Page 79 of Ever With Me

Turning in a circle, she scanned the shelves, searching for a key ring.

The back door to the alley opened, and Maddie’s stomach clenched, her head jerking up. Brooks stepped inside, quickly closing the door behind him.

“What are you doing in here?” she hissed, closing the gap between them.

“Someone was coming down the alley. I heard people talking.”

“So you jumped in here?”

He removed his sunglasses and gave her a sheepish look. “I didn’t want to abandon you.”

His words almost made her melt.

Dammit, Brooks. Don’t be sweet.

“Yeah, but now you’re stuck in here with me.”

“You think I don’t know that?” He rubbed his eyes with one hand, bringing his fingers slowly toward the bridge of his nose, stress written on his features. “What now? Shit, this was so reckless.”

“The good news is that the Stricklands have the same security system they used to. Which means the only footage from last Sunday is on an SD card in this room.”

He gave her a quizzical glance. “What’s the bad news?”

“The card is locked in the filing cabinet, and I don’t know where the key is.”

“Fuck.”

Maddie bit her lip, growing silent as the voices Brooks had referred to drew nearer.

Her knees nearly buckled as she recognized Fred Strickland’s drawl.

Oh no, no.

“Make that double fuck.” Maddie scanned the small space wildly. “We’re about to get caught in here by the guy who owns this place.”

A horrified expression filled Brooks’s face.

Dammit. This was so stupid of me.

So dumb, Maddie.

Taking a risk that affected only her was one thing—but Brooks didn’t need this.

Think.

She set her hand on his forearm. “I have an idea. You’ll have to follow my lead, though.”

“Whatever you say, boss.”

“I’m serious,” she hissed. “Brooks. I need you to kiss me. Like you mean it.”

He gave her an incredulous look. “What?”

“Just. ..trust me.”

“Trust you? Isn’t trusting you what got us into this mess?”

Fred’s voice was almost at the door.“. . . you don’t need sloppy seconds . . .”

---