Page 6 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
Becca won the hearts of the women in the office, running around and saying hi, showing off her dress and new dance moves.
“She’s comfortable around everyone. Are you sure? I have no problem rescheduling.”
Alana waved her hand. No bright polish on her nails like Celia always had. Not a lot of makeup either. His coworker was the fresh-faced girl next door. He was more enticed by that than someone who took thirty minutes to find the right shade of peach eye shadow.
“I’m positive. It will be fun.”
“Thanks.” He picked up a piece of paper. “Here is my address. Does six work?”
He was only five minutes from the pre-K that Becca went to three days a week, then five more minutes home. It’d give him time to talk to Becca about who was coming over and see how Alana and his daughter interacted.
He watched as Alana walked further into his office in a pair of small black heeled ankle boots under black pants. Her sweaterwas mint green, bringing out her hazel eyes. Most days they had a blue hue to them, but not today.
He put her about a foot shorter than him easily. He wasn’t sure of her age, but was guessing early thirties. She’d only been employed for a year on the island he’d been told.
She took the piece of paper out of his hand, looked at his address and smiled. Her cheeks flooded with pink and he wasn’t sure what sparked it.
“This is only two blocks from me. I could walk there in five minutes if I wanted.”
“Seems like it’s perfect,” he said.
“I’ll see you at six,” she said. “Or before. I mean, we’ve got a few hours of work left to do too.”
“We do.” He angled his head and held her stare. “Sure it’s okay to do this?” She didn’t normally act nervous and seemed to be now.
“Yes,” she said, nodding her head. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Would it be horrible for him to admit he was looking forward more to seeing her later than he was his date?
2
TAKE IT TO EXTREMES
“What is wrong with you, Alana?”
“What?” she asked her cousin and boss, Kelsey Raymond.
Not a first cousin. She wasn’t positive what number to put on it. The grandmothers of Kelsey’s father and her mother were sisters. Twins.
“It’ll be so much fun to watch your daughter. I’m looking forward to it. Blah, blah, blah,” Kelsey said, waving her hand. “How about saying, ‘It’d be so much fun to jump your bones, Brennan?’”
Her jaw dropped as she swiveled her head toward the door double-checking it was shut. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kelsey leaned back in her chair and burst out laughing. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Do you think I haven’t caught your side eyes and glances at Brennan since he started here two months ago?”
She couldn’t believe this was happening.
She’d thought she was so good at hiding that. “Have you?”
Kelsey pointed her finger. “You should see how red your face is right now.”
“Great,” she said. “I’ll just stay in here until it passes.”
Kelsey rolled her eyes. “Don’t you have the food pantry tonight?”
“No,” she said. “That was last night.”
“The clothing drive?”
