.”
“Most do in our family, but the truth is, we are really judged. Edward and James’s side have the most wealth. There is no denying it.”
“And that would be who? Hunter and Hailey, right? I think that was said at the auction. Coy, Bode, and Drew were another side?”
“Yes. I suppose we will always have a little history lesson. Hunter and Hailey and The Retreat are on the Edward side. It can only be passed down to a male. Long story there, but Hunter’s Great-great-grandfather James—and yes the names get confusing—was a womanizing manwhore. It’s the joke of the family, but one that Hunter and Hailey hate to hear and I shouldn’t even bring it up. But anyway, The Retreat was rumored to be started to house all his women.”
“That place is massive. Guess he had a lot of women.”
“Not quite. It was only a fraction of the size when it started. Each generation built on, first doubling it and then doubling it again in size. It’s the oldest hotel and resort on the island. And the biggest in terms of size.”
“The most expensive too,” he said.
“That is true. They cater to that crowd and found their niche and they are at the other end of the island and it works.”
“So James’s branch of the family. That would be Mitchell that your father works for?” he asked.
“Yes. Mitchell and Scott of this generation and we’ll keep it simple. Real Estate for Scott and I’m sure you know there are a lot of offices all over the island plus many off the island. They also own over fifty rental homes. Drew and Bode run the day-to-day operations there. Coy is a dentist. I think I went over this so stop me if I’m boring you.”
“Not boring. Go on.”
“Mitchell owns hotels on the island and in Boston. Plus Mitchell and Scott jointly own apartment complexes on the island and off. Not just Boston. Their businesses cross over. My father oversees the hotel portion of the business and worked out of Boston when we were growing up. We lived there. Now he’s more remote and he and my mother spend more time living on the island since Penelope and I are here.”
“And Eli owns the casino, Egan the choppers service, and Ethan works for offices with his father?” he asked.
“You’ve got a good memory,” she said, smiling.
“So why did you want to own a hotel? And the tallest on the island?”
“Why not?” she said.
The waitress came back with their drinks and they placed their food orders. “That’s not much of an answer,” he said when they were alone again.
“I know. I don’t think I’ve got an answer other than it’s in our blood and I needed something to stand out so I decided to go big. I cater toward families on vacation. Some of my rooms have efficiencies in them, some just one bed and a coffee maker on the counter. I offer a wide range.”
“Expanding the market. And it’s just you and Penelope who have it all? That’s a lot of work for two young women.”
“My father and Mitchell put up the money to start and own thirty percent total. Penelope and I have the other seventy we split so we retain the majority, but we’ve got loans. Many think we are rolling in it, but trust me, we aren’t. There is a lot of debt since it’s so new.”
She didn’t often talk about this and wondered why she was. The profit the hotel saw went back into the business after her father and Mitchell got their fifteen percent cut each year. She and Penelope just had salaries and
were fine with it. They were decent salaries, but still, they weren’t in any league like their cousins.
“Are you saying that so I know? You don’t think I want you for your money, do you?”
Crew was grinning at her even though she was positive she insulted him. “No. I don’t think that. It just kind of came out in conversation.”
“That’s fine. You said you like to be upfront and it works for me. I’m more interested in your body.”
Her jaw opened and closed, then she started to laugh. But she couldn’t say anything else though when she saw Duke walking by to head to the kitchen. He’d caught her eye and moved in her direction.
He was in his black chef coat and had his long hair tied back in a ponytail. “Emily. Surprised to see you out this close to the holiday. I thought for sure you’d be working till midnight,” Duke said.
“Penelope is there right now and we know I’m always available via phone. Just like you. No rest for the weary. Duke Raymond, owner and chef of this restaurant, meet Crew Ackley.”
Crew shook hands with Duke. “The man who paid for a date with my cousin. Good for you. Must be doing something right if you are out with her again. Guess she didn’t kick you to the curb like so many others end up.”
“Get away,” she told Duke, laughing. He moved away and went back to the kitchen. “That was very rude of him but expected. He’s a little crude because he’s always in the back yelling at people.”
“Not a problem. I’m not surprised you’ve kicked a lot of men to the curb in your past. You’ve talked about your ex and he probably soured you on men. But again, you’ve been clear what you’re looking for and what you’re not. You’ve got the little speech about your family and your wealth practiced well.”
“It’s not a speech,” she argued.
“It’s in your head and you get it out there so that men know going in. You said you wanted that with me. That I knew going in. I do, don’t worry.”
“I’m completely turning you off and could kick Duke’s ass to the curb right now.”
“You swore,” he said. “Here I was worried I’d have to watch my language around you, but I see a bit of a temper brewing.”
“This night is going to hell in a handbasket via the devil’s express train. I can’t believe I’m making such a complete mess of things. This is another reason why I don’t date often.”
10
Seeing A Pattern
Crew felt bad for Emily now after she’d just said why she didn’t date.
He was trying not to get too worked up over their conversations where it felt like she was putting him in his place and making it clear what she would and wouldn’t tolerate.
Since he was used to this with women—not that Emily knew that—he could see it a mile away. But now all of a sudden her face was red and she was reaching for her wine and all but downing it.
He put his hand on hers. “Stop. I get it. You’ve got baggage and it’s opening up on the table right now.”
“It’s all dirty and needs to be laundered too.”
“We all have it in our background. Don’t worry about it,” he said. “You said you wanted to rewind, then do it. It seems when we talk about your history this happens. Let me summarize. You don’t want to be judged by your name and what you have. You make sure men—or women—know you are working your ass off rather than being handed over everything. I’m sure there are trust funds all over your family and beyond and I don’t care about them.”
“Thank you.”
“And you still aren’t sure you believe that and I don’t know how to prove it other than showing you. My back is going to get all twisted at times because it pisses me off on a lot of levels so we have to work through it or it’s not going to work at all.”
“I can see you getting twisted and that is why I feel bad. That also tells me you aren’t like anyone else I’ve dated before.”
“For good or bad? I’m probably not on a lot of levels.”
“Good,” she said smiling now. “Definitely good.”
Thankfully their food was delivered and they were able to stop talking and eat. He could see they were both gathering their thoughts when he heard her name called and saw a woman and two men making their way to another table but detour over. The woman did, not the men, they just waved.
“Fancy meeting you here tonight.”
“Ava,” Emily said. “What are you doing on the island this late? You might miss the last ferry.”
“I’m here all week for the holiday. I took the on call rotation too and am staying with my parents. Normally I don’t get to have dinner with my brothers, but they are treating me.”
“Dr. Ava Mills, this is Crew Ackley. Crew, Ava is a cousin too.”
They shook hands. “I’m seeing a pattern here. That’s two tonight. I wonder how many more we’ll run into.”
Ava laughed.
“I told you people would see us out together and this island is full of my family,” Emily said as Ava moved over to join her brothers.
“Twins over there?” he asked, nodding to the three of them a few tables over.
“Yes. Hudson and Carson and all three of them are doctors. Ava lives and works in Plymouth but has clinical hours here one day a week. Both Hudson and Carson are on the island.”
“Your side of the family?” he asked.
“No. Catherine’s side. And what do you know? The only side we haven’t talked about is William’s tonight.”
“Not going there,” he said. “It will only set you off and you are finally relaxing.”
She picked up her fork and started to eat her dinner. “I am relaxing. That is one thing about you. You seem to loosen me up and let me relax but then at times spin me up more than when I’m at work.”
“It’s a talent I have,” he said.
He’d always been that way. He could relax people because he didn’t take much seriously if he was partying with them or out for fun. Or he could piss them off faster than a pickpocket on the subway in New York City when they found he had no intention of doing much more than having fun.
“I sense sarcasm in there, but I still like it.”
“Then that is all I care about,” he said. “Not many do and I really don’t let it faze me.”
“That’s wrong,” she said. “You do let it bother you even if you say you don’t. But let’s not talk about it anymore. How busy have you been at work?”
“Very,” he said. “It will slow down in another week or so. Packages might not make it by the holiday and will come in late. I’ve been told those that live on the island know things are slow and they still bitch when their stuff isn’t on time.”
“They could always ship to Boston and get it there. Mitchell has a business that does that.”
“So I heard.”
“It was actually great he started it years ago. Most of the businesses on the island have their stuff shipped to Boston and many send an employee over daily to get what is needed. Those of us that work closely together share our people. It’s easier for us as we are so close to Romeo.”
He grinned. He thought it was funny the north port was called Romeo and the south Juliet. The island of love with romantic names. The whole lore of the island was hilarious, but many bought into it and he knew the Bonds capitalized on that with their businesses.
“And I’ve been told the residents of the island are aware the post office only gets trucks five days a week on the island. November and December it’s six days.”
“How does that work exactly? I find it interesting but understand why things are slow here too and we have to make due.”
“There are two offices on the island. One on the north, which I work out of, as you know, and one on the south. A driver is shared between the two offices and drives a big truck over full of what needs to be shipped for the day to Boston on the six o’clock ferry. They come back on the eight o’clock one with the island’s mail and unload it and sort some of it. The rest is sorted in the morni
ng and mailed out. Simple enough,” he said.
“There is nothing simple about that, but I get it. So what are the five days? Monday through Friday.”
“Nope. Sunday through Thursday. But this time of year it’s Sunday through Friday.”
“What made you want to come here?” she asked. “I’m sure it’s not ideal for most people. A small island that doesn’t have a lot of places to live or those that are affordable or easily available.”
“No clue. I saw the opening and put in for it. I will admit living quarters weren’t easy to find.”
He wasn’t going to admit he paid a lot more for his place by the water than most would know. He figured many thought he might be renting the house, but it was his. No reason to explain. It’d raise way too many eyebrows anyway. It’d been a private sale his lawyer was lucky enough to find for him so even the Bonds wouldn’t have known having not gone through any offices on this island.
“But you found something. Do you think you’ll stay here?” she asked. “You said you moved around a lot.”
“I haven’t been able to find what I was looking for. I’m not sure I even knew what that was, but for some reason I like it here.”
“So no answer,” she said, grinning.
“It’s hard to know six months in, but if I had to place a bet, I’d say I’ll be here a long time. The weather wasn’t too hot this summer and not too bad right now either.”
“It will get colder and we get snow, but it doesn’t always stay being on the island. The ocean cools the breeze in the summer and warms it in the winter.”
“Do you like it here better than Boston?” he asked.
“I do. I go back to Boston and my parents still have their home there, but they spend more time here now. My mother’s brother and his family live in Boston. They’ve got a small home here and visit often, but not as much as us.”