Page 15 of Family Bonds- Emma & Warren

“I don’t normally eat this late,” he said. “If I do, I keep it light.”

“I’m not much of a healthy eater.”

“You look good for someone who doesn’t eat healthy.”

“Superior genetics,” she said and burst out laughing. “Sorry, it’s a family joke. I get lost in my work and forget to eat at times. When I do, I gorge. Not always great, but it does keep the calories down if I’m only eating once a day.”

“You must be really busy then,” he said. “I’d think you’d be able to take breaks.”

“I take them,” she said. “My mind is always on other things.”

She wasn’t making a lot of sense to him, but he was enjoying this conversation way too much to care.

It was nice to not have someone asking him a million questions about other players, football, or his future plans.

“Have you lived on this island long?” he asked. “I’m assuming you live here since I’ve seen you here twice, and once was working.”

“I do live here,” she said. “I’ve been on it most of my life, but also lived in Boston. I won’t ask about you. I know you’ve moved around some.”

“I’m originally from Upstate New York. I have no desire to move back there.”

“You’d be the hometown hero never left alone,” she said. “I’m not sure I’d like that. I like to keep to myself.”

“That’s me too,” he said. “But it’s hard to do.”

“I’m sure,” she said. “I appreciate you trying to keep this private. Can I ask why?”

“There is no reason to drag your name into any pictures or news. We are having a friendly conversation, a drink, and some food.”

“Yummy fattening food for me,” she said, giggling. “Boring healthy stuff for you. But I’m sure you’re a health nut. Though you’re drinking a beer.”

“I allow myself a few treats now and again.”

He held her stare, but she only grinned.

“That’s mighty nice of you to do that. We all need treats in our lives.”

“You’re a strange one,” he said.

“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment even if you didn’t mean it that way.”

“It was one,” he said. “I’m not used to coming across a lot of women like you.”

“Women like me?” she asked, narrowing her eyes a tad. “You’re balancing on a fine line here. You’ll have to explain that.”

“You remind me of my sisters,” he said. “They are open and honest with me but not with any others. Maybe it’s because bybeing who I am I might have added some complexity to their lives.”

“That’s super sweet of you to feel that way about them. I can tell you’re sincere about it too.”

“I am,” he said. He got up when there was a knock at the door and let the server in. “You can just set it on the table.”

He took the bill and handed his card over for it to be swiped with the handheld device, then added a tip and signed his name.

“Time to eat,” she said, moving to the table and sitting. “They are pretty fast with the food.”

It made him think she came here often, but then he realized she worked at a Bond-owned business. Maybe they had employee perks within them.

They could all be connected, though he’d talked to Hunter Bond two weeks ago, who owned The Retreat.