Maybe because he saw all that wealth had ties to it too. It’s not like he grew up poor by any means. They were middle class and in some cases it was nice not having everyone’s eyes on you.

  Not for money at least. More so because his mother was a teacher on the island and his father was the chief of police.

  Mac’s kids were going to have to deal with that. Jarrett’s too. Hell, his kids would someday because he planned on being a chief in his own right.

  And if seeing Jennie with Zandra and then Jace in her arms gave him ideas today, he had to tell himself to cool the hell down. They were nowhere near there.

  “It’s not always everything it’s cracked up to be,” he said. “On the island when a kid had a party the whole class was normally invited. I remember being forced to go even when I didn’t want to.”

  “Where is my violin?” she asked.

  “Wiseass,” he said, reaching for her. “No more work tonight. Everything is cleaned up and put away. You’re good with me staying here even though you need to go to work tomorrow? I’ll leave when you do.”

  “I’m fine with it if you are. You’re the one that is getting up earlier than you normally do,” she said.

  “I’m going into the garage so not a big deal. Carter is pretty backed up.”

  He wasn’t in the mood to do much more in his house right yet. The kitchen was done for what he had planned, and everything else had been updated or painted that he was going to do. No reason to put much more money in so rather than sit around doing nothing—which he didn’t do often—he was working and putting money away.

  Maybe he’d want to buy a ring in the future.

  Not that anyone would know that or think it, but his mind was going there and he wanted to be prepared.

  He wasn’t going to be able to give Jennie the life her brother had, but he didn’t think Griffin expected that. At least he hoped not.

  It seemed Griffin and he had somewhat of an understanding now. No, they weren’t close or even friends, but they talked and got along well enough.

  If he could help Griffin with his sister, he would, only because he felt the more Jennie let go of her negative feelings toward her childhood and her brother, the better it would be for him in the long run.

  Shit, he hadn’t even realized that she used the gym at the hotel. It’d never come up. He did know she walked all the time and did some exercise at the house. It was one of those conversations they’d had before when she asked where he worked out.

  At home or the firehouse. He wasn’t one for a gym either. The one on the island wasn’t that great. The equipment older and more women in there doing exercise classes. Not even young hot women when he was there.

  The only young hot woman he wanted was the one in the kitchen with him that he was pulling a dishtowel out of her hand.

  “You work a lot,” she said.

  “I do. I don’t like to sit still. You heard my brothers. I get bored easily.”

  “We wouldn’t want you to get bored,” she said, her arms going around his neck. “Didn’t you tell me there was another part to my birthday gift? The earrings were enough and I love them.”

  He pushed her hair back and tucked it behind her ear. The light green of her birthstone stud dangling with pearls had caught his eye right away. Something more whimsical than she’d own. Sometimes that was what a birthday gift was supposed to be.

  “It’s in the bedroom,” he said.

  She laughed. “I figured as much.”

  They got to her room and he sat her on the bed, then grabbed the bag he had on the other side on the floor where she wouldn’t see it and handed it over. “Maybe you could try it on tonight so that I know if it fits?”

  He was positive it would. He’d checked her bra size one day last week quickly when she was in the other room.

  He reached in and grabbed one out at random, no size on it, so had to get another. When he’d yanked it out it was caught on a notebook that clattered to the floor opened and face down.

  He reached for it quickly, hoping the noise didn’t alert her to what he was doing, then flipped to close it, noticed the hearts that were drawn around his name and smiled.

  He bent the notebook to have his thumb flick through the pages and saw her handwriting. Lots of words that he wouldn’t read. He wouldn’t invade her privacy but was stunned she had a journal. She didn’t seem the type.

  That his name was in it with hearts was exactly the sign he’d been waiting for to let her know how he felt. With any luck tonight would be that night.

  Jennie pulled the tissue paper out of the bag, then the floral silk bra and panty set. Again, nothing she’d ever buy for herself, he was positive.

  “This is pretty,” she said. “I bet you had fun picking it out.”

  He smiled. “Despite what you might think, I don’t make it a habit to go into women’s stores and look for underwear.” He didn’t have time to go off island last week, nor time to order something. He’d learned not to wait until the last minute again to get something.

  She stood up with the set in her hand. “It’s a thong. I don’t normally wear them, but since it’s a birthday gift and all, the least I could do is model it for you.”

  “Please do,” he said.

  “Did you get matching boxers or something for yourself? I bet you’d look wonderful in floral boxers. You know, like those socks you had on the other day with flowers on them.”

  He grinned. “I draw the line there. Socks are okay, nothing else.”

  “We’ll see about that,” she said and walked into her bathroom.

  He got undressed and climbed into bed. No reason to wait when they both knew what was going to happen.

  She came out and he let out a little whistle.

  “Turn for me,” he said. “Need to make sure the bottom fits as well as the top.”

  “It does,” she said, turning and letting him see her ass cheeks. She sure did have a toned body on her.

  “Nice,” he said, pulling the covers back. “Climb in here and let me get my hands on you.”

  “Nope,” she said. “My birthday party so it’s what I want.”

  “Even better,” he said.

  She scooted over and climbed on his hips, spread her legs and straddled him.

  He felt her heat sliding up and down his dick, the cool smoothness of the silk barely covering her mixing with it.

  A groan escaped his lips, his hands moving up to cup her breasts, her nipples pebbling through the material.

  “I might have a little gift for you, if you want,” she said.

  “What’s that?” he asked.

  “Last month I got a shot for birth control. Just a backup. Easy enough. But sometimes I think it’d be nice to not have to stop for a condom. Again, your choice too.”

  He’d never gone without a condom before. Ever. For once he was telling himself he didn’t care. If there was a surprise baby, he wouldn’t mind. He was already imagining having a family with Jennie.

  “I choose yes,” he said.

  “Good,” she said, leaning forward on her hands, her breasts that were pushed together with the bra right in front of his face.

  His tongue came out and he started to lick the cleavage exposed, his lips lightly kissing the soft flesh.

  She was still rubbing up and down on his dick and he was damn close to worrying he might come without even entering her.

  “Jennie.”

  “Hmm?” she said, letting out a little moan. She was getting as lost in this as he was.

  “I’m going to make a mess and embarrass myself soon if you keep doing that.”

  “We wouldn’t want that wasted,” she said, reaching her hand down and moving the thong out of the way, lining up and sinking down. “Oh wow. What have I been missing all this time?”

  He couldn’t have said it better.

  She was still moving up and down on him, her breasts smothering his face and he didn’t mind. The feelings inside of him were building to a point he still thought he was going to come any minute.

  “I hope you’re close,” he said.

  “I am,” she said. She was grinding and riding at the same time, his hand going to her hair and yanking her mouth to his savagely.

  He might have been rough, but she didn’t seem to care when she started to move faster.

  His hips were bucking up trying to keep up. The next thing he knew he was sitting and had her legs wrapped around his waist. She couldn’t move as much, but she could grind all she wanted.

  She was and it slowed her down a bit and let him get his bearings.

  Until she found a rhythm of moving front and back faster than she’d been riding him.

  “Shit,” he said.

  “I’m right there,” she said loudly. “Come with me. Right now. Please.”

  It was her words and her actions that made him hold still and let her do her thing, his body releasing the same time as hers while he held her tight and felt every pulse that she had down below with him, her head back in abandon, her eyes closed.

  When they were both done throbbing, he didn’t want to let her go. Not yet. Not until he said what he wanted to.

  “Jennie,” he said, his hand running down her back. “You know I love you, don’t you?”

  She kissed his shoulder. “I do,” she said.

  His heart was racing with fear that she wouldn’t say it back. He had to accept that she might not feel as strongly as he did. It wouldn’t be the first time in his life that happened.

  “Does it bother you to hear that?”

  “No,” she said, leaning back. “Because I feel it too, Alex. It’s just hard to get the words out.”

  “I don’t want you to ever do anything you don’t want to, but don’t be afraid either. If you feel it, just say it.”

  She waited a few seconds and then said, “I love you, Alex.”

  It felt as if he got the best gift of the day even though it was her birthday party.

  34

  Theme Of The Day

  “Happy birthday.”

  Jennie looked up from her file she was looking through. She’d been cleaning her desk and organizing files. In a few weeks her office was moving to the retirement community.

  She knew this spot was temporary and she wasn’t making it comfy by any means. She was excited to get to her permanent office even if that meant hearing some noise.

  Though they’d assured her that they purposely put the offices on the side of the building that was finished and in the back so it’d be minimal at best.

  She really didn’t care.

  Especially more so when her boss’s mother came in with a cake in her hands and smile on her face.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  This was by far the most birthday wishes she’d ever gotten in her life. She hadn’t expected anyone would do anything at work. It’s not like she told them her birthday was coming up. She hadn’t said it to anyone at all, keeping her personal life private.

  Though if she was learning one thing, not much stayed private in the Bond family.

  “I made you a cake. Vanilla with berries and cream in the center,” Helena said.

  “Oh yum,” she said. “That’s a lot though.”

  It was a big sheet cake and it’s not like there were a lot of people in the building, though it was early yet and more would come. She’d stick the cake in the kitchen for everyone to share. Thirty people worked out of this office alone, but most weren’t in daily. The realtors made their own hours; Drew and Bode were always out and about running around. The rest were the office staff like her.

  “It won’t last here,” Helena said. “Once my boys get here they will eat a ton. I know Drew and Bode will be here soon, so I timed it well.”

  “Oh,” Jennie said. She’d had no idea they were coming in. She didn’t know their schedules and it didn’t matter. If she needed something, she emailed them and they got back to her when they could. Nothing was an emergency that she’d have to text them though she had their numbers.

  Just because her brother was married to their cousin, did the security for here and she was dating another cousin didn’t mean in her eyes she had free rein to contact them for the heck of it.

  “I can hear them now,” Helena said, moving into her office. “I’m going to set this down on your desk. We can go to the kitchen in a few, but they will make their way here first.”

  Helena was right—Bode and Drew walked in. “What did you make, Mom?” Bode asked.

  Helena slapped his arm. “Where are your manners? You are supposed to wish Jennie happy birthday first.”

  Bode turned and winked at her. “Happy birthday,” Bode said.

  “The same,” Drew said. “I want to know why you don’t bring me a cake to work for my birthday.”

  “Because your wife is always making you things at home,” Bode said. “I’m the one that doesn’t get anything at home.”

  “Because baking isn’t my thing,” Sam said, walking in. “If you want it, ask your mother. You know she’d gladly bake for you.”

  “That’s right, Bode,” Helena said. “If you didn’t spend so much of your time running in the other direction when I came into the building you’d know that.”

  Jennie watched the bantering going back and forth for a few minutes, then Sam scooted over and put a gift bag on her desk.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “It’s from Drew, Bode, Amanda and me,” Sam said.

  “You didn’t have to get me anything,” she said, her voice all soft. Yep, best birthday ever.

  “Open it,” Drew said. “I want to know what it is.”

  This time Drew dodged his mother’s hand and laughed.

  She pulled out an envelope for a local spa and saw a complete day. A massage, a facial and a sauna. “Wow,” she said. “This is wonderful.”

  “Amanda and I figured you might need that working for Bode and Drew,” Sam said.

  “Hey,” Drew said. “I’m easy to work for. It’s more like she could need it dating the other Bond man she is spending time with.”’

  “Alex is great,” Jennie said. “He really is.”

  “It’s in our blood to be awesome,” Bode said.

  Bode jumped out of the way of Sam’s hand and she laughed. “Why don’t we bring this cake to the kitchen and then we can all dive in. Thank you, really. I mean it.”

  Bode picked the cake up and carried it to the kitchen, Jennie following behind.

  They were in there for about thirty minutes, having cake and chatting, the brothers leaving to go to a meeting and her returning to her desk to get some work done.

  Penelope and Griffin had both texted her this morning first thing, but after Alex did. He’d been the first to do it, then followed it up by saying he loved her. Yeah, that might be the first time she’d done that in a text and it didn’t feel odd at all.

  Hours later, her phone rang and she picked it up to see Carrie calling her. She’d expected her last foster mother would reach out. Carrie always did on birthdays and holidays at some point.

  She often wondered if Carrie wanted to reach out more but decided to give Jennie space. Before she moved, Jennie would meet her out once or twice a year for lunch. They’d text, with Carrie checking up on her more than anything.

  Carrie always reached out, Jennie never. She didn’t realize that, not until now. She’d send a text on Carrie’s birthday, but never Brody’s. She wasn’t sure she even remembered when his was.

  “Hi, Carrie,” she said when she answered the phone.

  “Happy birthday,” Carrie said.

  “Thank you. That seems to be the theme of the day.”

  “Really?” Carrie asked.

  “Yes. Griffin and Penelope both texted me. My bosses’ mother brought a cake in this morning and then my bosses and a bunch of the other staff had a piece in the kitchen with me. Many have stopped in that work here when we cut into it.”

  “That’s great, Jennie. It sounds like you are doing so well on the island. Are you seeing Griffin often?”

  “Maybe once a month. He’s busy. But I saw him on Sunday for a party my boyfriend had for me. Just a little get-together.”

  “You’re dating someone?” Carrie said. “That’s wonderful. Why didn’t you tell me? How long has it been going on? What’s his name and how did you meet?”

  She started to laugh. She wasn’t sure Carrie had ever gotten this excited over Jennie dating someone before.

  “Don’t yell at me,” she said.

  “I’m not sure I like how this is starting out,” Carrie said. “What did you do?”

  “I ran into a house that was filling up with smoke to get an elderly woman out. The fire was only in the hearth. I wasn’t in danger.”

  “Jennie! Your brother had to be worried sick.”

  “I’ve been lectured enough. The most by the fireman that yanked me out. He’s the one I’m dating.”

  “Why am I not surprised to hear that? Did you give him hell?” Carrie asked.

  “More than once. We both gave it to the other that day.”

  “Then how did you end up dating?” Carrie asked.

  “I ran into him a month later or so at the hardware store. He’s funny and thought he was being cute. One thing led to another and we’ve been dating for a few months now.”

  “I can’t believe you’re dating a sexy fireman. He’s sexy, right?”

  She let out a sigh. Carrie was twenty years older than her, but once she was no longer a foster child in the house, she talked to her more as a friend than a parent. Jennie appreciated it more, looking back.

  “He is.”

  “And how does Griffin feel about this? I know as well as anyone how much you missed him and wanted him in your life and then when he came back how protective he was of you.”

  “Don’t remind me,” she said. “There were a few bumps in the road, but since Alex’s last name is Bond and is related to Griffin’s wife and his best friend, I didn’t think they would be there for long.”

  “It sounds like things are going well in your life, Jennie. I’m so happy to hear that. You know as well as I do that the odds are stacked against a lot of you kids.”