Page 36 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

She put her hair behind her ears a few times, but usually it was blocking some of her face.

“That too,” she said. “Come in.”

He hadn’t been in her apartment on Sunday. Just picked her up and dropped her off.

It felt like a date to him, but he wouldn’t have pushed it knowing that she only wanted to be friends.

He’d see how tonight went and approach it more. He’d like to know what was going through her mind.

Garrett had come to the island to relax and focus on his work and now he was only thinking of the blonde beauty that was twisting him up inside.

Talk about frustration.

“I should have asked if there was anything I could have brought.”

“With as fast as you got here, I don’t think you would have made it to the store.”

She was laughing when she said that. “I’m hungry,” he said. “Do you buy that?”

“Sure,” she said. “I’ll buy it. I should have asked what you liked, but since you had beef on Thursday and turkey on Sunday, I’m going to assume beef and white meat are good. I’m making chicken stir fry. You can let me know the veggies you won’t eat.”

“I’ll eat just about anything,” he said. He followed her into the kitchen and saw broccoli, carrots, and red peppers. “All those are good.”

“Easy,” she said. “I have others, but that is what I pulled out. It’s what I planned on making tonight, but if you didn’t like it, I could pivot.”

“No reason to do that,” he said. “As long as I don’t have to cook, I’m always happy.”

“Can I get you a drink? I don’t have any alcohol in the house.”

“I rarely drink it during the week unless it’s a bad day. I’ve had fewer bad days here than I’ve had in Boston. Even then, it’s one beer or a few fingers of whiskey.”

She nodded. “I’ve got water and unsweetened iced tea.”

“Tea works,” he said.

She pulled two glasses down and he tried not to let his eyes go to her waist. Her shirt lifted some when she reached for the glasses.

Her leggings were gone and in their place was a pair of jean shorts.

She was a tiny thing. He wasn’t sure he’d ever spent time with someone as small as her.

Definitely dated no one this petite.

She poured them both a glass and handed it over, then turned to cut the vegetables. She had already cubed the chicken in a pan and turned on the stove.

Rice was going in another pan and some sauce in a third.

“Have a seat,” she said.

He sat on the stool at the counter where she was working.

“I feel bad about you doing all the work.”

“Maybe next time you can cook and I’ll sit and watch.”

“You’ve got a deal,” he said. “Did you do anything with your day off?”

“No,” she said. “Just went food shopping and cleaned. Read a little.”

---