The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

They both looked up as Blue slid to a halt.

Cam Booker didn’t say a word, but the little girl jumped up and down in excitement.

“Blue!” Tawny dropped Cam’s hand as if it were on fire and launched herself at Blue. “I missed you. Where were you? How come I had to go to Honey’s?” Tawny’s face scrunched up. “Her baby smells nice, but he cries a lot, and it makes my ears hurt.”

Blue couldn’t help but smile. “Babies do cry.”

“I know,” Tawny replied, not letting go of Blue’s hand. “Cam told me he was going to buy me earplugs.” She shook her head, all serious. “My mommy told me not to stick things in my ears. I did it once with a Q-tip and it hurted. So I don’t want earplugs.”

Cam tousled the top of Tawny’s head before glancing Blue’s way. “How were you feeling this morning?”

“Oh. Good.” She swallowed and cleared her throat. “Fine.”

She could tell he didn’t believe her because it looked like he was trying to hide a smile. He shifted the bags from one hand to the other and looked around. “I need a purple dress.”

“A purple dress for me!” Tawny squealed and twirled in a circle.

“I promised the kid, and I can’t find one. There’s just…” He looked around, his frustration obvious. “I don’t know how you girls do this.”

“Do what?” Blue asked.

“This shopping thing. A guy can walk into one store and buy his jeans, T-shirts, boxers…whatever he needs. He’s in and out in less than thirty minutes. Hell, probably twenty. But this, this shopping for little girls is enough to make me crazy. There’s just too much to look at. Too many stores that sell the same shit—”

“Oh…” Tawny said dramatically. “That’s a bad word.”

“It is,” he replied, looking down at her and not skipping a beat. “And I don’t want to hear it coming out of your mouth. But you got to remember, I’m allowed to say it once in a while.”

“Because you’re a grown-up?”

“Yep. Because I’m a grown-up.” Cam looked at Blue, and warmth spread through her. Which surprised her, but maybe it shouldn’t. She thought of the night before and how she’d felt in his arms.

“I don’t suppose you know where we can find a purple dress, do you?”

Startled, she stammered, “Sorry?”

“I need help finding this dress.”

Tawny jumped up again. “A purple one, Cam.”

Blue looked from Cam to Tawny and then back to him again. He looked out of his element, and Tawny was just too damn adorable. How on earth could she say no? Besides, it wasn’t like there was anyone waiting for her back at the house—other than the cat. And Giselle could look after herself.

“I think I know of a couple places we can look.”

Tawny grabbed her hand and began to skip along, taking Blue along for the ride. She assumed Cam was a few steps behind and guided them toward a boutique geared to all things girly.

“Kid-Let?” Cam said as he followed them inside. “Who the hell comes up with these names? Never heard of the place.”

“That’s because you don’t shop, remember?”

Blue’s practiced eyes ran over the racks, and she led Tawny to the back of the store, where one wall was dedicated to all sorts of summer dresses. And, win! They were on sale.

She spied a purple dress with small yellow suns and stars. It had spaghetti straps, and the skirt fell in gentle waves to just above the knee. It was soft and beautiful and the color would look gorgeous on Tawny.

“It’s so pretty,” Tawny said, looking up at the display.

“Do you want to try it on?” Blue asked. She reached for the dresses and searched for the right size. She found one and grabbed matching sandals, a little purse, and a sunhat as well. By the time they got to the changing rooms, Tawny’s eyes were as big as silver dollars. She was quiet as Blue helped her undress and pull on the dress and sandals. When she was finished, Tawny turned and looked in the mirror. Surprise lit her young face, and she inched forward and touched the mirror.

Her coffee-colored skin glowed, infused with happiness. Her hair, left natural, sprang to her shoulders in perfect corkscrews that bounced as she moved. With those beautiful hazel eyes, she was exotic and so precious, Blue couldn’t help but be drawn to her.