The Summer He Came Home (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake 1)

“Well, I’m thinking I’d like to be your friend…” He paused, his voice low, caressing the air between them. “Maggie.”

He said her name as if they were sharing a secret. As if she was the only one in the room with him, when in fact they were the object of over a dozen pairs of eyes and whispers shared behind hands.

Was he flirting with her? His gaze lingered just a little too long and then dropped to her mouth.

He’s flirting with me.

This was all kinds of wrong. She changed the subject quick as she could, flustered and hoping it didn’t show. She didn’t do flirting. Especially not with a man like Cain Black.

“I need to see about my bill.” Maggie winced as pain shot through her head, and she licked her dry lips. “You don’t have to wait. Michael and I will call a cab.”

“The bill’s been looked after. It’s the least I could do, considering this whole mess was my fault.”

Instantly her hackles were up. “I can look after my own affairs. I don’t need your charity.” She was annoyed, and though a part of her was secretly relieved, she sure as heck didn’t want to owe him. She would not owe anyone anymore.

“I’ll pay you back.”

“If you’re ready”—he ignored her comment and nodded toward the exit—“I’ll take you home.”

A heavy feeling pressed on her chest, everything tightened, and Maggie exhaled a ragged breath. She was being pushed into a corner and didn’t like it at all. It seemed as if the ghosts of her past were circling hard. “I…Michael and I will get home on our own. Really, you’ve done enough.”

Cain glanced at Michael. “What do you think, buddy? A ride in some smelly old cab or a quick trip in my truck?”

“Mom, if we call a cab, we’ll have to wait forever, and I’m really hungry.”

Okay, that was cheap. Using a child. She glared at Cain before turning to her son.

“Michael—”

“Please, Mom? Why pay for a cab when we can get a free ride? You always say we need to be smart about money ’cause we don’t have a lot, right?”

“Michael,” she tried again, hating that her cheeks burned as Cain studied her in silence. She was embarrassed, flustered, and tired. And her head throbbed like a son of a…

“Listen, I get that you think you’re somehow putting me out, or you want your independence, or—”

“Maybe I just don’t like you.”

Surprise flickered across his face. His chocolate-colored eyes narrowed, but the easy smile that lay upon his lips never wavered. “Okay, I suppose that could be a valid argument, but you need to let me take you home. Trust me, I’m not pulling a Tarzan on you. It’s more of a self-preservation thing.”

“Really.” She sounded petulant but didn’t care.

“My mother may look harmless, but she’d kick my ass all over Crystal Lake and back if I left you here.”

“Come on, Mom.” Michael tugged on her arm. “I don’t see what the big deal is.”

Traitor.

“Please?” Her son smiled, his dimples pronounced as he looked up at her.

Two against one wasn’t fair. Maggie bit her lip and glanced around the emergency room. The covert glances and quick whispers had more than doubled. Nurse Tracy pointed toward her and said something to the woman at her side. Both of them stared at her as if she had two heads.

Crystal Lake was a small town, and she knew by nightfall most everyone would know she’d been to the hospital with Cain Black.

She wanted to be home, locked inside the safe confines of her house away from all the prying eyes and speculation. Like a balloon that had been punctured, her resolve faded. It slipped away and left her weak. “All right,” she mumbled.

“Sweet!” Michael led her toward the exit. Cain was a few paces behind. She knew this because all the women huddled in adoring little groups were focused behind her, their shy smiles and quick little waves nauseatingly coy. Ugh. The man sang and played guitar. He wasn’t curing cancer or saving lives. He was not a god.

Even if he looked like one.