Someone who saw her. Who welcomed her. Who didn’t expect her to prove her worth before being accepted.Ifshe even got accepted, which rarely happened.
When Ethan’s low and warm laugh drifted in from the deck, her chest tightened.
He fit here so easily, but when he looked at her, it felt like he saw her aspartof it.
As if somehow, she belonged because he wanted her to as much as she wanted to be.
For a woman who’d spent her whole life on the outside looking in, that realization was both calming and terrifying.
“I wish Ethan came here more,” Janet said. “He loved it as a child, but I knew it wouldn’t be his life. Not like his brothers. He wanted city living, but craved the peacefulness here. Life has gotten away from him and I’m thrilled he’s slowing down.”
“I’m not so sure he’s slowing down,” Nora said, smiling. “At least at work. Which I’m not complaining about and shouldn’t have said that. We try really hard to separate the two. I just meant that it’s exciting and fast-paced and I love it. But our time outside of work is different. And I love that even more.”
Janet’s smile softened, her hand coming out to rest on hers. “That’s what my son needs. That’s who and how he is. He’s lost the time outside of work and you’re helping him find it. It’s a balance that I had to drill into my husband’s head for years. Then I watched Eli and Egan do the same until they fell in love.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. If she was even supposed to respond.
Shemight have felt she was falling in love with Ethan, but she wasn’t so sure how he felt and didn’t want to be the first to put it out there and be rejected.
Though the fact he was bringing her here today had to mean something more.
The commotion at another end of the house stopped her from answering.
“Sounds like some kids,” she said.
“Kaden. My nephew is just like my middle son. Loud and likes attention.”
“Grandmaaaaaaaa!!!!!” There was the patter of feet and she looked up to see a toddler that clearly carried the Bond genes strong. Behind the little boy was Egan Bond chasing his son.
“You beat me again,” Egan said as if he were tripping and grabbed the wall for support.
“Stop goofing off,” Janet said and reached for her grandson to pick him up and get a kiss. “One of these days you’re actually going to trip when you’re joking and put your head through the wall.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time I did that.” He pushed off the wall. “I’m Egan. It’s nice to meet you, finally.”
“Nora,” she said.
“I don’t want to hear the stories about you putting body parts through walls, Egan. Take your daughter. I’m Blake.”
She liked Egan’s wife. The two of them shared a grin as a sleeping baby in a car seat was pushed over.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you all. Ethan has been excited to see his nieces and nephews.”
“Then he should visit us more,” Egan said. “Where is he?”
“On the deck talking to your father.”
“Did he bring us donuts?” Egan asked, looking at her.
“No. He didn’t. I wish I’d known. I would have grabbed them this morning.”
“He can get them himself,” Egan said. “No reason for you to wait on him. It’s his business.”
Things were being completed, but the offer had been accepted. She had to admit, if she lived close to the donut shop, she’d be back in her stretchy pants.
“She doesn’t wait on me,” Ethan said.
Nora turned and saw him standing in the doorway from the deck.
