Free Nailed to the Wall: Powertools, Book 5 by Jayne Rylon

the burnt sienna plaid monstrosity from her home. Their home. James would definitely vote in her favor on this one.
    A rustle from behind her had her glancing over her shoulder.
    “Came to lend a hand. Doesn’t look like you need our assistance, though.” Neil ambled into the room with the rest of the guys in tow.
    Dust clung to their holey jeans and T-shirts. Dirt streaked their arms. Exertion had their cheeks glowing. Rugged and filthy, they still managed to steal her breath. Maybe more than when they spruced themselves up.
    They’d focused on demolition and the structural concerns rampant in the basement while she completed the more refined project on the main level. Worked for her, except she’d missed having them nearby. Okay, so one stinking floor below her didn’t constitute a huge rift. Still, it was enough. Anywhere beyond her grasp seemed too far.
    Their faith in her skills overwhelmed her with smugness. They wouldn’t allow her to roam unbridled if they had any doubt about her capabilities.
    Mike inspected her progress carefully. “This is good shit, Dev. I like how you built up the molding with the dental piece on top of the cove. Looks fantastic. Cost effective. Solid workmanship too. It’s stuff like this buyers will notice and pay more for. They don’t give a crap that we’ve made sure their foundation won’t crack and sprayed enough insulation in this place to save them a boatload on energy bills. Nice work.”
    “Thanks, boss .” She giggled when he smacked her ass with one of his leather gloves. She couldn’t resist teasing. “Was that my reward?”
    “Careful or I’ll put you over my knee, imp.” Mike’s warning held no heat, unless it was the kind borne of desire.
    “Promise?” She would have liked to play more. If there wasn’t one last thing she had to attend to. “Seriously, though, I couldn’t reach the tray section, even with the ladder. Could one of you hammer this in for me?”
    The twitch of Neil’s lips guaranteed he’d caught her double entendre. “I suppose I could toss it a couple bangs, since I have such a big tool.”
    “Have a big tool or are a big tool?” Dave smirked.
    “That’s what he said,” Devon said simultaneously. She groaned when none of the crew laughed along with her.
    Mike imitated a sad trombone with a descending waa waa waa .
    At least they didn’t have any rotten tomatoes or rubber chickens on hand. Suddenly she had a lot more sympathy for Fozzie Bear. Devon stuck out her lower lip. “Aw, party poopers.”
    “Dave, you have to wrestle Kay under control.” Joe smacked their friend in the gut with his knuckles. “She’s got all of our girls doing it now.”
    “That’s what he said,” James quipped and high-fived Devon.
    “I knew I loved you for a reason.” She stole a kiss, aching for more than the tiny nibble. She hoped he understood how much she adored his infallible instincts, which ensured she was never the odd “man” out.
    “Yeah, and let Kayla hear you talk about muffling her. She’ll rip you a new one. Or better yet, maybe she’ll tattle on you to Morgan.” Mike shook his head.
    “Oh please, no.” Joe held his index fingers out in a cross as though warding off a clan of vampires on the attack. “I promise. I’ll be good.”
    Devon’s face hurt from smiling so huge, caught in the crossfire of their banter. She loved them so much tears pricked her eyes. Quickly, she put her back to the crew and shoved her safety glasses on top of her head like the least designer headband of all time. Kneeling as though tidying her workspace, she scrubbed surreptitiously at her cheeks.
    James crouched by her side. His hand rubbed a soothing arc across her back. “What did we say?”
    Only then did she realize the room had gone silent, her playlist complete.
    She dropped her head on his shoulder and rooted her face into his neck. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
    “What’s all this?” Neil bracketed her. With one hand on