She was anxious to see the black wrought iron and glass cabinets and shelves that she knew would give the kitchen a unique and modem flare. When she discovered that the California-based company also had a round kitchen table with matching chairs, all made of the same textured glass and rimmed in the same iron as the other pieces, she had immediately ordered one along with some other items she wanted for the house. Those items would not arrive until the house’s completion.
Quelling the desire to run into the house and claw the crates open with her nails, she looked over toward Devon when someone touched her elbow lightly. Chloe turned to see the burly, dark-skinned driver standing nervously in front of her, an invoice clutched in his hands. “Yes?”
“Excuse me, Miss Bolton, but would you autograph this for me?”
Chloe flashed him her smile and held out her hand for the paper. “Sure, no problem . . . Jaleel.” She had paused to read his name off the white label of his striped uniform shirt.
He handed over the paper and a pen from his back pocket, his eyes on her face as she scribbled out a note and signed her first name with flair. “You’re even more beautiful in person.”
“Thanks, Jaleel.”
She handed him the paper and pen back, but he stood there a moment longer. Chloe gave him a friendly but questioning smile.
“I’m sorry for staring.” He folded the paper and placed it in his shirt pocket. “Thanks again.”
Chloe waved to the men as they hopped back into their truck and reversed out of the yard. Both of the twins were looking in her direction, with Devon frowning considerably.
She fought the urge to childishly stick her tongue out at him, instead walking past them to enter the house. The only thing on her mind at the moment was her cabinets.
∞
Devon had just counted to ten to try to diffuse the anger he felt. Every pair of eyes on the site were focused on Chloe’s derriere swishing in a hypnotic motion in those tight jeans she wore.
Why would she wear those things to a site filled with men?
They were all dumbstruck by her. The driver, Jaleel, had been about to drool as he stood looking at her, and she had the nerve to smile, showing every tooth in her pretty head. A pleasurable vision of him putting Chloe over his knee and spanking the seat of those tight jeans for being such a temptress brought a huge grin to his handsome face.
“She really wows ’em, huh?”
Devon turned to look at his brother, who was also wolfishly eyeing her as she entered the house. “Yeah and she enjoys every minute of it.”
Deshawn was about to make some lascivious comment about her “attributes” but Devon walked away before he could. He really wasn’t in the mood to hear his twin go off on one of his “Chloe Bolton is a goddess” speeches. Instead he told the men to finish up lunch and get back to work, before walking up the stairs and into the structure.
He heard his Nana Lil’s and Chloe’s voices echoing throughout the empty house before he reached the kitchen.
“The boys have really done a good job on this house, although I knew they would . . . they always do.” The pride in her voice was clearly present.
“I wish one of your boys would hurry up and finish opening these crates so that I can see all of it.” Chloe’s voice was sardonic and Devon could imagine that left eyebrow of hers arched.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the doorway of the kitchen. Chloe was bending over to look into the crates, her behind up in the air wiggling as she moved about.
How could he help but imagine her in the same position, but naked, with himself standing closely behind her filling her with his hardness?
Shaking off the image, he entered the large kitchen. “Careful of the nails on the crate, Chloe.”
She hated the way her insides melted at the sound of her name gliding off his lips. “I am being careful, but please hurry, I want to see if they’re as nice as they were in the catalog I ordered them from.”
Deshawn and the other crew members began to file into the house. Chloe and Lil moved back out of the way as Devon and an impressively muscular man named Horse used crowbars to finish opening the crates, careful not to break the cargo inside. Soon all four sides were opened and lying on the floor. The packing material had already been removed when Devon and Deshawn inspected the cabinets and shelves to make sure they hadn’t been broken.
Chloe walked up close to see them. They were perfect. Already she could imagine them on the walls, filled with her dishes.
“Thanks, Horse.” Devon handed his crowbar over to the other man.
“No problem, boss man.” The giant of a man took the tools and left the kitchen through the area where the sliding patio doors would be installed.
That left Lil, Devon, Deshawn and Chloe in the kitchen. “Are they as nice as they were in the catalog?” Devon’s voice was low and only slightly mocking.
She shivered from the feel of his husky voice so near to her ear. Turning her head she looked over at him. “Nicer.”
Their eyes met and held.
Nana Lil’s eyes widened in surprise as she watched the two. Her thin lips shaped the letter “O” as things began to crystallize in her head, and she saw something she hadn’t even noticed before. She smiled in pleasure. “Shawnie, why don’t you show me around this mini-mansion of Chloe’s.”
Deshawn was yanked out of the kitchen by a surprisingly strong Nana Lil. The sound of her voice echoed throughout the house as she bombarded him with questions.
Chloe and Devon both laughed, finally looking away from each other. “Nana Lil’s like a child sometimes with all the questions she asks,” Devon said to fill the silence.
Neither was aware that she had purposefully left the two alone. Devon began to clear up the stray packing materials, shoving them into a heavy-duty garbage bag from a box in the comer. Wordlessly, Chloe began to help him and they worked with only the sounds of construction echoing throughout the house.
As he watched her, he wanted to ask Chloe about her breaking down on the side of the road, but he didn’t want to pry or to open whatever bad feelings she had been having, so he left it alone. She bent over again near him to pick up something. His eyes devoured her, and his hand actually itched to touch the soft plump derriere she was waving in his direction.
“What possessed you to wear those jeans, Chloe?” He meant to sound disgusted but instead his voice came out low and husky.
Chloe stood up and whirled to face him. Self-consciously she looked down at herself. They are mighty snug. “What’s wrong with ... my jeans?”
Her own voice was indignant until she looked up into his face and saw the desire in his eyes, causing her voice to trail off slow and soft.
They were just inches apart. Nervously, her heart hammered against her chest. She licked her full lips with the tip of her fleshy tongue. His eyes darted down to watch the innocent, but nonetheless sexy, move.
He broke.
With a hungry growl, he pulled Chloe to him, dropping the plastic garbage bag to the floor. All he could say was “damn,” as he lowered his handsome head to taste of the sweet nectar of her lips.
Initially their kisses were short, breathing in the air between them after touching their lips together briefly. Devon used his tongue to lick the tender contours of her mouth and they both shivered with desire. She was as sweet-tasting and fulfilling as the juiciest fruit. He felt like he could kiss her for an eternity.
Chloe moved her hands around his narrow waist and down to grasp his hard buttocks, wanting to touch as much of him as she could. She felt pleasure when she heard him moan at the feel of her hands as she massaged him. He deepened the kiss, wanting and needing more as he drew Chloe’s tongue out to suck on it gently as his hands moved to massage the fullness of her breasts beneath her T-shirt. Her breasts were as soft and smooth as he imagined, and he got a rush from feeling the divine pair in his hands. They were perfect twin peaks of chocolate distraction. Her nipples strained against the thin mate
rial as he teased them with his fingertips.
She used her hands to press their lower bodies together, the feel of his length of hardness against her stomach sending wave after delicious wave of pleasure through her body. He was man personified to the littlest detail. Everything there was about a man that women cherished, he contained. The physical power, inner strength and resilience and still, yes, tenderness as he kissed her sweetly, seeming to worship her lips.
The growl he released was barbarian as he offered his tongue to her. She sucked it deeply, as he had done hers.
Sweet Jesus! They both knew it would be good, but not this explosively good.
Devon felt the stickiness of his member against his boxers. He was near a climax just from kissing this beauty in his arms! Chloe felt as though her undergarments were drowning in the moisture he created.
The sound of Nana Lil’s voice nearing the kitchen broke them apart, their breathing ragged, hearts racing, mouths still damp from their intense kiss. Chloe felt dizzy from the sudden loss of him, touching her hands to her swollen lips as she watched him walk over to the open space in the wall where the patio doors had yet to be installed.
“I’m sorry, Chloe. That shouldn’t have happened. It was a mistake,” he said raggedly before walking out of the house.
She didn’t feel bereft at his words of regret over what just happened between them. She didn’t care, because at that moment she had seen but a glimpse of paradise, and she wanted more. He didn’t know he made a very big mistake in allowing them to kiss each other.
When she had told Anika of her growing attraction to the man, her best friend had told her to go for it. And she would. At that moment she decided she wanted Devon in her bed, if not her heart, and she was going to have him.
Chapter Nine
Nana Lil’s wise eyes took in Chloe’s swollen mouth and lazy eyes with a knowing smile. Well, well, well, she thought. My Vonnie and Chloe. Who would’ve thought it?
Chloe saw the look the older woman gave her, but said nothing as she pretended to study the cabinets. Now, anytime she used them she would remember the kiss they shared.
Just kissing that man had brought her closer to an earth-shattering climax than any man had with ardent lovemaking. The brother was fierce, and he made her feel even fiercer in her own prowess as she remembered his primal response to her.
“Well Chloe, what in the world are you going to do with a big kitchen?”
Chloe looked over to where Lil was studying the design of the room. “You know, I can cook.”
She snorted in disbelief. “Sure baby. Hey, I was thinking we would throw something on the grill, maybe even invite over a few friends. Whatcha think?” But before Chloe could answer, Lil started making plans. “We’ll have to go to the supermarket and get some things.”
Lil dug in her purse and pulled out a small notepad and a pencil. “Here baby, make a list.”
She tried to jot down everything the woman said, but Nana Lil was rattling off things so fast that it was a wonder to Chloe that she didn’t run out of breath.
“That should do it. Got everything?”
At Chloe’s weak nod, Lil took the pad and pen back, shoving them into her purse. “We’ll have to work fast. Let’s go to the house now and call everyone who’s invited. Then we’ll pick up Alicia from the office and go to town.”
Chloe inwardly cringed at the mention of Alicia’s name. She would much prefer to make the twenty-mile ride without Alicia’s sour personality, but she loved the older woman and would do anything for her, including spend an afternoon in the company of someone she couldn’t stand.
“Well, let’s go tell the boys.”
Chloe smiled at how fast Nana Lil could move her frail frame. At times the woman seemed to have more energy than a toddler who had eaten a ton of candy. When she did saunter outside, Lil had already informed the twins, and was on her way over to Chloe’s SUV. She was on a mission.
Chloe paused on the porch to look over toward where Devon stood about fifty yards away. He was on his cell phone and whomever he was talking to made him smile. His straight, even, white teeth gleamed as the dimple in his cheeks deepened.
He looked up and saw Chloe looking in his direction. Immediately he looked away and turned his back to her. With an arched brow, she left the porch and headed straight for him. Whomever he was talking to, it wasn’t a business-related call. Why would he have to walk away from the crew to talk if it was? And as she neared him, the low huskiness of his voice really clinched her beliefs.
Was it Alicia?
Who knew? But it was definitely a woman.
“De-von,” she sang loudly in a sweet tone, making sure that whoever was on the phone would surely hear her. “Who are you on the phone with?”
He whirled around, his eyes wide with surprise, or was it shock. “Uh, I’ll call you back. Okay . . . bye.”
The phone beeped as he disconnected the phone call. “Can I help you with, something, Chloe?”
She flashed him her smile. “Yeah, I have this itch that needs to be scratched?”
Devon watched her with a confused expression. “Huh?”
Chloe laughed as seductively as she could, letting her hand rest lightly on his chest. “I sure hope you’re clumsy because I can go for another one of those mistakes of yours.”
She leaned in, as if to kiss him, and Devon immediately leaned back. His eyes were dark and stormy, but she honestly didn’t know if it was from desire or anger. “Look, Chloe, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but cut it out. You’re acting . . . odd. I’m sorry for pouncing on you in the kitchen, it was a . . .”
She laughed, knowing he started to say “mistake.”
He quickly changed it up. “It was an act of bad judgment,” he said firmly instead.
Chloe straightened and flashed him her smile again. “Yeah, whatever. I’ll see you later, Devon.”
He watched as she walked away, his eyes dipping down to watch the movement of her hips in those jeans of hers. The sight of her snug in them had driven him so wild earlier that he had to kiss her.
It had been good, too good. Now he wanted more.
And if he wasn’t mistaken, Chloe was flirting with him. If she kept that up, how could he deny himself and her? He was going to have to keep his distance from her.
What was she up to anyway?
Sighing, Devon dug in his back pocket to retrieve the number he had gotten from Poochie earlier. He walked over to where Deshawn was measuring something on the porch. “Someone told me to give you this.”
Deshawn closed the measuring tape he was using and reached for the slip of paper his brother was handing him. “Who gave you this?”
Devon sat down on one of the steps. “Poochie from Donnie’s.”
He thought of the thickly framed girl with the light complexion and pretty face. “Oh yeah?” He trailed off in pleasure.
Devon nodded. “Yup.”
“That girl has got a body on her!”
Devon agreed. “She sure does. You gonna call her?”
Deshawn looked at his twin like he was crazy. “Does a dog chase cats?”
Devon laughed, the sound of his voice deep. “A girl like that will have you wide open.”
“I wouldn’t give a damn, if it’s as good as it looks.”
∞
People were everywhere, on the lawn, on the porch, in the backyard, and the music blaring from Deshawn’s portable radio mingled in the air with their voices. Battery-operated outdoor lights hung from the trees to give off more illumination as the sun began to descend. Three tables were set up, laden with food, beside the driveway next to the huge barbecue pit. Nana Lil, with Alicia’s help, had really gone all out with potato salad, tuna salad, catfish stew, corn on the cob, baked beans, deviled eggs, garden salad with homemade vinaigrette, lemon meringue pie, strawberry shortcake and sliced melons. The twins had grilled the ribs, steaks and chicken to perfection.
Chloe sipped on a cup of limeade pun
ch where she sat on the front porch. Her eyes never strayed far from Devon, and several times she would find him looking at her as well. She could still remember the look on his face when she first joined the party, walking outside onto the front porch. His eyes had lit upon her, his mouth open in what could only be surprise.
She had been pleased because she put a lot of time into her appearance. After a long bath that afternoon, she had massaged mousse and gel into her hair, causing it to dry into a mass of curls that surrounded her face. The silk white sun dress she wore was Donna Karan and maybe too dressy for the simple barbecue in the yard, but she wanted to draw his attention. She wasn’t aware that she drew nearly every other man’s attention at the party as well.
The halter top of the dress clung to her bare breasts, tying around her slender waist before falling in drapes with a full skirt around her knees. Strappy white sandals completed the outfit with a full makeup job that took her thirty minutes to complete.
The reaction on his face had been well worth all the effort!
∞
Devon hefted the platter of raw meat, covered by aluminum foil, up into his arms and took the walkway around the house. He entered the kitchen through the back entrance, stopping in surprise at finding Chloe already there, leaning against the counter, eating. “Hi Chloe,” he said, purposefully keeping himself from looking directly at her. “Why are you eating in here?”
Chloe wiped her mouth with a paper napkin, careful not to remove too much of her lipstick or foundation. “I felt like everyone was staring at me.”
Devon laughed as he slid the platter onto a cleared shelf in the refrigerator. “The way you scarf down food I can see why you wouldn’t want an audience.”
“I don’t scarf down food,” she balked, rolling up her soiled paper napkin to throw at him playfully.
He dodged the ball and caught it easily with one hand, throwing it into the trashcan near the door. “You’re not good at baseball. Better stick to your day job.”
Admission of Love Page 14