Built For Her

“Get it together, Ginny,” I tell myself when I see it on the counter right beside me. I put on some lip gloss and mascara and pencil my brows in a bit. I want to look my absolute best, but if I go down there with a full face I’m going to look like a lunatic. “That’s enough for now.”

When I walk out of the bathroom I see my cell phone on the table next to my bed. I’m terrible with that thing and it drives my sister crazy. I bet she’s texted me five million times today.

I groan when I see I have a bunch of missed text and calls. Before I can even check them, it’s vibrating in my hand, reminding me I haven’t had the ringer on.

“I’m alive!” I tell her before she can yell at me.

“Neal told me about these cameras I can install in your house that I can check right from my phone,” she says without saying hello. “They’re on sale right now, too.”

“Maybe you should be wondering why Neal knows this.” I sit down on the side of my bed.

“You think he put cameras in the house?” she whispers.

“Would you really be upset if he did?” She doesn’t say anything for a moment, so I’m thinking she’s okay with it. “You’re not putting cameras in my home,” I add before she can go back to pushing it.

“Think on it. You don’t have to toss out the idea right this second. I have a month to return it.”

Of course she already bought it. Now I’m rethinking the extra key I gave her. I wouldn’t put it past her to sneak in here while I was gone. When I hear footsteps downstairs I remember why I’m ticked off at her.

“Let’s talk about Thor being in my kitchen,” I say, keeping my voice low.

“Who?”

“Barrett. The hot contractor who just saw my nipples.” I close my eyes, trying not to let the embarrassment swallow me. I still can’t get the look he had on his face out of my head. I wish I was better at reading people, because part of me thought he liked what he saw, but I brushed it aside. No way he wants a nerd like me. He’s a guy, so of course he’s going to stare. And who wouldn’t look at boobs given the opportunity?

“Thor? Like the guy from that movie that carried around a sword.”

“A hammer,” I correct. “How can you not remember your contractor? He is literally the hottest man I’ve ever seen in my life.”

I hear a board creak and I freeze. Turning around slowly, I see Barrett standing in my bedroom doorway. And of course he has a hammer in his hand.

Gabi is rattling on in my ear, but I don’t hear anything. Barrett has a smile pulling at his lips, and he bites his bottom one to try to hide it. My whole body blushes, which is so much worse because of my red hair and fair skin.

“You heard me, didn’t you?” I ask, and this time he lets his smile go to reveal a row of straight white teeth.

Could this get any more embarrassing?

I watch as he slides the hammer into a utility belt around his waist. Jesus, even that’s hot. “I need to run to the hardware store,” he finally says, not answering my question. Maybe he’s being nice and trying not to embarrass me. Still, I feel a touch hurt that he didn’t acknowledge it.

“Okay,” I say lamely.

“You’ll have clean water before the end of the day,” he adds.

His eyes lock on mine before they trail down to my chest, then I wonder if he’s thinking about the scene from earlier. He’s probably just checking to make sure I don’t have them out again.

“How much is it going to cost?”

“We’ll work it out,” he says before he turns and leaves.

Should I go after him and ask for more details on the cost? I’d likely do something to embarrass myself if I did. He knows my budget, and clean water is kind of at the top of my list of things I have to have.

“Wait, did you say he saw your nipples?” Gabi shrieks. Apparently, she just caught the comment I made. And so did Barrett. Great.

“I was wearing a white shirt and water went everywhere.” I fall back onto the bed. I don’t know why I’m embarrassed. This is the story of my life when it comes to men. I’m always making a fool of myself. Though this time I actually care. More than I should for someone I’ve only just met. He was so excited about the house, too, and that makes me like him more.

Gabi giggles on the other end of the phone line. “I really can’t remember what he looks like. I remember him being big though.”