Page 27 of Ever With Me

“Cormac’s friend. Logan’s sister,” Brooks grumbled back, pulling his gaze away from Maddie.

Kayla bit her lip, giving him a knowing glance that made him feel like he’d been caught in the act. “Cormac’slady friend?”

Brooks put a bit more space between him and Cormac as they went up the stairs.

“Who knows? I don’t really give a damn.”

“Okay. Just, you know. Be careful. She’s cute.”

Brooks quirked a brow. “When have you known me to be stupid about women?”

“Fair point. You’re practically dead inside.” Kayla jabbed a finger in the side of his ribs. They reached the deck where Maddie stood, and Kayla kept walking past him. She held out a hand to Maddie. “Hi, I’m Kayla.”

Brooks hung back, a knot of tension in his gut. Kayla had said similar things in the past, and it didn’t really bother him normally . . . except there it was. That perception of him as heartless. Cold.

He’d always accepted it and moved on.

Why the hell was it getting to him so much today?

Logan was still carrying Kayla’s suitcase, and Brooks took it from him. “I’ll take this inside,” he said. “Can I get anyone a drink?”

“Can I have a Coke?” Audrey asked brightly.

“Sure thing,” Brooks said.

“No, you may not.” Kayla broke away from talking to Maddie and gave him a sharp look. “She cannot have Coke an hour before bedtime, Brooks.”

“Pweeeeeeese?” Audrey batted long lashes at him.

Brooks simply winked at her, then started inside.

“Brooks, don’t you dare!” Kayla called after him.

He chuckled as the door closed. As if he could tell that little girl no. Although he wouldn’t tell Audrey he’d watered it down.A lot.

He set the suitcase down near the living room, then pivoted toward the kitchen. The house had come fully stocked with all staples and drinks in their own refrigeration, including a wine fridge. He grabbed another nonalcoholic beer for himself, and Maddie’s reproach about drinking went through his head.

The coldness of the bottle seeped through his palm as he rummaged through the drink fridge for a soda for Audrey. He found one, then closed the door and flinched, startled.

Maddie was coming in through the back door.

“Need something?” he asked, not bothering with a hint of friendliness.

She reddened. “Bathroom.”

“In the hall, third door down on the left. I think.”

Maddie nodded a thank you, then started in the opposite direction.

Brooks straightened. She’d caught him off guard when she’d shown up, but it might be a good time to establish some boundaries with this girl. Let her know that, while her nerve was almost admirable, it wasn’t acceptable either.

“Hold on one sec,” he said, setting the drinks on the counter. “I want a word with you.”

9

MADDIE

Maddie froze in place,her heart beating a little faster as Brooks came up behind her. She turned to face him, slowly. When she’d looked for Cormac earlier today, her plan to find Brooks and raise hell with him seemed so solid. So justified.

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