The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, leaning against her car, staring up at Cam’s house. But when a shadow passed in front of the window, she jumped and looked around guiltily. She felt like a weirdo stalker lady, and, looking a hell of a lot more confident than she felt, Blue moved up the walkway until she stood in front of the door.

She didn’t knock, but then she didn’t have time to.

The door opened, and Cam stood there, feet bare, in faded jeans and a plain black T-shirt. His hair was damp, as if he were just out of the shower, and when she met his gaze, her insides jumped along with her already fast beating heart.

“You’re late,” he said, voice low and husky.

“I know,” she replied, so softly, she wasn’t sure he heard.

Without breaking eye contact, he moved out of the way. There was no turning back now. And maybe she was okay with that. Maybe it was time to move on and start living a little, or at least try and see.

Blue slowly exhaled and stepped past him.

13

Cam had done nothing but think about Blue and the kiss they’d shared all afternoon. Hell, he’d been on a different planet and couldn’t say shit when Nash told him to get his head out of the clouds. Even Tawny told him he was acting weird, and she was just a little kid.

He’d obsessed about every inch of the woman, and now that she stood in front of him, he wanted to grab her close and not let go. But she was skittish, and he needed to take his time or he’d scare her.

Blue’s hair was pulled back in a loose bun, and her makeup-free skin glowed. She was dressed simply: jeans, a pale pink blouse, and cream-colored sweater. He liked her like this. She was more real. Attainable. “You want a drink?” he asked, watching her closely.

“No.” She licked her bottom lip, a nervous gesture that tugged at his heartstrings—just a little—but tug it did. “I’m not actually sure this is a good idea.” The words fell out of her mouth so quickly, she seemed out of breath after she’d spoken them.

“Having a drink? Or being here with me.”

“Both.” She paused and looked around. “Where’s Tawny?”

“She was in bed and asleep by seven. Today tuckered her out. She didn’t even want to continue with our book.”

Her head shot up at that, and a ghost of a smile played on her lips. “You read to her?”

Cam liked that he’d surprised her. “I do. My mom used to read to me every night, so I figured it couldn’t hurt.”

“What book are you reading?”

“I don’t know if I should say.” He flashed a smile, watching her warm up to him. “I don’t want you judging me.”

She laughed and slid out of her sweater. “How could anyone judge you for reading to a child?”

Cam walked over to the small end table beside the sofa and grabbed up a paperback. He looked at it for a few seconds and then, with a shrug, handed it over. The cover featured a busty redhead, arms entwined around a swashbuckling, bearded giant of a man. He was bare-chested and she may as well have been.

She gave him a look before turning it over and reading the back. When she was done, she looked up at him. “You’re reading Tawny a book called Pirate’s Treasure?”

“Mrs. Eddy left it here, and Tawny liked the girl on the cover.”

Blue glanced at the cover again. “So, let me get this straight. You’re reading this clearly inappropriate book to a five-year-old because she likes the cover.”

“No.” Cam flashed a grin. “I’m reading it to Tawny because she thinks the woman on the cover is a princess.”

Cam knew what Blue was thinking. How in hell could a little girl look at a picture of a woman with ruby-red lips, eyes that shouted sex, and breasts nearly busting out of her green velour dress and think she looked anything like a Disney princess?

“It’s her ring,” he said, pointing to the book.

“Her what?” Blue’s eyes crinkled as she studied the cover once more. “It’s big and on the gaudy side.”

“Tawny thinks it’s magical, and I didn’t want to tell her she was wrong.”

“You’d rather read a romance novel to her instead.”