Free Devon's Pair by Jayne Rylon Page A

she was probably the last person he’d welcome comfort from. Torn, she couldn’t walk away yet she didn’t dare to intrude.
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    “I’ve fucked dozens of women while you watched. You never minded before. All of a sudden this is a problem?” Neil didn’t cut him any slack. “You know what I need. Hell, you’ve gotten off on sharing plenty before.”
    “You’ve never looked at a woman the way you look at her. You’ve never fit with one of them like you were meant for each other.” James’s voice cracked.
    Whoa . Devon couldn’t justify hiding in the shadows a moment longer. She emerged into the open meadow, approaching them as carefully as if they were an improperly braced structure. “How exactly does Neil look at me?” They turned toward her with matching frowns.
    “Like he looks at me .” James shook his head. “Looked at me. Like you’re everything to him. I never cared about playing around before because I could tell his exchanges with women were purely physical. This is the first time he’s really taken a lover. I guess I assumed it’d always be me he went home with at the end of the day.”
    “I’m not trying to change that.” Devon’s heart ached. Because somewhere deep down she could admit she was lying. She wanted Neil. Tonight. Every night. Forever. She should have known whatever unconventional role she’d been playing was too good to be true.
    “It’s too late. Has been since the very first day. When I found you on the curb, he’d already fallen. I could see it in his eyes.” James shrugged. “You didn’t do anything but be you. I want to be pissed, but I can’t. He loves you. And I can see why. You’re sweet, strong, funny, hardworking, sexy and kind. Just promise me you’ll treat him well. I won’t stand for him to be hurt.” Neil interrupted. “James, what are you saying?”
    “I’m going to grant your wish. I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy.” James bit his lip to still the quivering there.
    “He wants you.” Devon had never been surer of anything in her life.
     
     
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    “No, he wants you .” James didn’t scrub the tear that ran down his cheek.
    She leaned closer, opening her arms.
    James spun away.
    Before she could follow, Mike and Joe crashed up the path, laughing and causing a ruckus. “What’s taking so long? Dave’s getting his panties in a bunch.” Devon shrugged and left the men alone. Maybe Neil could talk to his boyfriend if she gave them peace.
     
    Two hours later, Devon held the ring in her fist and pumped it over her head while doing a silly victory dance. Dave and Joe stared at her tits for a second or two before hauling her from the pond.
    “I believe this belongs to you.” She placed the gorgeous hunk of diamond and platinum in Dave’s broad palm.
    “No, ma’am. It belongs to her.” He knelt at Kayla’s feet and slid the ring onto her shaking third finger. “I love you, Kay.”
    “I love you too.” She sniffled. “It’s gorgeous, Dave. Truly.”
    “Not half as much as you.” He climbed to his feet and kissed her temple before turning to Devon.
    “Thank you.” They both enveloped her in a hug despite the rivulets of pond water dripping off her. “Oh, no. You’re freezing.” Mike and Kate swooped in with blankets to wrap her in, though even a blowtorch couldn’t combat the ice solidifying her heart. She stood on the fringes of the gathering as the rest of the crew celebrated. Neil pulled James into a fierce hug. Sometime during the search, their tempers had dissipated.
    Neil kissed the slighter man full on the mouth. Their lips slanted, interlocking. They got lost in each other. No way would she risk destroying that bond.
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    Devon backed slowly into the shadows, outside the glow bathing the rest of the crew.
    When she was sure they hadn’t noticed, she ran.
    Toward her forgotten dress.
    Toward the keys to her truck.
    Toward her lonely reality—one that didn’t involve a fantasy come