Page 43 of Nailing Studs

“Yeah, we did. Several times,” Taylor said.

He looked at Dom. Dom looked at Logan. Logan looked at Taylor.

“You know,” Taylor said. “Now that you brought it up, Dom and I could use your help tomorrow if you happen to be free, Logan.”

Logan cocked a brow. “Is that so?”

“Yeah,” Dom said. “We want to remove and replace all the interior doors.” Before Logan could respond, Dom looked at me. “Assuming you’re okay with Logan helping out, that is, Kayla?”

As I stared into Dom’s dark eyes, then into Taylor’s blue ones, I knew immediately what was actually going on. They’d just introduced the idea of having a third guy around to stick his finger in the honey pot. Considering I’d only been with Taylor, and not even Dom yet, it was a little surprising. But then again, given how obviously I was attracted to Logan, it wasn’t all that surprising.

I looked once more at Dom, wanting to be certain he would be okay with Logan hanging around for more than installing new doors, and he smiled at me. All this time, I’d been thinking Dom had been holding a part of himself back from me, but I hadn’t even realized part of me was still holding back, as well. But now I truly understood that Dom wanted me to have whatever I needed, even if that included Logan. I smiled at Dom and lifted my chin. “Of course I don’t mind,” I said with a sly grin. “But only if he’s truly good with his hands.”

I turned to Logan, who laughed and said, “Guess that means I have to prove myself. I look forward to it.”

“So do I,” I said.

I was a whole new person, and to be honest, I loved it. These boys were bringing out the uninhibited me, helping me connect with my sexuality and get rid of all that fear that was holding me back. It was no wonder I hadn’t gotten far in life with all that anxiety pinning me down. Now I could look forward to something else pinning me down.

Three something elses to be exact.

16

Kayla

The next morning, I answered the door to find Logan standing there, looking so fine in jeans and a T-shirt. Without his suit and tie, he looked younger, more carefree, but still sexy in a more casual way. For some reason, as he gazed at me with those green eyes, I felt suddenly shy, probably because I knew that he knew that I knew exactly why he was really there, and it wasn’t just to work on the house. He seemed to sense my embarrassment and for once, didn’t give me a hard time about it.

“Good morning, Kayla,” he simply said.

“Hi, Logan. Would you like something to eat before you…er…get started?”

He pursed his lips and grinned, as if I was adorable, and I rolled my eyes and burst out laughing. He started laughing too, then he reached out and caressed my cheek with the back of his hand. I sucked in a breath because suddenly there he was, the Logan I’d just started to get to know and love, undressing me with his eyes, and making me go all soft and wilted, like a flower in the summer heat.

But instead of following up on my opening and making some sexual innuendo about wanting something to eat, Logan stepped back and said, “I need to get started on taking down some doors. You good with that?”

I stared at him, took a breath, then smiled and nodded. “I’m good with that.”

A half hour later, Dom and Taylor arrived, and the house was once more abuzz with the sound of hammering and drilling. Over the next couple of hours, I chatted with each of them, bringing them drinks and stealing kisses from Dom and Taylor. Logan had yet to initiate contact, so to speak, and I wasn’t quite ready to make the first move with him. Yet.

I walked into the sun room, hoping to chill with my iPad for a bit when I found Logan there, replacing a glass panel. End of summer heat filled the room, and he was shirtless and so incredibly sweaty that his muscles glistened as they reflected the rays of the late afternoon sun. He didn’t know I was there, but after watching him chug a whole quart of water, head tilted back, streams of water spilling over his skin, I must’ve gasped because he turned and noticed me.

He gave me a naughty look that sent fire into my core. His smile confirmed that he knew exactly what he was doing—driving me crazy. Suddenly, my newfound shyness where he was concerned dissipated like a cloud of smoke.

I walked over to him and took his damp face into my hands. Pulling him down to me, I kissed him, strong with tongue and biting and full of all the repressed desire I’d been holding back this week. When I released him, still gasping, I saw the same urges and needs reflected in his grassy-toned eyes.

It took me a moment to regroup, to come back to center. When I did, I stepped back from Logan and grinned, saying, “Nicely done, big boy.”

In the hallway, Taylor and Dom were sanding down a hole they’d patched up earlier in the week. Both stood there in mid-pose, watching us with awe. After I cockily walked away from Logan, Taylor whistled and Dom gave me a big grin. “The cookies are definitely done.”

“Definitely,” Taylor agreed. “Overdone.”

“Burnt.”

“On fire, actually. We need to put them out,” Taylor said.

Dom shook his head. “Too damn hot in here.”

I headed straight to both, then pulled Dom’s face into my hands and laid a kiss on him too. Different taste, sweeter with a fuller mouth. Then I had to taste Taylor. Slinking over to him, I had to reach higher, since he was taller, but his kiss was surprisingly more intense with bites and sucking of my tongue. I pulled away.

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