Page 60 of You've Got Male

It looks like a sapling from here.

He studiously went to work on his reply.

Then you need a better look.

Evie didn’t feel like a college-dropout, stressed-out, frazzled single mom. She felt sexy and empowered. She felt like someone she’d almost forgotten existed.

Maybe it was the playfulness in his eyes or maybe it was because she enjoyed flirting with him, but instead of going back to work she scribbled a reply.

Our agreement didn’t include landscape show-and-tell.

It also didn’t include you objectifying me while I’m tending to my garden, he shot back.

You objectify me every time I wear blue.

I notice that you wear blue a lot lately. In fact, you’re in blue now.

So she was. Funny, that. Out of all the T-shirts she owned, she happened to pick the tightest, bluest one of the bunch. Not that she’d let him know that.

I own a lot of blue.

Lucky me. And for the record I objectify you every time I see you.

Evie was never one who liked overt sexual attention from men, but from Jonah she couldn’t seem to get enough. So his next comment sent her head spinning.

In fact I’d like to objectify you now.

His dark, hooded eyes said he wanted to do more than that and she found herself asking if she wanted to be objectified. Her nipples had no objection at all. But her brain? That was objecting like the opposing team at the O.J. Simpson trial. While her lady business was sustaining and entering damp panties and a thudding heart into evidence.

But could she cross that line with Jonah and still keep reality within sight? Because while this was all pretend, the butterflies tickling her stomach were real as hell.

Listening to the sane part of her, she wrote her reply.

Sorry. I’m busy studying.

If he were discouraged, he didn’t show it. In fact, his smile grew to cover his whole face as he held up his notepad.

I know this guy who is a wiz with numbers. I bet he’d be willing to help you find out where X and Y cross.

You need to keep your Y away from my X.

Evie waited with bated breath for his response, but before hecould finish writing his phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket to answer. Taking that as a sign from the Universe to get back to work, she walked to the table and went back to studying. Only she couldn’t concentrate on the math problem in front of her. Her X was so busy wondering just how impressive his Y would be, she didn’t notice that someone was at her back door until there was a knock.

She nearly fell off her chair.

It was Jonah. Still shirtless, notepad in hand, his arms stretched over his head as if holding up the doorway. Shoulders were on display, flat stomach taut and rippling with sinew.

She considered ducking under the table but he’d already seen her. And by the smile on his face he’d read her mind. He plastered his notepad to the back-door window.

May I bother you for a glass of lemonade?

Only if I can pour it all over your body.

As long as you stay on the porch, she wrote back.

Afraid that you’ll tear off my clothes if you get me alone?

She made a big deal of rolling her eyes, then went to grab a glass, sure to sway her hips like someone was watching. And the heat on her backside burned hot enough to let her know he was watching.

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