to fit all the way in the toolbox.
Matt's eyebrows wiggled, his smile lit his face. "Nobody's complained about my tool yet."
Thinking of what she'd been looking at when he'd been unaware, Lauren hid her nervousness behind a laugh. "Do lines like that work for you?"
"I'll let you know in about ten minutes, as soon as I'm finished here."
"Don't press your luck, Skarpinsky, or your tool might never work again."
"Well, there's the girl I remember. You always did enjoy crushing my ego."
"Only 'cause there was a lot to crush."
His smile faded, his eyes went serious. "God, I've missed this."
***
Lauren's thoughts were jumbled, her heart was confused. She hadn't rushed Matt out of the house, but she hadn't encouraged him to stay either. As soon as the deadbolt had clicked behind him, she'd run to her office and logged on.
To hell with a movie, she needed some insight. So she told Carm everything. To Carm this would all seem so high school, and damn it, she would be right. But Lauren wasn't as experienced and this twist in the road of her life couldn't have shocked her more than if Carm had phoned and told her she was entering the convent.
Carm's words stepped across the screen. Two days ago he hated you and now you're noticing his assets?
It wasn't nearly so crude, but Lauren figured it was the gist of the problem.
Yeah.
He was the one with dark hair, right? Tall?
Carm had come up for their graduation and had met Matt and Gil. While she'd liked both, she hadn't made it a secret which she'd considered sexier. At the time Lauren had thought her sister nuts.
Lauren laughed, the sound coming out slightly hysterical. Now who was nuts?
Yeah, that's him.
He was hot. I say go for it.
We're supposed to be friends!
So, be friends with benefits. This was followed by a winking yellow emoticon. Seriously, Lauren. He's hot, he's single and you're attracted to him. All you can do is let go, see where it takes you.
Lauren sighed. Carm was right. Not helpful, but right.
I guess I can try.
But the thought left Lauren trembling.
Sex is like riding a bike. Your knees may get all scraped up, but the fall is well worth the ride!
Good grief. Carm would fit right in with the coffee gang.
So, was the package worth checking out?
Lauren sputtered.
It's none of your business!
Plus Lauren didn't think she could write down any words that would do Matt justice. Smiling, she watched her sister's words fly across the screen.
You've practically been a nun for the last few years and now when things get interesting, I get nothing?
That's right.
You're evil. Do I at least get to know if his ass is nice as I remember?
No.
Why not?
I haven't looked.
No doubt Carm was wondering just how it was possible she and Lauren were related.
Do me a favor, okay?
I'm scared to ask.
Just check out Matt's ass for me. I want a status report next time we talk.
Before Lauren could digest this latest weird development in her life, the icon next to her sister's name changed to say she was offline. Figured.
Shaking her head, Lauren powered off her laptop and shuffled back to her room. Staring out the window to the starry night and the three-quarter moon, Lauren's thoughts tumbled wildly. So much had happened in such a short time.
Matt was in her life again but he wasn't the same, they weren't the same. While some things were familiar and comfortable, like their bantering, others had changed significantly. Like how her body responded to his nearness. How he wasn't only a guy friend anymore. He was a man. A man she found very attractive.
Since the accident, Lauren hadn't been attracted to anyone. Hadn't even considered it after Gil. It was as though her body and her soul were sleeping. But now…
Lauren pressed her forehead to the cool window, closed her eyes.
She wasn't sure what to do next but she knew one thing, her soul, her body, were very much awake.
***
The Friday morning before Thanksgiving was surprisingly quiet in the Mountainview. Coffee
Matt's eyebrows wiggled, his smile lit his face. "Nobody's complained about my tool yet."
Thinking of what she'd been looking at when he'd been unaware, Lauren hid her nervousness behind a laugh. "Do lines like that work for you?"
"I'll let you know in about ten minutes, as soon as I'm finished here."
"Don't press your luck, Skarpinsky, or your tool might never work again."
"Well, there's the girl I remember. You always did enjoy crushing my ego."
"Only 'cause there was a lot to crush."
His smile faded, his eyes went serious. "God, I've missed this."
***
Lauren's thoughts were jumbled, her heart was confused. She hadn't rushed Matt out of the house, but she hadn't encouraged him to stay either. As soon as the deadbolt had clicked behind him, she'd run to her office and logged on.
To hell with a movie, she needed some insight. So she told Carm everything. To Carm this would all seem so high school, and damn it, she would be right. But Lauren wasn't as experienced and this twist in the road of her life couldn't have shocked her more than if Carm had phoned and told her she was entering the convent.
Carm's words stepped across the screen. Two days ago he hated you and now you're noticing his assets?
It wasn't nearly so crude, but Lauren figured it was the gist of the problem.
Yeah.
He was the one with dark hair, right? Tall?
Carm had come up for their graduation and had met Matt and Gil. While she'd liked both, she hadn't made it a secret which she'd considered sexier. At the time Lauren had thought her sister nuts.
Lauren laughed, the sound coming out slightly hysterical. Now who was nuts?
Yeah, that's him.
He was hot. I say go for it.
We're supposed to be friends!
So, be friends with benefits. This was followed by a winking yellow emoticon. Seriously, Lauren. He's hot, he's single and you're attracted to him. All you can do is let go, see where it takes you.
Lauren sighed. Carm was right. Not helpful, but right.
I guess I can try.
But the thought left Lauren trembling.
Sex is like riding a bike. Your knees may get all scraped up, but the fall is well worth the ride!
Good grief. Carm would fit right in with the coffee gang.
So, was the package worth checking out?
Lauren sputtered.
It's none of your business!
Plus Lauren didn't think she could write down any words that would do Matt justice. Smiling, she watched her sister's words fly across the screen.
You've practically been a nun for the last few years and now when things get interesting, I get nothing?
That's right.
You're evil. Do I at least get to know if his ass is nice as I remember?
No.
Why not?
I haven't looked.
No doubt Carm was wondering just how it was possible she and Lauren were related.
Do me a favor, okay?
I'm scared to ask.
Just check out Matt's ass for me. I want a status report next time we talk.
Before Lauren could digest this latest weird development in her life, the icon next to her sister's name changed to say she was offline. Figured.
Shaking her head, Lauren powered off her laptop and shuffled back to her room. Staring out the window to the starry night and the three-quarter moon, Lauren's thoughts tumbled wildly. So much had happened in such a short time.
Matt was in her life again but he wasn't the same, they weren't the same. While some things were familiar and comfortable, like their bantering, others had changed significantly. Like how her body responded to his nearness. How he wasn't only a guy friend anymore. He was a man. A man she found very attractive.
Since the accident, Lauren hadn't been attracted to anyone. Hadn't even considered it after Gil. It was as though her body and her soul were sleeping. But now…
Lauren pressed her forehead to the cool window, closed her eyes.
She wasn't sure what to do next but she knew one thing, her soul, her body, were very much awake.
***
The Friday morning before Thanksgiving was surprisingly quiet in the Mountainview. Coffee
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