The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

She’d never felt like that before. Never had that strong of a connection. Hell, she didn’t even like sex all that much. Seemed to her it was all about the guy. She’d loved David, though she knew most folks in these parts would never believe that. But he’d been comfort and home, and his gentle touch soothed her soul in a way she needed. He’d saved her from a life that would have destroyed her, and for that, she would always be grateful. A wave of loneliness washed over Blue, and she looked away from the couple, hating the pang of melancholy that accompanied it.

“Here we are,” Poppy said as they approached their vehicles. She unlocked her car and tossed her purse inside. “Look. I’ve got some info that I’m not supposed to share.”

Intrigued, Blue waited expectantly.

“Cain Black and his band are going to play new material for their next album.” Poppy’s eyes went wide. “Tonight.”

Cain Black was a local celebrity, a rock star who lived in Crystal Lake when he wasn’t touring the world with his band, BlackRock. He was a younger version of Springsteen with a dash of Led Zeppelin thrown in. It had taken everything in Blue, not to lose it completely, when she’d met him at a charity event a few months after she’d moved to Crystal Lake.

“You should come.” Poppy slid into her car. “Meet some new people. You can’t spend all of your time holed up in that big old house on the water.”

About two days into her new job, it had become obvious that Poppy knew exactly who Blue was. She’d never asked Blue why she’d applied for a job she obviously didn’t need, and Blue never offered up an explanation. But Poppy was easy to be around. She was warm and nonjudgmental. She was quick to laugh and always looked to the bright side. In these few days, she’d come to mean something to Blue.

“Won’t it be hard to get in?” Blue found herself asking.

“Nope.” Poppy shook her head. “I have a table reserved. I’ll be there around eight and will let the bouncer know you might be joining us. Just give him your name, and he’ll let you in.” She winked and laughed. “Think about it. Cain Black or your cat. That right there is a tough decision.” Poppy gave a quick wave and drove off, leaving Blue to contemplate her words as she drove home.

The work crew had left, and the place was silent. No sign of Cam or any of his guys. But then Blue was pretty sure a man who looked like Cam would be busy on a Saturday night. She parked her car and headed inside, and for a few moments looked around the huge place she called home. The décor was tasteful. The furnishings comfortable. No expense had been spared. Everything a person could want was inside these walls. Everything except love.

That heaviness she’d felt earlier laced across her chest, and she strode into the kitchen doing her best to push it aside. Contrary to what she’d told Poppy, the damn cat was sprawled in front of the patio doors, fast asleep, purring so loud it was a wonder the noise didn’t wake her up.

Blue topped up Giselle’s food and water and headed upstairs. She undressed and jumped into the shower. Twenty minutes later, she sat down

on the small settee in her closet, taking in all the clothes that hung from the customized racks. Gucci. Fendi. Tom Ford. A lot of them still had tags attached, and she felt shame as she gazed at the dresses, blouses, and pants. None of them gave her pleasure or made her happy.

How did she get here? Ever since she’d left home she’d craved stability. She’d dreamed of being rich and having enough money so that she never had to worry about a paycheck or food or a car payment. For so long, she’d thought this was what she needed to be happy. So why wasn’t she?

Blue wasn’t sure how long she sat there, but her neck was stiff when she got up and she walked to the smaller cupboard that held the clothes she’d refused to part with. She reached inside and grabbed a pair of faded jeans and a white T-shirt with Guns N’ Roses across the chest. She caught sight of herself in the mirror and stilled. Her long hair hung in loose, damp waves, and her fresh-scrubbed skin glowed. She let her robe drop to the floor and stood back so that she could see herself properly.

Her fingers traced the long thin scar that sat low above her pelvic bone, and the faded stretch marks. When she glanced back up, the expression in her eyes was enough to break her heart all over again. With a curse, she turned and defiantly began to get dressed. Pink bra and matching undies. The soft jeans that fit like a glove and the T-shirt that was just a tad too tight across the chest. She slipped her feet into plain black flip-flops, tousled her hair, and then applied a bit of mascara and some lip gloss.

The silence of her home was a weight that had become too much, and she was tired of thinking. Tired of inaction. Tired of this life she’d made for herself.

Before she could change her mind, Blue scooped up her wallet and shoved it in a small black bag. She headed outside and in the distance spied the lingering fingers of what had most likely been a spectacular sunset. It was nearly nine o’clock, and overhead, the night sky was waking up with a shimmery display of stars. She heard waves rushing onto the beach as a motorboat echoed across the water out back. Crickets sang their night song, and the lonesome hoot of an owl cut through the night. Twilight had always been her favorite time of day, and with renewed energy, she hopped into her car and headed back to town.

Once in the heart of Crystal Lake, Blue realized she had no idea where the Coach House was. She stopped and asked for directions and at nine thirty pulled into a very full and busy parking lot. The place was across the bridge, a large building surrounded on three sides by forest. The lot was well lit, and there were several groups chilling near their vehicles, listening to BlackRock and tailgating. She sat in her Honda for a few minutes, eyes on the huge line to get into the venue, and jumped when her phone pinged. It was Poppy.

Get here now.

Blue stared at the message for a few seconds and then, before she could change her mind, got out of the car. She ignored the catcalls from a group of men hanging off the back end of a rusted-out truck, and also the looks from the folks in line as she walked past them. A large, balding man stood between her and the entrance, his tattooed arms folded across his chest. He eyed her up, his expression ominous. This wasn’t a man to be messed with.

“Hi,” Blue said softly. “I’m…my name is on the list. Poppy said she’d let you know?”

He slowly nodded. “Name?”

“Blue.”

“Okay.” He stepped aside, and that was that. She walked past the mountain of muscle and pushed her way inside. It was hot and humid inside the bar. The air practically sizzled with an energy that was unmistakable. A DJ played country rock while the darkened stage beckoned. Throngs of folks stood and chatted animatedly, and the crush of patrons leading to the bar was impressive.

Blue was jostled a bit and twisted her way through the crowd, aware that she was drawing looks. A few men smiled her way, but she avoided eye contact, keen on the fact that the women they were with weren’t as appreciative.

A server armed with a tray of empty glasses passed her way, and Blue took a chance and asked if she knew where Poppy Fairbanks was sitting. The server nodded to her left, and Blue headed in that direction, smiling to herself. Only in a small town. She spied Poppy and her friend at a high table near the stage, at about the same time excitement rippled through the crowd. Poppy gave her a big hug as she reached the table and then introduced her friend from Los Angeles, Kylie. She was dark and exotic, with multiple tattoos. An edgy brunette dressed in skintight leather, a hot-pink halter top that left nothing to the imagination. The woman had a warm smile and a confidence that made her easy to like.

They didn’t have a chance to talk because just as Blue slid onto her chair, Cain Black walked onto the stage. Poppy and Kylie jumped to their feet and dragged Blue onto the dance floor. And for the next two hours, the three women did nothing but soak up the music and the atmosphere and the amazing charisma oozing from the stage. Blue felt like a teenager, gazing up at a man who’d starred in a lot of her adolescent fantasies.

By the time they finished, Cain Black had every single person in the Coach House nestled in the palm of his hand. He flashed a wicked smile, his handsome face open and easy, and then jumped offstage to scoop a redhead into his arms—his wife, Maggie, according to Poppy. The DJ took over, and the three girls headed back to their table. They’d danced most of the night, and Blue couldn’t remember the last time she’d had this much fun.

“Okay,” Kylie said, sitting back in her seat. “That was worth the trip from LA.”