In the background a flat area wide enough for several buildings stretched before the trees picked up again. Wildflowers blossomed in a multicolored blanket that swayed in the breeze.
“What do you think?” Joe asked.
“It’s…incredible.” Kayla breathed out a sigh. “The picnic of course, but the site. Wow.”
“Could you see us building a house here on the shore? Or maybe two, if Mike and Kate are going to stay a while…” He rushed past that possibility before uneasiness could take up residence in Dave’s gut again. “…you know, we could always sell them after. Another portfolio-builder and investment for Powertools if and when they go back home.”
The thing about Joe was that he talked more when he was nervous. Usually quiet and steady, he didn’t often go this route. Before Dave could reassure him that anyone would fall in love with this place and that he didn’t blame the guy for doing so, Kayla jumped in.
“Hell, I could see building a whole resort here.” She swung her arm out wide. This front section would be perfect for a day spa and lodge with cabins nestled in the woods along a winding path back there that would afford people privacy.”
After all, most of their guests chose not to wear clothes most of the time.
She shook herself. “I mean. It would be perfect if that’s what you were thinking of. I can see a house or two here too. It would be lovely. So relaxing.”
Devon was nodding and so were James and Neil, as if they could envision it.
A chill ran down Dave’s spine despite the abnormal warmth of the day. It was like he’d had a premonition or some glimpse of the future. This was where his friends would live. He knew it.
Now he just had to accept it.
“You okay?” Kayla turned to him and squeezed his fingers, drawing him back into the moment. It was a gorgeous day, all the people he loved—including the Powertools kids—were taken care of, the crew was together, and they were damn well going to enjoy it.
“Great.” He strolled with her to the makeshift table and admired Morgan’s hard work. Even better was when he sampled some of every dish she and Devra had whipped up and had some gooey chocolate dessert thing Morgan had baked just for them to look forward to at the end.
Neil let out a huge belch that practically reverberated through the valley.
“Gross.” James shoved him and Neil flipped backward off the hay into a slightly squishy patch of dirt and mud. Devon cracked up at their antics.
Neil lunged toward her with a grin. “Think that’s funny, huh?”
She squealed as he tugged her down and wrestled in the thick mud with her. Somehow, she ended up straddling him, her arms braced on his shoulders.
Dave sat up straighter, paying close attention to the vibe, which promised to become even hotter than the sun overhead.
Mike leaned forward and casually said, “You’d better wash that off before you go back to Tom and Ms. Brown’s house. Wouldn’t want to get anything dirty.”
Before he’d even finished his not-so-subtle order, they were stripping off their clothes, dashing for the lake. Dave looked to Kayla and winked. “Guess we better go play lifeguard. Wouldn’t want anyone to drown.”
“Very responsible of you, husband of mine.” Kayla never had to be encouraged to shed her clothing. In fact, he was kind of shocked she’d left her T-shirt and jeans on that long. Her naked form dazzled him more than the beauty of the landscape. She held her hand out to him.
He got naked then joined her as the rest of the crew followed suit.
Joe bolted past them to belly flop into the water yelling, “Skinnydipping! Yahoo!”
7
Dave crashed into the lake, relieved when floating took some of the pressure off his leg. Riding in the car for hours without stretching the damn thing out was never a good idea. Follow that up with a trek on an uneven, sloped path, then sitting on a low bench, and he was just about done. But for Kayla, he would do it a thousand times over.
Besides, if he asked later, she’d give him one of her incredible massages, he was sure of it.
“Last man to the swim platform has to blow me!” Mike shouted as he kicked off his shoes then dove into the crystal waters as the women cracked up and waded in behind them, rolling their eyes and talking shit about their antics.
The five men cut through his wake, their arms chopping the surface and flinging droplets all over the place. If James didn’t seem to be trying as hard as the rest of them, it was probably because going down on Mike was more of a reward than a punishment for him.
Dave passed James and kept going, overtaking Neil and then Joe with consistent strokes of his arms. He’d nearly caught even Mike by the time they reached the wooden rectangle, the size of maybe six pallets stuck together, and climbed onto it.
He flopped onto his back, breathing hard, and let the sun chase away the chill brought on by the refreshing dip. Propped up on his elbows, he watched the rest of the crew and then the women behind them approaching at a more civilized pace, laughing and talking as they paddled out. Kayla floated on her back, lazily stroking her way toward him, her breasts on display, the piercings in her nipples glinting in the sunlight. He couldn’t help it—his dick twitched and started to swell.
As predicted, James reached them dead last, with a wicked smile on his face.
“You could have made it look close, at least.” Neil snorted as he boosted his husband onto the platform next to Dave. The smaller guy shrugged and turned to Mike, who’d settled onto the single beat-up lounge chair on the platform, reclining in it like a king—or their foreman, which he definitely was and always would be no matter what their
