Chapter Three—Is He A God?

He bent to collect the pieces, giving me a view of fine assets. Not to mention how his arms bulged as he hefted everything in one swoop. Hot damn! I somehow refrained from fanning myself. They sure didn’t make them like this where I came from.

I picked up my water jug, and he followed me back up the hill.

“My name is Katrina,” I said. “But I prefer Kat.”

His brow rose. “I’m Kalvyn.”

“Nice to meet you, my able-bodied workhorse.”

He barked a laugh: a rich, full-bodied sound reminiscent of good, sweaty sex. I blanched. Really? Since when did I have this many dirty thoughts in the space of ten minutes? I must’ve drunk Essence Eau de Lola.

“The task you’ve set your workhorse is incomparable to my usual responsibilities.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” I said, and my brain ran like a blank screen. I fidgeted. “So, you been here long?”

“Arrived yesterday. We intend to stay until next Saturday.”

We. Plural. Of course. My luck. “Oh, cool. Ahh, who’s with you?” I tried for subtle as I eyed his hand for a ring.

“I am quite single, Katrina.”

Mind reader, much? Is he flirting with me? Dumb question.

“My family, friends and I camp at Summit Lake every year, at least once. Mostly at the beginning of summer, though our schedules were hectic this year. This is our first stay thus far.”

“Yeah, we come up every year too. Tradition of the best sort. I love it up here. The endless trees, no civilization for miles in any direction,” I rambled.

“We feel the same. Back to nature.”

“Definitely.”

“Where would you like me?” He brushed past and into our campsite. Electricity arched between us.

“Ahh, just put them anywhere.” I licked my lips and remembered my manners. “Seriously, thank you. I wasn’t looking forward to bringing them back up.”

“I am glad to be of service, Katrina.” He stopped at the fire pit to create a neat pile.

Lola burst out of the tent with a brush in one hand, a beer in the other. “I totally forgot something. I know I did. I just don’t remember what...” She spotted Kalvyn. “What the hell! Are they selling drop dead gorgeous at the water stand now? Can I get one?”

I rubbed a hand over my face to hide my smirk. “Did you take the axe out of the truck yet? We need kindling.” “Ahh, I have no idea.” Lola fanned herself.

Which meant she hadn’t. I strolled to the bed, feeling Kalvyn’s stare burn on every inch of my back. I shuffled through the few remaining duffle bags, coming up all axe. Kalvyn slid up beside me, silent as a mouse. He took the axe from my hand.

“I can do that.”

“You’ve done enough, thank you. It’s no big deal.”

His heated stare melted me in all the right places. “Then it’s no big deal for me to this for you. It would be my pleasure.”

He stalked away from me with too much grace for something that big.

Lola sank against the truck. “They sure broke the mold when they made him.”

“Get that man a beer. He deserves one,” I said.

“Agreed. A girl could get used to this.” She purred with approval. “Snagged yourself quite the catch there, Kat. Make sure to put him to work on better wood than the kindling, would you?”

I nudged her with my shoulder. “I just met him.”

Kalvyn kicked the biggest log on its end and then held a smaller chunk on top of it. The axe swung. Lola and I spent the next several minutes watching the light show playing off his body. Oh yes, fine form indeed.

“So what? Hello, vacation. What do you think it’s for, if not for having fun, getting down and dirty with that walking, talking porn advocate over there?” Lola caressed her neck and collarbone with the neck of her beer. “Besides, there are a whole lot more where he came from. At least five hotties smiled my way during your trip down yonder. This is going to be the best week ever.”

Kalvyn’s profile revealed that sexy grin I could easily become addicted to causing. Shaking my head, I went to the cooler, snagged two beers, and brought one to him.

His shoulders rolled as he took both and twisted off the tops.

He handed one back to me.

I stared slightly to the right, unable to take the full power of his unblinking gaze.

“Why do you always appear ill at ease when I do anything?” He lifted the bottle to his mouth, and put back half the beer in one swallow. Watching his throat work turned me on. In fact, everything he did turned me on. I needed a cold shower.

“I’m not used to guys doing stuff the way you do, I guess.”

His lips pursed. “Doing what exactly?”

“Anything from doing hard labor for me, to opening my beer.”

“Maybe you’re hanging out with the wrong kind of males.”

“Apparently.”

He reached past me, his torso stroking my arm. His movement slow, deliberate, holding me captive with his stare. He placed the beer on the picnic table. “Then, we will fix that, won’t we, Katrina?”

I tipped my head, allowing my espresso, sable chunked hair to fall across my face. “If you say so.”

“I believe I have.”

He went back to work. I pulled myself onto the table, as Lola plopped into a collapsible camping chair, kicking her feet onto the bench beside me.

“This is truly the life.” She chortled. “Better than watching TV.

Though I still want to go to the beach. I have to work on my tan.”

“Yes, yes,” I said. “I promised you tan time, and you will get it.”

“Which part of the beach?” Kalvyn stretched, surveying his pile of kindling. I handed him his bottle.

“Probably one with sand and water.” I smirked. “I don’t know which part is closest at this part of the grounds.”

“There’s a path at the end of this road and will lead you near the mouth of the lagoon. I can show you, if you like. Most of my friends should already have gone down.” Lola nudged me, and I shrugged.

“Sure. Why not.”