by Natalie Ann
Bella snorted. “Thank God we are beyond that. I read the story though. She offered her daughter’s hand in marriage to Malcolm if he could find the island in three days with minimal coordinates.”
“Exactly,” he said, smiling. “So I’m sure you read that he got lost at sea during a storm and stumbled on the land to make repairs not realizing he’d found his destination.”
“I did,” she said. “Where the legend said he took one look at Elizabeth and fell in love, happily ever after.”
Eli laughed. “So the story goes. Five kids later. Edward the oldest, James next, which is my branch. Then there were twin girls Catherine and Patricia—which is Emily and Penelope’s side. Their father, Mason, happens to work with my father, so though we are several generations removed in relation, we are very close with them. And last of the clan is William.”
“Is everyone close?” she asked.
“Of my generation, I’d like to think we are. Even my parents’ generation for the most part. Years before that, you hear things. The longer you stay on the island the more you’ll hear too. But to wrap it all up and move on to another topic, Catherine’s line is the medical one. The bulk are doctors in some medical field. Patricia’s line is the most diverse, dabbling in just about everything tourism. Food, hotels, retail. William’s line is the blue collar workers.”
“That’s rude,” she said.
“I’m not trying to be rude. I’m stating a fact. You’ll hear things on this island. To me they get the most respect. My cousin Mac is the chief of police, his brothers are a fireman and a state trooper. Other cousins are those that provide much-needed services to this island too. We all do our part. The residents of the island like to classify us, but the family doesn’t.”
At least he didn’t. Or he never wanted to. His parents didn’t either.
“My family is small,” she said. “Or what I know of it. I’m not even sure my mother wanted a child.”
“Really?” he asked. “How do you know that?”
He poured them each a glass of champagne and handed it over. She took a sip. “Just a guess. My mother was wild when she was younger. I’d heard the stories. She calmed down when she met my father. Not sure if she wanted to, or it was a necessity of his position. But she loved to entertain and travel. A child doesn’t fit into that lifestyle.”
“No,” he said, “it doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t want you.”
“I’m not saying she didn’t want me. I guess I’m saying I might not have been planned. I believe my parents were good parents when they had time to be that. It wasn’t their priority.”
Which was sad to hear anyone say that. “I’m sorry for what you went through.”
“It’s in the past,” she said. “I’ve had a good life so far.”
“Have you?” he asked. “Money doesn’t make a good life.”
She reached for the food in the basket and started to spread it out. “No, it doesn’t. And you went to a lot of trouble to put this picnic together and I’m sure you’ve got work to do later too. This topic is too depressing. What do we have for food?”
“Lobster salad,” he said, opening the container. “Some fresh bread to spread it on. A variety of grilled vegetables, and my favorite—potato salad.”
“That doesn’t seem to go with the rest,” she said, grinning when he opened that container and put a spoonful on his plate.
“I didn’t say it went, just that it was my favorite. I don’t get it often. It’s not something served on the menu.”
“You put a special request in with the kitchen for it?”
“A man never tells his secrets when it comes to setting up a date.” He’d asked his housekeeper to make it for him today. He’d been dying for it and at the last minute put some in the basket.
They started to eat. “I bet you come here a lot with women,” she said.
He figured this would come up. It was hard to not hear the rumors about him.
“Actually, you would be the first.”
She started to cough on the bite of lobster salad she’d just taken. “I find it hard to believe a man as charming as you hasn’t had a sunset picnic before.”
“That isn’t what you asked,” he said. “Yes, I have. I happen to enjoy living on the island, the views, the atmosphere. Why not take advantage of it? But I’ve never brought a woman to this spot. My cousin Hunter brought his wife here last year when they were dating. I had my staff bring out a table, the food. The works for him.”
“That was sweet of you. You didn’t want your staff to know we were here?”
“There you go jumping to conclusions,” he said, calmly eating. “Why do you do that?”
She sighed. “I don’t normally do that. I’m not sure why I am now. Maybe I’m not sure why you are interested in me.”
He laughed. “It seemed you are plenty interested in me. If you felt that way, or thought that I wouldn’t be with you, why make the steps you have?”
“No clue,” she said, grinning, and continued to eat. “All I can say is my life is up in the air and there seem to be no answers or any signs of an end.”
“And I’m sorry about that. You know Griffin is trying to find anything he can, but he’s running into dead ends.”
“I know,” she said. “My uncle has never been out of touch this long before. But I wonder if he has people monitoring me.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked. “Have you noticed anyone around you lately? You need to tell me that.”
“There are people around me daily, but no one that raises flags. I talk to guests and staff. I’d know if something didn’t feel right. I think I would.”
“I believe that,” he said. “You’ve spent a lot of your life on alert.”
“I have.”
“Then why do you think you are being monitored?”
“There was more money put into my account this morning.”’
“Are you low on funds?” he asked. He should have been paying more attention to things. “You won’t let me pay you for working.”
“No, I’m not low on funds. I don’t spend that much. You were with me when we went shopping. You know I’ve got a hundred thousand dollars at my disposal, which is a lot of money. I’m not sure what my uncle thought.”
“Maybe he thought you’d want to gamble,” he said, laughing.
“I’m not much of a gambler,” she said as she continued to eat.
“It seems to me you might be lately.”
She paused, then said, “I’m not counting what we’ve got here. This is more of me trying to just be someone I’ve never been. I don’t know how it’s working yet.”
Not what he wanted to hear. “So if you don’t need money, why would he give you more? Do you mind me asking what he gave you? Or what showed up?”
“Not a lot. I’ve spent about ten thousand and it was replenished. I needed to get clothes to stay here longer. I spent more than I wanted to, but I had to buy what was available to me.”
“For the number of clothes you bought with me and then the stuff you bought with my mother yesterday, I’d say that’s not much at all considering our lifestyles.”
“True. I went to get some cash from the ATM. I like to have it on me and used what I had yesterday. That’s when I realized the money had been put back in. So he must have left instruction for staff to make sure I have what I need.”
“Exactly what I would expect of your uncle,” he said.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
“Doing what? Be more specific.”
“Everything. The letter from my uncle to watch out for me. The romantic date. Being so nice when you could just let me sit in the room for weeks. Your mother brought me shopping yesterday. Talk about above and beyond.”
He laughed. “I’ll answer them in order. I owe your uncle a lot for my success even though we didn’t start out on the right foot. As for the date, I think you need some romance in your life as much as I do. I’m a nice guy an
d would never let a pretty woman sit in her room for weeks when I want to spend time with her. I had nothing to do with my mother. She does what she wants when she wants. She’s always been that way.”
“Sounds like you got that trait from her.”
“I did. You have to go after what you want in life. No one is going to just hand it over to you. I learned that the hard way.”
“And I’m what you want?” she asked.
“Yes.”
16
Smooth And Charming
Bella didn’t know what to say to that one-word answer.
The last thing she expected was that Eli would pull out all his charm and almost try to woo her when she’d been upfront that she was interested in exploring what they had.
Hadn’t they already talked about the fact that everyone was assuming it anyway? That they should just go with it and be out in the open and it’d raise a lot fewer questions?
“Seriously?” she asked, not sure she believed him.
“Why are you doubting me?” he asked.
She shook her head. “We have nothing in common. I just don’t believe I’m your type.”
“I want to say I don’t have a type, but I’m sure you’ve heard I do. And if you have, then you know I like blondes,” he said, grinning.
“So I’m lumped in with the rest of them?”
“No. Your blonde hair is about all you have in common with some women in my past. However, it’s not that I only date blondes. If you were a redhead or a brunette, I’d still be sitting right here with you. It has nothing to do with the color of your hair and everything to do with you.”
“Smooth words from a charming man.”
“You think I’m smooth and charming?” he asked.
“You know you are. Which leads me back to what we’ve got in common. I don’t exactly attract men like you.”
“I think you do. Or you would if you opened yourself up to it. But I think you lock it away because maybe your father was like that and you don’t want to be with a man like him?”
Her mouth opened and closed. She reached for the champagne glass and drained it, then filled it back up. “How can you say that? You don’t know my father.”
“You’re right. I don’t. I only know what Griffin looked up because I needed to know what I could about you. And based on what you’ve said about your parents, my guess is your father was very much like me and he caught the eye of your mother. But you don’t seem to have the most favorable opinion of your parents and so I get the feeling you distance yourself from anything that might resemble them. How close am I?”
Very close. Damn it. She’d never said that to anyone before. She never even admitted it to herself, but deep down she’d always known it.
“Too close for comfort,” she said.
“As for what we’ve got in common. I hate to say wealth or our lifestyles, but we do.”
“Our lifestyles are as different as night and day.”
“Hardly,” he said. “You’re looking at how you were raised compared to me. Trust me, no two people are raised alike, even those in the same household. When I say lifestyles I mean we are both used to the finer things in life.”
“I’m not as flashy as you,” she said.
“I believe that is because you want to blend into the crowd.”
“And you want to stand out,” she said.
“I don’t mind being seen. It’s part of my business. It helps. I’m sure your uncle would agree,” he said.
Uncle Oliver wasn’t on the floor as much as he used to be, but when big names or spenders were on the premises, she or her uncle were always introduced and let the guests feel welcome. In that aspect she and Eli were the same.
“Not as much as he used to, but yes. Maybe I’m judging you wrong.”
“I’m trying to figure out why you’re judging me at all,” he said. “Why can’t we be two people trying to get to know each other and have fun?”
She had to admit, “I’m not sure I know what fun is in a relationship.”
He reached his hand over and laid it on hers, rubbing his thumb up and down. “I figured as much. So let me show you that.”
“Are you going to show it all to me?”
“Now you’re teasing me,” he said. “Let’s not rush or jump too fast. You can set the pace, but right now I want to show you I can be charming to you. That I don’t show this to all the women you think I’m with.”
She didn’t want to get upset over the “all the women” comment. “Just a handful?” she asked.
“Less than that,” he said. “I don’t have a lot of time to spend being romantic with someone. I haven’t dated anyone seriously in years. And no one my mother has gone to lunch with alone or taken shopping.”’
She opened her mouth and shut it again; the vegetables she was eating might have been exposed. “She’s only being nice.”
“Is she?”
“Does she know about this?” Bella asked, moving her hand back and forth rapidly between them.
“No. And if she did she’d be all over it like barbeque sauce on ribs, having you to the house more. My mother doesn’t extend herself to many women in my brothers’ lives or mine.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because she believes in the lore or legend of this island.”
“Love at first sight?” Bella asked, angling her head.
“Or fate. Either can be said. Her boys finding a woman in their day-to-day work—she doesn’t believe in that. Or thinks it doesn’t hold much merit.”
“That is how we met,” she said.
“No. It’s not. And you know it. There is more to it.”
“So you’re saying that your mother might think something is going on between us when I’m only here temporarily?”
“I don’t know what my mother thinks. I’m saying she gets ideas in her head and she has them there now if she is reaching out and spending time with you. Those thoughts or ideas aren’t mine.”
There was the hurt she was trying to not show. That this was just a fling.
Then she had to tell herself she knew that and had no right to get hurt.
She was here until she could find out what was going on with her uncle or he returned safely. She was going to try to enjoy her time and live like she wasn’t used to doing.
If that meant letting go with Eli Bond, then she was going to have to keep reminding herself she couldn’t get upset if he was saying things they’d agreed on anyway.
Besides, Janet had told her anything that was said between the two of them yesterday wouldn’t be shared with Eli. She believed her. The woman that was treating her like a daughter.
That was friendly and giving her advice and helping her like her own mother never did. Even down to telling her about doctors or stylists in the area. It was embarrassing at first to bring up maybe needing a gynecologist, but then she realized, that was a motherly thing to do.
There was a comfort level in that conversation. And guidance, with bringing her to Hailey for help too.
“So, what are your thoughts and ideas?” she asked.
“Do we need to lay them all out?” he asked. “Can’t we just go with the flow?”
She laughed over the adorable way he’d said that. “I suppose we can try to do it your way.”
“There isn’t a lot you can control in your life on this island. Why not just relax and let it go? You’re keeping busy with some work, but you can enjoy your time here too. I get the feeling you work a lot.”
“Not as much as you, but I do. So that should tell you that it’s hard for me to sit around.” She put her hand up to stop him from talking. “And I appreciate you making time for me, but I don’t expect you to do it often. You’ll be busy all weekend with the casino.”
“I will be. But you’re helping out this weekend with some of the shows. Or so I was told.”
“So you are checking in with the work I’m doing?”
“Not like you think. I am getting a repor
t on if you’re doing anything in the casino or on the floors. It allows Griffin to keep an eye out, or myself.”
“I’m sure I’m programmed into your cameras to know where I am at all times if Griffin wants to find me.”
She wasn’t stupid or naive about the way things worked. Eli grinned at her. “And I appreciate that you aren’t trying to ditch the cameras too. You have complete privacy in your suite. I hope you believe me.”
“I do. I looked for cameras and didn’t see anything. Of course that doesn’t mean much, but I don’t believe you’d be spying on me in the suite.”
“I’ve got no reason to,” he said. “I know when you’re on the grounds and you’ve been nice enough to text when you’re leaving.”
“And I’m with the same assigned driver. Doesn’t that guy get a day off? What if I wanted to go somewhere seven days a week?” she asked.
“Then you’d still have Cody as your driver,” Eli said. “That is what he’s paid for.”
Probably part of the security team. It’s not like Cody was in a uniform like one might expect. Just black pants and a Bond Casino shirt. Much more laid back than at her uncle’s casinos.
There was no use talking about this or even arguing at this point. It’s not like she was going too many places anyway. Everything she needed for the most part was on the grounds at the casino between stores, the salon, the spa, and the restaurants.
“I’m trying to be considerate,” she said. “I don’t like that you or your staff might be put out because I’m here.”
“Don’t think that,” he said. “Think of it as someone cares enough for your well being.”
She had no words for that. Most of her life she felt like she was only watched after or cared for as part of an obligation or payment for services from staff.
To think someone might be doing it because they cared for her was something she couldn’t comprehend.
“It’s hard for me to do that when it’s never felt that way before,” she said.
“Try a little,” he said. “Because it’s the truth.”
