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

“A plumbing issue.” Seriously? That’s the first thing that comes to mind? She cringed as the words escaped her mouth and glanced at Sharon. Okay, that was definitely a snort.

“Hey, Michael, I wasn’t expecting to see you, buddy.” Cain strode in the room fully dressed—thank God—though his attire was definitely dressy for an early-morning call. Of course Michael and his little friend would never know the difference, but Sharon sure as hell did.

Maggie may as well have taken out an ad or rented a billboard: Yes, I Had Sex with Cain Black Last Night.

Cain turned to Tommy’s mother and offered his hand. “Nice to meet you, Sharon, isn’t it? I knew your husband from high school, but you’re not from around here, right?”

“Oh no.” Sharon giggled like a schoolgirl.

Maggie watched a host of emotions flicker across the woman’s face. Unbelievable. Give the man five seconds and he could turn a

nyone to mush.

“I met Roger in college. I’m originally from Detroit.” Her smile vanished and she turned to Maggie. “Which is why I’m here. We had to cut our camping excursion short. I got a phone call, and my father’s ill, so Roger and I are heading to Waterford, which is where he’s in the hospital. I was hoping maybe Tommy would be able to stay here with Michael. I don’t have any details about my father other than they rushed him in an hour ago.”

“Of course.” Maggie nodded. “I have a client this afternoon, but I’ll figure something out.”

“Thank you so much, Maggie.” The relief was evident in her voice. “I’ll call you later when I know what’s going on, but either Roger or I will be back for Tommy. I just don’t know when.”

Maggie followed Sharon out onto the porch. “Don’t worry about it. He’ll be fine.”

“Tommy, you be good for Maggie, all right?” Sharon yelled back into the house.

The boys disappeared, and Cain followed the women outside. He leaned against the porch railing, and she felt his gaze on her as she walked Sharon to her car. Luke was outside, ready to head out for the day, his burly frame draped in the dark colors that the EMT officers wore. He avoided looking in her direction even as he backed out of his driveway. And nearly ran into the ditch.

Luke’s tires squealed as he peeled down the street, and her brow furled in irritation.

She glanced back at Cain. His face was split wide in a grin, one that managed to increase her irritation while making her hot and fluttery at the same time.

Maggie sighed inwardly.

In the harsh light of day, her simple world had just ramped up to complicated.

Chapter 22

“What are you now, a professional babysitter?”

Cain glanced up and had to shade his eyes from the sun as he shrugged. “Just helping Maggie out.”

Jake dropped his butt into the chair beside him and spread his long legs out on the dock. It was early afternoon. The sun was a brilliant ball of fire, and the heat was intense.

“Where’s Mac?”

“He needed to scan and email some documents back to his office in New York, so he went to town, the library, I think.” Cain was on the dock adjacent to the boathouse, his tall frame in shadow as the boys played in the water, roughing around and generally making a lot of noise.

“So…” Jake cracked a smile. “How’d it go last night with Maggie?”

Cain set his guitar beside his chair and shrugged. “It was good.”

“Good.” Jake repeated.

“I had a really good time.”

“That’s it. Just good.”

“Yup.”

“That’s all you’re gonna share.”