The Thing About Trouble Read online

“She seemed nice,” Blue said quietly as he finally let go.

  “Who?” He tried not to smile but failed badly.

  Blue made a face. “The woman who took Tawny to school? Melissa?”

  “She’s okay.”

  “She wants you.”

  “You think?”

  “Yes.” Blue stood in front of him. “I think.”

  “I’m not interested in her. At all.”

  Blue grinned. “Good.” Her smiled slowly faded, and she cleared her throat. “What’s going on with you, Cam? You were so preoccupied last night. I can tell something’s wrong.”

  Cam leaned back against the island and exhaled a long, slow breath. He didn’t want to say it because it made it more real. But he found himself wanting to share the burden. “My dad has cancer.”

  Blue’s mouth fell open. “Oh, Cam. I’m so sorry.”

  Throat tight, he nodded. “Thanks. It’s hard to believe. He’s always been that guy who seemed invincible to me. The guy I could always count on. He was always there. Tall. Big. Strong as hell. No one messed with my dad. But cancer doesn’t give a shit, and it will take on anyone. My mom won’t talk about it much, and that worries me almost as much as the cancer.”

  “Of course it does.”

  He was quiet, wondering how much he should share. “It meant a lot. You staying here with me last night.”

  “It was nice.”

  “I could get used to it.” He watched her closely and saw the hesitation.

  “Cam. There’s so much about me you don’t know.”

  “I could say the same.” He knew this was crunch time. Whether he wanted it to be or not, they were at that point of no return. They would either move forward—which was what he wanted. Stay in the same place—he wasn’t a fan of. Or walk away from whatever the hell it was they were doing.

  “I don’t think any of the skeletons rattling around your closet can compare to mine.”

  “Does this have anything to do with Arizona?” he asked quietly.

  Surprise, or maybe shock, widened her eyes, and the color left her face. “How do you know about Arizona?” Her voice rose, and she stepped back.

  “I overheard the conversation you had with Edward months ago. I don’t know what went down with you and your brother, and I don’t care. You need to know that your life before me doesn’t matter.”

  She shook her head. “But it does, Cam. Our pasts define who and what we are. My past is not pretty. I made mistakes, and I’ve been through situations that I didn’t handle in a way that maybe I should have. Mistakes have consequences.”

  “We’ve all got baggage, Blue. We’ve all done or said things we’re not proud of. If you’re smart, you learn from that shit and move on.” He moved closer to her. “You’re a smart woman. I want you in my life, Blue. Permanently. I want us, you, me and Tawny, to be a family.”

  “Cameron, I—”

  “I love you.”

  “Cam.” It was a whisper.

  “I’ve never said that to another woman. Not ever. Not even Tawny’s mother.” Crunch time was long over. He was at the finish line and would either win this race or lose. “This is going to sound like a cliché, but I’ve never felt like this before.” He took a moment because he knew he had to get this right. “You stay with me hours after you leave. Your voice is in my head. I can’t get rid of it. Your smile is in my soul, and if I could keep it there forever, I would. I want to have kids with you. I want a home with you. I want…”

  Christ, he was all in and couldn’t help himself.

  “I want it all, Bluebell.”

  He dipped his head, leaned his forehead against hers. “Tell me you feel the same.”

  His heart banged like crazy, and all he could hear was the thump, thump, thump, along with blood rushing through his body. Had he just jumped off the damn cliff of no return? Had he read the signs wrong? Had he scared her off?

  She shuddered. “Cam,” she whispered. “It’s not that simple.”

  “It’s about as simple as it gets, Blue. Either you feel the same as me or you don’t. We take it to the next level or we don’t. I don’t want to be stuck here, where we are. You living in that big house and me here. I want to wake up next to you. I want to come home to you. I want to give you everything. Thing is, I’ve got a little girl to think about. If things go my way, she’ll be a permanent part of my life. That means we’re a package deal and…” He swore and ran his hands through his hair. “I had no plans of dumping this on you. I’m sorry, I…I guess my dad’s situation has me a little screwed up. And—”

  Blue reached for him. She stood on her tiptoes and sank her fingers into the thick hair at his nape. He stared down into her blue eyes and felt his world tilt a little off-center.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “Yeah?”

  She nodded. “Let’s do this. Whatever this is. I’m in. I’m all in.” She kissed him slowly. Thoroughly. And Cam damn near lost his mind. They ended up back in bed. And while he made long, hot, passionate love to the woman who’d claimed his heart, Edward Barnes sat at his desk in his downtown office, smiling at the email he’d just opened.

  He had the ammunition he needed. His cruel smile deepened. It was going to be one hell of a day.

  22

  Bluebell Liza Bodine-Barnes knew what all the fuss was about. Finally.

  A late bloomer by anyone’s standards these days, she was almost seventeen the first time she let a boy get to third base. And then, more or less to get it over with, two weeks later, she let that boy go all the way. The sex hadn’t been good (but then what woman’s first time was?), and a few nights later, she gave it another go just to see—it hadn’t been any better. Blue decided early on that sex wasn’t something she particularly enjoyed, and she was more than willing to take the blame for that. Maybe she was wired differently?

  Maybe it was why she’d done what she’d done a few months later. She’d been young, emotional and lonely.

  Then a pregnancy she hadn’t seen coming and the fallout from that, and she was more than willing to forget about a healthy sexual relationship and all that came along with it. She came to the realization that for her, it didn’t exist and never would. She became an expert at faking orgasms—and had done so with every man she’d been with.

  Arch your back just so.

  Moan and whimper when he was about to come.

  A little dirty talk to hurry it up.

  Then the classic throaty release.

  That had been her experience. So to have an honest-to-God, earth-shattering orgasm with a man she loved was a gift. And that gift had her floating on a cloud. Humming a sappy song. More importantly, it had her looking forward to the future. And that was something she hadn’t done in a very long time.

  It was early afternoon, and she was in her studio, enjoying the quiet as she checked over the last-minute details before her grand opening. It was coming up fast, and she had less than two weeks to make sure it was a huge success. For the last ten days, she’d had carpenters, sound techs, plumbers, drywall guys, and office equipment people in and out making her dream come true. The beech spring wood flooring shone with a luster that made her heart sing. The wiring for the sound system was done and the acoustics incredible. Her change rooms featured a massage area, showers, and personalized cubbies, while her office was glass enclosed and fully open to her space. With the banks of floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the river and mirrors along the opposite wall, the studio was both contemporary and timeless.

  Dressed in black tights and a tank top, feet bare, hair loose around her shoulders, Blue tapped her tablet and began to sway as the soft sounds of Giselle awakened the silence. She closed her eyes and let the music take over. Dance had always been like this for her—an escape and a way to express the emotion that clogged her soul. She’d never been able to convey what she felt through words. Maybe because when she was young, no one listened. But music and dance unleashed something inside her. It freed her from th
e vise that held her tongue and stifled her feelings.

  She became the music.

  Blue moved around her studio, her feet gliding over the smooth, polished floors. The movement to the piece was automatic, and though she hadn’t danced professionally in several years, the muscle memory was still there, and she whirled around in a circle, arms out, toes pointed, laughing at the sheer joy she felt.

  In this moment, in this studio, the sun shone and the birds sang. Nothing could touch her. How naïve, she would think later. Much later, when she had time to pick her heart up off the floor and gather her thoughts.

  The Dance of the Willies finished and she was about to head to the change room and shower when a heavy pounding had her turning toward the foyer of the studio. Frowning, she glanced at her watch. Poppy was dropping by, but that wasn’t for another hour. Besides, she had the security code. Maybe she forgot it?

  She jogged over, unlocked the door, and immediately regretted her actions. Edward Barnes stood there, a gift bag in one hand, a cold smile on his face.

  He didn’t wait for an invite and nearly bowled her over as he pushed his way inside. The foyer was a decent-sized room, featuring furniture for parents or students waiting to enter, a flat-screen television, coffee machine, etc. There were still a few pieces of artwork waiting to be hung and empty boxes ready for recycling.

  “Boots,” she admonished as Edward strode across the room and paused at the entrance to the studio. He peered inside while she hung back, more than a little confused by his visit.

  “This is what you’ve spent all that money on?”

  “Edward, why are you here?” She was wary. And concerned. And she hated that his darkness had infiltrated her sunny place.

  He whirled around, his black trench coat circling him like a fan. He wore an expensive gray suit underneath, and his thinning hair glistened with drops of rain. A few leaves stuck to the bottom of his boots, and he dragged his feet to dislodge them.

  Rude.

  “I thought I’d bring you a little something to celebrate your foray into the world of philanthropy.” He paused, an arrogant eyebrow raised. “From what I understand, this studio is for the kind of people who live south of the river?”

  His disdain for those less fortunate than him made her blood boil.

  “This studio will provide dance for free,” she replied forcefully. “It’s for children who would otherwise not be able to learn or benefit from all the wonderful things dance can bring a person.”

  “That’s very hospitable you.” He winked. “I’m sure Crystal Lake will appreciate your effort.”

  Her bullshit meter ramped up to eleven, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She was finding it hard to keep her cool and hoped like hell he didn’t see how upsetting his presence was to her. After that last time when he’d put his hands on her, she was hoping never to see him again. At least, not in close quarters.

  He offered her the bag he held in his hand, and she took it, thinking she’d humor him and hopefully he’d leave. It was a bottle of champagne. Cristal champagne.

  “This cost a pretty penny,” she said, setting the bottle down on an end table.

  “It did.”

  “Why?”

  “Like I said. I thought we’d celebrate.”

  “Cut the bull, Edward. I don’t have time for this.”

  “Really.” He walked over and scooped up the bottle. Didn’t take him long to pop it. He brought the bottle to his lips and drank heartily. Swiping his hand across chin, he offered her the bottle, but she shook her head, not bothering to hide her distaste.

  “Okay. We don’t have to celebrate. Let’s just get down to business, shall we? I’m aware of your relationship with Cam Booker.”

  Her head shot up at that.

  He smiled, and it made her stomach turn. She knew something was going to hit, and it was going to hit hard. Cold, she started to shiver and wrapped her arms around herself, hoping for a bit of comfort. Hoping he’d leave.

  “I’m also aware that he’s trying to come to some sort of custody agreement with Cody Baker.”

  “This is none of your business, Edward.” Wait. She frowned. “Who the hell is Cody Baker?”

  “The little kid that was dumped on him? Cody’s the father.”

  “How do you know…” Her words trailed off as ice filled Blue’s veins. “What are you up to?”

  “Booker’s always been popular with the ladies. He’s always had a lot of charisma.” Edward made a face. “If you’re into that sort of thing.” He paused, eyes glittering. “Do you love him?”

  Tight-lipped, Blue snapped, “That’s none of your business.”

  He moved closer, and fear crept into the ice that still ran through her veins. “We’re having this conversation, and you’re going to answer me. No lies. Do you love the fucker or not?”

  She’d stepped back as far as she could and nearly fell onto the sofa. Adrenaline rushed through her, giving her a boost of confidence and a healthy dose of anger. She was done playing his games. Done hiding. She stood straight and squared her shoulders. “Yes,” she said clearly. “I love Cam Booker. What does it matter to you?”

  It wasn’t possible for the man to look more dangerous and mean than he did in this moment. His eyes flattened; his ruddy complexion deepened. “As it turns out, it matters a hell of a lot, and this is what we’re going to do.”

  He reached for Blue, and she held her breath, trying like hell not to lose it. An inch from her face, he paused, that cruel smile amplified and macabre.

  “You’re going to sign over the company to me. You’re going to vacate my home. And you’re going to leave Crystal Lake.”

  “You’re crazy.” Blue’s mind whirled in a million different directions. She knew Edward. He wouldn’t make threats like this unless he could back them up somehow.

  “I’ve been called worse.” Edward’s smile turned into a snarl. “You will do this, or I’ll produce Cody Baker, and your lover will never stand a chance of gaining custody of that kid. And from the court transcripts I’ve read, he’s got his heart set on it.” He leered at her. “Cody’s in my pocket. You do what I want, and I’ll make sure he signs off on parental rights. You cross me? And it’ll go the other way.” He cocked his head. “We wouldn’t want any rumors floating around. The kind that could influence a judge who wouldn’t take kindly to hearing that Booker likes the girl a little too much, if you catch my drift.”

  She was momentarily stunned. “No one would believe such a thing.”

  “You so sure about that? The right whispers in the right ears is all it would take. Even if it was eventually disproved, he’d lose that kid in the process. And there would always be someone who believes. Someone who wouldn’t let the rumors die. Someone like me.”

  “You are evil,” she whispered hoarsely. “How David fathered you is beyond me.”

  “Like I said, I’ve been called worse.” He reached into his coat and pulled out a large beige envelope. “Clock’s ticking. You have forty-eight hours to get these back to me, and then I want you gone from this town. I don’t want to see your face or hear your voice or so much as smell that fucking perfume you like. I want to forget you ever existed.”

  He left without another word, and Blue’s knees gave out. If not for the sofa, she would have ended up a puddle on the floor.

  She wasn’t sure how long she sat there. Numb and shivering and on the verge of tears that were frozen from the ice in her veins. How had things gone so wrong? How had Edward Barnes managed to find out about Tawny?

  Her cellphone pinged more than once, and, wearily, she got to her feet. She headed for her office and closed the door behind her. It was Poppy. She was running late, and a large Christmas order had just arrived. She couldn’t meet up with Blue.

  Blue stared at the phone for so long, her vision blurred, and jumped when it pinged again. This time, the message was from Cam.

  Dinner at my house.

  Wooden, stiff fingers closed a
round the phone, and she fought the urge to throw it against the wall. She wanted to break something. Hurt something. Do anything to take the edge off her agony.

  She knew Edward. He would follow through with his threats. If she didn’t do what he wanted, he would separate Tawny from Cam. He would destroy Cam’s reputation and his family. A little girl would either go back to what Cam had said was a drug-addicted father or into the system. Blue would not be responsible for that. Not even if it meant she would lose everything she’d come to love.

  Her watch told her it was nearly three o’clock. She grabbed her cell phone and called her lawyer. He agreed to meet with her in twenty minutes.

  She needed to shower and gather her strength to do what it was she needed to do. She slipped into her jacket, switched off the lights in the studio, and, with tear-filled eyes, grabbed the large envelope Edward had given her. She headed out into the early evening gloom, a biting north wind in her face and a few snowflakes that melted on her cheek. She didn’t feel anything.

  Shoulders hunched, she headed for her car. She hoped David would forgive her for what she was about to do. But more than that, she hoped Cam wouldn’t hate her, because he wouldn’t understand. She could never tell him about this deal with devil. She had to make him believe she was the woman from before—the one he’d first met. The spoiled rich gold-digger who cared for no one but herself. She would do this because it was the only way for Cameron and Tawny to be a family.

  She would find a way to exist in a world without the two people she’d come to love more than she thought possible. She would do it, she thought bitterly, because she was a survivor.

  She put the car in Drive and disappeared down the road.

  23

  “Do you know where my red crayon is?” Tawny scrunched up her little face as she concentrated on the piece of paper in front of her. Her hair was all over the place, but she’d begged him to leave it be. She’d been working on something for Blue for the last forty-five minutes and was more concerned about getting that done than the corkscrew curls that sprang into her eyes.