“I love Laguna,” I said. “One of my favorite restaurants there is Broadway. Have you been?”
“I haven’t,” he said, shaking his head.
“Well, we’ll have to go,” I said before I could stop myself.What was I doing?
I glanced at my watch, realizing I needed to wrap things up. My day wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. “I’m so sorry, but I must run. You have my card with all my info—feel free to call ifyou have any questions. I’ll also send over some wallpaper and light fixture options by tomorrow morning.”
Lucas stood, smiling warmly. “Of course. Thank you, Natalie.”
Then, to my surprise, he leaned in and kissed me on both cheeks.
“It was so nice to meet you,” I said, gathering my things.
“The pleasure was all mine,” he replied, hischarming accent was a melody to my ears.
CHAPTER 5
RENOS AND REALIZATIONS
NATALIE
After leaving the café, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. My next stop was Lauren’s house, where I was overseeing a renovation project.
When I arrived, the transformation was incredible. The new oak floors gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the windows. The fresh coat of crisp white paint gave the whole house a modern, airy feel, and the sleek black Anderson windows tied everything together.
“Hi!” Lauren said, rounding the corner to greet me. “Look at this place! It’s amazing.”
“It’s sensational,” I said, grinning at her.
It really was coming together beautifully. The old brown wood trim and travertine floors were gone, replaced by a clean, timeless aesthetic. Even the clunky old ceiling fan in the living room had been swapped for a stunning chandelier that served as a true statement piece. Lauren had impeccable taste, especiallywhen it came to details, and I loved helping her bring her vision to life.
We toured the house, checking on the progress of the bathrooms and the kitchen. Everything was on schedule, and the quality of the work impressed me.
“Can you believe this is the same house?” Lauren asked, marveling at the changes.
“It’s gorgeous,” I said. “Charlie’s room is my favorite, though. She’s going to flip when she sees her little gymnastics setup.”
Charlie, Lauren’s daughter, was a budding gymnast, and we’d carved out a space for her in the loft with tumbling mats and a balance beam. It was a small touch, but I knew it would make her so happy.
After double-checking the contractor’s work and reviewing the timeline, Lauren and I stepped outside to chat.
“We’re still good for Friday?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” I said. “Plan on coming over after school. The kids can swim, and I’ll let Camille know to bring her boys too.”
“Perfect. See you at the gate,” Lauren said with a smile.
Back at home, I quickly tackled some last-minute work and gathered everything I needed for the afternoon—Bebe’s dance bag, snacks for the kids, and my never-ending to-do list. As I headed out the door to pick them up, I realized something: I hadn’t thought about running into Will all day.
Maybe it was the buzz of my conversation with Lucas, or the satisfaction of seeing Lauren’s house come together, but for the first time since seeing him a week ago, my thoughts weren’t consumed by my ex-lover or the mistakes I’d made.
Lucas, with his irresistible accent and easy smile, had reminded me of something I hadn’t felt in a long time, excitement.
I didn’t know where this was all headed—if anywhere—but for now, it felt good to look forward to the possibility of something new and uncomplicated.
CHAPTER 6
THE SINGLE REVEAL
