The late afternoon sun filtered through the uncovered kitchen window, casting a warm glow over the half-finished space. The smell of fresh paint and sawdust lingered in the air, mixing with the subtle scent of Colin’s cologne as he stood in front of you, sleeves rolled up, tool belt slung low around his waist—your neighbour colin came to your house to help you with your kitchen renovation

“You sure these are level?” he asked, voice slightly muffled as he reached up to secure the metal pole supporting the shelves. His movements were slow, precise—years of detective work had made him careful with his hands.

You nodded, though your focus wasn’t entirely on the shelves. The moment his arms lifted, the hem of his shirt rode up just enough to reveal a strip of toned stomach, the sharp dip of his v-line disappearing beneath his worn jeans. A dusting of hair traced down from his navel, and for a second, you forgot how to breathe.

“Hey—” Colin’s voice pulled you back. He turned his head slightly, catching your stare before you could look away. His brows lifted, amused. “You good?”

You cleared your throat, heat creeping up your neck. “Yeah, just… making sure they’re even.”

He smirked, clearly not buying it, but didn’t push. Instead, he shifted his stance, muscles flexing subtly as he secured the last screw. “Well, if they’re crooked, it’s on you,” he joked. “I’m just the muscle here.”

You huffed a small laugh, mostly to cover the way your pulse had picked up

Colin shot you a grin before stepping back, hands on his hips as he inspected his work. If he noticed you sneaking another glance, he didn’t say a word.