Devon's Pair: Powertools, Book 4 (5 page)

At least Kate, Morgan and Kayla had seemed completely cool and relaxed the times she’d hung out with the whole group. They’d never make her feel out of place. Unless they disapproved of what had gone down at the job site on Friday.

A giant sigh ruffled the short bangs framing her face. She reached over and retrieved the simple veggie assortment she’d prepared as an offering. Not like she could whip up her mom’s famous spice bread—her usual potluck contribution—when a professional baker would be in attendance.

Pitfalls loomed around every twist and turn in her relationship with the crew. What the hell had she gotten herself into? Maybe she should bolt before they spotted her.

“Need some help with that?” Mike’s greeting hammered the last nail in the coffin of her fledgling escape plans.

Damn it.

“Nah, I got it. Thanks.” She tried to smile. Her muscles were too tense.

He ignored her and nabbed the tray from her hands. Good thing or she would have dropped it when she realized he strutted around the property in the buff. Muscles gleamed and flexed in the late afternoon sun.

The smell of grilling burgers wasn’t responsible for her sudden drooling affliction.

By the time she’d recovered even a tiny fraction of her wits, they’d reached the front porch. Kayla ran out to greet her with an enormous hug. Devon didn’t flinch from the warm skin that met her hands when she returned the embrace. In fact, the toned expanse of Kayla’s back felt soft and warm. Comforting.

Something about Devon’s reaction must have clued Kayla in to her confusion.

She retreated and narrowed her eyes.

“Sorry,” Devon chuckled. “Not quite sure how this works.”

“You’re our guest.” Kayla’s smile seemed natural and light as she took the platter from Mike and shooed him off with a wave. The women headed inside together. “Do, or don’t do, whatever makes you comfortable. It’s a clothing-optional resort, not a clothing-prohibited one. It took Kate and Morgan a little while to loosen up enough to join in. No one will think poorly of you if you’re not ready.”

“Hey, I heard that.” A clatter from the kitchen announced the infamous cook was putting the finishing touches on their dinner. “Besides, I’m still not nude.

I’m wearing an apron.”

“Safety first.” Kayla grinned as she turned toward the prep space in the open cabin.

Devon would have followed but the enormous floor to ceiling windows caught her attention. She wandered over for a better view of the gorgeous valley and the lake at the bottom. Instead of rustic charm, she caught sight of Neil and James chasing each other around the rear of the house.

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Bare-ass naked.

Her breath rushed out.

“Like what you see?” Kayla asked.

“The view is amazing.” Devon blushed as she realized how true her cover up statement turned out to be.

The other woman only chuckled. “Right you are. On both counts.” Kayla had a way of making Devon feel at home. What could have been awkward turned out to be organic. She was the only one making a big deal out of the bare skin deal.

When in Rome…do as the naturists do.

Devon gathered her skirt and pulled her light dress over her head. She glanced into the yard, the fabric dangling from her fingers, just in time to watch James smash into Neil. The taller man had stopped dead in his tracks. His gaze locked on her body, framed in the window. James shook his head like a dog emerging from the water then followed his partner’s stare.

He laughed and tossed her a finger wave before smacking Neil on the ass, stealing the soccer ball she hadn’t noticed before, and tearing off through the lush grass.

“Well, that’s one way to make an entrance.” Kate wandered from the kitchen with a dish in her hand. She looked even lovelier than she had in the little black dress she’d sported the last time they met up for dinner out. Somehow, she made naked seem like the new trend in designer eveningwear, complete with sedate pearl earrings. “So glad to see you again. I think the guys were worried you wouldn’t come.”

Devon didn’t have the heart to admit they were right to be concerned.

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“It’s okay, hon. All of us were overwhelmed at first. Still are at times. It’s a lot to get used to. No rush and no worries, okay? Want to bring your tray this way? I’ll show you where we’re setting everything out.”

“Thanks.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. She should have known they’d make this easy for her. They were some of the coolest people she’d ever met. Reality was, it scared her to think of losing them so soon after becoming an honorary member of their bunch.

She’d spent her whole Saturday dreaming of what it could be like if her temporary position became something a hell of a lot more permanent.

“Dev!” Joe beamed at her from his place tending the grill. “Looking good.” Morgan swatted him half-heartedly with a hand towel as they arranged the last of the food. “Behave yourself.”

He grinned then snagged his fiancée, dragging her close for a sweet kiss that had the potential to turn into something downright smoky. When they touched, so simply though completely, Devon understood the difference between a casual encounter and a soul-deep bond.

What they had was the real thing.

Kate coughed. Maybe the char wasn’t all a product of the couple’s searing kiss. “Hey now, Morgan. No distracting the chef. I don’t like my burgers
that
well done.”

“Fine, fine.” Morgan removed her tongue from Joe’s mouth and stuck it out at Kate. “I
am
getting pretty hungry.”

“You know, I can round someone else up to do the honors here if you need me to feed you a little appetizer.” Joe wiggled his brows. “Has that picnic table been christened yet, Kay?”

The tall, tattooed woman whistled a little ditty.

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“Should have figured you two have nailed each other on every rock and up every tree on this mountain by now.” He shook his head.

“Jealous?” Dave came around the corner with Mike, beers in hand. He tossed one to Joe then settled onto the stone wall they’d built a few weekends ago.

“Nah, but I do approve.” With a grin, Joe began to plate the meat as James and Neil trotted up beside them. They panted, out of breath from their game.

James jogged until he was within arm’s reach of Devon then slowed to a stop. “Hi.”

She let her hands hang, awkward, at her sides since she had no pockets to stuff them in. “Hey.”

“Oh, damn. We’re not doing this weird first-time-we-see-you-after-having-sex thing are we?” Neil strode right up to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. He planted a juicy kiss directly on her lips before retreating. “I’m no good at pretending. I missed you yesterday.”

“No mistaking that.” Kate dropped her gaze to his solid hard-on. “That thing stood up and waved hello from across the field.” The group cracked up as they selected brightly colored plates from a stack and dished out the food they’d made together. The last traces of Devon’s reservations disappeared with dinner. Great conversations, a generous helping of ribbing and easy camaraderie made her forget all her concerns. She didn’t realize she’d shifted in her seat, leaning against Neil with her legs in James’s lap, until the rest of the crew piled their plates in the center of the table.

“Guys are on clean up duty since the girls cooked.” Kate stood and stretched.

She claimed a fresh pitcher of the sangria someone had mixed up.

“Hey, I grilled.” Joe’s pout earned him a kiss on the cheek from Morgan.

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“Too bad. It’s time for girl talk. Come play in a little while.” She patted his chest then sauntered after Kate, plucking a pair of fresh glasses from the supplies.

“Who are we to argue?” Kayla entwined her fingers with Devon’s and tugged. “Wait ’til you see what Dave designed back here.” Devon glanced over her shoulder, pleased to see James’s and Neil’s gazes locked on the sway of her hips. She blew them a kiss.

“Are you teasing them or are you serious?” Kayla slowed as they strolled down the hillside. She kept hold of Devon’s hand, using it to guide her along the soft, sandy path fringed with pretty river rocks and flower beds. Perfect for bare feet.

“Uh…” Putting her heart on the line didn’t seem wise. Especially when she hadn’t gotten to talk to the two men, whom she’d dreamed of every second since Friday afternoon, about what had happened. She shivered a little. The setting sun made her wonder if she should run back to grab her dress. Though late in the spring, the nights still got chilly.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be warm soon. Unless you’re screwing around with our friends. Then you might find yourself getting the cold shoulder. Neil has feelings for you. It’s obvious to Dave, and after seeing you together tonight, I agree with his assessment of the situation.”

“What?” Devon faltered on the path. Good thing the padded walkway absorbed her stutter steps.

“He treats you different than us. He’s protective, like he is with James. He cares for me, Kate and Morgan. Hell, he’s even fucked us silly from time to time.

But with you… He’s softer. Careful. I know things are happening fast, but I’m asking you to respect him.” Kayla squeezed Devon’s fingers again and led her into the glade ahead.

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“I will.” Devon cleared her throat then spoke louder. “I do.”

“Good.” Kayla smiled. “Then let’s get nice and comfy. They’ve been dying to try this doohickey out. I want tonight to be perfect for all of us.”

“What thing?”

“You’ll see.” They followed a curve around thick foliage. On the other side, Kate and Morgan were lighting several gas fire pits placed artfully around a patio. Crew-made waterfalls edged the rockwork. They fed a tangle of streams that meandered through the space. Tiny bridges crossed the wandering flows, which emptied into an asymmetrical koi pond near the center.

An enormous woven rope lounger stretched above the gurgling water.

Plenty big enough to hold a dozen people comfortably, the modified web impressed Devon with its scale and creative use of the materials. For naturists, the air swirling around their relaxing bodies would feel like heaven.

She visualized lying face down, peering at the fish swimming in lazy circles below. Unlike a hammock, the netting was bolted at the four corners, preventing it from swaying too much.

“We can try out the new pads I sewed this week.” Kayla opened the top of a cedar storage bin off to the side and withdrew puffy strips that would prevent the rope from digging into sensitive skin. A pile of blankets and pillows overflowed the rest of the large trunk.

Kate snagged one of each and climbed onto the mesh. She reclined, crossing her legs at the ankles as she stared up at the gorgeous colors streaking the sky.

“You’re going to make oodles on this place, Kay. I’m sort of sad we won’t have it to ourselves much longer.”

Morgan heaped Devon’s arms full of pillows then she grabbed some blankets. They acclimated themselves to the surprisingly comfortable seating, taking advantage of the pads while each of them downed a glass or two of

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sangria. Chatter came easy—about their guys, the books they’d been reading, deals they’d scored at the mall the day before and life in general. They collapsed onto the bedding to study the emerging stars like pampered members of an elaborate harem.

“It’s still a little nippy out for this.” Morgan chaffed her arms.

“We can head inside if you want.” Kayla tried not to sound disappointed.

She failed miserably.

“No way.” Kate scooted her pad closer to them. “Let’s snuggle up. The guys will be here soon to keep us warm.”

Devon didn’t hesitate when Kayla patted the spot beside her. Warmth from the fire pits paired with heat waves rolling off her new friends to keep her nice and toasty. She relaxed, not caring that her head rested on Kayla’s shoulder.

Stress and worry over what might or might not come to pass seeped away. Lids heavy, she closed her eyes.

“Now there’s a Kodak moment if I ever saw one.” Mike groaned. “Gorgeous women curled up like a pile of puppies.”

Devon couldn’t believe she’d just about drifted off. She started to sit up. A warm hand pressed her shoulder against the netting.
Neil
. With one touch, she knew it was him. Her body arched toward the contact while she searched with the other hand for James. He wouldn’t be far behind his boyfriend.

At the same time, Dave reached for Kayla, settling her closer to where he’d climbed onto his masterpiece.

“Stay. Please.” Neil crawled beside her, tucking her against the furnace of his chest.

“Mmm. Toasty.” Devon didn’t flinch when he rolled, presenting her to James. The other man sandwiched her between them, infusing her shoulders, ass and the back of her thighs with a twin blast of heat.

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The ropes shifted as Mike and Joe joined the fray. A gorgeous tangle of limbs and sleek, toned bodies littered the expanse. They paired off and spread out a little—enough to be comfortable, but not so far that they added unnecessary space.

“Look, I don’t say this enough…” Mike stole the opportunity to address them while they studied the deep royal blue of the twilight sky. “I can’t imagine my life without you all. Without this connection we have. The wedding is coming up quick, and I believe I’m the luckiest bastard in the whole world.