Page 63 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

There was still this tiny fear in his brain that something could happen and she’d be gone one day when he came over, but the other part of him knew that he’d move heaven and earth to find her if she had to leave.

So yeah, if that wasn’t love, he wasn’t sure what was.

“Do I treat you well enough?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I didn’t say that to make you doubt it. I don’t think I’m high maintenance. I live a pretty simple life. It’s easier and cheaper.”

She didn’t seem frivolous with her money. Not that he could see. She did pay for some things when they went out. She argued if he didn’t let her and he noticed she always had cash. Probably from tips. They didn’t talk about those things. He rarely had cash on him unless he went to the bank and got it. He refused to believe that she had no money in her accounts and was living with cash to be on the run.

“It is,” he said. “I’m the same way. I don’t spend a lot and don’t need much.”

“You spend money,” she said. “You spend it wisely. Like on your house. You are earning that back and know that.”

“That is a good investment,” he said. “I sound boring saying those things.”

“Boring isn’t a bad thing, trust me.”

“No,” he said, “it’s not.”

“What time do we need to go to your parents’ house?” she asked.

He looked at his watch. “Another hour. My mother does brunch and then we’ll come back home. I’m sure Mac and Sidney are having a ball with Jace opening gifts. Thankfully Alex is off today, but he has to go in tonight.”

“I’m sure your mother is used to working around her sons’ schedules.”

“She is. Mac doesn’t work nights and holidays anymore, but he’s always on call. The same with me. I work days, but as you know, more than that, just not on purpose.”

He knew why many that came here as the investigator only did it for a few years. They padded their pockets with the OT and then got burned out.

He didn’t want that to happen to him, as he didn’t want to leave the island. His captain would be retiring within ten years. With anyluckhe could step up into that.

Too far down the line to think about it.

“I can work as many or as few hours as I want, but then, you know, I pay the price.”

“Did you always work six days a week?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “For years I worked five. I’d take a day off during the week and work Saturday. It’s nice to get a day off during the week and run errands or have appointments that day. But when you are starting over you need to be more flexible. Just before I moved here, I was back to five days a week.”

“So you won’t do six days forever?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “But I can set my schedule the way I want between the hours of eight to eight when Amanda is open. Sometimes I don’t start until ten. Someone might want to come at ten and then that leaves only atwo-hourslot for another appointment, which would be a haircut. Not many are up that early for a haircut, but it happens.”

“I’d come in that early for one,” he said.

“And I expect you to. Now that this is out in the open, is it okay for me to let the girls at work know? You could stop in for lunch if you want when I’ve got breaks.”

“I’d like that a lot,” he said. “Then you won’t have to cut my hair here.”

“I don’t mind doing it,” she said.

“Can I have a cookie before we leave?” he asked.

She’d made three kinds last night and then put together three festive plates. One each for his brothers and his parents. They were going to love it.

She stood up. “You don’t need to ask. I was going to send you home with a plate too.”

“I was hoping that,” he said. “And that it wasn’t just for my family.”

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