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“Brutus, really?” Darius tugs on his leash, and I laugh. “He should be good now,” he says.
I snort. “He’d have to be, right?”
“You’d think.” He unhooks Brutus’s leash and sets it on the mudroom bench.
We both remove our shoes and I tuck them out of the way. “Come on into my humble abode,” I say, waving my arm in an arc. I lock the door behind us and, before I can turn around, I’m hit with a paralyzing sense of awkwardness. Darius is in my house, and I was the one who invited him. Now what do I do?
He probably has expectations. Sexy expectations I’m not sure I can live up to. I press my palms flat against the steel surface, bracing my weight.
Darius comes up behind me. “What’s wrong, Evie?”
Unable to gather my thoughts, I simply shake my head. His hands go to my shoulders, carefully pivoting me toward him. His concerned dark eyes stare earnestly into my light ones. “Beautiful, talk to me.”
“It’s something silly,” I say.
“I doubt you’d be reacting like this over something silly.”
“I haven’t had sex in like five years,” I whisper.
“That’s okay.” His thumbs caress my shoulders. “It’s been a while for me too.”
“Five years?” I ask, with a quirk in my eyebrow.
He chuckles. “No, not that long.”
“I’m a little nervous I won’t live up to any expectations you may have.”
“I don't have any expectations at all. If we sit on the couch side by side and I get to hold your hand while we watch a movie, it’ll still be a perfect night because I’m spending it with you.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Really. Let’s do something to take your mind off of how much you want me and get Brutus a bowl of water.”
I laugh. “I don’t recall saying that.”
“It’s your eyes. I’ve seen you undressing me with them.” His brows wiggle up and down.
I push back from his arms. “That’s some wishful thinking on your part.” I move into the kitchen and grab a plastic bowl, filling it from the tap. I set it down for Brutus and he slurps the water up, sending droplets all over the floor outside the bowl.
“Sorry. He’s a sloppy mess when he drinks,” Darius says.
“So am I,” I confess.
“Really?” Darius’s eyes light with mischief.
“Too bad you’ll never get the opportunity to see me like that. I avoid alcohol in all situations.”
“I bet you’re as adorable as always even when you’re drunk.”
“I’m entertaining, for sure.”
“Now you’ve got me intrigued. We may have to do an experiment sometime. We can conduct it in a safe environment like here or my place.”
“What’s your house like? I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
“It’s a three-bedroom bungalow with a good-sized fenced-in yard for Brutus to run around. I bought it last year and still haven’t begun any of the projects I want to do.”
“You’ll tackle them when you’re ready,” I say.
