Morgan's Surprise: Powertools, Book 2 Read Online Free Page A

our first real kiss.” When she still didn’t say anything, he sputtered.
    “Unless… I mean, I want you Morgan. Whatever you’ll take from me is yours. I hoped, but never think I assumed.”
    “God, how do you do that?”
    “Put my foot in my mouth? It’s pretty easy.” He laughed. “I have a lot of practice.”
    “No. You distill complicated issues to their essence. I would have worried for three days about how to say what you just did—and probably would have bungled it anyway or lost my nerve—but you follow your instincts and they never lead you wrong. I really admire that about you, Joe.”
    “I’m a simple man.” He scrubbed his hands over his cheeks. Were they red from the fire, or from her praise?
    “You’re exactly the kind of man I like. Direct. Honest without being harsh. Strong and generous.
    They’re all great qualities.” She smiled. “I never have to guess with you.”
    “Again, is that a good thing?”
    She crossed the gap between them and kissed his cheek before she started bawling. “It’s a really good thing. Thank you. For everything. This has already been one of the most amazing nights of my life.”
    “And what firsts would you like to try to make it even better?”
    “Can we see where things go?”
    “Yeah. Of course.” His smile returned, bigger than before. “How about we start with dinner?”
    Her stomach growled in response. “Sounds good to me.”
    They both laughed as they tucked into the fixed bench of the picnic table, draped in black linen. Joe straddled the plank, seating himself on her right so that he faced her. His left hand stroked her hair and he stole a peck on her cheek before admitting, “Kate and the rest of the crew helped me organize everything.
    The guys know you’re like a sister to Kate, and they’re all happy we’re finally doing something about—”
    He gestured between himself and her.
     
     
    “They said that?” She watched as he dipped mulled cider from the warmer into her mug. Cinnamon and cloves mixed with the leather of Joe’s jacket, nearly making her high from the delicious scents surrounding her.
    “They didn’t have to.” Joe tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I can tell by the way they act around you and how much they’ve ripped on me for waiting to ask you out.”
    “What if they didn’t approve of me?”
    Joe waited until he’d finished plating several slices of fresh apples drizzled with caramel, a mixture of nuts and something that looked like herbed chicken with eggplant and other seasonal vegetables from the insulated bag on the table.
    “Look, Morgan. I realize what Kate told you the other day could be confusing. I’m not sure I understand it myself. There aren’t any hard and fast laws when it comes to the crew and the women we’ve entertained.” Joe trailed one finger across the corner of her mouth, where a stray bit of foam from their drinks had landed. He brought the digit to his lips and licked it clean. “Let’s make one thing clear, though.
    If the crew had been crazy enough not to care about you like I do, I still wouldn’t have walked away. I couldn’t have.”
    Her stomach clenched at his assertion. Almost as hard as when he sucked her taste from his fingertip.
    Desire coursed through her as she imagined his tongue lapping at her juices with such gusto. And what if it were more than just Joe devouring her? Could she handle three other men as potent and masculine as him?
    Would he still want her if she couldn’t?
    “What happens between us is between us. Anything else we decide to do or not do can come later.
    But, I am curious. You didn’t say much yesterday. How do you feel about what Kate told you?”
    “It’s hot!” She clapped her hand over her mouth in horror. She had not blurted that in the middle of their heart to heart.
    Joe laughed, then forked up a piece of chicken. He cupped his hand beneath the chunk of steaming meat and guided it to her mouth. She gathered her thoughts