The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

“I’ve been called worse.”

She looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Brie?”

“Sure is.”

“I enjoy it with roasted red pepper jelly.”

“This here is a bit different.” He winked. “I think you’ll like it.” He’d added caramelized onion and peppers.

“Whose fancy car is in your driveway?”

He was wondering how long it would take her to start in about his guest.

“Just a lady who helped Tawny and me out at the mall.”

“Just a lady.” Mrs. Eddy moved until she was beside him and could see into the backyard. “She’s a pretty lady.”

“Is she?” Cam didn’t look up.

“Nice figure. Good posture.”

“If you’re into that sort of thing.”

“All men are into that sort of thing.” Mrs. Eddy moved closer still. “She must have money.”

“Lots of it.”

He felt Mrs. Eddy’s eyes on him. “She’s not local.”

“Nope.”

“Name?”

He was saved by the bell, so to speak, when his cell phone rang. A quick glance told him it was his mother—her smiling face was unmistakable—but his hands were greasy and slimy from the toppings he’d put on the brie, and he asked Mrs. Eddy to answer for him.

Which the lady did with great gusto and importance. As she chatted with his mother, no doubt filling her in on all his business, Cam slipped downstairs to the bottom fridge and grabbed the steaks he’d marinated. When he returned to the kitchen, he sent Mrs. Eddy outside with the brie and pita squares, put his cell on speaker mode, and said hello to his mother.

“You’ve got Mrs. Eddy for dinner,” his mother said before he got a chance to say anything.

“That would be correct.”

“I’m surprised.”

“Yeah?” Cam rooted around for his barbecue utensils. “Why’s that?”

“Cameron, she’s a little old for you, don’t you think?”

Cam smiled at that. “I don’t know. She makes a mean apple pie.”

His mother laughed, and Cam’s smile widened. “And how is little Tawny?”

Cam glanced out the window. Tawny was running after Rufus, the dress she’d wanted so badly billowing around her thin legs. Her cheeks were flushed, her smile as big as the sun, and when she fell down beside the dog and hugged him, something twisted up inside Cam. He had to take a moment to answer his mother.

“She’s doing real good. Settled in.”

“Have you heard from your lawyer yet?”

He shook his head. “We managed to get a temporary guardianship in place, but there’s still a lot to figure out. She’s on vacation right now but will look after things when she gets back.”