Free Sympathy for the Devil (International Bad Boys Book 4) by Kelly Hunter Page A

ten minutes with a capable captain at the helm and a boat could be out at sea.
    There wasn’t a soul to be seen in the tiny little side office—okay, some things hadn’t changed, so she picked her way around to the boardwalk and headed for the big set of double doors about three quarters of the way along.
    It wasn’t yet noon, more like half-eleven and she would have been here sooner except that she’d spent so much time getting ready. It had taken her two hours to choose the plain white T-shirt and lightweight jacket that went over it. Two hours to choose casual jeans, sandals and sunglasses and summon the nerve. She had her laptop in one hand and a small bag crammed with camera gear slung over her shoulder, just in case. And when she reached the big sliding doors and looked in and Eli Jackson and Zoey looked up at her from a bench in the middle of the room, she summoned a smile.
    She could do this.
    No problem.
    Today, Zoey Jackson wore a lime green bikini, a multi-colored wrap-around skirt, heavy on the cool reds, and a coronet made of twigs. The explosion of that which was Zoey against Eli’s plain grey T-shirt and calm grey eyes definitely made smiling easier. She was going to enjoy getting those two in front of the camera, not a doubt in the world about that.
    *     *     *
    She was looking forward to capturing the love so evident in every glance.
    “I’ve had a change of heart,” she offered into the silence. Not venturing into the shed, not yet, unless invited. “I heard someone around here was looking for a photographer and it turns out my services are now available. And then, I need to have a little word with Cutter about coming here for drinks later. As Caleb’s date.”
    There. She’d done it. Everything out in the open. Okay, most things out in the open. Maybe it would be enough.
    “You want to take photos for me?” said Zoey.
    “If you’ll have me.”
    “And the cost?”
    “We can figure something out. There’s leeway in my price structure if it’s a job I really want.”
    “You’re going to want it. I will make you want it. And a gown. I’ll make you one of those as well. Two gowns! And a frock. Or something in leather—I just got the most beautiful shipment of leather in. I’m thinking warrior princess.”
    “Okay,” Bree offered cautiously. “I’m thinking what ?”
    “Caution is good,” Eli offered with the hint of a smile. “She lures you in with the steampunk and the leather and before you know it there’s Lycra.”
    And then Cutter appeared in the huge opening that led down to a boat ramp and the water, wiping his hands on an oily rag that looked substantially cleaner than his clothes.
    “Bree!” He smiled warm and wide. “What brings you here?”
    “Work. And I was hoping to have a quick word with you later.”
    “Sure. Forgive the no hug.”
    Not a problem. The man was up to his elbows in grease.
    “What do you need?” Eli asked him.
    “The seal’s gone in that engine and we don’t have another one in stock. Is Caleb still in Byron?”
    “He’s on his way back.”
    “He’s back,” said a voice from behind her and Bree hastily made way for Caleb and the giant box in his arms.
    “You get me any o-rings for the 380 engine?” Cutter asked him.
    “Was it on the list?”
    “You knew I was planning on taking it apart. Didn’t need to be on the list.”
    “I ordered them two weeks ago,” Eli offered placatingly. “’Cause I’m psychic.”
    Caleb dumped the boxes on an already crowded counter and reached for a cutting knife amidst the clutter. He opened the box and rummaged around with his back to them all. Good shoulders. Great butt. Good thing Bree had her sunglasses on so that the direction of her gaze wasn’t all that noticeable.
    Or maybe it was.
    She turned away, pushed her sunglasses atop her head and caught Zoey’s eye. “Gang’s all here.”
    Yay.
    “Testosterone central,” said Zoey cheerfully. “You want to come upstairs to my