Eric's arrival put a stop to Lori and Wes's banter. Without knocking, he stuck his head into the lab. "Lori?" he called. "Ready to go?"

Lori got up from her desk and motioned him inside, nervously wiping her palms on the thighs of her butter-soft denims. "Eric," she said, almost hesitantly, "I'd like you to meet my friend Wesley Iverson. Wes, this is Eric Gordon."

Eric smiled warmly at Wes, but he didn't drop his jaw and leer, like most men did. "Nice to meet you, ...