Page 21 of Madden

His brow furrows. “No, it wasn’t.”

“Yes, it was. Listen, I know what you’re doing here. I heard you talking to Brix inside. It all makes sense now. You think if you sweet-talk me and I sleep with you, it’ll save you from having some garbage written about you in the article.”

He sighs, shaking his head. “You weren’t supposed to hear him, but it’s not what you think. Okay? I swear, you have me all wrong.”

“All wrong, huh? You want to explain to me what just happened, then? She was crying, Madden, and you just gave her the cold shoulder. How do I know you won’t get what you want and toss me to the side too?”

He winces. “I need to talk to Hanna to clear things up, but I thought we were on the same page. I was honest with you earlier today. I’m not dating anyone, and she’s not my girlfriend. Yeah, we’ve messed around and I think she’s a cool chick, but there’s nothing more between us.”

I’m a fool for kissing him, and I’d be an idiot to believe him now too.

“Madden, I’m here to do a job and only to do a job. Not to hook up with a rock star who could have any woman he wanted inside.” I shake my head. “I have no intention of smearing your name or making you and the band look bad, okay? I’m writing about your rise to fame, and even if I were to mention the bumps in the road along the way, I want no part in dragging you guys through the mud like others have done in the past.”

I pull my phone out of my pocket and climb into the car, setting the camera bag on the seat next to me.

“I’ll tell you what, though,” I say, pulling out one of my business cards. “Here’s my contact information. Email me so I have yours, and I’ll send you a copy of my submission before it goes to press. Okay?”

He takes the card, studying it before peering up at me. His piercing eyes glisten beneath the parking lot lights.

“We got off on the wrong foot, Brielle. This isn’t how I wanted it to go down. I’ll be honest with you, the band, we’ve had a lot of shit said about us in the media over the past couple of years. Like I told you yesterday, I’ve learned the hard way who we can and can’t trust. You’d be surprised at the lengths people will go to betray you if it means earning them a quick buck. It’s the same reason you can believe me, though. I’d never lie to you.”

He doesn’t have to explain it to me. I already know, but I’m not going to tell him. It’s for the best he doesn’t know who I truly am.

To him, I need to stay Brielle Silvers.

Hell, if he knew who I was and the connections I have, I’m certain I’d see a different side of him too. I’ve grown sick of people using me too.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. You can trust me when I say I understand.”

He nods, pushing the door open, and steps into my side.

“Well, what do I have to do to change the way you’re looking at me now?”

Somehow, the concern in his eyes and the vulnerability in his voice only makes it harder to leave.

I shake my head. “I need to go. I meant it, though. It was good to meet you and the guys, but this—what happened tonight—was a mistake.”

He presses his hand against the side of my face, gripping my chin to lift my eyes to meet his.

“Don’t lie to me, Brielle. I told you I’d never lie to you.”

He brushes his finger along my lip before dropping his hand to his side and taking a step back.

“I wish things hadn’t gone down the way it did, but it is what it is, right?”

I nod, forcing a smile, reaching for the seat belt to buckle myself in. It’s the only thing holding me back from letting go.

“It was nice meeting you, Brielle,” he says, reaching for my door. “Don’t worry, though. You’ll be hearing from me soon.”

He waves the business card in the air and winks before closing the door.

He doesn’t move when I turn the key in the ignition. His eyes stay locked on me when I back out from my spot. When I pull out of the parking lot, I glance in the rearview to find him watching me go.

The farther I get away from him, the more regret twists in my stomach.

Some may consider Madden Cole a god of rock ’n’ roll with a long list of women falling over themselves for a chance at one night with him, but I refuse to be one of them.

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