Free Designed for Love by Erin Dutton

the bathroom.
    Wil waited until they were gone to enter the kitchen. Jillian hadn’t noticed her yet, so Wil admired her a moment longer before clearing her throat loudly enough to be heard over the music.
    “Oh, hey, Wil.” Jillian crossed to the counter and turned down the radio. “How’s the bathroom coming along?” Wil seemed dazed, and when several seconds went by with no answer, she thought she’d have to repeat herself.
    “Don’t you think you should put some clothes on?”
    Jillian looked down at herself, thinking she was sufficiently covered. “There’s nothing wrong with what I’m wearing.”
    “You’ve got workers in the house.”
    Jillian was confused. She didn’t think Wil was a prude, so what was the problem if she wanted to be comfortable in her own house? Just then one of Wil’s crew passed the doorway, and when Jillian caught an appreciative glance, she thought she understood. She took a step closer, and Wil’s eyes narrowed and she drew a quick breath. Jillian wanted to trace a fingertip along the neckline of Wil’s T-shirt just to see what kind of reaction she would get. A thrill raced along her spine, but she didn’t move, fearful that touching Wil would test her own willpower a bit too much.
    “I have a house full of women, Wil. It’s not like I have anything they haven’t seen before.”
    “So if I had a man on my crew you would cover up?”
    Jillian shrugged. “You don’t.”
    “Andy’s gay,” Wil blurted almost desperately.
    “I know. You told me. She and Patti seem pretty serious.” Jillian could tell by Wil’s expression that she realized it was a ridiculous thing to say. Despite her growing irritation, Jillian kept her tone even. She’d often found that the appearance of disinterest was as effective as raising her voice. And it was clear Wil was becoming frustrated with her lack of emotion.
    “So you walking around half naked—”
    “I am not half naked. You’re overreacting. I was trying to let it go, but if you really want to force the issue, why does my attire have you so—bothered?”
    “I’m not,” Wil stuttered, and took a step back.
    “Really? Because you seem a bit off-kilter.”
    “No. I’m perfectly—on-kilter.”
    Jillian smiled. “I don’t think that’s a word.”
    “If you want to walk around flaunting yourself, that’s your business.”
    Wil still seemed flustered, and Jillian suspected she knew why, because her own awareness simmered just beneath her skin. They could probably go back and forth like this all day, when in truth they would both just get more and more aroused. She’d already endured waking after more than one erotic dream about Wil, so she was only torturing herself. But for reasons she didn’t understand, Jillian couldn’t back down.
    Instead, she tossed her head deliberately and said, “I’m a single woman. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t flaunt whatever I want to?”
    Wil’s jaw was tight as she stared at Jillian, then without a word she turned and strode away, barely pausing as she met Andy in the living room.
    “I’ll be working at Miss Beam’s. Call my cell if you need anything.”
    She was out the front door before Andy could reply. When Andy shrugged and headed for the bathroom, Jillian still stood watching through the screen door as Wil stalked to her truck. Wil was sexy when she was agitated. And since Jillian had already had a taste of that passion, she thought she might reconsider having a casual affair.
     
    *
     
    Using the claw of her hammer, Wil pried plank after plank from the deck of Rose’s porch. The destructive activity was just what she needed. She’d arrived still steaming from her encounter with Jillian and had stopped only long enough to tell Rose she was there before she got to work. She was wound up, and since releasing that tension with Jillian the way she really wanted to was out of the question, she’d do it here, tearing away the rotted boards.
    She didn’t know why Jillian