Devon's Pair: Powertools, Book 4

Devon’s Pair

Jayne Rylon

Will his boyfriend’s girlfriend become his girlfriend too?

James has watched each of the crew fall in love, one by one, until only he and his life partner Neil remain “unattached”. So, when he sees the way his bisexual boyfriend is checking out their new apprentice, he’s sure he’s doomed to lose the man of his dreams.

His love is strong enough that he would let go to ensure Neil’s happiness.

Instead, sparks fly between the three of them—along with the rest of the crew—

and he realizes he might not have to surrender because his boyfriend’s girlfriend is becoming his girlfriend too.

Warning: The world’s first m/f/m/f/m/f/m/m/f…we think. You never know exactly what’s going to happen next when the crew gets back together, but it’s guaranteed to be steamy.

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

Cincinnati OH 45249

Copyright © 2012 by

ISBN: 978-1-60928-559-3

Edited by Bethany Morgan

Cover by Angela Waters

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Firs
t Samhain Publishing, Ltd. e
lectronic publication: January 2012

Dedication

To all fans of the Powertools Series. Your continued support has blown me away. Because of you, I can assure you this won’t be the final chapter in the crew’s story. Thank you!

Prologue

Neil swiped work-scuffed knuckles over his gaping lips to ensure no drool escaped. He couldn’t help but stare. Painted toes peeped from strappy sandals.

They led his bulging eyes to a delicate ankle then up the pretty, tanned calf that poked beneath the open door of a beastly black truck. The sexy shoe rested on the running board before its equally delicious owner hopped down to street-level right outside the crew’s current fixer-upper.

Maybe the pick-up wasn’t any bigger than the one he and James owned. It could have been the sultry yet petite driver who made it seem as enormous as the whale sharks he and his boyfriend had spotted while snorkeling in Mexico last year. There too, most anything would have seemed gargantuan beside the glorious plum smuggler that had hugged James’s svelte hips as though he’d been shrink-wrapped into it.

Neil shook his head to clear the tropical memories of his lover. Between them and the chance run-in with this woman—one he’d love to lure inside and share with James—he’d be sure to sport wood when he met their new employee.

The lecture James had delivered on their ride in this morning resounded in his mind. “
Try to tone it down until we get to know him, okay? The new guy might not
be as accepting as the rest of the crew of our wild liaisons.”
Not many people were.

Wouldn’t be good if their recently hired apprentice quit before lunch.

The dude hadn’t showed yet, which meant Neil had to hang out here on the curb and wait for the schmuck. A mutual friend had highly recommended

Devon Giles right when they’d decided they could use some temporary help.

Most of the rest of the crew had settled into new relationships and needed a little extra personal time compared to usual. After a bunch of debates, they’d agreed to try adding someone to their tight-knit group on a trial basis.

Running late on day one wouldn’t earn the guy any brownie points.

Still, the sweet view made up for abandoning James, who’d already started tearing up the shitty old flooring by himself. Neil hated to let his partner shoulder more than his fair share. Generous and hardworking, his mate would push himself harder than he should. Neil swore he’d make it up to James with a killer back rub and slow, relaxed sex.

Maybe sooner rather than later if he ate his fill of such sweet eye candy.

The woman sauntered around to the other side of her truck and caused Neil to wonder if he was dreaming when she shucked her cornflower blue peasant blouse right there in the soft light of the spring morning. She left her racer-backed sports bra in place as she kicked off those sinful shoes and covered her cute pink pedicure with thick white socks before slipping her dainty feet into sturdy…construction boots?

What the—?

The petite-yet-toned woman’s jacked arms flexed as she strapped a canvas tool belt around her miniscule waist. A hammer hung from one of the loops over her khaki cargo shorts. She flipped a pair of sunglasses onto her head. The eyewear, which had more in common with safety goggles than designer shades, pinned her cute bob of ash blonde hair off her striking face. The swell of her perfect ass stunned him as she reached into the truck. Next thing he knew, she had retrieved a large water bottle, locked up the vehicle and headed in his direction.

7

It was then he met her gaze. An uncommon shade of gorgeous jade-green eyes, which he’d only seen once before—on James—snared his attention. Her seamless mix of tomboy charm with pixie sass entranced him. When she noticed him and smiled, offering a small wave as she approached, he realized he was royally screwed.

The world popped into slow motion. His heart stuttered in its pounding beat and the ground lurched below his feet as he experienced the same supposedly once-in-a-lifetime sensation he’d had the day he’d met James, when their professor assigned partners in their trade school lab.

Love at first sight.

Oh, fuck.

Devon cringed when the hottie construction worker’s smile morphed into a major grimace.

Not again. Damn it.

Her sister’s roommate had rambled on and on about the
amazing
crew when she’d spotted the opening for an apprentice in an online job ad. Julie had promised Devon the all-guy team of five was forward-thinking, accepting and had a lot to teach her, though she refused to go into detail on how she’d learned of their reputation.

Give them a chance, Dev.

“Good morning. I’m…”

“Devon Giles. Of course.” He scrubbed his hand through his messy hair before taking her fingers with a measured action more suitable for reaching for a viper than a trainee. “I was expecting someone—”

“With a dick?” She canted her head and planted her fist on her hip, daring him to deny it while hoping she’d misinterpreted his sour puss.

8

He barked out a laugh. “Well, yeah, I suppose.”

“Look, if this is going to be an issue, I’d rather head out now than waste time—yours or mine. I’m a damned good worker and—”

“Hey.” A man with a soft, kind voice interrupted her rant before the gorgeous, but assholish, guy could backpedal. “I thought I heard someone pull up.”

Did she imagine the way the new arrival brushed against the first guy as though he were a cat winding around his owner’s ankle?

“Ah…”

The taller guy grunted. “Yeah.
This
is Devon.”

“Pleased to meet you.” The smaller man’s shake was firm, which she appreciated. She didn’t need them to make any concessions for her. “I’m James.”

“And I’m Neil.” The original guy surprised her by pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

“Okay, Romeo.” She had to nip this shit in the bud or it would spiral out of control. After the last job she’d had to leave—when the foreman deluded himself into believing she’d take orders to bend over as well as she did instructions on leveling framing jobs—she wouldn’t risk giving anyone the wrong idea.

“Enough of that nonsense. Would you have done that if I were the man you expected this morning?”

“Maybe. If he were as cute as you are.” He laughed when James smacked him on the ass.

Holy shit.
No mistaking the easy, familiar contact or the heat in the men’s eyes when their gazes met and locked. Maybe she
had
found the perfect employers. If they were gay, they might leave her to work and develop her skills in peace.

The spring was looking brighter by the second.

9

Chapter One

“Dev, could you grab another tube of caulk off the back of my truck? This one isn’t going to make it.” Dave had squished his mammoth frame into the standard tub to run a bead around the base of the tile work she’d installed with his guidance. Of course, she’d added a little of her own flair to the design. As she surveyed it now, she had to say it’d come out better than she’d imagined.

Rewarding her for a job he approved of, Dave had done the grunt work and saved her back some strain. Pleasing the crew could be tough. The guys had lofty standards. In the past three weeks, she’d learned tons and had started surpassing their expectations. When she did, they made sure she knew it.

Dooming Dave to unfolding and refolding that stunning body would be torture. For both him and her, watching.

“Devon?”

“Sorry.” She cleared her throat. “Yeah, I’ve got it. Be right back.” She jogged down the hall. Plastic sheeting covered new hardwood planks that made her light footfalls crunch in the long, empty space. Mike and Joe perked up as she trotted past the master bedroom where they were installing recessed lighting, which would add some flair to the space.

“Hey, Dev. You two almost ready for lunch? I’m starving.” Mike looked pretty damn hungry when he glanced in her direction. Silly to wonder if that smoky look meant anything more than desire for the packed meal his adorable fiancée had shipped him off with this morning.

“Mmm. Yeah.” Joe rubbed his flat belly. Dear God, did they have to work without shirts so much? It was enough to drive any red-blooded woman insane.

“Morgan’s testing out new cookies again. She sent a big box for us to share.”

“And how many did you eat for breakfast?” She loved teasing the crew.

“As many as I could shove in my mouth on the drive in.” He winked at her.

“Well, we all know your mouth is capable of some pretty amazing feats.” Mike poked Joe in the ribs with the handle of his needle-nose pliers. “Hand me that housing so we can wrap up. Tell Neil and James they’ve got about fifteen minutes ’til break.”

“Right-o, foreman.” She saluted then jumped when Dave’s yell reached her loud and clear.

“Dev! You coming or what? I’m going to be pulling a Taft soon.”

“Definitely or what,” Joe bellowed for her, somehow still managing to pout.

“We’re not that lucky. Give her a second. Mike distracted her. Besides, if you get stuck I know where to find some lube.”

“Don’t you usually grease up to try and get in, not out?” Mike’s wicked grin sent shivers along her spine.

She pretended to dismiss his dirty implications with an eye roll and a little finger wave then continued her jog down the stairs. Thank God they couldn’t tell how slick the tops of her thighs were. They were guys. Five of them, in all their sweaty and sexy glory. Holy testosterone overload. They couldn’t help themselves and somehow their equal opportunity jokes didn’t bother her. They aimed them at each other as often as they did at her. Being left out of the good-natured teasing probably would have made things awkward.

Luckily, she didn’t know for sure. The crew had made her feel at home from the moment James had saved her from that uncomfortable start with Neil on the curb outside this house. The renovations had come a long way in the past three

11

weeks. Within a month they’d be wrapping the place up with a big ass ribbon for the future owners. Moving on from the project she’d come to associate with her mentors would suck. Between the crew and their women, she’d instantly inherited eight new friends. Spending the spring with them would be no hardship.

It was leaving at the end of the internship that worried her. Maybe if she buckled down and absorbed as much as she could from them, they’d have a permanent spot for her as they headed into summer and the end of their three-month arrangement.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear the rustle of denim on denim or the soft moans echoing in the vacant living room until it was too late. Devon burst onto the main level of the house, where Neil was making a late-morning snack out of James’s parted lips.

She lurched to a dead stop.

Move. Look away. Keep going.

Devon couldn’t force her legs to walk on past. Not when the fire between the two men burned hot enough to have tiny beads of sweat dotting her upper lip.

She licked the salty sheen, wishing she could taste the partners’ passion instead.

Pure devotion laced every tender sweep of James’s fingers over Neil’s bare shoulder, warring with the desperation of their mouths, as though they couldn’t stand to be apart. Yet she could see the warm spring sunlight from the bay window behind them streaming between their torsos.