Kristin pulled into the parking lot of the large box hardware store she had chosen. The lot was nearly empty as mid morning on a weekday is not prime time for hardware stores. Kristin was counting on that fact. As she walked in, she thought how cliché this all was. The fact that she associated hardware and tools with manliness and virility was both sexist and trite. Her plan relied upon cliché's and almost sophomoric innuendo. She started to lose her nerve, both because of that, and because she was nervous. Could she really do this? She wasn't sure if she was more worried about rejection or about success. Would a man really just fall at her feet? And if he did, could she keep him under control? She stopped, just inside the door, a worried and slightly confused look on her face.
And then she saw him. He was probably in his late 20's, a little younger than her, but old enough that he didn't look like a boy. He was not some ripped stud, but rather an above average guy but with an incredible smile. She saw him laughing with another colleague as he entered and his smile lit up the room. She walked in, tingling with excitement, and as she passed him, Kristin smiled right into his deep warm brown eyes. She felt the electricity jump between them and butterflies settled into her stomach.
She walked further into the store, her hips swaying, she hoped not too obviously. Her heart pounded with desire and nervousness. She did not dare to look back to see if he followed her. These large chain stores were always nearly identical in their layout and she headed for the section with various hardware like nails and screws. She almost giggled thinking about it.
She reached the section she wanted a moment or two later and began to look over the various products. Her mind wasn't really registering any specific item on the shelf and her eyes darted up and down the empty aisle, waiting to see who might show up. And then he was walking toward her. Almost instinctively, Kristin bent at the waist, her skirt rising nearly to indecent levels, to look at something on the very bottom shelf. As he approached, she straightened up, but she did not make eye contact.
He cleared his throat. "Um, can I help you?" he asked, his voice possibly a little shaky, she certainly thought so. Kristin slowly turned and met his eyes. The man was about 5'10" tall, a good half foot taller than her, and his smile, now a little nervous, was the kind that just made you want to be friends with him. She felt butterflies in her stomach and self doubt started to creep in. She was glad she had a script in her head, and she hoped he wouldn't ruin it.
"Oh, yes, thank you." She almost, but didn't quite, bat her eyelashes, "I have a big project I'm just getting started on, and I think maybe you could help me with what I need." She almost laughed at herself, which was not good for her state of arousal, but did help to calm her nerves.
"Well, um, I take it you need some kind of fastener for the project? Are you hanging pictures or building a playhouse or maybe a high rise building?" He kind of chuckled with the last, obviously trying to flirt and tease with her a little.
"Well, what I think I need, " she looked him right in the eye as she said it, "is a good screw."
Kristin couldn't see herself in the mirror but warmth in her face and chest suggested that the hardware store guy was not only the only one slightly red and flushed. She kept her gaze right on him, except for one, quick flick to his crotch, where she was rewarded with a slight bulge that appeared to be growing.
