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

“Lori, you’re wrong about this!” Panic nipped at her heels. She didn’t want the entire town thinking she was having sex with Cain Black. “We just had dinner, nothing more. He took Michael out on the boat, and we ate the fish they caught. That’s it.” Exasperation colored Maggie’s voice a deep husky tone, but as a flashback of Cain kissing her—her legs wrapped around his midsection, her body pressed against his—flashed before her, a blush settled onto her cheeks, and that was something she couldn’t hide.

“Sure, hon.” The woman winked. “The thing is, Cain Black doesn’t just do dinner, if you know what I mean.” She shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I mean, the worst people can say is, you’re using your son to snag one of the Bad Boys. Kudos for picking the sexiest one.”

Maggie was speechless.

It was at that exact moment Cain arrived with Jake and Mac in tow. When she saw Mackenzie, all thoughts of Lori and her outrageous comments fled.

Mac’s face was a mottled mess of cuts and bruises, and his right eye was swollen and black. She thought of Cain’s words, of the “family trouble” that had called him away Wednesday night, and her heart softened. Maggie knew what it was to bear the brunt of someone’s perverted version of love.

She also knew the physical scars would heal, but it was the mental ones that needed tending the most. The healing process was so much longer and more complicated.

“Lori.” Cain’s one word had the beauty queen literally prancing in her inappropriate heels.

“Cain.” The woman batted her eyes like a pro. “Nice to know you’re sticking around. I hear you’re playing the big concert scheduled for the Fourth of July weekend.” The woman dripped sugar like it was honey, but her tone changed quickly as she spied Mac.

“Good Lord, Mackenzie, I heard you got into it with Ben the other night.” She sounded horrified.

“I’m sure you did, Lori.” Mac walked past them toward Raine, while Jake hung back, though his eyes followed his friend.

Maggie glanced up at Cain. His eyes rested on Lori, so she was able to study him unobserved. Something fluttered in her chest as she took all of him in. He was dressed in a faded black T-shirt, one emblazoned with A Farewell to Kings across the chest. He wore the board shorts she’d seen him in at the Edwardses’. The ones she knew barely hung on to his hips. Her mouth went dry at the thought, and she wanted to look away but couldn’t.

His tattoo drew her eye, an intricate design of music notes and what looked like gems—rubies—and though it was something she’d never do herself, she could appreciate the beauty.

Cain said something funny, and her heart lurched as he smiled at the woman. His grin was wide, it was warm, and it was genuine. Maggie wanted it for herself and frowned as that thought jumped into her head.

Lori leaned in close to Cain, whispered something in his ear, and then winked at Maggie. She made a dramatic turn and left, her long, skinny legs teetering as her four-inch heels stuck into the soft grass.

“So”—Cain’s eyes swung her way—“put us to work.”

“You didn’t say anything about working the garage sale last night.” Her thoughts found their way out into the open, and she blushed as his smile deepened.

“Nice surprise?”

Maggie clutched the pad of stickers in her hands and cleared her throat. She ignored his comment mainly because even though it was a nice surprise—if she wanted to be honest—he sure as hell didn’t need to know. “Actually, Luke Jansen is in charge.” She glanced past Cain. “He’s over there.”

Cain’s smile faded somewhat, but he nodded. “Sure. Is Michael here?”

“He’s around somewhere. Most likely with his buddy Tommy.”

“All right. Let’s do this.” He nodded to Jake. “And then later”—he winked at Maggie—“we can play.”

Mac groaned, a scowl hardening his features into a painful grimace. “Why the hell I let you talk me into getting up this early on a Saturday to come here is the question of the day, my friend.”

“Suck it up.” Cain tossed a smile her way. “I’ll find you for lunch, all right?”

Heat shot through her belly and settled down there. That he could do that to her with just a smile was insane. Her heart sped up, and her breath hitched at the back of her throat.

I don’t know. I think this could be something real. His words echoed in her head like a whisper.

A glimmer of hope nestled in her chest, a schoolgirl musing, and she found herself smiling in return as he nodded and then jogged toward Luke, with Mac and Jake close on his heels. The three of them—the Bad Boys, as they were called—had the attention of nearly everyone at the park.

Including Maggie.

“Okay, tell me again how he means nothing to you?” Raine stood beside her, black marker in hand, though she followed the men’s progress as well.

Maggie didn’t say a word. Mostly because there was nothing to say, at least nothing she wanted to say out loud. In the space of less than two weeks, Cain had insinuated himself into her life, her thoughts, and her feelings. For the moment, she had no clue what she was going to do about it.

She decided to think about it later. Which was easy to do, considering the bombshell that Raine was about to drop in her lap.