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That could work. He’d have to think about that one and his parents would be home too. Possibilities were always there.
Then he had to ask himself when the last time was that he plannedthismuch in his life.
“You’ll make it work,” his father said. “You always do.”
“Isn’t The Retreat owned by the Bond family?” his mother asked. He’d talked about the island for years. His mother always loved the story about love at first sight and fate between Malcolm Bond and Elizabeth Rummer.
“It is,” he said.
“That’s a pretty prestigious job. Is she older than you?” his father asked.
“No,” he said. “She’s three years younger than me or thereabouts.” He wasn’t one to count months to be exact.
“Is she a relation to the Bonds?” his mother asked.
“She is,” he said. “Direct from the line that owns The Retreat. Her grandfather is Steven Bond. So her first cousin is Hunter who runs The Retreat now.”
“Ahhh,” his father said. “And how do you feel about that?”
“What is there to feel?” he asked. “It’s a fact and not something to change.”
“Who approached who?” his mother asked.
He looked up from his plate where his head was down stabbing the last bite of pancake, then put a few more in its place.
“She did me,” he said.
“You’re okay with that? With everything?”
He expected all of this. “Since we are dating, I’d say yes.”
“Don’t get snippy with your mother,” his father said.
“I’m not,” he said. “Again, just stating a fact.”
“What does she know about you?” his mother asked.
“A lot. I’ve lived on the island for years. I’m best friends with her cousin. Most of the family knows me and has met me.”
His parents knew that Mitchell and Janet Bond all but took him in like another son. They accepted him for who he was and his mother loved them for it.
His parents had visited the island three times since he’d lived there. Always over the summer, taking a week off and staying with him. While he worked, they explored the place he called home.
The first time Janet found out his parents were on the island she drove over and introduced herself, told his mother what a wonderful son she raised and then invited them to a cookout at their mansion.
He’d thought for sure his parents would feel out of place, but they acted as if they were comfortable as could be.
Janet was good at making people feel that way.
Most of the family was, he reminded himself.
Which was how he was slipping from dating to a relationship in his mind.
Based on what Skyler said on Monday and Grace’s reaction, she was feeling it too.
But they were going to take it at their pace.
She’d said a lot about her past with dating, but he never got the opportunity to give his side and was happy about that.
