Page 63 of Family Bonds- Emma & Warren

“I’m happy to meet them,” he said. “Are you willing to meet my mother and sisters?”

He’d been trying to figure out a way to ask. She’d have to leave the island for that. It’d be crazy for his family to come here.

He knew she didn’t leave it often. Or at all, unless it was necessary.

Would she think he was necessary or worth it?

“I’d like that,” she said. “Just let me know when and I’ll figure it out. Let’s go. I don’t want to be late. I’ll drive. It’s a pain in the butt to tell you what turns to take to get there.”

“You could just give me the address to put into my phone,” he said.

“Nope, too much work. Unless you always have to be the person driving?”

He shrugged. “No. I haven’t driven with you yet. Considering you don’t leave the house much, maybe you suck and we’ll get pulled over for traffic violations.”

She laughed and stuck her tongue out. “I’m not that bad. And if I got pulled over, the chief of police is Mac Bond. Enough said.”

“That is horrible,” he said.

“Like you don’t get off when you’re pulled over. But Mac wouldn’t let me off, it’s most officers know who I am and don’t even write it. Just like with you, right?”

“I try not to do anything to get pulled over,” he said.

He worked hard to have a stellar reputation.

He felt he had to considering who his father was.

They got in her Mercedes SUV, he pushed the passenger seat back as far as it would go, and they drove the ten minutes to her parents’ house.

Yep, it was a mansion and he was coming to expect no differently.

She parked in the circle in the front and got out. There was one other luxury SUV already here. He was assuming it was her brother’s.

They went through the wide double doors, then moved to the back of the house past lots of doors and echoing noises.

“It’s almost eerie in here,” she said. “I know. Though I lived here for a few years, it was so much space. I used about four rooms in the house.”

“I feel that way about my house,” he said.

“Why get such a big one then?” she asked.

“For my family to come visit. Maybe I hoped to fill it someday if I stayed in the area.”

She turned to look at him. “Do you want a lot of kids? You never said.”

“I’d like a few,” he said. “You’ve never said either.”

“A few works for me too.”

“There is my daughter. Not late, but the last one to arrive.” An older version of Emma walked forward. She didn’t look old enough to be Emma’s mother, though he’d been told Melissa French would be sixty this year.

“I’m always the last,” she said. “Everyone, this is Warren Showers. You all know him and have most likely seen his commercials. My mother, Melissa, my father, Noah.”

Her parents came forward and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The same,” Melissa said. “We all want to know what it’s like dating my daughter.”

“You’re going to start in already?” Emma asked. “Not fair. You’re going to scare Warren off.”