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“Okay, got your water turned back on and everything should be great.”

As she stood back up, Summer couldn’t help but notice his shirt had gotten a little damp, probably while he’d been under the sink, and clung to his midsection, showing off the perfectly defined abs underneath.

Weren’t plumbers and maintenance guys supposed to have beer bellies and ill-fitting pants?She may not know what Ashton did on his time off, but it definitely wasn’t sitting around watching TV and drinking beer, that was for sure.

And then she noticed how he kept Chloe up high in his arms so her little legs wouldn’t get damp from his shirt.

And darn it if that wasn’t almost as sexy.

“Ashton, thank you again for coming by.Especially since you weren’t planning to work in our complex this morning.”

He looked a little sheepish, she had no idea why.Chloe reached for her.“Ma-ma.”

Summer took her daughter, nuzzling her soft hair.“Hey, sweetheart.You have fun with Ashton?”

Chloe began jabbering an entire story only she could understand.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to pay you extra for your time?Coming out here—out of your way?I feel bad.”

Ashton’s eyes widened.“No.No.That’sreallynot necessary.You definitely cannot pay me.Summer, I should—”

He stopped, rubbing a hand over his forehead.

“You should what?”she finally asked when it became apparent he wasn’t going to say anything more.

As usual.

He gave a tiny sigh, then a smile.“Nothing.Really, it was no problem helping you.Just call me if there’s anything else you need.”

What if she needed to ask him to dinner?What would he say to that?No doubt he would stutter and get embarrassed.

But would he stutter yes or stutter no?

Summer had been out of the dating game for a long time.She and Tyler had been married three years when he’d died nearly two years ago.So it had been over five years since she’d asked anyone—or been asked by anyone—for a date.She wasn’t sure she even knew how to start now.

All she knew was that it was nice to be around a man who didn’t know that her husband had died suddenly and tragically.Didn’t look at her with barely veiled pity in his eyes.

She turned toward the kitchen counter and grabbed a plate.“Well, I made you some muffins.Blueberry.”

She thrust the plate holding the half dozen oversize muffins toward him.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

Now she felt like an idiot.“Oh.Yeah, well, I just felt like baking.”At four o’clock this morning when she’d realized he might be coming over in a few hours to fix the leak.“And thought you might like some.I can’t eat them all.”

She wished she’d never brought it up.

“Oh, well, they look delicious.Thank you very much.”

He took the plate.She ignored the tiny bit of guilt she felt over the knowledge that he’d probably return the plate in the next couple of days and she’d get to see him again.

That wasnotwhy she’d baked him muffins.

He was a single guy.He probably didn’t get a lot of home-cooked items.That’s why she’d baked him muffins.

He glanced at his watch and winced.“Okay, I’ve got to get going.Just call me if there are any other problems, okay?And thank you.”He held up the plate.

He reached over quickly and tickled Chloe’s cheek, causing her to laugh.“Bye, you little heartbreaker.Be good for your mama.”

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