Family Bonds- Hunter and Kayla (Amore Island Book 1)

by Natalie Ann

  “Then you know what you need to do. And you’re a better man than I.”

  He thought that was a harsh statement. “You’ve got your problems and issues, Dad, but you’ve never been a horrible person. You’ve always been a family man. And it takes a big person to come here today and say what you did.”

  “That’s something at least.” His father stood up, never one for showing much emotion or having long conversations about anything other than work. They understood each other enough for Hunter to say no more. “If you need my help dealing with this woman, you know where to find me.”

  “I’ve got it covered.”

  40

  Gather My Thoughts

  Kayla didn’t know what was going on. She got a text from Hunter to come to his place a few hours before she started work. That he’d have dinner for her, but they needed to talk.

  She hoped to hell he wasn’t going to pressure her into getting married again. She wasn’t up for that discussion. Not when she’d been trying to figure out what to do about her mother contacting her a few days ago. She was so nervous she even put her necklace on for good luck, hoping this conversation wouldn’t upset her more.

  She’d ignored her mother’s message and thought it’d go away, but it didn’t. Her mother sent her two more. The last thing she needed was to have more things to worry about with Hunter.

  When she got to the penthouse, she figured she’d beat him there, but he was in the kitchen and putting food on a plate.

  “You didn’t make that, did you?” she asked of the two large pieces of some kind of bread wrapped around beef.

  “No way. I couldn’t even if I wanted to and I didn’t. Beef Wellington is on the menu as a special tonight so I had two orders sent up.”

  “It looks good,” she said. She ate pretty much anything at this point, but was craving beef like it was going out of style and found that funny since she never ate much of it before.

  “What did you want to talk about?” she asked when she sat down. Might as well get it over with so she could enjoy the meal.

  He got up and got her a bottle of water. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine. Good. Just tired.” This better not be a talk about her not working. She expected that to come up at some point too. Her job wasn’t hard, she could sit behind the desk if she needed to when the time came, but right now there was no point.

  Very few people knew she was pregnant, but she also knew it wouldn’t be long now. Almost everyone was aware she was dating Hunter. She didn’t think it was Tiffany that said anything, but she also knew on an island this small, news could travel fast and they hadn’t been even trying to keep it a secret anymore.

  “I’m not sure how to say this, so I’m just going to come out with it. Your mother called me today.”

  She started to cough on the flavorful rich meat in front of her. “What? No way. You must be mistaken.”

  “Marilyn Morrison. That’s your mother’s name, right?”

  “Yes,” she said. “But how would she know who you are? I haven’t gotten back to her. I’m ignoring her.”

  “She’s contacted you?” he asked.

  Kayla felt the tears already forming in her eyes. “A few days ago she sent me a message on Facebook. I didn’t reply. She sent two more. I’m not sure what she wants and I’m just kind of putting it off to gather my thoughts.”

  “I know what she wants,” he said. “Why haven’t you said anything to me about it?”

  “Because I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. Part of me wants nothing to do with her but the other part of me wants to know about my medical history. I’m having a baby. I should know those things and she’d be the only one to give them to me. At least from her side of the family.”

  “I didn’t think of that. I still wish you would have told me.”

  “What does she want with you?” she asked, positive she wasn’t going to like the answer.

  “Blackmail.”

  “What!? What does she want to blackmail you about?” She stood up and started to pace. This was horrible.

  “Sit down and eat, Kayla. Don’t get upset.”

  “Easy for you to say. I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve done nothing but bring heartache and problems to you and your family. Your father already hates me and he’s going to even more. I should just leave the island.”

  “No,” Hunter said, standing up and marching over to her. “You are not leaving this island and you’re not taking my child from me.”

  “That’s all this is about to you, isn’t it? Your child.”

  “No!” he shouted at her. “It’s about you. I don’t want to lose you either. Why can’t you see that?”

  She moved back out of his arms. Did she hear him right? Did he just say he didn’t want to lose her?

  “You’ve never said anything like that before,” she said, wiping the tears that were tumbling down her cheeks like boulders along the side of a mountain after an earthquake.

  “Neither have you,” he said back.

  “This is new. This relationship we have. The baby was a mis—”

  “Don’t even,” he said, cutting her off. “Our child isn’t a mistake. You aren’t or weren’t a mistake. Stop feeling that way about yourself.”

  “I can’t help feeling this way when it’s the life I’ve lived. No one has ever wanted me.”

  “I want you. I don’t want to lose you. Why don’t you believe that? Did you ever stop to think that maybe it was fate that you got pregnant? That it brought us together even more. That it would bond us for life?”

  “I want to believe it when you say it like that. If any place is full of fate it’s here. I just don’t know what it’s like to have someone be there for me. To care about me like that. I’m scared if I let myself feel more and you go away it’s going to be even harder.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “We are in this together. We will deal with your mother together.”

  Crap, she’d forgotten all about that. “What does she want from you? Money? For what reason? Let me guess, to not tell anyone what a piece of crap I am, or my life has been. That it’d embarrass you and your family?”

  “She didn’t say she wanted money, but I’m sure it’s all about that. What she doesn’t realize is that she is putting way more importance on our family name and reputation than I am. Than most of my family does.”

  “But your father?”

  “Is fine. He knows about this. He was here when the call came in and he was pissed off. Not at you but for you. You have to trust me on this. We had a talk; he explained some things to me. I understand him more now. I don’t agree with the way he is, but he also knows how I feel about you and that I will stand by you and protect you and my child.”

  “He really doesn’t hate me?”

  “No,” Hunter said, hugging her again. “He doesn’t. He never did. We’ll talk about him another time. Right now, we have to deal with your mother and what we are going to do is nothing.”

  “How is that dealing with it?” she asked.

  “I know all about your mother,” he said. “I had Hailey look into your family months ago. Not because I wanted any dirt on you. I just wanted to know more about your life and any problems you might face. I guess I was bothered when you said you reached out to her and she didn’t want anything to do with you.”

  Kayla wasn’t sure what to think about Hunter doing that behind her back. “What did you find out?”

  “Not a lot. Her husband owns a garage; your mother works in the office there. They’ve got two kids. Son and daughter. Their son has been in and out of minor trouble, some drug use. Let’s just say I had a bad feeling that she was someone that might want something from you if she thought you turned out well.”

  “I didn’t turn out well,” she said. “I’m single and pregnant just like her. Guess that is history repeating itself.”

  “You’re nothing like your mother. You’re an adult and you’
re with someone who is going to be there and not leave you. We are going to raise this child together and give it a good home. A good life.”

  That sounded like he was planning on the future more than she was. Was her necklace really giving her good luck? She reached up and started to play with it.

  “So how does this solve anything? Ignoring her?”

  “She says she is going to call tomorrow, but I’m not taking it. I’m going to call her bluff.”

  “What if she starts spreading rumors about me? Won’t it make your family look bad?”

  “Kayla. We are big fish in a little pond. Not many outside of Massachusetts know or even care about the Bonds. She doesn’t realize that.”

  “But you’re like royalty in Boston,” she said.

  “Boston is one city. I don’t care. If she wants to start posting things online, or calling newspapers, more power to her. Remember, she didn’t want to get to know you because she didn’t want her current family aware of her past. Is she willing to tell them now? Let’s just see what happens. Until then, don’t worry about it.”

  “Easy for you to say,” she said.

  “It is for me to say because I’m going to take care of it. Now eat your dinner and put it behind you.”

  41

  Recognizing Me

  The next day Marilyn Morrison called his office and he refused the call. Two more days went by and finally there was some talk on social media about Kayla.

  He was pissed off, but it wasn’t that big of a deal in his eyes. It made Marilyn look more like the fool as the woman who abandoned her daughter than Kayla for being in and out of foster care.

  Did Marilyn make comments about Kayla trying to better herself by sleeping her way out of that life? Sure, she did, but Hailey took care of that and all statements were going through her.

  But when Marilyn didn’t get the reaction she wanted, she started to post negative reviews on the Retreat. Making things up and complaining about Kayla at the front desk. The woman wasn’t even smart enough to use a different name.

  Unless she really didn’t care. That she wanted it known she was causing trouble.

  For the life of him he didn’t know what this woman hoped to accomplish by her words. Did she really think a few negative reviews were going to make him pay her off to stop? And now her husband was doing the same thing? She had another thing coming.

  When Saturday rolled around, Kayla made her way to the penthouse after work. Hunter was up and waiting for her.

  “Why aren’t you in bed?” she asked.

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  He wanted to see her. He’d heard that there had been more buzz going on around the hotel in regards to their relationship. He was pretty sure she was upset but was holding it in.

  “I’m so sorry for everything. Because of me everything your family has worked so hard for is getting a bad rap or having issues.”

  Waterworks started fast and he pulled her into his arms. “There are no issues,” he said. “Do you think it’s the first time someone has given us negative reviews? It’s not going to hurt our ratings in the least and you shouldn’t worry over it. I think you should take the rest of the week off. I talked to Patrice.”

  “It’s not going to stop or slow down,” she said.

  “It will. Are guests giving you a hard time?” He’d been watching the monitors and talking to Carol and Patrice all week to find out details. He didn’t think there were any problems. Just because Marilyn was posting things on their social media pages didn’t necessarily mean guests realized it.

  “No. Not really. Many aren’t even putting it together. It’s more like when I’m out and about. Most of the people on the island are recognizing me now.”

  “So what? You live on the island. Anyone say anything to you?”

  “No. I just feel like I’m being watched and judged. Like I’m the poor hick that lured you to my web and got myself pregnant.”

  Hunter laughed. He couldn’t help it. “That comes with being a Bond, being watched and judged. And I happen to love being in your web.”

  “I’m not a Bond,” she said, sniffling.

  “You’re carrying one. And I want you to be one. I want you to marry me.”

  That just made her cry even harder. “You only want to marry me because of the baby.”

  He opened his mouth to argue and then realized he hadn’t said he loved her. He felt that way but the words never came out. “That isn’t the only reason I want to marry you.”

  “Then why?” she asked.

  “You know why.”

  “Why can’t you say it?”

  “Why can’t you?” he said back with a big grin. That caused her to cry harder. Man, he hoped it was hormones. “I’m sorry. I love you, Kayla. I think I’ve loved you for months. I know I felt something for you from the first moment I saw you. If we buy into the lore of the island, maybe it was meant to be? Love at first sight? It’d be a nice romantic story for your child someday.”

  “I was a mess that day,” she said, wiping her arm under her nose and groaning after she did it and walking to get a tissue.

  “Not much different than right now,” he said, grinning. “You don’t care about my name. You don’t care about what I’ve got. You don’t want to marry me because you don’t want me to think you only want me for my money. It’s like you’re punishing yourself, or us, for your own thoughts.”

  “Who told you that?” she asked.

  “No one had to tell me. I know you well enough. I don’t care what other people think. I don’t care what other people say. I’m not my father.”

  “What does that mean?” she asked.

  “Another time. But I’m standing up for you. I’m standing up for us. And I want you to marry me. Hang on.” He went to his office and came back. “I’ve had this for a few weeks. Just to prove it’s not a spur of the moment thing.”

  He flipped the lid on the box and showed her the custom-made three-carat diamond ring solitaire with multiple diamonds around it giving the illusion of a star. “Oh my. Is that a star?”

  “It is. You’re always wishing on your necklace. On the star. You can stop wishing now. I’m asking you, will you marry me?”

  “I think I should,” she said, her grin the biggest he’d ever seen it.

  “You think?” he asked, trying not to be insulted.

  “I want to so bad.”

  “Then tell me yes,” he said.

  “Yes. I’ll marry you!”

  Things didn’t die down. Marilyn just kept bringing up more and more lies on social media about Kayla. Talking about her in foster care as someone who was in and out of trouble with the law. Saying that people should watch their possessions when coming to the Retreat. Even Marilyn’s husband got in the act and said Kayla tried to reach out to them begging for money and threatening to ruin their business if they didn’t pay up.

  Hunter was starting to think this was something the married couple conjured up in hopes of a quick payout. They had no idea who they were dealing with.

  He wasn’t as upset about it all as Kayla was, because the truth was, he had it covered. He could handle anything Marilyn threw Kayla’s way. He could squash Marilyn like a bug and wanted to.

  But it was Kayla’s mother and, as much as he couldn’t stand the woman and didn’t think Kayla could either, what if she changed her mind someday and wanted a relationship with the woman who abandoned her?

  Since his family meant so much to him, he wouldn’t stand in the way of her trying to find something there.

  And because of that, he was going lighter than he wanted to dealing with this.

  He was doing everything because of Kayla and his love for her.

  Kayla wasn’t saying a word. She wasn’t defending herself, following his advice even though she’d argued with him. “I never wanted anything from her. Why can’t I say that?” she asked.

  “Because she wants a reaction from you. She wants you to engage her. It will only make it wo
rse and you know it.”

  “But people are going to believe it if I don’t defend myself,” she said, crying. “I know the guests aren’t paying attention to it, but your family and other residents of the island might see them. They know you are dating me. They are going to think even worse of me now.”

  “I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks,” he argued.

  “Because you’ve got people to stand behind you.”

  “And those people are going to stand behind you too. You’ve got to trust me on this.”

  He’d convinced her to take the week off and relax, to lay low. Hailey was dealing with it all the way a lawyer would. The way a sister would.

  And on the day that Marilyn was served with a lawsuit for defamation of character, and the threat of more money to be collected from them than they could pay in two lifetimes if they didn’t issue a public apology and cease and desist, Charlie Bond was being interviewed over the changes being done to the hotel by the local news.

  His father wanted to do it and Hunter argued but in the end let his father have his way and take the lead while Hunter stood back and watched.

  It wasn’t that Hunter couldn’t handle the interview. He could. He had done plenty.

  It’s just his father was going to say what he wanted and stand up for his family, and Hunter realized that not only did his father need to do this, it was showing a united front on top of it.

  “Now that I’ve answered all the questions about the expansion of the hotel, I’d like to announce how thrilled my wife, Nicole, and I are at the expansion of our family. My son, Hunter, is newly engaged to Kayla Rivers. We look forward to their winter wedding after the first of the year.”

  “That’s a very short engagement,” someone commented.

  “It is. Kayla would like to be able to fit into the wedding gown she picked out before our first grandchild starts to become more visible.”

  His father laughed when he said that and Hunter knew Kayla wouldn’t be thrilled over the comment, though it was funny since she’d made that joke herself when they picked their wedding date.