“They are. They’re my family.” His pale-blue eyes drilled into mine for a long moment before he looked away. “Anyway… Alivia can stay in here with you, or the kids’ room if you’re okay with that.”
“The kids’ room?”
“This way.” He led me toward the last bedroom at the end of the hall. Inside was a large suite with a fun layout of bunk beds meant to accommodate sleepovers and its own bathroom. Sure enough, off to the left was an adjoining room doubling as a mini theatre, with the cutest leather seating clusters all facing a large screen.
“This is quite a setup. Is there one for adults too?”
“Nope. Leila’s rule when staying here is total unplugging.” Trey shrugged. “She’s a nut.”
“No one seems to mind,” I teased.
“We just got used to it. This place is more a day camp than a rock star’s lair.” He waved toward the room, adding, “Obviously, it’s all about the kids. She wants them to have plenty of activities to keep them occupied. The basement is set up with toys and crafts for rainy days. Of course, they’re completely supervised by Beverly and her assistant…” I followed to where he pointed a finger. “And video monitors just in case.”
“Well, I’m sure Alivia would love to stay here with the other children.” From down the hall, her calling for me forced us back to where she was waiting in the doorway.
“Trey, you didn’t put on your bathing suit. You said you would swim.” She pointed her finger at him. “Don’t chicken out.” She then gripped the pink nylon fabric around her tiny hips with sass. “You too, Mommy. Everyone has to go swimming.”
“Don’t you worry, Squirt. Mommy will be in that pool with or without her bathing suit.” He narrowed his gaze challengingly. “I bet I can get changed before Mommy does,” he dared before disappearing behind the door to his room. And I couldn’t stop myself from visualizing Trey’s muscular, tattooed body in nothing but a bathing suit.
If a paparazzi ever found their way onto the Lairs’ property, they could make a fortune off the photos that would capture the whole lot of them playing with their kids in the pool or on the beach. The men of Devil’s Lair most definitely gave a new meaning to the word dilf.
When it came to Trey, my imagination came up short. Sure, he always had this rocker thing going with the endless selection of well-worn denim jeans and basic T-shirts. Even when searching for information about him online, every picture I came across of him in a leather jacket, or on his motorcycle, served only to market that bad-boy persona he’d perfected. But Trey Taylor in his black swim trunks was by far the sexiest thing I’d ever witnessed. Shit, he had that sexy V thing going and, combined with his tattoos, had my suit damp before I even hit the water.
The way he took on the role of a doting father, playing with his daughter in the pool, chasing her around the beach, holding her in the ocean, completely messed with my head. During it all, he ensured I was right there with them, having fun whether I wanted to or not.
Earlier, he dived under the water, came up, and gripped my ass to raise and toss me across the pool. Alivia thought it was hilarious and prompted him to do it again when we were in the ocean. Watching them whispering and plotting other ways to get me wet induced even more confusing thoughts. While I loved witnessing their relationship strengthen right before my eyes, I still worried it was all happening too soon.
As for me, with each hour that passed, I found myself slipping deeper and deeper into some sort of Trey Taylor daze. Where his flirting and snarky comments at one time annoyed me, they now caused desire to thrum deep within me. Each casual touch and every easy glance had my heart rate hitching just a tad faster. And I wasn’t sure if it was because of this new development that I noticed those touches and glances coming more frequently, or if it was just wishful thinking on my part.
Chapter 17
Camilla
By the time dinner was over, yawn after yawn meant it was time for the kids to call it a day. Alivia could barely keep her eyes open. Following the other moms’ leads, we dragged them all inside to get ready for bed. It impressed me that even with help, Leila handled most of what the kids needed.
Of course, she was able to focus on them and her guests because of the cook and server she had working that weekend. Trey explained they hired help only when they had a full-house situation. Otherwise, the Lairs liked to wing it and keep it casual.
Once pajamas were on, teeth were brushed, and good-night kisses were doled out, Beverly and her assistant, Heather, took over by marching them into the kids’ suite.
Alivia was beside herself when I said she could go as well. She ran right over to Shane, Leila and Jack’s son, to announce she was allowed. All day, the two had been inseparable. As the oldest two, they’d formed an adorable bond and seemed to get along well—although Trey also noticed and made it a point to tell Jack to keep his son away from Alivia.
Once I knew Alivia was settled, I took a quick shower, pulled my damp hair into a ponytail, and threw on a comfortable pair of sandals, shorts, and a T-shirt.
Knowing the adults planned to enjoy a quiet evening outdoors, I tentatively made my way out to the deck area, where I heard voices and laughter. Cigar smoke billowed above the lounge chairs, where all five men had congregated. Not seeing one of the girls out there, I had made an about-face when Trey spotted me.
“Camilla!” he called out, raising his arm. He noticed my hesitancy and rested his cigar on the ashtray before stalking right for me. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll wait inside until the girls come out. I don’t feel comfortable hanging out with you guys yet.”
He took a moment to digest my claim. “Okay, then let’s take a walk on the beach.” The shock I felt must have been clearly visible on my face when he asked, “Now what?”
“Nothing. That’s fine,” I lied. It wasn’t fine to be taking a romantic stroll on the beach with the man who had consumed my thoughts all day. Even now, as I stared at him fully dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, I saw his naked torso in my mind. All that sexy colorful artwork permanently displayed on his skin, his muscular arms flexing every time he raised Alivia in the pool. The smattering of hair on his chest, the thin trail stretching below his belly button, the peppering of it on his bare legs.
“Camilla…”
“Oh… what did you say?”
“Walk?” he asked as his brows practically met his hairline.
“Right… okay.”
He waved a hand toward the beach, and I sluggishly began walking that way. What was I afraid of? Being alone with him?
Yes.
When we reached the lower deck, where the guys were chatting, they turned toward us.
“We’re going to take a walk,” Trey announced, barely slowing his step. He then took my hand to move me along at a quicker pace.
“Have fun, kids,” Hunter or Scott or Evan called out. I couldn’t get their names straight.
At the bottom deck, I followed his lead and removed my shoes. The moment our bare feet hit the sand, he asked, “Why are you acting so skittish?”
Skittish? Was that how I was coming off?