The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

At Blue’s confused look, her friend laughed. “Cam’s officially off the market.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say—”

“Oh, I would say.” Poppy stood back and admired her work. “You spent the night there and didn’t sleep with him, and he obviously wants a hell of a lot more. Sorry, but that means he’s off the market. Every single woman in Crystal Lake will be heartbroken when they find out. Hold on while I grab my phone and put this on Twitter.” She laughed at Blue’s wide eyes. “Just kidding.”

Blue waited a moment and then asked a question. “What about you?”

“Me?” Poppy looked up and laughed. “And Cam Booker? No. I’m not nearly strong enough to tangle with a man like him. I’ll leave that work for you.”

“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.” Poppy Fairbanks was beautiful and interesting and funny and charming. But sometimes she was so quiet and sad, it made Blue wonder about the reason for it. There was a story here. But it was Poppy’s to share.

“There’s no one you have a thing for?”

Shadows crept over her friend’s face, and Poppy turned away. She cleared her throat and shook her head. “No. There’s no one. And even if there was, I…” She shrugged, a sad look on her face. “I’m not there yet.”

Blue knew that Poppy had secrets, but she wasn’t about to pry. She gave her friend a hug and stepped back.

“Do you think I’m crazy? Starting up something with the sexiest bachelor in Crystal Lake?”

“Crazy?” Poppy giggled. “Certifiable, more like.” The smile faded, but the warmth was still there. “I’m kidding. Really. He’s changed, Blue. He’s got that little girl now, and from what I can see, he’s grown up. A lot.” She smiled wryly. “He used to function at about eighty percent, ya know? He’s got the looks, charisma, and more charm in his pinky than most men have in their entire bodies. But Cam always held something back. He never committed. From what I saw just now? He’s way past eighty percent and approaching one hundred. I don’t think he just has a thing for you. I think he’s fallen over the edge, and maybe you should let yourself fall over with him.”

“What will people say? David has only been gone two years and…”

“What do you care what people say? I don’t want to rain on your parade or anything, Blue. But there are folks in this town who already think the worst of you. And those folks, well, you aren’t ever going to change their minds. I know you loved David. I see it when you talk about him. And even though I never knew him, I’m pretty sure he’d want you to be happy. And if Cam Booker can get you anywhere near some sort of happy, then you’d be a fool not to go along for the ride.”

“But Edward… It’ll just give him more ammunition. More reason to come after me.”

Poppy grabbed up their empty teacups. “Edward can go to hell.” She paused and nodded to a box on the shelf behind the till. “I just got those. I know Halloween’s not for six or seven weeks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use one now.”

Poppy headed out back once more, and, curious, Blue opened the box. When she saw what was inside, she couldn’t help but smile. There were little dolls nestled there. She picked one up and studied it, turning the creepy little guy around slowly.

“See? It looks just like him.”

“Who?”

“Edward.” Poppy grinned and handed her a black marker. “It might be time to play dirty.”

The voodoo doll stared up at Blue, its body a blank canvas. She studied it for a few seconds. “Maybe it is,” she murmured. She pocketed the doll and headed home. It was only Tuesday, and she had an entire week to get through before she saw Cam again.

An entire week to calm her nerves.

An entire week to fantasize.

She wanted to move forward, slow and easy like, but maybe it was time to test the sex thing. To see if it was as good as she thought it could be. As good as she heard it could be. More importantly, she was dying to know if it could be as good as she wanted it to be.

15

It was just after five o’clock on Friday afternoon, and Cam was running late. His meeting with a new client went longer than he’d anticipated, and then he got caught in traffic on the other side of the lake. Development was good for the local economy but hell on the roads, and lately, there always seemed to be construction. He pulled into his parents’ place at five thirty, about twenty minutes later than he would have liked.

He jumped from his truck, Rufus not far behind, and spied his father in the garage. His dad was bent over the lawn mower with tools in hand and Creedence Clearwater Revival playing from an old stereo in the corner. Cam grinned. Some things never changed.

“Dad, why don’t you buy a new lawn mower?” The faded yellow-and-green beast was the same mower Cam had ridden as a teen.

His dad set down his screwdriver, scratched the back of his neck, and shook his head. “There’s nothing on this machine that I can’t fix.”

“It’s older than me.”

“Most likely.” His dad frowned, and Cam could tell he was thinking real hard. “I believe we bought this the summer your brother was born. That’s a…well, that’s a long time gone now.” Harold Booker, or Harry as he was known to his pals, sat down on a stool and fixed his eyes on his son. “I bought some property on the lake.”