Page 54 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

Even the fact that she talked about their future before he could.

It’s as if she knew he had to have that conversation to move on.

Part of that was scary. The other part...comforting.

He supposed he understood what Andi was saying earlier about how he reminded her of her father.

“I can handle just about anything,” she said. “But since it’s your family and your island, then we can do this your way. I’m good with that.”

“Thanks,” he said. “I’m just going to let things happen as they do.”

She shivered a little. “That’s been my motto for a while.”

“Cold?” he asked. The water had been getting cooler. He’d emptiedouthis hot water tank to fill the tub. That was a first for him and he didn’t realize it until the water ended up coming out cold and cooling it down some.

“A little,” she said. “The air in the room is cooler than the water and not enough space in here to sinkdownmore. At least with two bodies in the tub.”

“Why don’t we get out,” he said. “Or we are going to look like an old wrinkled couple.”

“Time yet for that to happen,” she said. But she shifted and did stand up and he held her steady to get out and then he did the same, both of them drying off and getting dressed.

“We can run to the store if you want,” he said.

“Sure you want to go in together?” she said. “We might be seen.”

He sighed. “I’m not worried about anyone seeing us together. I just wasn’t going to go announcing it nor was I going to go into your workplace where I know people. The store is something else.”

“And not many know who I am. I’m still a newbie on the island. They might just think you picked me up in a bar. Want me to put some makeup on and do my hair like a bimbo?”

She was laughing while she said that. He hated to think she was two different people from when they started to date and was going to chalk it uptoshe just felt more...comfortable around him.

That she could let her guard down and be more of herself.

He was going to try his hardest to not read more into things. It was the best he could do.

“That might be funny and it would stand out even more. I’m not known to pick women up in a bar unless they are being arrested.”

“Did you just make a joke?” she asked. She had her bra and underwear on and was pulling her shirt over her head and then letting her hair down before she put her jeans on.

There was something sexy about her standing in his bathroom with her shirt that hit her hips and a pair of navy cotton panties while she brushed her hair in the mirror.

“A poor one if you had to ask,” he said.

He had his jeans on and unbuttoned while he tucked his cotton shirt in.

“You’re trying though and it’s nice that you are.” She was looking at him while she pulled her jeans up. “What’s going on in your brain?”

“Nothing,” he said.

“Jarrett. Tell me. Is it something I can help with?”

“No,” he said. “It’s on me.”

She sighed. “You’re having doubts about me, aren’t you?”

“Not like you think,” he said.

“You don’t know what I’m thinking. You didn’t ask. And I won’t say it without all the facts.”

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