She looked up, startled. Mike stood in the doorway, his honey-brown hair = darkened with sweat. He'd stripped to a white tee shirt, streaked now = with tar and grime. His tool belt dragged heavily at his jeans, tugging = them downward, and Ginny found her eyes drawn to the long, lean line of = his torso.

Jesus, he's gorgeous. A furtive heat pulsed in her crotch and she jerked = her gaze hastily back to his face.

He shuffled slightly, as if embarrassed. "I didn't mean to intrude. I = just wanted to..." His focus slid past her to one of the framed columns, = and his eyes widened. "Virginia? You're Dear Virginia?"

It was Ginny's turn to feel embarrassed. Shrugging, she smiled. "That's = me."

"But...but..."

"But what?" She stared at him, bemused by his hesitation.

"But you're not old enough."

She laughed, a pleased warmth curling through her. Playfully, she cocked = an eyebrow at him. "And exactly how old do you think I am?" He flushed, = his ears turning that adorable pink, and Ginny let him off the hook with = a grin. "Don't answer that. I don't really want to know."

Mike shook his head slowly. The answering amusement in his eyes = contrasted oddly with his blush--it was too adult, too knowing a look = for a boy his age.

And what is his age, Ginny? You don't really know, do you?

Nor did she want to. Really, it just didn't matter.

But the musky, sweaty scent of him in the small room wasn't boyish at = all. It tugged at her, vibrant and masculine, deepening that furtive = tendril of heat in her groin. He hunkered down by her chair, gazing at = the computer screen, and Ginny was all too aware of his broad, solid = shoulder scant inches from her own.

"I can't believe it," he murmured. "I've been reading you since I was a = kid."

Ouch.

He glanced at her sidelong, sensing her reaction, and grinned. "Wrong = thing to say, huh?" Straightening, he ran a hand through his hair, = pushing it back. "I just... Wow. My grandfather loved your columns. He = used to say you were the only woman south of Portland with half a lick = of sense."

"Well, thank you." She smiled politely and he stood staring a moment, = his blue eyes holding hers with an intensity that was disturbing...and = pleasant, she admitted privately. There was something about his warm, = steady gaze that caught at her breath, tightening her nipples and making = her heart pound faster.

He cleared his throat and looked away, and Ginny realized her pussy was = throbbing, slick with moisture. Her panties were damp too, and her chest = was rising and falling just a bit too rapidly for comfort. Flushing, she = turned abruptly back to the computer, hoping to God he hadn't noticed.

Oh hell. This was not good. It really, really wasn't.

"So what can I do for you, Mike?" She kept her gaze on the screen, her = fingers already moving over the keyboard again, trying to give the = impression that she was a very busy woman--a busy, important woman--a = woman who would never dream of nailing the hunkalicious boy she'd hired = to fix her house...

Yeah, right.

Mike cleared his throat. "I just wanted to let you know I'm knocking off = for the day. I'll be back in the morning. Is eight a.m. too early?"

Too early for what? Her traitorous mind was more than happy to supply = suggestions, but she shook her head quickly. "No, that's fine. Whenever = you want to start. You really weren't too early this morning, you know-I = was just teasing you. Whatever's convenient for you is fine, really..."

And now I'm babbling. Shut up, Ginny! Just shut up.

She saw him nod from the corner of her eye. "Eight o'clock it is then. = Oh, and the roof isn't bad at all. Most of the leakage is right around = the chimney. I'll re-flash that and have the roofing done by Thursday, = probably. Then I can get started on the inside work."

Inside work. Inside. With her. All day.

Oh God.