Page 54 of Ever With Me

Naomi blinked. “I don’t think that’s possible. I thought he was a creep . . . turns out he’s apsycho.Maddie! What the hell? Ten hours of your time, no questions asked?”

“He’s not a psycho.” She rubbed her temples, trying to think. How had this conversation gotten away from her so quickly? “His car is in the shop, and he’s watching his four-year-old niece for the week, so he’s needed some favors. Nothing crude or weird.”

“What shop?” Naomi’s keen gaze nearly eviscerated her.

Shit.

“Uh . . . Travis’s.”

Naomi was silent for a few moments.

“I’m assuming Travis knows whose car is in his shop.”

Maddie nodded slowly. “I made him promise not to tell anyone. Including Lindsay.”

Naomi’s nostrils flared. “Who else?”

“Who else what?”

“Who else is in on thissecret?”

She cringed. “Garrett Doyle and Dan Klein.”

Naomi nodded slowly. Reaching up, she pulled down the seat belt and buckled it in. “Let’s go.”

Huh?

“Where?”Please don’t say to see Brooks.

“To the pub. To tell Lindsay why you’re making her boyfriend lie to her.”

“No, I can’t tell anyone else. I told you.Youcan’t tell anyone else.”

“That was before I found out my little sister is being controlled by a man with the money and means to manipulate her. And that you’ve lost your mind. Now drive.”

“But the store?—”

“The store will be fine. Lars is there, and Missy has the register and can serve gelato if necessary.”

That was true. Also the nice thing about having employees.

Maybe it was that Naomi was her big sister or that she felt bad for lying and knew how bad it sounded, but Maddie put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking spot. “I can’t tell Lindsay. That’s too many people. If too many people find out, Brooks won’t play a concert for us. Who knows, he might not even play. I’m technically in breach of contract, having told you.”

Naomi whirled toward her and gripped her forearm. “Tell me you didn’t sign anything.”

“I did . . . but I wrote up the contract.”

The distress on Naomi’s face wasn’t entirely surprising. Maybe more than Maddie had expected, but still . . .

A strange, sad feeling came over her. With a start like this, the chance of Naomi forgivingorliking Brooks was slim. She’d never get the chance to know that he had a totally different side. Naomi would just see him as the jerk who had taken advantage of her sister.

“He’s not a bad person, Naomi,” she said in a shaky voice. “A little rough around the edges, but he’s got a really sweet side. He’s just been through a lot.”

“Yeah, it must be really miserable being a rich, spoiled rock star.” Naomi shook her head. “What is with you? I know Josh really messed you up, Maddie, but this isn’t like you. You’re clearly already emotionally attached to this guy, and you just met him three days ago.”

Maddie laughed. “Nothing is going on between Brooks and me. I would barely even call us friends.”

Yet that felt like a lie, too.

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