Hello again fellow readers. I am back again with another chapter. Have a read and please when you are done leave a comment. It helps motivate and keep the chapters coming.

Chapter four

Dinner, Just Dinner

Toby and his crew have been working for the Hastings for a solid week. They're making quite a lot of progress. They've already stripped the old walls, the flooring, and the roof. Toby would've gotten started installing the new material but, the material he ordered was late getting in. Monday morning, the crew was back to work. With still no new material, they still had plenty to do. Toby was making it his mission to get the repaving done of the walkway from the Hastings lot to the barn.

The sun began to set, and the crew began to get tired. They were almost finished with the walkway, but they've already been working over eight hours. So, Toby sent the rest of his team home and stayed back to finish.

Spencer returned home after getting out of class. She walked into the kitchen and began to boil some water to make tea when something caught her eye. She spotted Toby still working through the window. It was nearly dark out. She also noticed how he arrived here an hour before the rest of his crew showed up this morning.

Toby sighed and wiped his hand across his sweaty forehead. He turned when he heard footsteps coming. He squinted his eyes trying to see through the evening's blue haze.

"Hey," he heard Spencer's voice. "You're still here. It's after seven."

"I'm almost done," he said.

"You know you could've finished this tomorrow."

"I'm just trying to keep on schedule."

"We never really agreed to a set time frame."

"We didn't," Toby sighed. "But your fiancé spoke to me last Friday."

"He did?" Spencer was surprised. "He never told me he spoke with you. What did he say?"

"He told me he expects all the work to be done by the end of November."

"Toby no one expects you to have everything done by then."

"I can do it," said Toby. "I just wish the material I ordered last week wasn't late getting in. I won't be able to do the interior floors and walls until next week."

"That's okay," said Spencer. "Really, there's no rush. You should go."

"No, I just have one stone left to put down."

"Toby, if you could see how exhausted you look…"

"I just have one more stone to lay down and then I'll be done," he said.

"Have you had dinner yet?"

"Not yet."

"Okay, when you're done out here come inside. You can eat with me."

"You don't have to do that," he said.

"I want to. Plus, you can't try and tell me you're not hungry. I hear your stomach growling."

Toby shyly smiled, "maybe a little."

"Okay," Spencer smiled. "You like Chinese?"

"Love it."

"Okay, I'll order it and you come in when you're done," she turned to walk away, but stopped, pointed her finger at him, and said, "I will hunt you down if you try to skip out on me."

"I'll be in," Toby chuckled. "I promise."

It took Toby just ten minutes to finish the walkway. As promised, when he was done Toby walked to the back door and knocked. It took Spencer only a few seconds to answer the door.

"Hey," she smiled brightly at him. "Come on in."

"Thanks." He slipped past her.

"The food should be here soon."

He held out his messy hands, "I thought I'd…"

"Right, there's a bathroom down the hall and to the right," she patted his arm.

His armed tingled when she touched him. He followed her directions to the bathroom and did his best to clean up. When he came back out the smell of fresh Chinese food greeted his nostrils. He could smell all his favorites, orange chicken, fried rice, chow mien noodles, and egg rolls. He smiled at her as he approached the counter. Spencer handed him a plate.

"Help yourself."

"Will Wren be joining us tonight?" He asked.

"No, he's out with some friends."

Moments later, the two were seated at the kitchen counter. Their plates were now empty. They somehow found themselves caught in a deep conversation.

"I just don't understand why being someone's Daisy is considered romantic," said Spencer.

"Oh, come on," said Toby. "You're telling me you wouldn't secretly be touched at finding out that someone had been waiting for you?"

"It's not just that," she insisted. "He had an obsession up to the point where he bought a house across the way from her. He threw parties daily hoping to get her attention."

"All of those things are gestures. What would be your idea of romance?"

"I don't know," Spencer thought. "Just tell me that you want me. Don't be creepy about it. I need someone who can show me how they feel. Not just with expensive gifts, parties, and stalking. Use your words."

"Spencer, you're trashing a classic," Toby chuckled.

"Look, I like Fitzgerald okay," she said. "He's a brilliant writer. I just like to poke fun at things at the same time."

"Right, so you won't mind if I poke fun at Shakespeare."

"Oh, that is forbidden territory."

Toby laughed.

"I'm serious," she said. "There are some things you joke about and some things you don't. Shakespeare is one of them."

"Romeo and Juliet is not a love story I would want to compare to true love," he said.

"Romeo and Juliet is not a romance," Spencer corrected. "It's a tragedy. And it's a play."

"Oh, man, I wish I could spend forever talking about literature with you," Toby smiled.

"Me too," she smiled back. She stopped once she noticed the time. "Oh, my god. It's almost ten. I can't believe I kept you here for so long."

"No, it's okay," he insisted. "This was fun. I like talking to you."

Her smile returned, "I like talking to you too."

"I should probably get going," Toby took his plate and started to stand.

"Here, let me," Spencer took his plate, then picked up her own.

"Thank you," he said. "Thanks for having me. This has been nice."

"Thanks for accepting. I just want you to know that I appreciate all the work you're doing here."

"I definitely feel appreciated."

"Good. I'm glad. Since you worked here so late tonight, I don't want to see you back here until ten tomorrow morning."

"But we start work at eight."

"Tomorrow it's ten," she said, trying to sound strict. "And if I see you here even a minute earlier than that, I will make you pay."

He stepped close to her, "pay how?"

"I don't know," she got lost in his eyes. Then thought back quickly, "I might just make you buy me dinner next time."

He smiled, "I guess I'll see you at 9:59 then."

Spencer smiled back.

Phew. Please tell me I'm not the only one that swooned a little at that last part. Is chemistry brewing between these two? I hope to be back with chapter five soon. -Mellie