Read Online The Summer He Came Home by Juliana Stone - Free Book Online Page B

already a shade lighter, and it was good to see him out of Armani and decked out in plain old cotton. He was bare chested and had gained a considerable amount of muscle since Cain last saw him. Mac had been hitting the gym hard. Hell, put him in a marine uniform and he’d be as badass as Jake.
    Jake grinned. “Maggie? Raine’s friend? The one with the kid?” Jake glanced at Mac. “Toss me one, will ya?” He settled back, his eyes boring into Cain. “So what the hell did I miss? You’re home less than twenty-four hours and already scored the cutest thing in town?”
    Mac laughed. “Some things never change.”
    Cain scowled at the two of them. “It’s not like that.”
    Jake chuckled. “So tell me Cain…what it’s like, exactly ?”
    He caught the look Mac shot at Jake, and his scowl deepened. “Drop it.”
    Truthfully, there was nothing to tell. The woman wasn’t interested. After he made supper for Michael, she’d insisted he leave. She’d done everything but yank him by the arm and throw him out of her house. Said she’d set her alarm for every two hours so she’d wake up and promised that if the nausea continued, she’d go back and see the doctor.
    Christ, he’d stood on her porch and listened to her turn at least three dead bolts behind him. If that didn’t say “stay the hell away,” he didn’t know what did.
    He’d left—reluctantly—and not because he’d been looking to score some action. Being in her home with her kid had been nice and simple and easy .
    God, he missed easy. Normal.
    “So, she shot you down?” Mac leaned back and smiled.
    “What are we? Sixteen? Drop it.” Cain sat up, ran fingers over his taut belly. Hunger pangs sat low in his gut, and he was ready to head back.
    They were spending the afternoon at the Edwards place, relaxing and hanging out, just like old times. A barbecue was planned for later—a small, intimate affair—with his mother and Raine invited.
    The Edwardses’ loss was still raw, and they were mourning. Hell, they all were, but if Jesse’s death had taught them anything, it was the need to hold close the things that were important. Family and friends. And that’s what today was about.
    Mac was supposed to head back to New York on Monday, and as for Cain, he’d finally called his manager the day before, after Charlie had begun hounding his mother. Figured he’d better, before rumors started to circulate that he’d died or disappeared somewhere over the Atlantic.
    Their part in the tour was officially over. The Grind had picked up another act to continue with. After the Barcelona incident and Blake’s abrupt departure, they’d had no choice—the Glasgow show had been done with a hired drummer. But as was the way of it in this day of celebrity, the incident, captured on YouTube and the like, had generated even more buzz.
    He’d nearly started a riot, and it had only served to enhance BlackRock’s profile. What the future brought was up to him, and as the weight of it pressed on him, Cain grimaced. His next move would be critical, and that begged the question, could he handle it on his own? His entire career had been linked to Blake.
    Cain sighed and rubbed the scruff on his chin. Christ, he didn’t want to think about that right now. For the moment he was free, not due in the studio until the fall. Seemed like a distraction was in order. Again his thoughts turned to Maggie.
    He arched a brow at Jake and asked the question he’d been pondering since the day before. “When are you heading back to Afghanistan?”
    Jake drained the last of his beer, crushed the can in his hands, and looked across the lake toward home. “I’m not.” Jake’s face was hard, his eyes dark as he turned to Cain. “We should head back.”
    The conversation was over, and Cain knew enough to let it go. “Sure. Sounds good.” He cracked a smile. “It’s not like we caught anything.”
    Several boats dotted the lake. The sun’s intensity had increased in the last