Page 16 of Family Bonds- Emma & Warren

“I have to ask. You work at The Retreat. The owner introduced himself. Hunter. Are he and Eli brothers? I’ve met Eli several times.”

“I’m positive the owner of every establishment you’ve ever been in comes to meet you,” she said, digging into her nachos. “They are cousins. Different branches if you’re familiar with the history of the island.”

“Not really,” he said. “I’m positive the Bond family has their hands in a lot of pies.”

She snorted. “More than you can imagine.”

5

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES

Emma was having so much fun talking to Warren.

There was a tiny part of her that felt bad she didn’t let him know she was related to Eli and Hunter.

The other part of her had learned not to give too much about herself to strangers.

Just because Warren was well known in the public eye didn’t make him any less of a stranger to her.

Griffin’s roll of his eyes as she was walking out with Warren was nothing more than him assuming she was going to question the quarterback like she did everyone else she came across.

She was safe as she could be here with Warren and knew she was being watched.

She was probably safer here than in her own house, but Warren wouldn’t understand that.

“I grew up in a small town,” Warren said. He sat and picked up a carrot stick to put in his green dip.

Blah. She could do without fresh vegetables when drinking a beer.

She supposed that was part of how he was in such good physical condition though.

“Amore Island is about the same. During the tourist season the population triples, but otherwise it’s nothing more than a small town that you need a ferry to get on and off of.”

“Or a helicopter,” he said.

“Is that how you came over?” she asked.

She should have figured that.

“I did this time,” he said. “It’s faster.”

“And fewer people to want your autograph,” she said, grabbing another chip and crunching into it. Some of it broke and fell onto her plate, but she picked it up and put it in her mouth. “I’m sure Griffin makes sure people stay away from you here.”

“He does with the added security for me,” he said. “I don’t come often. They don’t have to do that for me since I’m not dropping big bucks down like many others do.”

“Whales,” she said.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

“The big-time spenders are called whales. And you might not be the one dropping money, but I’d bet you’ve been here before with other professional athletes that might spend more.”

“Friends in high places,” he said.

“There you go. One hand feeds the other.”

She switched hands to get another chip and he laughed having caught what she’d done.

Not many got her humor.