Love and Other Things (Crystal Lake 4)

Beck wasn’t planning on staying long. Hell, he hadn’t planned on staying for dinner; he’d given the boys a ride back from town after Nate’s truck died and was towed to the garage. It had already been a crazy week, and he had a full day of work scheduled for Friday. His plan was to finish up the bungalow by day’s end and fit in a couple of appointments he had with his Realtor to look at a few properties he was considering for his next project. With a buyer already in hand for his current one, he was eager to find something else to work on.

They’d just finished eating. He and Link insisted on cleaning the kitchen while the girls relaxed in the living room and Nate took Petal out back. He stacked the last dish in the dishwasher and rolled his shoulders, eyes on the girls as they giggled about something. Poppy and Sid were having an animated discussion about the Kardashians and pop culture, while Molly looked content to put up her feet and listen.

“I’d ask which one you’ve got your eyes on, but it’s pretty obvious.” Link cracked open a beer and leaned against the counter.

“You don’t know shit,” Beck replied, shaking his head. The Brit was always looking to stir the pot. Not for the first time, he wondered when the hell the guy was headed back to Europe to play soccer.

“I know enough,” he said. “Trust me.”

Beck didn’t bother to respond. Instead, he folded the pizza boxes into the recycling bin and ignored the man.

“Of course, if you don’t lay claim, then that means it’s open pickings for me.”

“You sound like a dick. Even for a guy.”

The man had a reputation, that was for sure. And there’d been several women from town who’d thought to catch him, but so far, the Brit had proved elusive.

“I wouldn’t get too excited.” Beck chuckled. “Poppy knows better, and you’re not Sid’s type.”

“You know her that well, do ya? This Sidney from San Diego with her creamy skin and all that long, dark hair.”

Beck frowned. From what he’d observed, the footballer had a thing for Poppy. His eyes were never far from her, and he’d been more than eager to sit beside her at dinner. Good luck with that. Poppy Fairbanks was a bit of a mystery to most of the men in town. She didn’t date, and she sure as hell didn’t let anyone touch. At least according to locker room talk, which Beck knew not to take too much stock in. Guys were worse than women when it came to gossip.

Poppy was a nice girl, but she was also aloof. According to his brother, who knew her better than Beck did, she’d gone to LA straight out of high school and had come back a different person.

Nate walked in just then, Petal hot on his heels, and looked at the men. “Anyone up for a game of pool?”

“Not me,” Beck said. “I’ve got a big day tomorrow, so I’m up early, and then there’s that damn kitten. She can’t be left alone for too long. I’m even running home at noon to give her some attention, which is ridiculous.”

“Yeah? Why’s that?” Molly was in the kitchen now, hand on the small of her back, and good Lord, but her belly was huge.

“I came home the other day, and the drapes that hang in the front window were in a pile on the floor, and she’d knocked over my coffee cup, which had coffee in it, and that was a sticky mess, and she played in her litter box, and that crap was everywhere, including the sticky mess of coffee.”

“Have you named her yet?” Sidney asked. She and Poppy had followed Molly into the kitchen, and they stood a few feet away.

Beck made a face. “Jingle.”

“What was that, mate?” Link laughed.

“Jingle. Her damn collar has balls on it that jingle when she runs around, which is a lot. Kept me up for hours last night. I think she’s the spawn of Satan. She can’t be normal.”

“It’s called a kitten,” Molly replied. “And that’s totally normal.”

“Whatever she is, I need to get back to her while my house is still standing.”

“You done with the bungalow?” Molly asked.

“I should be tomorrow. I’m looking at a place down by the park and then the old church by the river.”

“I thought it was condemned.”

“It’s in rough shape, but I’m thinking it could be interesting. It’s on a good-sized lot, two acres at least.”

Molly looked confused. “What would you do with it?”

“I’d make it into a home.” Up until now, he hadn’t really thought about it, but the idea took root, and excitement bloomed in his chest.

“Does it have stained glass?” Sid asked, taking a step closer.