Page 149 of Ever With Me

All of it made him feel sickeningly normal. Like life was finally getting back on track, but better than ever.

He’d moved out of the lake house for the last time and simply shifted his belongings to Maddie’s apartment, where he’d stay . . . indefinitely. They’d been talking around the next step still, because she was clearly torn about what she wanted to do regarding her grandfather’s offer and he wanted to avoid the topic as much as possible.

Someone bumped into them and Brooks pulled away from Maddie to see an “apologetic” fan who held out a pen and a pad of paper for him. She hadn’t been lying about the size of this fair. The place was crushed with people from out of town, and it wasn’t even noon yet.

“Sorry, I don’t do autographs in blue pens,” Brooks told the fan, who pouted and went her way.

Maddie gaped at him. “Is that for real?”

He nodded, and they started hand in hand toward the apple fritter food truck he’d promised her they’d visit next. He gave her a mischievous grin. “Don’t know how true it is, but that’s the advice. I always figured it was one less autograph to do.”

“You’re a rat sometimes, you know that?” She cringed at the line for apple fritters as they drew closer, then stopped. “You’re not going to want to stand in that line, are you?”

He followed the direction she’d pointed out. The line had to be at least thirty people long and looked to be crawling.

A long-ass wait meant he’d be a sitting duck for fans to ambush him.

The disappointment in her eyes was palpable, and he squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, babe.”

“Ugh, it’s fine. Maybe I can get one of my siblings to grab me some and bring them backstage with you later or something. I just wanted you to try one since you don’t eat that stuff normally.”

“I’ve spent the last month eating stuff I don’t eat normally.” He nodded toward one bodyguard. “But if you don’t mind waiting in the line, Trent can hang out with you and I’ll head over to the petting zoo with Ryan and meet Kayla and Audrey. Just meet me over there with your apple fritters when you’re done here.”

Maddie’s face brightened. “Okay.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, flipping his baseball cap backward. “I like this better like this, by the way, Clark Kent.”

He rolled his eyes, then switched it back. “You’re cute when you’re annoying.”

She sauntered off toward the line, bodyguard in tow, and he started in the opposite direction.

She’ll be fine. She has a bodyguard.

But, shit, this place was crowded. Too crowded. Too exposed. His own bodyguard, Ryan, had to remain practically at his elbow not to get separated.

He was halfway to where the petting zoo was located when he got a text message from Maddie.

Maddie:Trailer. Right now.

Maddie:P.S. leave the guard outside ;)

He smiled to himself. They’d started the morning in the shower together—after waking each other up a few times during the night. Damn woman was going to exhaust him.

Brooks:Yes, ma’am.

He couldn’t help wondering if the need for her would ever diminish. It had to, right? He’d have to be naive not to think so. But all it took was a flash of those tits or a sly grin, waking up with her ass pressed against him and he was a goner.

Peter Yardley had delivered the trailer, a rental, to the fairgrounds the night before—a place for him and his band to hide away. He was grateful for it, and it was large and luxurious, with several beds. One of his band members had even used it rather than rent a hotel room while here.

Due to its size and function, the trailer was parked off the beaten path, in the far corner of a field that was being used for parking for vendors and the amusement ride trucks and trailers. A good five minutes from the main fairground.

“I’ll check inside and make sure it’s secure, Brooks,” Ryan said.

Maddie had Trent with her, so he wasn’t worried. “Nah, it’s fine. Trent’s with Maddie inside, so just make sure no one else comes in,” he said, eager to get to his girl.

“Of course, sir,” Ryan said.

When Brooks stepped inside, he locked the door and called out for Maddie.

“Madison?” Brooks glanced around the empty living room and kitchen area. The television was still on, the volume low, and he found the remote and turned it off.

---