The Summer He Came Home

by Juliana Stone

  Cain stopped Raine and hoped he didn’t look like the lovesick fool that he felt inside. “She was?”

  A slow smile claimed her mouth, and Raine punched him lightly in the chest. “Of course she was. She couldn’t wait to see you.” Raine giggled and continued to scan the crowd. “I’m not sure why, of course.”

  Jake joined them at that point, breathing hard, his T-shirt drenched in sweat.

  “Damn, you look like you jogged all the way from the lake.” Cain was worried about the soldier. Jake didn’t say much these days and spent most of his time pushing his body to the extreme.

  “I did.”

  “Are you crazy?” Raine frowned. “That’s dangerous in this heat.”

  Jake shook out his limbs and grabbed Cain’s water bottle. “This is nothing, compared to the heat over there.” They both knew he was referring to Afghanistan.

  “Well, you’re not over there anymore, and these kinds of stunts will land you in the hospital.” Raine’s hands were on her hips, and to say that she was angry would be an understatement. “Did you hear what I said? You can’t be pulling that kind of crap. It’s not fair to those of us who are worried about you.”

  Jake took a long drink, wiped some excess water from his mouth, and glanced down at the petite brunette. His expression was hard, his eyes flat.

  “I think you’re confused on two fronts. A, I don’t give a shit what you think, and B, I’m not Jesse, so don’t lecture me.”

  Cain grimaced and walked away, giving the two of them some privacy. He didn’t like being a spectator to the private stuff going on between them.

  Luke Jansen was a few feet away. He’d traded his paramedic uniform for football gear and was limbering up with stretches.

  “Jansen!” Cain shouted.

  Luke turned, though his smile faded when he spied Cain.

  “Have you seen Maggie?” Cain strode toward him. “She should have been here by now, but I can’t find her, and her cell is off.”

  Luke shrugged and anger riffled through Cain at the look of satisfaction that was etched into his face. “Jansen, I know you want to bust my balls, and trust me, you’ll get your chance on the field, but right now I’m concerned about Maggie.”

  “Concerned,” Luke answered drily.

  “Yes. Concerned. It’s not like Maggie to say she’ll be here and then not show.” He’d always been the kind of man to listen to his gut, and right now this gut was saying things were wrong. Way wrong.

  “Well, maybe you’re not the most important thing on her agenda today.”

  Cain gritted his teeth. Damn, but he’d like to punch Luke Jansen in the face and knock him on his ass. “Look, have you seen her or no?”

  Luke shrugged, took his time before answering. “I haven’t seen her, but I think she’s got company.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “There was car in her driveway, behind your truck.”

  Raine was at Cain’s side now with Jake and Mac.

  “An expensive, sporty thing. Had Georgia plates, so I’m assuming family.”

  “Oh God,” Raine whispered. “She was so afraid after the pictures came out.”

  Cain looked down into her pale face and his fear tripled. “What the hell is going on, Raine?”

  “It’s Michael’s father, it has to be. She has no other family in Savannah except her father, and I don’t think she’s talked to him in years. Maggie’s ex must have found them.”

  Everything inside Cain stopped. Hell, his heart and lungs nearly exploded. It all made sense now. Why she’d pulled away from him and why she’d been so upset about the photos in Hollywood Scene. It hadn’t just been about Cain and their personal shit. She’d been scared out of her tree.

  Maybe for her life.

  And he’d left her all alone.

  “How can you be sure?” Jake looked at the both of them. “Maybe Jansen’s right. It could be family.”

  “No.” Cain shook his head. “No way. This game meant a lot to Michael. She wouldn’t let him miss it. Even if she didn’t want to see me, she wouldn’t.” He exhaled. “That’s the kind of woman she is.

  “Give me your keys,” Cain barked to Luke.

  “What? Why the hell would I—”

  Cain’s bared his teeth like an animal, and he was barely able to get his words out. His chest filled with a rage that was hard to contain. If anything happened to the woman he loved, he’d fucking kill her ex.

  “I don’t have wheels, and if what Raine said is true, Maggie and Michael are in danger. So give me your keys. I’m going to get them.”

  Luke hesitated, obviously confused, though his fingers went to his front pocket. “I’m going too.”

  Jake glanced at Mac. “You coming?”

  “Hell, yeah, I coming.”

  “Wait for me.” Raine took a step forward.

  “No way. There’s no room.” Jake scowled.

  Raine scowled. “That’s all you got?” She shoved her hands on her hips. “Why don’t you just say what you really mean, Jake.”

  “Okay, get the fuck out of my face.”

  Shocked didn’t come close to describing Raine’s expression, but Cain had no time to coddle or bitch or do anything except get his ass to Maggie’s as fast as he could.

  Raine tore her gaze from Jake’s and whispered, “You guys, be careful. And don’t be stupid.” Raine ignored Jake and directed her plea to Cain.

  “Don’t worry about us, but if we’re late, go ahead and start the game, ’cause guaranteed, we’ll be here to finish.”

  Luke turned and started toward his car. “I’ll drive. The last time one of you got behind my wheel, you damn near totaled the thing.”

  Mac laughed as he jogged to catch up. “Hell, I forgot about that until now. A 1980 Plymouth Horizon, if I remember correctly. Shit brown. My old man whupped my ass good over that, just so you know.”

  It took longer than normal to navigate the crowded streets, and some of them were still closed because of the parade. By the time they reached Linden, Maggie’s street, Cain was so tense, it felt like his muscles had locked up.

  Luke pulled into his driveway, and Cain was out before the car had rolled to a stop. A slick black BMW was parked behind his truck in Maggie’s driveway. It was high-end and easily worth as much as Maggie’s little bungalow.

  He jumped onto the porch, paused for a second, and then tried the door. It was locked, and Maggie had not one but three dead bolts in place.

  Fuck.

  Cain moved to the window and glanced inside. Maggie’s purse was on the floor, the contents scattered everywhere. His gut tightened. His anger—his rage—toward this faceless bastard who’d brutalized Maggie and her son was all consuming. Everything inside him quieted, and a cold calm overtook Cain.

  Just then he heard a noise and stiffened. He moved toward the door, hands clenched and ready. When it opened, his world tipped a little off center. Michael stood there, small chest heaving, cheeks stained with tears. “He found us,” was all the boy could say.

  Cain scooped the child into his arms and gave him a quick, fierce hug. “Where are they?” Michael burrowed against his body, his small face flush to his neck. “In Mommy’s bedroom.”

  He gave Michael one more quick hug. “Go with Luke. I’m going to get her.”

  Michael slid to the floor, his voice tremulous. “He’s going to hurt her.”

  Cain shook his head. “No. He won’t.” He charged inside, followed closely by Jake and Mackenzie.

  He saw a tall man just inside Maggie’s bedroom. His back was to Cain. The man bent over, and Cain saw Maggie on the floor, her long red hair splayed out and the tulips he’d bought scattered beside her.

  He would rip the son of a bitch to pieces.

  Everything after that happened in slow motion. Just like in movies when the shoot-’em-up scene occurs.

  Cain reached the bastard just as Maggie lunged forward and grabbed hold of the vase that lay on the floor next to the bed.
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br />   Cain’s fist shot out, and he nailed him with a hard blow to the head.

  “What the—” The man fell to his knee and cursed a blue streak as he struggled to gain his feet again, his arm swinging wildly as he tried to aim for Maggie.

  Cain grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and whirled him around, his fists flying as he pummeled the man with several hard shots to the chest, shoulders, and face. His rage was such that for a moment he couldn’t focus on anything other than handing out a major beating.

  But then Maggie was there, her soft touch on his arm, her voice urgent in his ear. “He’s not worth it, Cain. Please stop, you’ll kill him.”

  The red haze inside his brain cracked a bit, and he stepped back, watching dispassionately as the man who’d touched his woman spat blood onto the floor.

  “He’s not worth it,” she whispered again.

  Cain stepped back, and it took a few moments for him to calm down. He glanced at Maggie and swore when he saw the swelling on the side of her face.

  “I’ll kill him.”

  “No, you won’t.” Jake’s rough voice was at his back. “Take Maggie and get her out of here. Mac and I will watch this asshole until Taggart arrives. Luke called the police, so he should be here soon.” Jake glanced to Maggie. “I’m assuming you’re going to want to press charges against this piece of shit.”

  “I did nothing to you, bitch.” Dante leaned on the bed, his eye already swelling, with blood still dripping from his mouth. He pointed to Cain. “He attacked me.”

  Mac piped up. “You’re in Crystal Lake, dickhead, and we don’t take kindly to men beating up our women.”

  Mackenzie leaned down. “It’s the holiday weekend too. I’m guessing your ass will be in lockup until Tuesday.” He shrugged. “Could be Wednesday.”

  “You can’t do that…”

  “I suggest you shut your hole, or Mac and I will finish what Cain started.” Jake glared at Dante and squared his shoulders. “Go on…give us a reason.”

  Cain folded Maggie into his arms and led her back toward her living room.

  “Oh God.” Maggie’s voice quivered.

  He grabbed her close once more, held her until the trembles lessened and then eventually went away. The absolute heaviness of what had just transpired hit him, and Cain gently lifted Maggie’s chin.

  “Are you…” He swallowed, so filled with emotion and the need to protect that he couldn’t speak. “I’m so sorry I left you alone to deal with him.” His fingers grazed the bruised flesh on her cheek. “Maggie, I…”

  “It’s over.” She rested her head on his chest, and a long, shuddering breath escaped. “Oh my God! Michael.” She pushed against him. “Where’s Michael?”

  “Shh, it’s okay. He’s with Luke, next door.”

  “Thank you,” she said haltingly, “for…”

  “For loving your son?” Cain murmured.

  “For loving us both enough to come back.” Maggie squirmed until she was able to look up at him. Her hands reached for him, and Cain’s insides liquefied, then ran hot, at the look in her eyes. She stood up on her toes, and when her lips were inches from his, she whispered, “You asked me last night to think about us and where I stand.”

  This was it. The moment that would change his life. He knew this as surely as he knew her soon-to-be ex-husband would most likely rot in a Crystal Lake jail cell until Thursday. At the earliest.

  “And?” he asked.

  She swept her lips across his. “I love you.”

  He groaned and claimed her mouth in a kiss that had his senses reeling. It was both gentle, and urgent and caressing and sexy. She tasted like everything he’d ever wanted, and as he stood with Maggie in his arms, with the absolute knowledge that she belonged to him on every level that existed, he was grateful.

  And for the first time since arriving back in Crystal Lake, he felt like he’d truly come home.

  Chapter 36

  Later that night…

  The sun had disappeared over an hour ago, leaving behind the moon and stars. Overhead they shone like a blanket of crystals strewn across the velvet sky. The air was still warm, and anticipation ran rampant.

  Maggie hugged Michael as they stood in front of the stage and watched one of the technicians—or road crew, as Cain called them—fiddle with some of the wires. Cain would be on in a few minutes, and she was nervous, which was silly.

  The day had been wonderful and awful and amazing and terrifying. Dante was sitting in a jail cell, locked up, and from what she’d been told, his arraignment would be several days away. It had been his bad luck to come after her on a long weekend.

  They were pressing charges, and Cain was determined to see him punished. She’d spent a fair bit of time at the station house—there’d been interviews and pictures taken for evidence. They’d missed the football game, but none of that mattered now.

  Michael had been spared most of the violence, and though he’d been rather quiet since the morning, he’d slowly come around. Cain had done his best to make her son feel safe, and with his father in jail, there was no immediate threat. They’d promised Michael that his father would never hurt them again.

  For the first time in years, Maggie felt free of a past that had brought her nothing but pain. Her chin rested on top of Michael’s head, and she hugged him until he squirmed.

  “Mom, you’re hurting me.”

  “Sorry,” she murmured.

  Someone bumped her from behind, and Maggie stumbled. She glanced to the left and tried not to laugh. Mrs. Lancaster and her husband, Pastor Frank, were unfolding chairs, and everyone gave them a wide berth. No one wanted to be responsible for trampling the head of their church.

  It was a strange thing to see at a rock show, but this was Crystal Lake after all. Maggie watched as Pastor Frank settled into his seat and his wife joined him. They whipped out popcorn, drew a blanket across their legs, and then Mrs. Lancaster pulled out two sets of the biggest, baddest headphones Maggie had ever seen. They were bright orange—neon orange, really—and she couldn’t be sure, but it looked like they glowed in the dark.

  “You’ve got to be kidding.” Raine slid in beside Maggie, her eyes on the Lancasters.

  “What are they exactly?” Maggie asked.

  “They’re heavy-duty earplugs, is what they are.”

  “Oh. Why bother coming to a show like this, then?”

  Raine shrugged. “Cain’s one of this town’s favorite sons. No one is going to miss this concert.”

  “I’ve never heard him sing,” Maggie confessed.

  “What?” Raine was shocked. “He’s never picked up a guitar and sung for you?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “We’ve been busy…”

  “Uh-huh, I know. You’ve been busy getting to know each other. Busy doing other things.”

  Maggie blushed and nodded. “I guess so.”

  “Mom.” Michael tugged on her arm and pointed a few feet away. “Tommy’s over there. Can I stand with him?”

  Sharon and Roger waved. “Sure, babe, but stay in front, all right?”

  “He seems to have shaken off what happened with his dad,” Raine said quietly as they watched Michael jog over to his friend.

  “I hope so. Cain’s been wonderful.”

  “So what are your plans?”

  Maggie warmed at the thought. “Michael and I are going to spend the rest of the summer at the cottage with Cain, and then I’m not sure. We haven’t really had a chance to talk about it.” She paused and then asked a question that she’d been wondering about since she arrived at the football field with Cain.

  “Raine, where did Jake go? He came to say good-bye, and I got the feeling it was a long good-bye. Cain was more than a little upset.”

  The brunette’s face fell, and she glanced away for several moments. “Last night…stuff happened, things were said that can’t be taken back, and I think Jake pretty much hates me.”

  “Oh Raine, that’s ridiculous. And so far from the truth.�
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  “Really?” she said bitterly. “What does ‘I can’t stand to fucking be around you’ mean exactly?”

  Maggie bit her lip. It wasn’t her place to speak for Jake. The two of them would work things out eventually. At least she hoped so.

  Lauren Black appeared from the dark and immediately enveloped Maggie in a hug. “I’m so happy for you.” The woman’s eyes twinkled, and her face was lit with a grin that went from ear to ear. “Wonderful news.”

  Maggie smiled in return, but was a little confused by the woman’s words. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  At that moment the lights went dark. A single spotlight cut through the night and followed a man as he walked to the microphone setup center stage. Cain had changed into jeans, boots, and simple black T-shirt. His hair was longer than when he’d first arrived, but it suited him, and his smile as he gazed out at the crowd was a thousand watts of beauty.

  The crowd was going wild, hooting and hollering for one of their favorite sons to play some music.

  He strummed a few chords and let the crowd’s excitement build. The entertainment had been ongoing all afternoon, with seven bands performing, and now the crowd was at fever pitch. Nearly five minutes later, he finally had to hold his hands up, and the crowd eventually quieted.

  Watching him up there made her heart beat and her stomach roll. He glanced down at her, and Maggie blushed like a schoolgirl.

  He had easily slipped out of the skin she’d come to love and stepped back into the part of him she hadn’t experienced yet. It was still the Cain she knew, but up there on the stage with the lights he existed on an entirely different plane. His charisma was unmistakable, and it rushed over the crowd as if following an invisible conduit that originated from inside him.

  He started to play a melody, a haunting, evocative piece. His fingers flew along the frets, and he pulled such beauty from it that tears stung the corners of her eyes. Something inside her burst, and Maggie’s throat constricted, full of emotion. She recognized the piece. It was something he hummed to himself when they were alone together.

  “It feel’s good to be back home.” Cain’s spoke into the microphone and smiled as the crowd erupted once more. He gazed out at the crowd. “It’s been way too long.”