[i][color=f6989d] you know, that's not the best way to meet women[/color][/i]

“It’s workin’ pretty good right now.” Joel shot back with a sharp grin. He looked up and for a moment back at her. She had a nice laugh and it occurred to him it had been more than just a few days since he’d last had a real conversation with anyone, particularly anyone of the female camp. As usual, he was conflicted inside. There was a part of him that would live in that shop and roam the streets alone for weeks on end uncaring about meeting [i]anyone[/i] or caring about much of anything.  Frighteningly enough, sometimes he really liked that side of himself: It was routine and controllable. Women cost time and money he reminded himself, two of his favorite things. He could recall on past dates that his mind would sometimes drift back to shop and on what “productive” things he could be doing rather than going out.

“That out there is Frankenstein for sure...” He said matter-of-factly and glancing back down. “…But that’s what the guy wanted” He considered her comment about being careful of his own creations a little more than she probably knew. “If you’re around here on Saturday morning, you can see the Mona Lisa, though.”  He looked up again meeting her gaze confident in that statement as well. He contined, “Can’t say I ever touched an ice-raft, but I did fix a SeaDoo a few weeks ago- That’s pretty close.” He grimaced a little at the memory. He didn’t know anything about jet-skis, but he’d figured it out and testing it out on the river had been fun. “So how’d you wind up in this neck of the woods? Since you’re clearly [i]not[/i] from around here.” He said it partly as a jab at her distinct accent.

[@PrinceAlexus]