Page 40 of Ever With Me

“Of course they count. They’re the only ones who count, as far as I’m concerned.”

Maddie shook her head. “I don’t know if that makes you a psycho or surprisingly human and sweet.”

He finished the sandwich and crumpled the wrapper in his hand. “You’re safer believing the first. I’ve been called a lot of things, but sweet isn’t one of them. Not sure human is either.”

She pursed her lips. “You know, for someone whose songs have sometimes brought me to tears, you’re surprisingly closed off to emotion.”

He grinned, oddly pleased with the backhanded compliment. Maddie had gone out of her way to tell him she didn’t listen to his music. “I thought you weren’t a fan.”

“That’s what you got out of what I said?” She took another fry and dipped it in the ketchup. “So what are you, like this tortured soul who can only do feelings when he sings? Is that where you get your outlet?”

“Maybe.” He was growing alarmingly comfortable around this woman, something that rarely happened. But she was forward in a way he wasn’t used to.

Not forward.Earnest.

He almost chided himself. The woman who blackmailed him . . . earnest? Maybe he was getting dumber the older he got. Still...“I don’t sing that much anymore when I’m not actively doing something for the label. I barely even write my own songs these days. Honestly, I can’t remember when I took out my guitar for an outlet...or for fun.”

“That’s . . . sad, Brooks.”

“Eh. I’m over it. The whole songwriting thing. You can only write so many songs about being empty inside. People want love songs.”

Her lips parted with surprise.

Time to change the subject.

He didn’t like where this was headed.

No more.

He held out the remaining container of fries to her. “What about you? What’s your story? Just a small-town girl who got stuck running her family’s business?”

She froze for a minute, then licked the salt from her fingers. The action sent an unexpected shiver through him.

“I’m notjusta small-town girl, thanks. But do I want to stay here? Yeah, I do. My family’s here. They mean everything to me. Plus, Brandywood is a pretty great place to live.”

“You never get the urge to see other things? To me, living in the same place your whole life would get old quick. Dealing with the same people’s idiosyncrasies.”

“Fancy word.” She wiped her hands on her thighs. “I’ve traveled. And I plan to do a whole lot more of it. And, sure, there can be a negative side to living in a place where everyone knows who you areandyour business. You’d die here. You think as a celebrity you lack privacy? That’s nothing. The rumor mill here works even when people are sleeping. The morning you crashed into the store, my grandfather got a call about the window from at least five different people before seven o’clock.”

“You’re totally selling the whole experience here,” Brooks remarked dryly. He glanced over his shoulder. “I need something to drink. You want something to swallow those fries down with?”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were lonely and called me for company, not food.” Her eyes bored into his.

He was tempted to kiss the smirk off those full lips, but if he was honest, her words also hit close to home. He’d lowered his armor a bit too much for comfort, and she was looking at him like she knew him now. “You got me. Who needs friends in high places when I’ve got enemies who blackmail me? You want a drink or not?” He stood and stretched.

She chewed on her lower lip, then gave a nonchalant shrug. “Whatever. You’re the one who’s on the clock.” She checked her phone. “As far as I can tell, I owe you only nine hours and ten minutes now.”

Right. This is a business arrangement.

The reality check was all he needed.

She’s just another person who wants whatever she can get from me.

“Don’t worry about it, then.” The desire to play his own card and shift the power dynamic came hurtling back to him. “Why don’t you come back tomorrow afternoon? Say four o’clock?” He started the walk back toward the house.

“I have to work.”

He glanced over his shoulder to find her standing there, hands on her hips.

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