Thanks to everyone that has read my story so far! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Two: That Strip of Skin

"You two know each other?" asked the man behind the check-in desk.

"Uh, yes. Scott, this is my… ex-girlfriend, Spencer Hastings. Spencer, my co-worker Scott," Toby said, rubbing the back of his neck as he made the introductions. Spencer couldn't help but notice how the movement made his fitted white t-shirt strain against his muscular chest. Toby had always had a great body, but he was sin on legs now. Scott and Spencer exchanged greetings.

"Well," Scott said, "I'll let Ms. Lawrence know that her car is ready. Why don't you go ahead and take your lunch, Toby? It seems like you and Miss Hastings have some catching up to do."

Toby shrugged. "Want to grab a bite? There's a great coffee and pastries shop down the street. It's called Com-"

"Compass Coffee. I love that place," Spencer interjected.

Toby grinned, and Spencer's knees felt a little wobbly. God, she hadn't realized how much she had missed his smile. He didn't do social media so she hadn't even been able to stalk an Instagram profile of him. His brown hair was a little longer than she remembered, slicked back from his face, and he now wore a shadow of beard over his jaw, but his smile was still the same. "I should have known you would know about it, coffee addict that you are."

"Hey," she protested as he wiped greasy hands on a pair of worn jeans riding low on his hips, "I am not an addict. I am an appreciator, there's a difference."

Toby chuckled and turned away from her, grabbing a clean shirt off of a shelf and quickly changing out of his current one. Spencer's eyes roamed over his muscular back before she felt Scott's eyes on her. He was looking at her with a smirk. She blushed and turned towards the door, stepping out into the warm summer day. Toby joined her a moment later and with timid smiles at each other they began walking down the bustling street.

"So, you know what I'm wondering," Spencer started. Walking next to him was overwhelming. It was strange not to respond to the crackling chemistry between them, to extend her hand to hold his. She crossed her arms over her chest to resist it. He was so different now, but somehow 100% familiar.

Toby looked over at her. "Why am I in D.C.?"

Spencer nodded, not trusting herself to speak with his deep set blue eyes alight on hers.

"Don't worry, I'm not stalking you," he grinned, making Spencer smile. "Scott is an old family friend. His brother, James, recently passed away, and they were partners at the shop. I'm just filling in until Scott finds permanent help. I've only been here for a couple of weeks."

They approached the shop and Toby held the door open for her as Spencer walked in. They found seats in the back corner and ordered coffee and sandwiches. "What brought you into the shop today, anyway?" Toby inquired. His eyes on hers… Get it together, Spencer. It's Toby.

"This is going to sound crazy, but the woman whose car you're working on? I thought she looked like Aly from the back and irrational Spencer prompted me to follow her," Spencer explained with a shake of her head at her foolishness.

Toby's full mouth set itself into a thoughtful line. "Wow." was all he said.

"What?"

"And it just so happened to be the shop I was working in. Coincidences can be so strange."

"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous," Spencer found herself quoting without thinking. Her face immediately warmed as she realized what she had just implied.

"Albert Einstein," Toby replied in a soft voice.

Spencer gave him a small smile. "Correct," she said.

Their orders came. "Mmm," Spencer sighed as she took her first sip of coffee. "I love their coffee."

"You love everyone's coffee, Spence," Toby chuckled. No one had called her Spence in forever. It felt good.

"I was actually job hunting when I saw Ms. Lawrence and came in your shop. Have you heard of any openings around here?"

Toby looked confused. "What about school?"

"Oh, I'm just looking for a summer job."

Toby laughed, shaking his head.

"What's so funny?" Spencer asked with a giggle. A laughing Toby lit up her heart like nothing else.

"Scott is actually looking for a secretary/receptionist. Someone to check people in when he has a car to work on, do paperwork, that kind of thing. I can recommend you if you want," Toby offered.

Spencer's facial expression must have not looked too excited. "I mean, of course it's not the kind of work you would want to do. You should be interning on Capitol Hill, not sitting in a dirty car repair joint all day," Toby quickly said.

"No, no!" Spencer replied, looking down at her sandwich. "That's not it at all. I just don't know if it would be...professional. You know, given our history." Not to mention the fact that all I would think about for my whole shift is kissing that strip of skin between your t-shirt and those jeans you wear so low on your hips… you always used to be so ticklish in that area…

Toby didn't respond and Spencer looked up to see him staring at her, his mouth parted. He slowly reached across the table, cupped her chin and pulled at her lower lip with his thumb. She realized she was chewing on her bottom lip. "What the hell are you thinking about? I know that look." His voice had gotten low and warm, and sinfully familiar.

I'm thinking about you knocking everything off of this table and bending me across it and-

"Spence. Stop looking at me like that," Toby warned, his sleepy eyes drifting back and forth between her lips and her eyes.

All of a sudden a woman shrieked excitedly, reuniting with a friend, and that seemed to snap the pair out of their lustful haze. Toby's hand fell away from Spencer's face and Spencer jumped up and grabbed her purse. "Well, I should probably be getting back home. I'm tutoring some high school kids this afternoon," she said in a rushed voice.

Toby stood as well, shoving his hands in his pockets. That strip of skin became larger and his happy trail was visible. Spencer forced herself to keep her eyes on his. "French?" Toby asked, a soft smile gracing his chiseled and now more manly face.

Spencer had once tutored Toby in French, many years ago. God, it was such a different world than the one she knew now. "World History, actually," Spencer smiled back before turning to leave.

"Spence."

Spencer turned back, only slightly.

"10 o'clock AM tomorrow at the shop if you change your mind. I'll run it past Scott as soon as I get back. You won't be getting rich, but it's something," Toby said.

Spencer couldn't help but run her eyes from Toby's own blue ones down to his brown work boots and back up again. He was grinning when her eyes fell back on his. "I'll think about it," she said before walking out of the coffee spot and away from her first love.

I promise the chapters will get longer. This was supposed to be a story of only 5 chapters or so, but I don't want it to feel rushed, so sorry if you were looking for some sexy time in this chapter. It's coming :) Please review, follow, and favorite. It really gives me motivation to write more and write faster. Thanks for reading!

Charlotte