Hammered (Blue Bay Crew #3)- Cathryn Fox Page 0,37

gives me a playful look. “Then again, I have a feeling I don’t need them, but I could use a toothbrush.”

“Already done, toothbrush included,” I say and gesture to the back of the truck.

She shakes her head like me thinking to pack a bag is ludicrous, but I don’t miss her grin. “Looks like you thought of everything.” The smile on her face fills me with pleasure. Honest to fuck, how can such a little thing make her so happy? I guess she’s been fending for herself for a long time now, unable to rely on anyone else. Dammit if that doesn’t piss me off, make me want to be the guy she can count on, at least while she’s here in my neck of the woods.

I follow the path, and soon enough my headlights illuminate the cabin. Haven sits up a little straighter, her eyes wide.

“I…I thought this would be like a run-down fishing cabin.”

I take in the well-made cottage, the wide expanse of deck on the front which overlooks the dock leading to a gorgeous lake. Our old boat bobs in the water, and creaks against the wharf. A mixed bag of emotions, everything from happiness to grief, rips through me. Nothing has changed since I’d been here last, yet everything is different.

“I have no idea why I had that image in my mind, but it’s gorgeous, Ty,” Haven says, pulling my thoughts back. I swallow down the unease punching into my throat, turn the engine off and sit there for a second. I glance at the place again and try to see it from Haven’s eyes.

From the pristine state, it’s obvious someone has been taking care of the place. There’s a fresh coat of Cape Cod grey on the cedar shakes, and blossoming white and purple flowers decorating the window boxes. Maybe one of the guys has been here, or maybe Gram tends to the upkeep. Either way, I’m surprised to see it so pristine.

“Did one of you guys build this?”

“Actually, this is where Gram and Granddad used to live when they first married. Granddad worked and saved and eventually built the homestead after my Dad was born.”

“It’s lovely, Tyler.” I catch her smile as she takes it all in. “Ohmigod, look there’s still a rope in the tree over there.”

I laugh. “We had fun on that thing. Well, except Jamie. He got all tangled up, couldn’t jump off, and nearly broke his neck when he came back and smacked into the tree.”

She covers her face and laughs. “I can’t even imagine eight boys. I have one mischievous brother, and all his antics were enough.” She shakes her head. “It’s a wonder you didn’t kill each other.”

I laugh with her. “I know.”

She exhales a contented sigh. “I’d give anything to have those kinds of memories, Ty.” The smile falls from my face and I swallow, hard. I let her indulge in that dream even though not all the memories were idyllic.

My gaze goes to the old bird feeder that I made in school. I laugh. “I can’t believe that’s still there,” I say and gesture to the feeder shining in my headlights. “I made that.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I made it for Mom in school. I think it was for Mother’s Day or something like that.”

“It’s sweet. I bet she loved it.”

“Yeah, she did.”

“You two were close.”

I nod as my chest tightens, right around the vicinity of my heart. “You would have liked her. She was really sweet. My asshole brothers called me a mama’s boy. Age difference and middle child thing. I think my mother took pity on me, but don’t worry, I put them all in their place when I got older.”

A small smile touches her mouth. “I bet you did and your mother sounds like an amazing woman, Ty. I’m so sorry you lost her when you were young.”

“How about you, Haven? Are your parents around, still in your life?”

She opens her mouth like she wants to say something, closes it for a second and simply nods. I’m not sure what it is she was going to say, and right now, with my insides a little raw, I’m going to let it go. She pinches her lips tight and glances around again, like she’s looking for a distraction, a change in subject.

“It’s a bit crowded at the old homestead. I can’t understand why one of you guys haven’t claimed it as your own by now.”

My smile fades from my face. “I can,” I say, and clench down