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

“Hey, I was just teasing.” His eyes glittered, their dark depths awash with a dangerous light.

Her mouth was dry. She tried to swallow but choked instead. She’d never felt so out of sorts before.

“I…where’s Michael?”

His hand reached for her. “He’s inside already. Let me help you.”

“No,” she answered quickly. “I can manage.”

“God, you’re stubborn.”

His hand lingered in the air for a few seconds, and then Cain moved aside. She slid from the truck, took a few steps, and stopped. Why was he following her?

Maggie turned and pasted a smile she didn’t feel onto her face. “Thanks again for bringing me home. Tell your mother I’ll do my best to get the bloodstains out of the carpet. There’s a new product that I’m certain—”

“Cain!”

What now?

Maggie glanced toward her small porch. Michael was jumping up and down, a huge grin spread across his face.

“There’s tons of eggs.”

“Eggs?” She looked at Cain.

“Mom, Cain said he makes the best breakfast for supper you could ever even imagine.”

“Breakfast?” Okay, did she sound as confused as she felt?

“I told Michael I’d make him something to eat.”

She shook her head—it was still fuzzy—ignored the pain of it, and pursed her lips. No way.

Cain was inches from her now and nodded toward the porch. “He said he was fond of omelets, and I just happen to be the king of eggs.”

“No thanks,” she whispered. “But, I’ll…” She hissed as a jolt of pain ripped through her head. She massaged her temple and winced.

“You won’t, and I will.” His hands were at her back, gently nudging her forward, and the tone of his voice told her he wasn’t taking no for an answer. “I’m not leaving until I’m positive you’re all right. Concussions are nasty, and I know the drill. You need supervision for the next little while, and you’ll need to be woken up every few hours tonight.”

“You are not staying here tonight.” Her belly rolled over at the thought.

They were on the porch now.

Michael had disappeared back inside the house, and she chanced a glance at Cain. Wrong thing to do. Something shifted between them, a subtle change in the air. He was inches from her, and yet the heat from his body slid across her skin like a caress of fire. She felt it. Everywhere. And it scared the crap out of her.

She’d stored those kinds of feelings away years ago, and damned if someone like Cain was going to rip them from the box.

“Fine,” he said silkily.

Maggie swallowed, surprised he’d given up so easily. “Okay,” she answered.

“I’ll make supper while you relax, and when I’m satisfied you’re all right, I’ll go.”

She started to protest, but his finger was on her mouth before she had a chance to react. He was much too close. So close that the spicy scent of him hung in the air and fell into her lungs as she inhaled a shaky breath. It was earthy and basic and male…and way too damn good.

“I’m not negotiating.”

He walked past her, and just like that, Cain Black invaded the one space she’d managed to call her own for the last year.