EvieIt was just after five when I pulled into the shopping center. I had tried to get off work earlier, but with the day off on Monday, I was swamped. I couldn’t neglect my friends. At least, that was what Nelle had said when she demanded I take part in some retail therapy. I called her to find out where she was.I walked into the clothing store she was at and quickly spotted her. “I like it,” I said as I walked up to where she was holding up a pretty blouse.“Who are you?” she asked without looking at me. “You sound a lot like my friend Evie, but I think she fell off the face of the earth.”“Ha ha. I’m sorry. I’ve been busy.”“Not too busy for your man,” she said.“Actually, I saw him Monday and that’s it. Well and Sunday, but that doesn’t count.”“You are forgiven, with one stipulation,” she said.I groaned. “What would that be?”“Have dinner with me,” she answered.I burst into laughter. “Yes. I’m free for the rest of the night.”“Good. Now, I need a skirt to go with this.”I bega

XanderCharlie thought I was crazy. I probably was. He told me to come up with a way to save his ships’ rudders and I had.Well, I hoped. Maybe I did. I wasn’t sure. I was still working out the details. Right now, it was all an image in my head. I wasn’t sure how or if it was even possible to make it work out in real life.Then again, the ship designs were once nothing more than pipe dreams. I’d made that a reality. I was sure there was a way to make the rudders stronger and more effective.Charlie didn’t say it, but I knew what he was thinking. He was thinking what Marsh had thought. What my dad thought. I was crazy.He thought I was getting ahead of myself. People had been building ships for hundreds of years, and here I was, young and dumb, thinking I could change what had always been done.I got in the car, checked the time, and figured I would see if Evie was free. I doubted it, given it was a Friday night, but I was going to try anyway. There was an elderly woman selling pretty

EvieHe was standing next to the bed, looking down at me like I was on the menu. My skin felt flushed under his gaze. I could practically feel his hands on me. I closed my eyes as a wave of passion washed over me, making me squirm on his bed.“You’re ready for me, aren’t you?” he asked in a gruff voice.I moaned, my lips parting as I reached up to cup my breast through my bra. “I am. I need you.”His eyes focused on my hand. I gave him a show, squeezing and plumping my breast. I brought my other hand up to help.“God damn, Evie. Do you know how sexy you are?”“I want you inside me,” I told him with raw honesty.“Not yet. You look too good.”He dropped to his knees and pulled me to the edge of the bed. My legs hung over, my feet dangling over the floor. He reached for my panties and started to pull them down my body.With my position, I couldn’t quite lift my ass to make the removal of the damn things any easier. That didn’t stop him from getting them off. He yanked until my pretty blu

XanderI dropped Evie off at her apartment and immediately headed over to Charlie’s place. He was probably still in bed, but I was going to wake him up. I had an idea and I wanted him to be the first to see it.After talking with Evie a little, I knew I was on to something. She didn’t understand the mechanics and all the little intricacies of a ship’s propulsion system, but Charlie would. He would be able to offer advice and help me make this thing real. My week had been relatively productive, and I couldn’t wait to show him what I had.I pounded on his apartment door. “Charlie, get up.”There was no answer. I knew he was inside. At least, I assumed he was inside. His car was in the usual spot. I supposed he could have gotten a ride. I slapped my hand against the door again.One of his neighbors pulled open their door and glared at me. I smiled in return. “Charlie, I’m not leaving. Open the door.”I heard the lock on the door finally turning. When Charlie pulled open the door, he loo

EvieI finished my usual morning walk. I went alone. I thought about inviting Xander along, but I needed some time to think. This thing with my dad was really screwing with me.I didn’t like us being on the outs. It made me feel icky. I couldn’t shake the heaviness of it and it was affecting my work. I had to settle things. I knew there was a chance we would never have the relationship we once did. I didn’t like the idea, but I couldn’t change his way of thinking.Just like he couldn’t change mine. I felt we were both intelligent, responsible people and we were always going to have our own opinions. I could respect his and I needed him to respect mine. At least, that was what I was going to say to him. I had been practicing what I would say all morning.I parked my car in the driveway and fought down the nerves that erupted in my belly at the thought of confronting him. I was nervous and apprehensive. I didn’t stand up to him. The day in his office had been a first. While it had felt