Page 105 of Designs on You

Knowing they could be seen, including by the kids, he took a step back, swiping his fingertip across her bottom lip. “Damn, I missed you.”

Her eyes sparked with heat and something he couldn’t decipher. “I missed you, too. Hi.”

“Hi, yourself.” He reached over to the counter. “I brought you flowers. And I brought your sister flowers, too, for different reasons.”

She laughed. “Noted. And thank you.”

The back door opened and Hazel walked in. “Oh, hey, Eugene.”

Eugene gave Hazel a smile. “Hi, Hazel. Thanks for hosting my family tonight.”

“I’m happy to do it.”

He picked up the bouquet of wildflowers. “Brought these for you. Along with beer and booze.”

“All are appreciated. Thanks for thinking of me. Your brother Warren texted about five minutes ago to tell us they’re on the way.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Linc’s outside if you want to join him.”

“I will.” He turned to Natalie. “Are the kids outside, too?”

“No, they’re with Sean tonight. Sean and his girlfriend, Madison, who I met today, wanted to take the kids to the new kids’ movie. He asked if it was okay if he could have them tonight.”

“Wow. How very outstandingly parental of him.”

“I know, right?” Hazel said. “I’ll be outside.”

After Hazel left the room, he asked, “So, Sean has a girlfriend. How do you feel about that?”

“I feel fine. Madison is actually very nice. She teaches fifth grade at Cammie’s school and she’s apparently great with the kids. Cammie can’t say enough good things about her, and Christopher said she’s fun.”

“I guess that’s pretty good accolades, coming from the kids.”

“Agreed. And I think she’s opened Sean’s eyes to the concept of spending more time with his children. And if she can do that, how can I possibly have any objections?”

“If you’re sure that’s all it is.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

He should probably shut up, but when did he ever do that? “I mean, I hope Sean wants to spend more time with Cammie and Christopher because he wants to. Because they’re his kids and he loves them. And not to impress some woman he’s dating.”

She opened her mouth, and he knew she wanted to object. She had every right to, and this really wasn’t any of his business. But she closed her mouth and cocked her head to the side.

“You know what? That thought had never occurred to me.”

“Of course not, because you think your kids are awesome and who wouldn’t want to hang out with them all the time?”

She reached for his hand. “You mean, like you do?”

“Hey, I like kids. I especially like your kids, which has nothing to do with how I feel about you.”

“Oh yeah? And how do you feel about me?”

He leaned into her. “Oh, we don’t have the time to get into that right now.”

“Really. How come?”

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