Page 19 of Unsteady: How to Fail at Flirting

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We have a lot of shelves to assemble today, so I’d better get dressed and ready to go, and wonder if I’m going to walk into a thirst trap again.

Good for me, I think, as I pull on my second pair of jeans in a week. I miss my skirts, cute tops, and non-rugged shoes.

I’m growing. This is growth.

I’m turning over a new leaf, and I like that about me.

I think.

“Skylar, what are you doing?”

“I’m just bringing sustenance, that is all,” I say, laying on the officious tone rather thick.

I deliver the tray of drinks and box of donuts wearing a very non-flirty outfit — baggy jeans, messy hair, hoodie, and an oversized T-shirt that’s been stretched out all to hell. As for Finn, he’s done me a favor and put on an actual shirt today.

But damn that tool belt. And what is underneath it is the most wonderful tool of all, if I had to guess.

Finally, he smiles and sets down his hammer. “Thank you, Strawberry.”

I inch closer. “You called me Strawberry.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s what you called me yesterday when you were, uh…”

“Skylar. We said we weren’t going to go there again.”

“You said Strawberry, not me!”

“OK. It was an accident. Sometimes when I’m around you, I forget myself. I start…stumbling and bumbling.”

I grin and bat my lashes. “Doesn’t bode well for my carpenter to say he feels unsteady on his feet.”

“It’s a metaphor.”

“OK.”

“You smell too good for a job site,” he says, gritting his teeth.

“Golly. Should I leave?”

“No. But we need boundaries. Today, no kissing. No touching. Just work.

Hammers and nails, screws and drill bits.”

He’s so serious. It’s adorable. “Why do all the bits of construction work sound so sexy? Screws. Studs. Nails. Wood…”

“Skylar.”

“Sorry. What are we doing today, boss?”

I really do appreciate a man who sets clear boundaries and sticks to them. There’s a certain kind of safety in that.

Boundaries are good. Let’s both have boundaries. No more flirting. No more kissing…or staring…or touching…or sniffing…or licking.

Somebody open a window, because it’s getting hot in here.

Ten

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