“Looks like she’s won you over.”

“Maybe.” I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction by admitting I was completely smitten with the dog. He’d suffer first for not discussing his gift ideas with me.

“I know I should’ve talked to you first.” Easton guessed what I was thinking, but then he’d always had this weird ability to read what was in my head and my heart. “But you would’ve said no, and I wanted poor Mona to have a chance at a forever home with us.”

With us?

I glanced up at him, and he smiled guilelessly. I’d heard him wrong. There was no us. Not now. Maybe not ever. I really didn’t know what I wanted. It was all so confusing.

“Where’s Junie?” I asked, realizing I hadn’t seen her in a while.

“She went home with Steele and Kaden. They were going to play video games.”

“She likes Kaden.”

“Yeah, well, good luck to her. He has a mystery lover. No one’s ever seen her, and he won’t talk about her. Kaden is obsessed with this woman. I’ve never seen him like this.” Easton slid his arm across the back of the couch behind me. His fingers lightly played with a lock of my hair. I involuntarily shivered from the intimate contact.

“Really? Kaden? He seems like such a player.”

“He is. It’s odd. Steele thinks she’s married.”

“Oh, that’s not good for anyone.”

“Tell me about it.” He pulled me closer to him, and I relished the warmth of his body next to me. The gas fireplace and Christmas lights added to the magic of the moment, and I never wanted this night to end. As I stared into his deep brown eyes, I knew this was where I belonged, where I’d always belonged. I envisioned sitting in front of a Christmas tree like this with him years from now as our grandkids and great-grandkids opened their presents.

I’d thought I’d have the same future with Mark, but had I been deluding myself, or was I deluding myself now? Was the magic of the moment overriding my common sense? Falling for Easton again hadn’t been part of my plan. Getting an education and supporting my children comfortably without anyone else’s help had been. I started classes after the new year, working toward my nursing degree. It’d be difficult to study and take care of rambunctious twins, but I would find a way. I had Junie’s help, and I had Easton’s. He was a great father, even if he didn’t have much practice. The kids adored him, and I’d abandoned my fears he wasn’t in this for the long haul.

“What are you thinking?” he said as he smiled at me.

“About us.” My honesty surprised him. I saw it in his eyes. His expression softened, and he pulled me closer to him. I didn’t resist. I wasn’t capable of resistance. I’d been resisting him for too long, and tonight I didn’t have the willpower or the energy. I rested my head on his strong, capable shoulder and cleared my overactive brain of as many worries as possible, allowing myself to just be for a little while.