Chapter Six
CHAPTER SIX
The artwork and pillows that Natalie had ordered for Hazel and Linc’s house had finally arrived, so Natalie called Hazel to check her schedule. She was off work from the restaurant today, and Hazel asked if Natalie wanted to have lunch with her. They arranged a time, and Natalie loaded the pieces into her SUV and drove over.
This would give Natalie some time to go over some design options for the backyard. Hazel had a decent enough setup for the dogs to frolic and for entertainment purposes, but with all that land, they could do so much more. Linc had told her to draw something up for them and present options to Hazel, so she had.
She appreciated that Linc hadn’t taken over any part of the design process for their new home, allowing Hazel to make the lion’s share of the decisions. Hazel had picked out the house, which had needed some renovations. Hazel had included Linc in discussions, but he’d deferred to her wants and needs. Natalie knew how little input she’d had in any life decisions in her first marriage, so she just loved how Linc asked her how she wanted things.
Probably why Hazel had fallen in love with him. He knew exactly what she needed. And that made Natalie love him, too.
Once she got to the house, she rang the bell, smiling at the sound of barking dogs. Hazel appeared at the door not long after, shushing the dogs and enveloping Natalie in a hug.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Lunch is just about ready.”
After Natalie loved on the pups, they all ran off behind Hazel, so she gathered her tote bag and followed Hazel into the kitchen.
“Something smells good.”
“I’m baking bread. I also made a flavored tea. Does that sound good?”
“Sounds perfect. And you didn’t need to go to the trouble of making bread.”
“It’s not trouble at all.”
Hazel poured a glass and handed it to her, then took a sip from her own glass. Natalie took a seat at the island and watched as Hazel prepped kale and put it into the salad bowl, along with red quinoa, sliced dates, almonds, and a few other ingredients.
“Let’s go sit at the table,” Hazel said, bringing the bowl over and setting it in the center. “I’ll get the bread.”
The salad looked amazing. Hazel put dressing on the table, then added the bread that smelled so good it made Natalie’s stomach rumble with hunger.
“It’s a citrusy dressing and should meld well with the salad,” Hazel said, taking a seat. “I hope you like it.”
“You’re a superb chef, Hazel. I already know I’m going to love it.”
She took a bite of the salad and made a low moan. So good. The bread? Even better.
“I could not live with you anymore,” Natalie said. “I’d gain so much weight.”
Hazel made a psh sound. “The salad is very nutritious and low in calories. Though I do agree the bread is killer.”
Natalie tore off a piece, shoved it in her mouth and chewed, then took a sip of tea. “Worth it, though.”
Hazel laughed. “So true.”
They ate and talked about family things, mostly their mother, who was acting typically like…their mother. Loving. Annoying. In their business.
“She told me I need to get remarried as soon as possible because the children and I need a man to support us.”
Hazel made a face. “That’s antiquated and sexist as hell. What did you say to her?”
“Exactly what you said. I told her I didn’t need or want a man to take care of me, that I could take care of both myself and my children just fine. Naturally, she disagreed.”
“Yikes. I’m sorry, Nat. I know she comes from a good place, but good lord she can be a pain in the ass sometimes.”
“Oh, you haven’t heard the worst part yet.”
Hazel’s eyes widened. “There’s more?”
“She told me she can set me up with men.”
Hazel gave her a horrified look. “What? What men?”
Natalie shrugged. “I have no idea, and I don’t care, since I don’t plan to go out with anyone she suggests.”
“She can be somewhat unrelenting, you know.”
Natalie chewed thoughtfully, swallowed, and said, “Then I’ll tell her I’m already dating someone.”
“Are you?”
“Dating? Of course not.”
“Why not? It’s been a while since the divorce, Nat. You should get out there and have some fun.”
“Surely you’re not going to try and set me up with someone.”
Hazel laughed. “I know better than that. You can choose your own guys.”
“Thanks. Actually…” She pushed the salad around with her fork.
Sitting straight in her chair, Hazel asked, “Actually, what? Have you been seeing someone?”
“Not really. But I do have a date scheduled.” She shouldn’t tell Hazel about this, but now she’d blurted it, so it was too late. And, now that she thought about it, of all the people in her life, she knew she could trust her sister to be discreet.
“Ooh. Tell me all about it.”
They cleared the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, then refilled their glasses and went outside so the dogs could run around. It was a nice day with a breeze, and Hazel turned the fan on under the shade of the porch, so they grabbed a seat at the table.
“Okay, so promise not to laugh when I tell you,” Natalie said.
Hazel frowned. “Why would I laugh?”
“It’s Eugene.”
Hazel’s brows shot up. “Linc’s brother? Interesting. How did that come about?”
“We’ve been working on the design aspects of his new house, as you know. Plus he came over to the house the other night and brought some video games to play with the kids.”
“Aww. Did the kids like him?”
“Of course they did, since he’s like a kid himself. I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but he’s way younger than me.”
Hazel cocked her head to the side. “He is not ‘way younger,’ Nat. He’s a few years younger. And after being married to stodgy Sean, you need someone fun in your life. Plus, he’s smart and charming and incredibly good-looking.”
Natalie couldn’t deny everything Hazel said about Eugene. She also couldn’t hide her grin when Hazel referred to her ex as “stodgy Sean.” That certainly described him to a tee.
“I don’t know, Hazel. I’m dreading this date.”
“Dreading it? Why?”
She didn’t say anything. Just shrugged.
“Look,” Hazel said. “If you’re not ready, you’re not ready. And if you’re not feeling it with Eugene, then cancel the date.”
“It’s not that. The chemistry between us is crazy. Like, white-hot crazy. From the moment we met—oh God, he drove me batty with his jokes. I thought he was a jackass. But still, that attraction simmering under the surface is just wild and constant.”
Hazel leaned back in her chair. “And all this hot chemistry is a bad thing.”
“No, of course it isn’t. But I can’t let foolish lust get in the way of the plans for my future. The plans I’ve made for the kids and me.”
“Okay. Tell me what you’re feeling,” Hazel said.
“It’s just…I focused all my attention on Sean and the kids—to the point that I gave up everything me. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“Natalie. You had everything you ever wanted before. A nice house, country club membership, amazing clothes, two awesome kids. I wonder what it is that you want now.”
Natalie gathered her thoughts before answering, because Hazel had presented a good question. “From the outside, it must have seemed like I had the perfect life. It wasn’t. For the most part, I felt separated. Alone. Don’t get me wrong. I love my kids and watching them grow is incredibly fulfilling. But my life with Sean was lonely. He had his friends and his job and his interests, and most of the time, I was left on the outside. Even the friendships I cultivated were surface in nature.
“And to Sean, I was nothing more than a prop on his arm whenever it suited him. The people we hung out with were always his friends, never mine.” She took a deep breath, trying to hold the tears back. “I was miserable, Hazel. And all I want now is to be happy.”
“Honey.” Hazel grasped her hand. “I want that for you, too. So go grab some of that happiness.”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t have to marry Eugene. Just go have some fun. God knows you deserve that.”
Natalie breathed in, then let it out on a heavy sigh. “You’re right. Of course. I’m getting ahead of myself. I just didn’t expect to have all these…feelings so fast for someone. Only they’re not feelings, of course. It’s just unbridled sexual desire.”
Hazel gave her a knowing smile. “That’s not surprising, really. You’ve been repressed for so long. You should probably let loose and have some wild sex. Multiple orgasms will make you feel better.”
“Hazel!”
“What? I know exactly what you’re going through because I went through it myself. I pushed Linc away so many times when we could have gotten closer sooner. And as soon as I allowed myself to just let loose and have fun with him—that’s when I fell in love.”
Natalie frowned. “I have no intention of ever falling in love again.”
“Then don’t. Just do the fun part. You deserve it. God, Nat, you really deserve it.”
For the first time, the “fun” finally entered her brain, and she realized Hazel was right. She did deserve it. She’d just have to control it. Because she did have freedom of choice. And her choice was to never give control of her emotions over to another man ever again.
But letting Eugene take her out and pay some attention to her?
Yes, she could do that. She’d put all her reservations aside and have a good time.