Chapter Eight
CHAPTER EIGHT
Eugene took a break from the endless meetings that were a necessary but tedious part of his job. He stepped outside for a walk, letting the sun shine down on him.
It had been three days since his date with Natalie. He’d texted her the day after to tell her he’d had a great time. She’d replied with a polite Me, too , but that was about it. He smiled at that because he knew there’d been a lot more going on between them that night. But she’d been a little inebriated, and he wanted her clearheaded and certain.
It had taken everything in him not to kiss her. The chemistry between them was volatile. Like a sexual itch that crawled over and inside his body, refusing to let go.
He wanted her. And walking away from her last weekend had been the hardest thing he’d ever done. But he didn’t want to be some fuckboy. Not with Natalie. He didn’t know why, but there was something special about her. Maybe it was the fact that she had kids, and he wanted to be respectful about that. About her. He didn’t really understand it himself. All he knew was that he wanted to reconnect with her soon.
His phone buzzed. He grinned when he saw it was a text from his brother Warren.
Just left court. Went against some asshole.
Made me think of you.
He laughed and replied with: So you lost, huh? Feel bad for you. You should go get a drink and drown your sorrows.
Warren came back right away with: Hell no I didn’t lose. Kicked his ass like I always kicked yours. That’s why I thought of you.
Typical Warren. Always bragging. They’d done this one-upmanship with each other for years. Though he had to admit, his brother was a damn good attorney. He texted back.
Did you want something specific?
Warren replied with: Nope. Just wanted to say hi. Call you later.
He shook his head and put his phone to the side.
Time for him to get back to work, too.
· · ·
“It was the most humiliating experience of my life.” Natalie hated admitting that, especially to her sister, but she needed someone to talk it over with, and she trusted Hazel more than anyone.
“Why?” Hazel was in the process of grooming Freddie the dachshund, who stood patiently on a table out in the backyard while Hazel trimmed the hair around his feet. “Because you were slightly inebriated, obviously turned on, and he acted the gentleman and walked away?”
“No. That’s not what happened. It was all one-sided, Hazel. It’s all in my head. I feel ridiculous.”
Hazel cocked her head to the side and shot her sister a look. “I seriously doubt it’s one-sided. He was just…giving you space and time.”
Natalie snorted out a laugh. “Please. He’s a hot, virile guy. Obviously used to making moves. He made zero moves on me.”
“Bullshit.”
Natalie’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
Hazel picked up Freddie, kissed the top of his head, and put him down on the ground. He happily scampered off to join the rest of the dogs. “I’ve watched him around you. He teases you. No guy does that unless he’s interested.”
“But—”
“Nat. He’s interested. He didn’t try anything because he didn’t want to rush you. Excuse me for being blunt, but he doesn’t consider you a one-time fuck. That’s called respect.”
The thought had never occurred to her. Her only thought—and granted, it had been an inebriated one—was that he wasn’t interested.
“Oh. Maybe.”
“Just give him another chance, okay? If he doesn’t seem like he’s into you after that, then let it go.”
She took a deep breath, then let it out. “Fine. Also, if you’re going to groom the dogs out here, you need a designated area, not your back patio. Cuz that’s also where you grill food, and swim, so that’s gross.”
Hazel laughed. “Okay. Well, I do sweep and vacuum up all the hair, but I agree with you. What do you suggest?”
She pulled her sketchbook out of her tote and took a look at the backyard. “We haven’t really discussed back here yet, but I think you’d need something beyond the pool area. But definitely shady because you don’t want to get sweaty, and you don’t want the dogs to get hot. Plus you need access to water to bathe them.” She jotted down notes. “Oh, and you’ll need a bathing pool. Something to contain the animals, plus a designated table for grooming.”
“Aww. You’re so smart, Nat. You think of everything.”
“Probably not everything, but give me some time to wander the property back here and see what might fit. Then I’ll do up a proper sketch for Linc to build something for you.”
Hazel laughed. “I’m sure he’ll love that.”
Natalie shrugged. “He loves you. You know he’ll do it.”
“Yeah. He will.”
Natalie noticed the sparkle in her sister’s eyes when she talked about Linc. She was so in love it was ridiculous.
Natalie had thought she was in love once. No, she had been in love. Sean and she had been good at the beginning. They’d had similar ideals for their future. The only problem was Sean had been the only one who’d realized all his goals, while Natalie had only been able to achieve one of hers—to have her two beautiful children. But her professional goals? Those had been put on hold in order for Sean to achieve his. She hadn’t even realized it had happened until year after year, Sean had asked more and more of her but had given nothing back.
Her dissatisfaction was partly her fault, though. She hadn’t sat down and talked to Sean about how she felt, what she wanted. She’d allowed herself to be completely swept up in his life, fulfilling all of his dreams, and somewhere along the line, the future she’d envisioned for herself had totally disappeared.
Not anymore. Now she had her kids, and they were settled and happy. She had a job she loved. She had goals, and she wouldn’t allow anyone to disrupt her goals for her future ever again.
However, that didn’t mean she wasn’t allowed to have some fun. Like her sister said, she was overdue. And it was high time she indulged.
So she’d test the waters with Eugene and see what happened.