Page 33 of The Hook Up
Ty leaned back on his heels and scratched his chin with a damp hand. “I don’t suppose you have any epoxy.”
She frowned. “I don’t think so. We keep all the home repair stuff in the other duplex next door. It’s vacant right now while Jason fixes it up for the next renter.”
“Any chance you have a spare key?”
Ellie shook her head. “Normally I’d run down the street and grab it from Miriam, but she’s out of town.”
“Let me see what I’ve got in my toolbox.”
Ellie stared at him. “You brought a toolbox to dinner?”
Ty nodded as he got to his feet. “I always keep one in my truck, just in case.”
“I think I might love you.”
She meant it as a joke, but the words sent a pleasant throb through his chest. He turned away, not wanting her to read anything on his face. He hurried back through the living room and out the front door, wondering if he should call Home Depot. But it was already late, and the odds of getting all the way there before closing seemed slim.
He’d have to make do. He grabbed the toolbox and hustled back to the house, heading straight for the kitchen this time without knocking. Ellie crawled on her hands and knees, mopping at the water with a pile of old towels, and Ty felt like an asshole for noticing the curve of her backside.
God, you’re a pig. What kind of asshole ogles a woman in distress?
Ty took a deep breath and set the toolbox on the counter. Ellie looked up as he opened the lid and began rummaging through the contents.
“I’m so sorry, Ty,” she said.
His heart twisted a little at the unhappy note in her voice. “It’s not a problem,” he said, meaning it. “I’m glad to help.”
“I swear I didn’t invite you here to be my plumber.”
“Oh, you’ll still need a plumber.” He located a stray C-clamp and kept digging, hoping to find an old tube of epoxy. “But I should at least be able to plug your hole.”
Silence met him in response, and Ty slowly replayed his words.Hell.He glanced at Ellie to see she wore a strange expression.
“Um, right.” She swiped a damp hank of hair off a cheek that seemed pinker than normal. “Plugging my hole would be—helpful.”
Ty’s dick twinged.No. I’m not sporting wood in the middle of her kitchen.
He dug through the toolbox some more, annoyed not to see any epoxy or pipe repair clamps or Teflon tape or anything else he might need. How the hell was he supposed to help her? Something inside him desperately wanted to,neededto be the guy to make things okay for her.
He glanced back at Ellie, who was using a Batman beach towel to mop up a small lake next to the fridge. “Any chance you have a patch kit?” he asked.
“You mean for pipes?”
“I was thinking more like the kind you’d use for a rubber raft or an air mattress or something.”
She frowned, looking dubious as she shoved a damp towel aside and reached for a dry one. “I don’t think so. I had water wings for Henry when he was little, but those are probably long gone.”
“Or just a stray piece of rubber will do,” he said. “An old bike inner tube or garden hose or something?”
Ellie bit her lip. “I can look around the house.” She stopped sponging at the water and sat back on her heels. “Jason and Henry took their bikes camping, and my bike is in the shop getting a tune-up. My patch kit is still in my seat bag.”
Ty glanced back at the pipe and frowned. Hesitating, he glanced back at Ellie. Hell.
“Okay. Don’t judge.” Keeping his eyes off her, he slid his hand into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “I’m pretty sure this will work,” he said as he slid out the condom and tore open the foil packet.
He dared a glance at her then, noticing the stunned look on her face. Was she upset?
“Oh.” Ellie stared at him, cheeks going from soft pink to a hue on the edge of crimson. “Well, that’s one way to do it.”
