by Natalie Ann
“Bri? She wants a man and she’s willing to go through them like someone at a speed eating contest. I shouldn’t say this, but she’s kind of jealous of us all right now being with Bonds.”
“No reason to be jealous of me.”
“Hey,” she said. “Though Bri wants a man with money, that is a side benefit. She just wants a man to take care of her and, as she says, screw her brains out when she wants it. So yeah, she’s jealous of me too.”
He started to laugh. “I can do that anytime you want.”
“I want it a lot,” she said. “The funny part is—and I shouldn’t share this with you but I can’t help myself—I’ve never thought of sex as much as I have with you. Amanda and Kayla both said the same thing. It got me thinking about you Bond men.”
“Thinking what?” he asked, looking at her and not knowing where her mind was going.
“I don’t know. Are you all like this?”
“Like what? You don’t think we talk about sex with each other, do you? I don’t know what Drew and Hunter do. Shit, I don’t even know what Alex and Jarrett do other than they get a lot more action than me.”
“I think it’s a given Alex gets a lot. Again, male version of Bri.”
“Not so much,” he said. “Alex just likes to have fun. He’s not looking to be strapped down with anyone and makes it very clear to them. From what you are saying, Bri wants that forever and that might scare half the men off.”
“You make a valid point. Anyway, maybe you guys are just inherently good in bed. Hey, maybe that is what this whole love at first sight thing is on the island. It’s possible that Elizabeth Rummer didn’t fall in love with Malcolm all those years ago as much as he seduced her and won her over in the sack.”
He started to laugh. “There is a lot of history on our family. Documented history. But I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that theory before.”
“I like it,” she said. “But you also have a great personality. Kind of the whole package for me.”
“For you,” he said. “Not many others have said that.”
“Like who?” she asked. “We don’t talk much of our pasts. Tell me.”
“Do you want to share?” he asked. “This has to go both ways.”
He wondered if it’d give him any insight as to why she made the comment about knowing controlling men.
“I’ll share a little,” she said. “I’m not asking you for your whole history. But I haven’t dated a lot. No one since I’ve been on this island. I don’t seem to have good taste in men. But I’m not a pushover and have no problem ending things when it’s not right.”
Kind of what he suspected. “Same here. I had a serious relationship when I was in the service. Or somewhat of one. It was in Florida. She didn’t really know much about our family other than what I told her. It was nice just blending in.”
“Exactly what I told you before. That if you didn’t live on this island you were just an average man.”
“Average?” he asked, grinning at her. “I didn’t get that impression last night.”
She laughed. “See. That personality that you never show anyone. You’ve got one right there. And there is nothing average about you. That didn’t come out right at all. I’m just saying you carry the weight of your name around like ankle shackles on a chain gang. At least on this island it seems you do.”
“So you think I should leave this island?” he asked. Here we go again. Another one.
“No. This is your home and where you belong. It’s a part of you that you can’t escape even if it might hold you back at times. I know that. Why? Did this girl not want to be here?”
Damn her for figuring it all out. “Pretty much. Aside from her thinking I wasn’t that romantic, she didn’t want to leave Florida. She was from the area and had no intention of moving north or to a little island that had no life when she was used to the beaches there. Her family was there too.”
“And she hurt you,” she said.
“Wow, you are getting personal.”
“You started this.”
“She didn’t hurt me as much as it made me open my eyes.”
“I believe that. I guess you could say that is how I’ve felt about some men in my life too. I’ve never been with someone enough to feel a huge attachment. Maybe I’m not wired for it.” She paused and then looked at him. “Or so I thought.”
“Meaning it’s me again?”
“Or it’s the sex.”
He shook his head. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant as one.”
Sidney always had a way of turning these conversations that started out serious into a more relaxed one. He should at least be happy about that.
“So are you going to gamble or just watch me lose it all?” he asked. He knew he needed to change the subject himself.
“I might try the slot machines. Poker isn’t my thing, but pulling the arm and watching things spin, why not? Maybe I’ll get lucky, though I’ve got to say I feel it already.”
Sidney couldn’t for the life of her figure out why people thought Mac was boring. Well, she thought it too before. But now she thought he was great.
And she had to watch her words because she didn’t want to be putting the cart before the horse. That lame horse she always ended up riding that was hooked up to broken down carts.
Nope, she’d gotten herself a stud now and she was going to treat him with soft hands and plump apples.
Even the few comments and statements she’d made about her feelings toward him that were different from other men in her life made her wonder if she was pushing too fast and too far. Yet he never gave any indication he felt that way.
“This place is bigger than I thought,” she said when they pulled into the parking garage.
“It’s nice inside. Eli hit gold here.”
“Did he open this himself or is it a family business?”
“It’s his. I know his father has some ownership of it. Maybe even his brothers, but Eli went out on a limb with this. He’s always been the risk taker and it worked in his favor.”
“What do his other brothers do? I’m not sure I’ve heard?”
“Eli is the oldest. Then there is Egan. He’s a helicopter pilot and has a touring company on the island. Picks people up all over Boston and the Cape, Plymouth. He caters to the tourist and the wealthy. He’s got two choppers and another pilot that works for him. They are both pretty busy year round.”
“I guess I didn’t realize that. I knew there were choppers on the island but thought they were privately owned or the state police.”
“Both,” he said. “My brother Jarrett is stationed at the barracks where that chopper is on the island. Not that it’s there all the time. It splits its time between the island and Boston, but can be dispatched here at any point for emergencies. Though Egan and his employee are always available for emergencies too. We’ve got a contract with him for the island police if needed.”
“Smart. I know some people always feel isolated here, but I don’t. I don’t even feel the need to get off the island much either. I’m kind of low maintenance. I can get what I need online and wait for it, or find it here.”
“That’s how I’ve always felt.”
Mac found a parking spot and parked. “So Ethan is the youngest and he works in the offices with his father, Mitchell. Ethan is the suit and tie guy. Eli is flashy; I’m sure you’ve met him at Hunter and Kayla’s wedding?”
“I did. But he was in a suit like everyone else. You all looked the same to me that day. Even you.”
“My suit cost a fraction of his.”
There he went again. “And yet even then my eyes were only for you.”
“Why didn’t you come talk to me?” he asked.
“Please. You never said much to me at all when you came in the bar. I’m still surprised you did weeks ago. And I’m thrilled you did, whatever the reason was.”
“Guess I decided to take a chance. Hopefully I’m as lucky at
the tables today as I was with you that night.”
“Only one way to find out.”
When they were in the casino, Mac got his chips and made his way to the blackjack table, her standing behind him while he started to play.
A few hands in and he’d lost a bit, won a bit. “This is exciting to watch.”
“You don’t want to play?” she heard behind her.
She turned to see Eli standing there. “I’d rather watch. Good to see you again.”
“You too,” Eli said. “Sidney, right? Can’t forget the faces of my cousin’s fiancée’s best friends.”
Mac turned. “Coming to check on me and see how badly I’m striking out?”
Eli laughed. “Seems to me you’ve hit it pretty big.”
“I keep saying that too,” Mac said, making her heart get all warm and fuzzy.
She turned when she heard yelling again. It’d been on and off for the past twenty minutes. “Someone seems to be getting lucky.”
“Yeah,” Eli said. “I just went over to check it out. A bunch of Brits here on vacation. They are always willing to chat the owner up when they hit it big and I give them a table for lunch in our VIP room. They are staying here tonight already and I bumped them to one of the higher end rooms.”
Sidney suspected Eli did that a lot. Gave away all sorts of rooms and money to get people here. “They seem to be having a good time,” she said, looking at the group of men. They all looked pretty stuck up to her. Preppy, just like Rod and his friends had been.
“Winning money always makes people happy,” Mac said. “Unlike losing.”
She turned to see Mac tossing his cards down. “Why don’t we go get some lunch and regroup?” she asked. “I’m kind of hungry.”
“Head back to the VIP room,” Eli said.
“No need,” Mac argued.
“Please. Aside from you being family...my family is growing with Drew’s engagement. It’s more for her than you, Mac,” Eli said with a big grin.
Mac snorted. “Should have figured that. Didn’t want to think you were giving the police chief special treatment.”
Eli slapped Mac on the back. “Like you’d ever take it. Enjoy your lunch,” Eli said, giving her a kiss on the cheek and moving away.
“He is a smooth one.”
“I told you,” Mac said.
“But I like you better. A woman knows where she stands with someone like you. Not always with someone like him.”
19
Different Around Me
“How are you feeling?” Sidney asked Kayla. She was due in two weeks, which meant any day now to some. She and Amanda were at Kayla’s this Monday keeping her company while Hunter worked. She missed the time the three of them had on the same day off.
“Like a beached whale. No, like the sand the beached whale is sitting on. I’ve got all this pressure inside of me. I can’t stand without help. I can’t sit without plopping down the last few inches. My body hurts and I’m swollen. I look in the mirror and cry and Hunter laughs at me.”
“Jerk,” Sidney said, but she was smiling. “I’m sure he laughs because he’s trying to cheer you up. You are probably scaring him shitless because you aren’t that emotional of a person to begin with.”
“That’s what he said,” Kayla said. “He doesn’t know what to do and is so afraid of doing something wrong. He wanted to work up here until the baby was born and I kicked him out. He’s one floor down. Give me a break. It’s not like he’s that far and I need the space.”
Kayla and Hunter lived in the penthouse on the eleventh floor of The Bond Retreat. The executive offices were on the tenth floor, the rooms and facilities below them. The place was massive, but when you were in the penthouse you didn’t hear anything.
You could look out the wall of windows facing the ocean and just feel like you were on vacation. This was definitely the life and one that former foster child Kayla had never expected to be in.
“And we are here to keep you company,” Amanda said. “I’m sorry you are feeling so poorly, but it will all be worth it.”
“I’m scared,” Kayla said. “The closer we get the more scared I am.”
“Everything is going to be all right,” Amanda said. “I hated that I told you what happened to me, but I was a teen. You’re a healthy adult and you are doing well.”
“It’s not that,” Kayla said. “I mean there is always that fear something could go wrong, but it’s more that I’m not sure I know what to do. I still have only changed a diaper on a doll. I’ve never even fed a baby before.”
“You’ll figure it out. Nicole will be here helping you both and you know it,” Sidney said.
Hunter’s mom was thrilled at becoming a grandmother and threw the most beautiful baby shower with Hunter’s sister, Hailey, and Amanda’s help a few months ago.
“I know. I feel silly that I don’t know these things. Everything is still so hard to get used to. Living here, this lifestyle. I’m a nobody and now I’m a Bond with all eyes on me.”
Interesting. “Do you feel that way, Amanda?” Sidney asked.
“Yes and no. My situation is a little different but not much. My and Drew’s romance was fast and there are plenty now looking to see if I’m pregnant too, but I’ve told them all to get a life.”
And now that she and Kayla knew Amanda might not be able to conceive, Sidney knew it would hurt Amanda to be asked that. “That’s what I’d tell everyone too. No one has said a word to me but not many know we are all besties in this room.”
Kayla laughed. “More know than you realize. For some reason residents of this island like to talk about the Bonds. I’ve had a few people mention your relationship with Mac.”
“Really?” Sidney asked. “What did they say?”
Amanda laughed. “It’s hard to wrap your head around it, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. But like your relationship with Drew is different, so is mine with Mac. Most aren’t looking at me like I scored a meal ticket.”
“No,” Kayla said. “They are looking at you like you got a hot man and are wondering if the rough exterior carries over to the bedroom.”
When Kayla slapped her hand in front of her mouth, Sidney started to laugh. “That’s funny. And Mac isn’t as rough or hard as everyone thinks he is. At least not to me or around me. Though I’ve got to say I feel kind of honored he’s different around me.”
“Special?” Kayla asked.
“Yeah.”
“You get it. That’s how I felt with Hunter. Everyone always said how serious he was because he was the boss and had to prove himself. But I never saw that side of him and then I realized it had more to do with the fact he felt he could let his guard down with me.”
“I can’t say that about Drew,” Amanda said. “He’s pretty outgoing and happy all the time. But with me...yeah, he makes me feel special in general. I think the three of us all had pretty bad relationships in our lives, or not many at least. It’s nice to find a man that we want to be with.”
“That we love,” Kayla said.
Sidney looked away and both girls laughed at her. “Are you in love with Mac?” Amanda asked.
“Considering it’s just been over a month, that might be pushing it.”
“I knew by then but just was afraid to admit to anyone, let alone myself,” Kayla said.
“Same here,” Amanda said.
“Isn’t it fun having the three of us together again? Do you think Bri was mad this morning when she found out we were coming here?” Sidney asked.
“No,” Amanda said. “Bri likes to be included if we are doing fun things or going places she can find a man. She told us to have fun but that she’d rather save her time off to spend with a guy. She has daddy issues as she’s said many times and we know that and I feel for her. I was never close to my father or my mother.”
“We know I don’t even know who my father is,” Kayla said. “And let’s not talk about mommy dearest.”
Kayla’s mother lost her to the f
oster care system, then married and started a whole new family. When Kayla found her biological mother years ago and reached out, the woman wanted nothing to do with her. But when her mother found out Kayla was with Hunter, then she decided it was time to get in touch. When Kayla wanted nothing to do with her mother at that point, her mother decided blackmail was the way to go.
Hunter took care of all of that in a hurry though. He’d been worried he was tarnishing the family name that meant so much to his father, Charlie, but then decided love was worth more than his name any day.
Sidney never talked much about her family until recently. Only Amanda knew and she felt like maybe she could tell Kayla too. “I was close with my parents,” she said. “I don’t talk to them much now, but my mother called me a month ago. I haven’t seen them in years and they want to visit. I’m trying to get there.”
“You didn’t tell me,” Amanda said.
“I said we might be trying to. I’m working it out in my head.”
“I don’t understand,” Kayla said. “You just said you were close with your parents. Did you have a falling out?”
She looked at Amanda and got her head nod. “I feel bad saying this to you. Or bringing it up. I just recently told Amanda. It’s not like I’m purposely keeping it a secret, it’s just it’s hard and hurts so much. And how do you really bring up these things?”
“I’m not sure if I should be nervous or scared for you,” Kayla said. “But I’d like to know.”
“No reason to be either. I had a twin. Her name was Anne. When we were fourteen, she died from pneumonia. She was home sick and had an asthma attack. My mother left her home alone to run errands. I was in school.”
“I’m so sorry, Sidney. I’d get up to hug you, but I don’t think I can manage it and then the mood would be gone.”
Sidney laughed. “It’s fine. I understand. I blamed my mother, my parents. We were all hurting. Then they smothered me. As much as I wanted to leave for college, I couldn’t. I went to the University of Montana not far away. Close enough to still feel Anne, but far enough to have some freedom.”
