Wildfire (21 page)

She was looking forward to introducing Elaine to Raine and Stacey. She knew that they would like her. “What isn’t there to like?” she asked the steering wheel.

She reached onto the passenger seat and found her phone and Bluetooth. She left a short message for Raine letting her know that she was exhausted and on her way home. She also conveyed that she loved her and would see her soon. While part of her was torn between her desire to see Stacey and Raine she really just wanted to spend the evening alone with Elaine. As she dialed Stacey’s number, she glanced into the mirror once again to make sure that she hadn’t lost Elaine.

“Hey, Stace.”

“Dev, love, how are you? All is well here.”

“I’m good. Very good, actually. I’m on my way home.”

“That’s terrific news. We’ve missed you terribly and can’t wait to see you.”

“Me too. I
am
on my way home, but I’m not alone. I have a favor to ask.”

“Hmm. I see. What do you need? Anything for you.”

“Elaine is following me back to my house. Would you mind going to the market and bringing some fresh groceries to the house? I’d love to make her dinner later.”

“You got it.”

“Thanks, Stace. I appreciate it. I will call you tomorrow.”

“All right, love. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

That detail taken care of, she oriented herself in her week’s schedule. It was Thursday and they wouldn’t get back until late. She would have to drop her samples by the lab tomorrow, but didn’t actually have to return to work until Monday. She wondered how Elaine would feel about meeting Raine and Stacey. Was it too soon to introduce Elaine to her family? It didn’t feel like it.

She normally didn’t bring women into her home, but Elaine wasn’t just any woman. The thought of having Elaine there felt so right, she had no reservations at all.
Jesus, how does she make me feel this way?

Devon had no sooner set her backpack down when she was pulled into Elaine’s strong arms. Elaine’s kiss was urgent as she found Devon’s mouth. Devon’s hands slipped down to Elaine’s hips pulling their bodies closer together. The drive had seemed like an eternity. She was vaguely aware of the door being kicked shut and her back being pressed against the wall, but after that, there was only Elaine.

Elaine finally pulled away. “You can’t kiss me like you did back there, get me all hot and leave me wanting you the entire drive back.”

Devon lifted a finger and traced Elaine’s jaw. “Of course I can.”

“You don’t play fair.”

Devon laughed. “And you’re just now figuring this out?”

Elaine lowered her mouth next to Devon’s ear. “I don’t intend to play fair tonight.”

It was several hours later when they were both satiated, their bodies still entwined that Devon languidly asked, “Would you like some dinner?”

“I’m not sure.”

Devon arched a brow. “You don’t know if you’re hungry?”

Elaine laughed. “Were you planning on us going out or calling something in?”

Devon smiled. “I thought I might cook for you.”

“Well, I know my fridge only has spoiled milk in it at this point. What did you have in mind?”

Devon laughed at the skeptical look in Elaine’s eyes as she found a shirt. They padded down the hall into the kitchen in their stocking feet. Devon flipped on the kitchen light and moved to the fridge to see what Stacey had bought.

“Would you like some help?”

“That depends. Do you want something fancy or something simple?”

Elaine’s brow arched suggestively. “I think simple would be good, I don’t know how long I’m willing to let you stay out of bed.”

Devon laughed. “Let me? And here I was thinking I was being a good hostess by letting you out of bed.”

“I thought
you
were hungry.” Elaine poked her playfully in the stomach.

Elaine’s stomach growled and Devon laughed. “It would seem you worked up an appetite as well.”

Devon produced some fresh veggies for a salad and put some water on to boil fettuccine. As the kitchen filled with the smell of garlic and onion, Elaine looked around Devon’s house. She hadn’t had much time to notice anything before as they had made it to Devon’s bedroom so quickly.

“You have a nice house.”

“Thanks. I call it home.” Devon smiled appreciatively.

As she stirred the pasta, Devon felt a strong arm wrap around her and she leaned back into Elaine’s body. She loved the way that Elaine would stand behind her, her arms wrapped gently but securely around her. She also liked the fact that Elaine seemed to have an equally hard time keeping her hands off Devon’s body. When Elaine touched her or looked at her she felt like the most exquisite woman in the world. And when Elaine told her she was beautiful, she believed it wholeheartedly. She wanted nothing more than to make Elaine feel the same.

“Are you sure you don’t need any help?” Elaine whispered in her ear before moving her lips to Devon’s neck.

“Mmm…if you keep doing that, I may burn dinner.”

Elaine swiped a carrot and was busily chewing on it as she studied the small wine rack. “Can I at least open some wine?”

“Sure. This will be done in just a few more minutes. Corkscrew is in the drawer on the end.”

“The longer that cooks, the hungrier I get.”

A few minutes later Devon dished out the pasta and set it on the breakfast bar with the salad. Elaine devoured every bite. Devon loved sitting across the bar from Elaine. It felt so right.

When Elaine finally pushed her dishes aside, she asked, “How is it that you were gone for so long and come home to fresh vegetables?”

“I may have called a friend and explained that I was hoping to seduce this really hot ranger with a hot meal.”

Devon had turned back to washing when she suddenly felt Elaine’s breath on her neck. “How hot was this ranger?”

Devon set the bowl she was washing in the dishwasher, rinsed her hands and dried them before she turned into Elaine’s arms. “Hot enough that I had to bring her home with me.”

Soft gentle kisses moved ever so slowly down to the rapid pulse at the base of Devon’s neck. “Hmm. Maybe you should show me again how hot this ranger is while I peel that adorable shirt off of you.”

“Again? I thought you would have had enough of me by now,” Devon teased.

“I’ll never get enough of you,” Elaine whispered, sending a shiver the length of Devon’s body.

“Good morning,” Elaine said lazily as she joined Devon in the shower. “Or should I say afternoon? Sorry I’m such a sleepyhead.”

“Like I didn’t just get up myself.”

They kissed tenderly as they washed each other. One thing led to another until the hot water abruptly turned icy.

“It’s exhilarating to swim in a cold river, but I never feel the same way about a cold shower,” Elaine said as she dried Devon’s back.

“My fault. I threw a load of clothes in the washer. Do you need something to wear until the clean stuff is dry?”

“Well, given that what I had left that was clean is still out in the truck, sure. It’s a little early to shock the neighbors.”

Devon laughed and went to find some shorts and a Tee. After that, food was a priority.

When they were finished eating brunch, Devon finally asked, “Would you like a tour of the house?”

Elaine smiled. “We kind of skipped over that part didn’t we?”

Devon’s only response was a gentle laugh. She cleared the dishes from the counter, placing them in the dishwasher. She pulled a fresh mint leaf from the plant on the windowsill and placed it on her tongue before coming around to take Elaine’s hand.

“You know for the longest time I couldn’t figure out how your kisses always tasted so minty. Actually your
entire
body tastes like mint. I finally saw you chewing on those things.”

“Every part of my body?”

Elaine nodded.

“Does it bother you?” Devon asked. She had never had anyone tell her that the mint leaves she so enjoyed eating permeated her entire body. It was an amazing feeling knowing that Elaine had noticed how every inch of her skin tasted. She had never even considered that even her most inner parts would taste of mint.

“Not at all.”

“Would you like one?”

“Umm…no.”

The dubious expression on Elaine’s face amused Devon. It was one that Devon was used to seeing. Most people thought she was a bit wacky because she chewed on mint leaves rather than gum or breath mints. But she figured as far as vices went hers wasn’t that bad. “I’m addicted to the things. Always have been since I was a kid.”

She tugged gently on Elaine’s hand pulling her to her feet. “You’ve seen the kitchen and the glamorous breakfast bar. The living room we’ll get to. The bedroom you’ve sort of seen.” She gestured and Elaine grinned. “This is where I really live.”

Devon led her back down the hall, past the spare bathroom and bedroom. The door opposite of the master bedroom opened to a study. Two of the walls were floor to ceiling glass windows that overlooked beautiful fields of wildflowers. A wooden framed glass door opened onto an inviting deck that stretched the entire back of the house. A large built-in bookshelf made up the remaining wall with a small potbellied stove in the corner. There was a large overstuffed chair in one corner sitting with a lamp and an end table. The only clutter in the room was on the desk. Folders and paperwork were strewn across the surface and the chair was well worn. She crossed to the plant rack. “Stacey’s done a good job with these. I kill houseplants. It’s really sad.”

“This is Raine and Phillip’s wedding?” Elaine picked up one of the photos tucked among the books.

“Yeah.” Devon touched another frame, tracing her mother’s smile. “These are my parents.” She pointed to a smiling man and woman standing on either side of Devon who was sporting a graduation cap and gown. She felt Elaine give her hand a gentle squeeze.

“Family reunion?” Elaine pointed to an older photo containing a group of at least two dozen adults and kids. After Devon nodded, she added, “Nobody’s crying or sulking?”

Devon shrugged. “The ones that did we threw in the lake.” She was pleased when Elaine laughed. “Let’s get some coffee and go out on the deck.”

From the kitchen the deck was easily accessed by the French doors out of the living room. Devon led Elaine out onto the deck saying, “This is the most peaceful place in my life.”
Well, it used to be. Now your arms are the most peaceful place I can imagine ever being.

The wooden deck overlooked a secluded backyard with a pool and a beautiful grassy area that was framed by an amazing field of early spring wildflowers. Just beyond the field, the hill and trees gave way to a magnificent view of the valley beyond. Off in the distance between the foothills, Elaine caught sight of an array of flora in all its glory.

“Aren’t you worried that someone will buy the property around you and build on it?”

Devon turned and smiled at her as she pulled Elaine closer to her. “I probably would be if I didn’t own it.”

Elaine’s eyebrows shot up as she looked at Devon. “Clearly I’m in the wrong line of work.”

Devon laughed. “When I bought the property there was nothing around here. The only way I could get to it was down a dusty one-lane gravel road. I hadn’t planned on buying much more than a couple of acres, but the man who was selling it said I had to take all or nothing. He didn’t want the headache and I loved the view so we came to a reasonable agreement.” Devon squeezed Elaine’s hand. “I had this area developed because I didn’t want to touch that field of wildflowers. The land where the house is now had almost no growth, so it just seemed perfect.”

Devon pointed just beyond the trees. “A few years ago people began moving in down the road and the county finally paved the road all the way down to my house. I thought I would mind having asphalt to my door, but the truth is that I really don’t miss the washboard ruts at all.”

Elaine looked back out over the property. “Just how much of this land is yours?”

Devon thought about it for a moment. “Um, let’s see… from the edge of the fence over there, I guess it goes about a mile back up toward the neighbor’s house.” She turned her attention to the other side of the house. “It extends out that way probably a couple of miles or more. It butts up next to Bureau of Land Management land so I know that no one will be building on that side of me.”

Elaine pointed out toward the back of the property. “How about that direction?”

Devon bit her lip while she mentally measured. “Oh three or four miles, I guess.”

Elaine laughed. “You don’t know how many acres you own?”

Devon shrugged. “I don’t really feel like I own the land. I’m just kind of borrowing it.”

Elaine blinked. “It must have been some deal.”

“What?” Devon had been chewing on her lip, worried that Elaine would get the wrong idea about her. She made a good living and she had a nice sum of money saved, but she would definitely not be considered wealthy by most people’s standards.

Elaine raised an eyebrow. “The deal that you made with the man who sold all this to you. It must have been a hell of a deal.”