When he'd stood me up, I'd stared at his contact information for hours, willing him to call me and apologize for an emergency.But he never had.There was no explanation, and when I went to school that Monday, he turned his head away from me, refusing to meet my gaze.I thought the act of deleting him from my phone would feel good, but it hadn't.
"You'll have to give it to me again," I said, pulling out my phone.I worked hard to keep my heart rate and breathing in check.I didn't want him to know that he affected me.
He recited his number, and I dutifully inputted the digits, then named his contact Bad Boy Contractor.It would be a good reminder every time we talked not to trust him.
When I lowered my phone, he asked, "So I won't see you on my job site with bare feet and in silk again?"
I tipped my head to the side, thinking about how he'd saidsilkinstead of something else, like pj's."Was that a hopeful tone I detected?"
"Why would I want a half-naked woman getting hurt on my construction site?"He scowled, then turned on his heel.
I followed him toward the back door."Why would you be happy about anything?"
He stopped abruptly, and I almost ran into him.He reached out to steady me, his hands on my shoulders like they had been this morning.
My chest was tight, and it was difficult to draw in a breath.
Then he let me go as if I'd burned him."Let's stay out of each other's way."
I swallowed hard at his declaration.Was it that easy for him?He could just ignore the sparks that flew whenever we were near each other?
He seemed to be attracted to me, but then he'd put space between us.It was confusing and felt a little like whiplash."That sounds like a good plan."
He raised a brow."I'm glad we finally agree on something."
He opened the door and went outside, checking the equipment one last time.
The problem was that I felt drawn to him.I couldn't exactly ignore the pull.It would take everything inside me to resist, and I wasn't sure I was strong enough.But the memory of him standing me up was a shot of cold air.
I forced myself to move away from the window.Arriving on the construction site this morning in my nightie clearly bothered him, and I had a feeling it didn't have anything to do with safety.
