The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

“You know the rules. Besides, what would Charlie the cucumber say?”

Tawny sighed. “Charlie would say always listen to your parents.”

Cam’s eyebrows shot up. “What else?”

“Rules are meant to be followed.”

He chuckled. “I knew I liked Charlie for a reason.”

The three of them ate breakfast, the adults quiet while Tawny chatted up a storm. She told them about a secret art project her teacher was planning. And how much she loved snow. And her purple rain boots. And Charlie the cucumber. When she was done, she took her plate and placed it carefully in the sink before running off to brush her teeth and gather her backpack.

“You’ve got the morning thing down pat.” Blue smiled as he grabbed her plate and loaded up the dishwasher.

“Kids like routine,” Cam replied with a shrug.

“I think it’s more than that.”

“Yeah?” Cam turned to face Blue.

She nodded. “Yeah. Tawny is happy. She’s safe and loved, and it shows.”

Cam looked away. He busied himself with the dishwasher. He didn’t want to think about the future just yet, because the future wasn’t carved in stone. He had a meeting with his lawyer early this afternoon, and as far as he knew, his lawyer and her investigator still hadn’t found Tawny’s father. Children’s services had scheduled a well check, and fuck if he knew if he’d pass. He was in a precarious position, and he knew things didn’t always end up the way they should.

The doorbell rang just then, and Tawny ran past them, a blur of curls, pink, and purple. She opened the door without asking—something he’d have to work o

n—and yelled over her shoulder.

“Silas’s mommy is here.”

Cam grabbed Tawny’s lunch bag from the fridge and headed to the front door, where Tawny was stuffing her feet into her purple rain boots. He handed the little girl her jacket while Melissa Cook took her backpack. Melissa was Cam’s age and currently separated from her husband. An attractive, tall, and willowy brunette, she’d have been on his radar, probably in his bed if not for the woman sitting at his island. They had history, the kind that fumbling sixteen-year-olds create, and she’d made no bones about the fact that she was open to a new kind of history. The more mature kind.

Melissa smiled and took the backpack, her gaze moving past Cam. He stepped aside. “Melissa, this is Blue.”

Melissa’s eyes widened slightly, but her smile never faltered, and she waved a quick hello before ushering Tawny out to her car. He followed her to the porch. “You’ll pick up?”

He nodded.

“I’ve got them.” After the first few weeks, Cam and Melissa had come to a pickup-and-drop-off arrangement that made life easier for both of them.

“So the rumors are true.” Melissa paused. “Bluebell Barnes, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Might get complicated.”

Cam shrugged. “I can handle complicated.”

Tawny was already at her car. “Take care of yourself, Cam. Edward Barnes fights dirty, and everyone knows he has it in for her.”

A dose of anger stirred at the mention of Barnes. “Eddie Barnes is a coward. I can handle him too.”

“You might be able to, but that doesn’t mean she can.” Melissa slid into her vehicle. “Just watch your back.”

Cam waited until she’d pulled out of his driveway, smiling at Tawny as she waved furiously from the backseat. He let himself back in the house and immediately grabbed Blue into his arms. He held her, his head nestled against the side of her neck. She smelled of him and sex, and that chest-thumping Neanderthal part of him roared to life. He didn’t want to let her go.

He needed her. Plain and simple.

“She seemed nice,” Blue said quietly as he finally let go.