Hammered (Blue Bay Crew #3)- Cathryn Fox Page 0,74
at the cabin with you last Sunday night.”
“We had the kids from the club overnight,” I say, even though I’m sure he already knows that. “Could use the extra hands with so many kids.”
He nods. “Okay, good,” he says, and I get it. He’s letting me know he’s got my back. I glance down the beach and spot a guy walking by, pants baggy, a black ball cap, his gaze latched on us.
“Do you know who that kid is?” I ask and Jamie turns. I have no idea if he’s the punk who was hanging out at Haven’s trailer, but he fits the description. Then again, lots of kids who summer here with their parents fit the description, but this punk is watching us a little too closely. Which is pretty stupid, considering any one of us could and would snap him like a twig if he tried to hurt Haven.
“That’s Tucker Miller. He’s with his folks in the gray and white cottage down the road. I did some work on their deck last year. Why?”
“Right, I remember. Good kid?”
He glances at Tucker again and flips the steak on the grill. Smoke rises as he sizzles the other sides “I haven’t had any problems with him, why?”
I shrug. “Carter said some punk was hanging around Haven’s trailer.”
He cocks his head, his brow furrowed. “Want to go ask him?”
“Just keep an eye on him for me,” I say. Christ, I don’t want to scare the kid if he’s innocent. Officer Walker would be all over my ass for harassing the rich folk who summer here. I take a sip of beer and turn to find Haven and the others all leaning in, their voices low. I catch Sean’s eye and he leans back, ending the conversation. Why the hell is she always in deep conversation with my brothers?
“What’s up?” I ask, and drop down next to Haven. I put my hand on her thigh and give it a light squeeze.
“Oh, just telling everyone here about last Sunday’s bonfire,” she says and I stare at her. Why the hell is she lying to me?
“Really?” I ask, giving her a chance to tell me the truth.
“Why don’t you help me with the salads,” Kylee says, and Haven rises. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I definitely plan to get to the bottom of things later.
Summer makes a move to get up and Kylee points a finger at her. “Stay. We got this.”
They disappear inside, and Sean stands to grab a plate for Jamie.
“I like her,” Summer says. “Don’t fuck this up, Ty.”
I laugh. “Why don’t you tell me what you really think?”
She leans into me. “I know you, Tyler. When you build something, you build it to last.”
“Ah, okay.” What the hell is she getting at?
She runs her finger around the rim of her glass, her chin up a notch and I know a lecture is coming on. “Did you enjoy putting that temporary structure up for the movie set?”
“Not really.”
“That’s what I mean.” She takes a sip of her lemonade, and I tug at the peel on my bottle. “When you build something, you don’t want to see it torn down. I have never seen you build something with a woman before, but you are here, whether you realize it or not.”
I nod, totally understanding what she’s getting at. I’ve never built anything with a woman. Never wanted to. Things are different with Haven, but she’s here only temporarily and I can’t forget she’s with me because she needed a protector. Will she ever see me as something more or am I simply setting myself up for disaster? “You don’t really know what’s going on, Summer. Things aren’t quite as they seem.”
“Maybe not, but I have eyes. I see the way you look at her.”
Haven comes from inside, a big salad in her hand. “This all looks de—” Her voice falls off when she glances at Summer and me. I’m not sure what she sees on our faces, but her steps slow. “Everything okay?” she asks, her face paling a little. She glances up, searches the beach.
Shit, I hate seeing her so worried. “Everything is fine. Summer is just getting hangry,” I say and Haven’s shoulders relax.
“This one is going to be just like his uncle,” she teases. “Needing food all the time.”
Haven drops down next to me, and Sean puts a plate of steaks in the middle of the table. “Dig in,” he says and Haven glances at me. I