"I guess I should introduce myself. The name's Tino," he said holding his hand out to her.

Missy giggled. "Doesn't that mean tiny?" she said taking his hand. It dwarfed hers, and although warm to the touch, sent a slight shiver down her spine.

"Still cold?" he asked.

"A little," she lied taking her hand back.

"Technically it means small. I was the runt in the family weighing in at 6lbs 12oz and 17" in length. I guess my parents didn't have high expectations for me then. I'm more of a fan of the Urban dictionary definition of my name?"

"There's an Urban dictionary definition of your name?" Missy asked, astonished.

"Sure is," he laughed and fiddled for his phone, pulling it from his pocket. He typed something in, did a few swipes, and handed her his phone. "May I?" he asked, pointing to the almond rolls.

"Help yourself," she said and took a moment to read what it said....

Urban Dictionary

Top Definition

Tino

A man that is drop dead amazingly good looking. Great personality, any one who went out with him is lucky. A great piece of work.

Missy refused to admit the accuracy of this definition. Instead she teased, "Write this yourself did you?"

Tino who took a sip of hot cocoa to wash down his almond roll, nearly spit it out at her question. He never got that reaction before. Usually the girl would just laugh, and perhaps flirt back a little.

He put his hand over his heart and did the Boy Scout's honor sign, "I swear, it wasn't me, but you know what they say... 'If it's on the Internet it must be true.'

This time Missy did laugh. "Uh-huh, and I bet you believe in big foot too?"

"This has nothing to do with foot size but for your information I wear a size 11."

Missy kept laughing , her sides were beginning to hurt. "Mercy. I beg of you. Please?"

"What?" Tino asked innocently. "It's true, you want me to show you?" he asked and pulled up his foot to start untying his work boot.

"No, stop. Please, it hurts," Missy said, wiping away tears.

"Okay, but you started this."

"Me?" Missy said incredulously, as she tried desperately to catch her breath.

"Did you or did you not ask what my name means?" Tino asked.

"Actually, no I believe I told you your name means small," she said, adding to her words with a finger pinching motion.

"Did you have use that gesture, it's quite demeaning," Tino said, "and as you can tell by my size, I am quite big."

Missy couldn't believe she was having this conversation. What was worse, was what they were alluding to but not actually saying. She still felt it hard to catch her breath, and her face hurt from laughing so much.

She put her hands up in mock surrender. "I'll take your word for it."

The dryer sounded and she laughed, "Saved by the buzzer." She stood up and left to retrieve his clothes.

Tino couldn't remember the last time he had this much fun. Missy had a real quick wit. It's been a while since he felt this attracted to someone. She came back with warm folded clothes, which he placed in his bag. Again he had seen her frown.

"So, this spider thing. Just a casual, you could live without them or deep seated fear of them?"

Missy looked away feeling foolish after all it was just an image. "Both actually," she said, while toying with her fork that lay next to her plate.

"I see," he took her hand so she'd look at him again, "Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of in our society 55% of all woman have a fear of spiders and even 18% of men to some degree."

Missy couldn't help feeling foolish. She withdrew her hand and moved to remove their plates. "So, besides being a gutter guy, you're a doctor too?" 

She hated the edge to her voice. She knew she was overly sensitive about this subject, she should have just asked him not to talk about it.

Tino watched as she moved about. He realized he over stepped his bounds, again. 

"Well, I do have a PHD but not in anything that would be useful. I am however as you said a "gutter guy" so this guy had best get back to work. Thank you!" he said, handing her back his empty mug.

She took it and placed it in the sink. She felt awful. They were having so much fun. Why did she have to go and ruin it and insult him on top of it? 

Tino was at her door putting on his coat and cleats.

"It's getting dark are you sure you have to get up there right this moment?"

"I have to complete the job. The damn broke so you shouldn't have any problem with your roof leaking but I have to see if I caused any damage with my fall."

Missy hadn't even thought about that. "How much is this going to cost me?"

Tino shrugged. "If there is damage, I caused it, so that will be on me. I'll be filling out a report when I get back to work. As for the rest of the gutter coming down and fortifying that patch on your roof, about $2500.00 max would be my guess."

"Damn!" Missy said. There goes her profits and hopes of upgrading the mixer that been on the fritz.

"That WILL cover the installment in the spring," Tino added, encouragingly.

"Guess, that's something," Missy said, dejectedly.

Tino wished he wasn't the "gutter guy" right now. That he was just a guy who didn't have to give this girl bad news and spoil the mood they had created earlier.

Tino was about to walk away when Missy stopped him. "After you take a look, if there isn't an emergency, would you like to stay for dinner?"

Tino couldn't believe his ears. She was still interested... She won't be once she knows you keep a basement full of spiders. Shut up brain...

"I would but..."

"It's okay you don't have to give me any excuses... it's not every day I have someone fall off my roof. I just wanted to do something nice for you but... if you don't want to that's fine."

Tino smiled at her again and Missy melted. Good lord if that's what a smile could do what would happen if he kissed me, and she blushed, AGAIN. Damn, damn, double damn. She wished she had a switch for her cheeks.

"Are you through?" he asked trying hard not to chuckle at her as she seemed awkward enough. She obviously did not ask men out often, which just made her invitation all the more appealing.

"Yes?" she said with some uncertainty.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she said with more conviction.

"What I was going to say is, I would but... I would need to drop my work truck off first and come back if that was okay with you?"

"Oh?" Missy said looking at the ground, feeling stupid she jumped the gun.

He lifted her chin so she had to look at him, "IS that okay?"

She looked him in the eye and smiled, "Yes?"

He just gave her that grin she laughed saying, "Yes."

"Alright then. I'll finish up there and I'll meet you back here around?"

"Six!" Missy piped in.

"Six it is... looking forward to it," he said before climbing the ladder once more.

"Me too," Missy said quietly, feeling the thrill of excitement course through her.