Page 35 of Designs on You

“You did great today,” Linc said, taking a long swallow of his beer.

“Thanks. I have to admit it was fun to get sweaty and do some heavy lifting. I can see why you enjoy it.”

“Yeah, it makes me feel good. I like putting things together, creating something with my hands. Kind of what you’re doing with the new job, huh?”

“Yeah, sort of.”

“Not sort of. Exactly. How’s that going?”

“It’s going good. It’s like putting puzzle pieces together. Similar to the games I’ve designed, only more three dimensional, more ofa real-world experience. It’s definitely different from anything I’ve ever done.”

“You sound more excited about this job than you have in years.”

“Thanks. It’s something new, for sure, and that’s always exciting.”

“Speaking of new and exciting, how are things going with Natalie?”

He fortunately didn’t have to answer that question right away because their pizza arrived, and despite Linc telling him he’d already eaten a sandwich, he dove in with both hands to grab a slice.

Figured. His brother always ate the most. Eugene had to fight Linc and Warren to even get a bite of food when they were kids. Fortunately, he had his mom to slide him extra slices so he wouldn’t starve.

The pizza was excellent. Eugene could have eaten the whole thing by himself, which was why he was happy his brother shared it with him. Now he wouldn’t have to work out so hard at the gym.

“I think we were talking about how things were going with Natalie,” Linc said after he signaled for the server to bring them another round of beers.

“Oh, right. It’s fine. I’m still taking things slow.”

Linc frowned. “Still? Why?”

He shrugged. “Because she deserves that. I don’t have all the details but I think her ex held her back, and right now she’s working her way into having a sense of freedom. The last thing I want to do is to stifle her.”

Linc nodded. “That’s considerate of you.”

Eugene started to say something, then took a sip of his beer instead, trying to come up with the right words to express his feelings.

“I like her. I really like her. I don’t want to screw it up.”

Linc cocked his head to the side. “I get that. Seems to me you’re handling things with Natalie…gently, right?”

“So far.”

“Then keep doing what you’re doing. And don’t screw it up.”

Eugene laughed. “Yeah, that’s the plan.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Natalie decided to take the initiative this time and had invited Eugene over for dinner tonight. She was making lobster pasta, one of her favorites. She had already prepared a nice salad, which was chilling in the fridge. She’d bought bread from her favorite bakery.

There should always be bread.

She’d showered, shaved, buffed and puffed and put on lotion, dried her hair, put on makeup, and chosen one of her favorite sundresses, because after all that personal grooming, along with the precooking, she was hot as hell. Thank technology for good air-conditioning.

And now she was ready.

Ready for anything and everything that might happen tonight.

The doorbell rang, and she looked at the clock in the living room as she walked by, smiling.

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