Page 11 of Ever With Me

But she never, ever would have expected that she’d run into him in the wee hours of the morning in her store while wearinga towel.

Oh God. If Linds and Naomi find out, they’ll never let me live it down.But they wouldn’t find out. She’d promised Brooks not to tell anyone and to store the security footage from the crash somewhere for her eyes only.

As much as she hated to lie to her family about the whole thing, those were the terms he’d set when he’d promised to pay back the damages plus any estimated revenue losses from the crash. She wouldn’t get that good of a deal from an insurance company.

Maddie’s attention went back to Travis. “I honestly don’t think he was drunk. Dan knows what to do anyway, but Brooks seemed pretty okay with it. Besides, he’s not the first city person who comes into town and doesn’t know what to do when a deer jumps in front of them.”

Travis appeared skeptical. “I may have fixed up my fair share of cars thanks to deer, but I’ve never heard of anyone driving into a store. He’s lucky he hit the window.”

“And we’re not so lucky. Naomi is going to freak when she sees this mess.”

Travis nodded. “She sure as hell will. You might want to warn her before she hears it from someone else.”

Maddie whirled toward him and wagged a finger. “Remember your promise. Not a word about Brooks to anyone. Not even Lindsay. He doesn’t want anyone to know, and I don’t want him to have any reason not to pay immediately for this damage.”

Travis rolled his eyes. “I remember. I better get back to the shop before sunrise, then.”

Maddie watched him go, then headed outside to where Garrett Doyle was stapling thick, opaque plastic sheeting over the broken window. Garrett glanced up with a grin. “Only the Yardleys could get me out of bed this early on a Sunday.”

“You know we love you, Doyle.” Maddie crouched down beside him. “What’s the likelihood of repairing this sometime soon?”

Garrett took out a box cutter and sliced at the plastic. “Honestly? It’s gonna be at least three weeks at minimum to even start. Maybe more. I’m booked solid, but I might be able to squeeze in some hours before and after to get things going. But this window’s going to have to be special ordered.”

She could barely remember a time when Garrett hadn’t been everyone’s first choice for home repair and contracting—his business had grown so large that she doubted he even took on smaller repairs like this personally anymore. Yet it always made her proud. Pops had always liked Garrett Doyle, even when other folks in Brandywood had seen only the worst in him. Naomi once told her that Pops had suggested she date Garrett when he’d come back into town, which made sense, considering they’d been in the same class through high school.

But for all the success Garrett had found, it didn’t make this current situation any easier. She needed to get the Depot back in shape as soon as possible. Three weeks or more—especially when the fall festival was at the beginning of next month—would mean the Depot might not be ready for the influx of tourists at peak fall.

That was terrible news for the Depot. Their location in a small, mountainous Appalachian town meant they relied on those seasonal tourist drops for income.

“We’ll take any time you can spare for us, Garrett. And bill accordingly. We’re not paying the tab, and my guess is that asshole in there can afford it.”

“What do you figure Brooks Kent is doing here?” Garrett’s brown eyes were curious as he continued stapling the plastic sheeting into the wooden window trim.

“No idea. Somehow, I don’t think it was to visit the Country Depot.” A snicker left Maddie before she could help it, a fresh wave of exhaustion hitting her. She must be more tired than she realized.

“I’m wondering if Cormac coming into town has anything to do with it,” Garrett said with a thoughtful look.

Maddie raised her brows. “Cormac’s in town?” Garrett’s older brother, who’d moved to Nashville long ago, only came home occasionally. Like all the Doyles, he was friendly and easygoing. He’d been good friends with Logan in high school.

“Yeah, he got in late last night. Texted me to see if I wanted to meet him at the pub, but it was like one thirty in the morning. I think he ended up meeting with one of my brothers, though.”

“You think Brooks Kent might be one of Cormac’s friends? That would be crazy.” She’d known Cormac had made it far in the music world, but notthatfar.

“Could be.” Garrett shrugged and finished cutting the plastic. “Come to think of it, Cormac said something about fishing with a buddy for the week. I hope he wasn’t planning on using Dad’s old cabin—the place got infested with carpenter bees and is on my to-do list for repair when I have time.” He squinted at the battered storefront. “Sorry it’s not more attractive of a solution.”

“Don’t apologize. You’re doing me a huge favor. And it’s not like you droveyourcar into the store.” Maddie opened the main glass door, the familiar scent of cinnamon wafting to her from a display of fall candles. She held the door for Garrett as he gathered his tools. “Want a cup of coffee or anything? I can get one brewing.”

Garrett hesitated and lifted the thick roll of plastic. “Normally, I’d take you up on it, but I should get back to Sam and the girls. The baby was up with a fever last night.”

“Still hard to believe that you’ve got two girls.” Maddie winked at him. “Say hi to Sam for me. Tell her to come by as soon as she’s feeling up for more work. Naomi wants some new product photos for the website.”

“I’ll tell her.” Garrett nodded a goodbye, and Maddie left him. She wrinkled her nose at the sight of the mess beyond the window. They would have to open late today. Thank goodness it was Sunday. Nothing on Main Street opened before ten in the morning on Sundays.

She approached Brooks and Dan, doing her best not to watch Brooks too closely. Even though she’d talked to him, there was an awkwardness there with him being a celebrity. No doubt he was used to being noticed in public—and let’s be honest—gawked at. The man was hot, even with the scruffy beard. He had dark gray, brooding eyes befitting of a rock star, chiseled features, and a strong jaw, and he clearly worked out. Maddie had hung a poster of him years ago in her college dorm, but thankfully, he didn’t have to know that.

And she’d greeted him fresh from the shower in a towel.

Which he clearly noticed.

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