Page 27 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

“Nothing you wanted to do?” he asked. “Or your brother?”

“No,” she said. “Duke always knew he wanted to cook. If you haven’t been to his flagship restaurant, it’s the place to eat. He bought another restaurant not far from the Juliet Port. Hadley’s. That’s his wife. He renamed it after her before they married. They met there. She was the daughter of the owners my brother bought it from.”

“So nice and tidy,” he said.

She laughed at his dry tone. “There isn’t much in the Bond family that is nice and tidy, but it’s funny you think that.”

He just nodded and they walked in silence for a bit.

She didn’t know what was going through his mind but figured he’d tell her when he was ready.

“Want to turn back around and go sightseeing somewhere else that is more pet friendly?”

“That’d be nice,” she said. “Sorry about this. I should have read the guidelines. I’m normally better than that, but it’s the first pet I’ve owned. The first in my family. There wasn’t a vet on the island until the last few years and not easy to be a pet owner.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’ve gone thirty-six years without seeing the inside of a lighthouse. I could wait some more.”

“Boy, you’re old,” she said.

He turned and squinted one eye at her. “Do you want me to comment back on your age?”

“Nope. If I don’t find a man soon I’m going to be an old hag in some people’s minds. Not mine.”

“But you want to find someone,” he said. “Right?”

“Sure. But not so that I’m not called a hag. I’ll find someone when the time is right. I’m in no rush, but I’m not going to sit around waiting. I’m at a point in my life where I know in the first few dates where it’s going. No reason to waste my time.”

“Waste your time on what?” he asked.

“Someone that doesn’t want the same thing I do. Even if I like being with the person, you can’t make them be someone they aren’t.”

“No,” he said.

“So... what is your future plan?” she asked

She was grinning but figured she might as well put it out there.

“Meaning am I looking to get married and have a bunch of...puppies...running around?”

“Puppies and kids. Maybe one or two. But yep, do you want that or not in the picture?”

“If I can find the right person, then yes, not opposed to it.”

“Good,” she said. “Let’s go back to the truck and explore some more. I’m positive we can find some outdoor eating somewhere.”

“You mean you can’t bring Frankie into one of your father’s restaurants?”

“I wouldn’t do that,” she said. “Just like Duke gets mad when I carry Frankie inside of his. I only do it when no one is around and run in to get his bank bag or return it. Nothing more.”

“No reason to give your brother an excuse to have an inspection,” he said.

“Nope,” she said.

They got back to his truck and she pulled out a little container she’d packed and poured water in it and let Frankie have his fill before they climbed in. When he was done she dumped the rest.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yep. If you go back down the road and take a right, there is some public parking and we can walk around if you want.”

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