Page 116 of Designs on You

He walked with them into the house. “Where’s Natalie?”

“Oh.” Hazel turned around to face him. “She said to tell you that Mom and Paul are home now, so she’s running the kids over to their house to spend the night, because they’re going on some farm tour early tomorrow morning. She’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” He hugged Hazel. “Thanks for all your help.”

“You have a great house, Eugene. And my sister did an incredible job decorating, which I’ve told her about ten times already.”

“She did, didn’t she?” He walked them to the front door and said goodbye again, then waited while they made their way to their car before he shut the door. He wandered back into the backyard to put chairs away, reorganize the tables, and make sure everything was put away.

After, he went inside, smiling as he realized how clean it all was. He had Natalie and Hazel to thank for that. Grizelda looked up at him with an expectant tilt of her head.

“Wanna go outside?” he asked.

She wagged her tail.

“Okay, girl.” He opened the door and she bounded out to the backyard.

The house was so quiet now. He’d always enjoyed the quiet. Being alone had always suited him. But now he’d gotten used to kids and dogs and noise, so he found the silence…well, silent. It was weird.

After letting Grizelda inside, he flopped down on the sofa andtook out his phone, scrolling through his photos to review the pics he’d taken during the housewarming tonight. He smiled at the one of him and Natalie sitting on the front porch with the kids and the dog.

They all looked so good together. Like a family. Like they were meant to be together. All of them.

He stood, pacing the room, realizing how much he needed to talk to Natalie, to express his feelings to her. To tell her how much he wanted her and the kids to be a part of his life.

Tonight. He’d do it tonight.

And now he was more nervous than ever.

But excited, too.

• • •

Natalie pulled up in the driveway, turned off the engine, then just sat there, going over and over in her head how she was going to break up with Eugene.

Just the thought of it tightened her throat. She couldn’t fathom hurting him. Losing him would devastate her. She couldn’t even imagine how upset the kids would be. They’d grown so attached. How was she even going to explain it to them? And what about Linc and Hazel? How would that go once she and Eugene broke up? They were always together as a foursome—as a family. But after tonight…

This was going to hurt a lot of people. She’d bungled this so badly. She knew better than to get involved, yet she’d done it anyway.

She gripped the steering wheel, contemplating backing outand going home. But that would only delay the inevitable. It was better to be honest, to just get it over with, no matter how much it hurt.

At this point she wasn’t certain she was going to get through it without falling apart.

She got out of the car and walked to the door, her finger hovering at the doorbell. She inhaled several head-clearing breaths and pushed the button.

Eugene opened the door, his bright smile making her doubt she’d be able to do what needed to be done.

“You’re back.”

“I am.” Grizelda was there to greet her so she bent over to scratch the pup behind her ears. She walked inside and followed him down the hall toward the living room.

“Get the kids dropped off okay?”

“I did. They’re so happy to spend the night with Gramma and Grandpa. And even more excited about going to the farm to see the chickens, cows, and goats tomorrow.”

He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her against his chest. “Aww. I’m sure they’re going to have a great time. I can’t wait for them to tell me all about it.”

Dammit. Tears welled in her eyes. She blinked, frantically forcing them back. She was relieved to know he wasn’t looking at her.

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