She reached for the phone and dialed Linny's number. It took about 60 rings, but he finally

answered with a grunt. "Oh, were you sleeping? Because so was I, until this." She held up her phone.

She placed the phone back to her ear. "I was having this incredible dream. I won ten minutes in Home Depot. I could grab anything and everything and own it if I made it back to the front of the store in ten minutes. Come on, that's as close to a wet dream as I will ever have. Get this, though—I was already at five minutes on the clock. My hands were on the 12-shelf toolbox."

"The one with the stainless steel cover and wheels?"

"Yeah, but for some reason the time buzzer went off. Guess what it was, Linny."

"I don't hear the doorbell anymore."

Neil sucked her teeth. This was the first time in five days he'd given up so soon. Usually he stayed there for twenty minutes, until she opened the door dressed and ready for work. So far he had greeted her with truffles, donuts, éclairs, pop tarts, and brownies. Because she ate them in less than three bites and thanked him, did that rule out stalking? Probably, and if Gib wanted her not to know who was at the door, he'd stop parking his Caddy in the driveway. "I can't work under these conditions. You have to do something."

She hated to even ask. Neil should have been able to deal with Gib on any level, but this close contact was killing her, and the sleep deprivation had won out over pride, which was saying something.

"Is he changing his mind on what he wants done every two seconds?"

Outside of breathing down her neck, Gib was making her job insanely easy. "No."

"Is he holding up any part of the process to get permits?"

"No." Her phone line beeped. "Hold on, Linny." She clicked over. "Hello?"

"So you are done getting your beauty sleep?"

Neil fell back against the pillows. She should have known. "You're annoying."

"Really, stop with the compliments. You're going to make me fall in love with you."

"Doesn't count if you are saying this while looking in the mirror at yourself."

He made a sound of pain. "You wound me."

She bite her lip to keep from smiling. "Only seriously in my dreams, and you're holding up my phone line."

"Answer your door."

"No. I know how to get to work by myself. I've been doing it for years now, and nothing has happened to me yet. Amazing, but I've finally learned how to cross the street without holding anyone's hand."

Gib chuckled, and Neil had to keep herself from shivering at the sound of it. "How do you take your coffee?"

"Without you holding it."

"So, a double-shot espresso without any whipped cream?"

"Espressos are for sissies. Hold on." She clicked over. "Linny, it's him. I don't want to make a big deal out of this, but..." She was making a big deal out of it. Gib was harmless, if you liked slick, charming, annoying, handsome men dogging your every step. Neil sighed. "I'm sorry I called. It won't happen again."

"Are you sure?" Linny asked.

"I'm going back to sleep."

"Why do you feel the need to wake me up?"

"You're a breath of fresh air, and I want to start my mornings with you frowning at me." He

lifted the thermos. "I brought gifts."

"It better not be espresso." She stepped back to let him in, but not before she realized she hadn't combed her hair. Vanity aside, a bird's nest was a bird's nest, no matter what you called it. He settled on the loveseat, looking comfortable and as if he didn't have a care in the world. He looked right sitting there and, because he did, Neil said, "Why are you being the bane of my existence?"

"But I brought coffee." Gib grinned at her before pouring her a cup. She didn't want to be at ease around him. Ease led to other things, and those things led to worse things, like companionship and someone to lean on. Neil stayed by the door. "It's not poison. Are you cold?"

"It could be Spanish fly. And no, I'm not cold."

Gib sighed. "You know there's this saying, if a woman protests too much..."

Neil narrowed her eyes. She could handle this situation two ways, and unfortunately neither option involved cement shoes. She accepted the lesser of the two evils and sat down on the couch across from him, accepting the cup he offered.

"What's your angle, playboy?"

"Getting chummy with the worksite manager."

"It has nothing to do with the fact that I'm a woman who doesn't fall at your feet?" She missed his answer, because she was melting into the couch after her first sip. It was black and strong. The rich taste blossomed on her tongue and it took everything in her not to groan in pleasure. "Did you come straight from Columbia with this stuff?"

"I believe wholeheartedly in beating the dead horse just so everyone has an understanding." She took another sip. "Hush for a moment. You're ruining the coffee."

"If I'd known..."

She glared at him. He chuckled and leaned back in the chair. His hands ran down the side of the material until he placed them on the edge of the armrests. As she watched his hands, it felt like he was touching her, caressing her skin. She glanced down at the cup. It had to be Spanish fly in this stuff.

She cleared her throat. "I think we need terms."

Otherwise, he'd lace her coffee every morning until she gave.

"Terms?"

She noted he hadn't poured himself a cup. "Yes, for this work relationship."

"Relationship." He paused." I like the sound of it."

"You missed the word 'work' then."

Gib shrugged. "Semantics."

"Delusions."

"You like me."

Neil took another sip of the coffee. She'd told a number of lies over the years, and she wasn't about to add to them. As Gib leaned forward in interest and she noted the way his forearms flexed, she started to feel incredibly warm for a cool spring day. She glanced back down at the cup. Definitely Spanish fly. "You will come to my house only if it's on fire. I'll meet you at the site. We can talk about anything while at work."

Gib eyes lighted. "Anything?"

"Work-related."

"The strap on your shirt fell."

The smile faded. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

The fact that he noticed and apologized made her feel like a heel. The playful "I don't have a care in the world" guy she could rebuff. Neil sighed.

"Thank you for the coffee."

He stood. "I'll let myself out. You have a good morning."

The silence thickened after the door closed. Neil stayed on the couch, the coffee cup still

warming her hands. Her gaze went to the painting over the fireplace. She'd have to suck it up. If it meant being nice to Gib, she'd do it. If it meant ignoring the little buzz she got whenever he was around, Neil would have to do it. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the painting anymore. The work day started in less than thirty minutes, and she didn't have time to feel sorry for herself.

"Semantics," she muttered.