"You two sure you don't want to get a room?"
Devon swore harshly enough to have Chloe cackling. He'd said the same thing the night before. "Forgot you were there."
"Obviously."
"Hi, Caleb," Chloe said with a wave in his direction.
His grin split his face. "Hi, Chloe."
She returned her attention to Devon. "By the way, this . . ." She pulled away to indicate his unclothed upper half. "Nice."
He shook his head. "I'm covered in sawdust."
"Mm, yeah, and sweat. I'm female, what can I say? You, shirtless, with a tool belt around your waist, and those muscles . . ."
He held her to him again and spoke into her ear. "I can't believe you have to go to work."
"I've never called in a day in my life." She huffed out a sigh when his tongue trailed over her earlobe. "Maybe now is an excellent time."
"So, can you have dinner with me?"
She shivered. "After I make excuses for why I can't work."
"I'll need to do a few things here first—"
"Go on, Devon. Don't stick around here on my account."
He flashed his brother a smile. "Thanks, Caleb."
"I want to go home and change first."
"Me, too, and shower off the day." He kissed her forehead. "Pick you up in an hour?"
She bit her lip and nodded. "I'm looking forward to it."
The brothers stood together and watched her walk out. "You gonna get laid tonight?"
"Fuck, Caleb, you aren't the tiniest bit subtle."
Caleb slapped his hand on Devon's shoulder. "Hi, I'm Caleb. Perhaps we've met somewhere?"
Devon rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."
"I can't help it, I'm high and dry right now. I need to know someone, somewhere, is having sex."
"Rest assured that someone on the planet is having sex, even if it's not you or me." Devon pulled his shirt on and unhooked his tool belt.
"Right this very second, too, I bet." Caleb crossed his arms and leaned against the workbench, looking thoughtful.
"I'm leaving now."
"Have fun and be safe."
Devon walked out into the brisk afternoon air, rolling his brother's words around in his head. Was he ready for that? He was physically ready, but was he mentally and emotionally ready? Kathy had been his one and only.
He arrived home to find Don pacing the living room with a voice recorder in one hand and a steno pad in the other.
"Hey, Dad."
