Page 115 of Designs on You

“Yes.” Hazel gave him a smile. “He looks like he’s in dire need of your help.”

Linc pulled off his shirt and made his way into the pool, diving in and finding himself under similar attack from six very adorable children.

“Siblings,” Hazel said, rolling her eyes.

“At least yours seems calm and rational. He’s just throwing the ball with the kids. Eugene is jumping all over the place giggling and laughing like a child.”

Hazel laughed. “Hey, he enjoys playing with them. Not too many men will get down to a kid’s level. He’s a kid at heart. He’s going to make an incredible father someday.”

He’s going to make an incredible father someday.

That sentence hung in the air, nearly choking her with panic and dread.

She’d been prepared to have a conversation with him later today about her feelings for him. Tell him that she loved him. But with that one sentence, the cold realization hit that if she entered a serious relationship with Eugene, if she pondered a future with him, she’d be denying him the one thing he was so good at. The one thing he might truly want someday.

A family of his own. The opportunity to have children of hisown. Because she was done having kids. She’d made that clear, and she knew in her heart she didn’t want to start over having babies. Which didn’t mean that Eugene wouldn’t want to start a family. Of course he’d want to have his own kids. He was so good with her children, dove in right from the start with Cammie and Christopher, and they’d accepted him immediately.

How could they not? He was charming and fun and sweet and she owed him honesty about how she felt.

Oh, she could never tell him now how she truly felt. At least not what was really in her heart, how much she loved him. That would be so unfair to him.

No, she’d have to sit him down and explain the reality of the situation. That their age difference had finally reared its ugly head.

They were in two different places in their lives. His was just getting started. With everything, to be honest. New job. New house. He had a chance to start a new relationship. Find someone to fall in love with, get married, and have a family with.

Whereas she was in a different place, somewhere completely different. Divorced, free, independent, and raising two incredible children. She was moving forward with her life as it was. She wanted…well, she didn’t know exactly what she wanted yet, but she’d eventually figure it out.

Liar. You do know what you want. You want Eugene. You love him. You want him to be a part of your life, your kids’ lives. You want that happily ever after with him.

She stared out over the water, the splashing and laughter and the way her kids clung to Eugene like he was everything to them. Their protector, someone who was important in their lives. Herheart twisted as she thought about the kind of future they could have together.

No. That wasn’t her life. Or, it could be, but that would be so incredibly unfair to Eugene. She refused to do that to him.

So, later tonight, they’d talk. She’d be honest with him. He’d understand, and, of course, he’d see the logic in all of this. He’d realize that she was right, and they could go their separate ways without hurting each other.

It was all going to be just fine.

• • •

“Ugh. I’m so full. I shouldn’t have had two burgers.” The party had dwindled, leaving just Eugene and Natalie and the kids, along with Hazel and Linc.

Linc looked over at his brother. “You ate two of those monster burgers?”

“Hey. Chasing little kids around the pool worked up an appetite, okay?”

“Uh-huh. You poor thing. I’m sure you were wasting away waiting on the food to be ready. And now you ate too much and you want to die.”

Eugene sank farther into the chaise. “Didn’t say that. I just said I was full. Satiated. Appreciated a good meal.”

Linc snorted. “No, that’s not what you said.”

Hazel came outside. “Kitchen’s clean and we have puppies to tend to. You ready to go?”

“Yup.” Linc got up and so did Eugene. He pulled Eugene into a hug. “Great house and awesome party, bruh.”

Eugene hugged Linc tightly. “Thanks for everything. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

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