Page 62 of Designs on You

An even bigger surprise was Cammie taking his other hand. “We’ve both got you.”

“Me, too,” Christopher said, nudging in between Natalie and him to take Eugene’s hand.

Linc came up behind him to whisper in his ear. “Cute family, dude.”

He wanted to shout out that this wasn’t his family, that it was all fun and games with Natalie and him, but he couldn’t, because her kids were involved. And, like it or not, he’d gotten involved with her children, too.

Besides, the way he was surrounded by Cammie and Christopher, with Natalie taking Christopher’s other hand? It felt like a family.

His family.

He waited for the familiar panic, that need to bail when things with a woman felt a little too close for comfort.

That feeling didn’t come. Maybe it was because the kids were talking nonstop and his brother and Hazel were there so it felt more like a gathering of friends and family.

Yeah, that’s what it was. A gathering. Of friends. Not family. Certainly not his family.

But it could be, if that’s what you wanted.

Yeah, but it’s not what Natalie wanted. And they’d both agreed their relationship was just for fun.

Christopher tugging on his hand drew him out of his wayward thoughts. He took in a deep breath and let it out, clearing his head.

They got on the ride and Natalie grabbed his arm. He looked over at her and saw she was a little pale.

“You okay?”

She gave him a faint smile. “Oh sure. I’m fine. Can’t wait for this.”

He wasn’t sure how he felt about her answer. Maybe she was nervous about the kids and the ride. And maybe he should have chosen a milder ride. Too late now, though.

He thought it might be a little scary for Christopher, but, surprisingly, he was the one who laughed and screamed the loudest. Cammie enjoyed it, too.

Natalie, on the other hand, buried her head in his shoulder the entire time, refusing to even watch after the first jump scare. She gripped his arm so fiercely that he lost feeling in his hand. He put his arm around her and squeezed her tightly to his body.

After the ride was over, Christopher and Cammie jumped out. Hazel noticed how shaken Natalie was, so she grabbed the kids.

“Let’s go get some cotton candy,” she said, then turned to Eugene. “We’ll be right over here.”

He nodded and helped Natalie out of the ride. “How about something cold to drink?”

Her hand was shaking as she took his hand. “The kids.”

“Hazel and Linc have them. Let’s go sit down.”

“Okay.”

He took her to a nearby food and drink stop, taking Natalie inside. He sat her down at an empty table and went up to the counter, ordering two lemonades. He set the cup down in front of her.

“Drink,” he said.

She picked it up and took a sip, then another. “Mmm,” she said. “It’s cold and sweet. Thanks.”

He took a couple swallows, too. “Yeah, it’s good.”

After a couple more sips, she sighed. “I don’t know what came over me. It went dark, then it got scary, and I freaked out.”

“It happens.”

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