“When did I say I wanted favors from you, Skylar? Is that what you think I am? Is that why you think I backed you against the wall yesterday? Because I expected something from you?”
She’s speechless. Finally, her face softens. “No. I’m sorry. Can we change the subject? I appreciate everything you’ve done. Even if you’re crazy. I don’t want any conflict or misunderstandings.”
“I don’t either. I want to be on the same page,” I say.
“Good. Being on the same page is good. Not everything has to be so heavy,” she says.
I don’t think being on the same page to her means the same thing it means to me.
But she’s right. We have work to do.
Skylar is having the time of her life, even if I have to redo some of her work. OK, by lunchtime, I end up pulling out seven nails, unscrewing five of her screws, and remeasuring several boards, but she’s not the worst worker I’ve had by far.
“I still say this is a crazy idea for a vacation,” she says at one point, fanning herself and unbuttoning her shirt. “If I go on vacation, I need cute outfits, cute guys to flirt with, and lots of A/C.” That ratty T-shirt is starting to cling to her breasts as she sweats.
Something flares in my belly when she says that. A totally inappropriate response to the idea of her flirting with other guys. I have no claim whatsoever on her.
But that doesn’t stop me from peeling off my Henley because it is getting damn hot in here.
“You flirt with everyone you meet, or are you just trying to make me jealous?” I ask with a grin, letting her know I’m not upset about it.
Because I have to be OK with who she is.
She sits down on a step stool and dabs the sweat on her sternum. “I just love talking to people. Everyone has a story. People react when I flirt with them, and they open up. It’s more like a pastime to me. And people like to be heard.”
“So, what’s your story? When do people get to listen to you?”
She laughs. “Iris is a good listener. But she has a lot going on, so I try not to unload much on her.”
“So what’s your story?”
Skylar smiles and takes a drink of her water. “Well, it all started when this hot guy showed up at the town Dogwood Festival last month and offered to be my contractor for my little bookstore, and then he disappeared. I thought he flaked, so I put it out of my mind and went to work sketching out my plans and pricing different contractors. Pushing back the opening date of my store until I had the proper financial plans in place. I put that guy out of my head. But then, that hot guy blew back into town and turned everything upside down. Turns out, he’s a great kisser, too. Not that I would tell him that, because I wouldn’t want that going to his head. I don’t want to have any expectations because if he disappears again, I don’t want to have to hate him. Also, as the brother of my best friend’s brand-new boyfriend, I have to be careful. I don’t like messes, and I don’t like drama.”
I don’t like drama either. I like to be straightforward.
“So what happened yesterday? What changed?”
She takes another drink of water.
“You’re going to think I’m crazy,” she says.
I want to know everything about her. I want to understand how she thinks.
“You might be surprised, Skylar.”
She looks up at the ceiling, then says, “Something magical happens here on the first of May. Remember, I told you there are a lot of birthdays nine months from now? Well, it’s not an exaggeration. I don’t know if it’s the trees, the flowers, or the pollen. Who knows? But everyone lets their guard down a little bit. Lots of one-night stands happen. Everything is warmer, the creeks rise, and the mountaintops are fully green. So maybe blame yesterday on that unidentifiable something in the air. What can I say? I’m defenseless in front of a shirtless, tall drink of water who smells like man-musk and sawdust. I just…dropped an egg when I got another look at you. Also, it’s been a solid couple of years since I had sex, and I am extremely horny.”
I nod. “You dropped an egg? Never heard it put like that before.”
She shakes her head as I approach. “Boy, you could get me pregnant just by looking at me, and there wouldn’t be anything immaculate about that conception.”
“Skylar.” I’m standing right in front of her now, looming over her.
“What are you doing?”
“Telling you to take a break. We’re done for the day.”
“We are?”
