“Sounds as if you didn’t need the money or to work,” she said.
At least he wasn’t lazy if he went right back at it.
“I didn’t. But there I was again, putting in seventy hours a week because now I’ve got so much on the line andhadto see it succeed. And it did. Three years ago. I hit nine figures. Not to brag or anything. Just didn’t want you to think I was some bum.”
“Hardly anyone would think you were a bum,” she said. “That’s amazing. You’re living the American dream.”
He shrugged. “I guess. I don’t know. I’m bored. I don’t want to do it again. I burned out. Seriously burned out.”
It reminded her of what Hunter had lectured her about. Not that she made herself ill. Nothing compared to what Arik was describing.
“I’m sorry that happened to you. I hope you’re better now.”
“I am. It helps when the stress goes away.”
Natalie had headaches and some sleepless nights trying to prove herself too.
“I’m glad,” she said. “Sounds like your biggest stress is entertaining yourself.”
“Listen to you getting all cute and sarcastic.”
She hadn’t meant for it to come out that way, but his laughter said he wasn’t offended.
“Sorry, that was wrong of me. I apologize.”
He pointed his finger at her. “Don’t you dare. I love it. And yes, that is a big part of my problem. For three years I’ve tried my hand at so many things hoping to find something that stuck.”
“Like careers?”
To her, he didn’t need to work.
“Yeah. I’m too young to sit around. Few my age do, so then it leaves me hanging with retired people. I’ll take a hard pass.”
“Not ready for cigars, poker, and whiskey?”
“I’m totally ready for it. I’m sure I’ll try my hand at the casino too. But it’d be better with people my age.”
“This is a great story. I always wondered what happened to you.”
“You did?”
Oops, let that slip. Just like she always did in his presence.
She pointed her fork at him as he had his finger. “Now you should seeyourface. Your eyes lit up and your grin is bigger than your wallet. I bet that ego of yours is matching it.”
His mouth opened, he stood and bowed down. “Natalie Bond, I’m so proud of you.” He looked at his watch. “It took twenty minutes for you to loosen up. I’ll take that as a victory.”
He should because she only ever talked like this to her family.
And that meant her brothers, her sister-in-law, and her parents.
Maybe some of her cousins. Only first cousins.
But being the only girl with her brothers and having three male cousins, it didn’t leave her many to talk to other than their wives.
Most had kids and were busy in their lives.
“You should,” she said, laughing at his antics. Why did it feel so good to let go like this? Had it really been that long since she’d felt free—truly free—or found this kind of simple, frivolous joy in something as ordinary as a lunch outing? “So what do you plan on doing here? There aren’t that many jobs and I’d think you don’t want anything full time.”
