Page 58 of Paging Dr. Summers

Was he trying to one-up me? What a sleazeball. I refused to play his petty game, so I just nodded and shifted my attention to where it belonged—Brooke.

“Should we go meet Josie?”

“Yes,” she said with nervous excitement. “Just stop me if I start rambling about my life story.”

“Not a chance.” I kissed her head. “I like it when you ramble.”

“Actually,” Maxwell interrupted, his voice dripping with self-importance. “I was hoping to introduce Brooke to a new friend of mine who’s here tonight—Sidney Harper. He’s the CEO—”

“Of the SoundWave Broadcasting Network,” Brooke finished for him, her eyes wide with astonishment. “How do you know him?” she asked, clearly impressed. “He’s huge in the radio industry.”

Lola jumped up and down, her excitement bursting at the seams. “Isn’t it amazing? Papi wanted to surprise you.”

Maxwell stood a little taller, waves of self-approval rolling off him. “I sent him a couple of your podcast episodes, and he’s impressed. He’d like to talk to you. Sidney thinks he has a couple of stations with large markets that might be a good fit for you. A syndicated show could potentially be in your future.”

Brooke faltered, overcome with the thought, and I had to steady her. “Are you serious? A syndicated show?”

“No promises,” Maxwell said with an air of conceit, clearly enjoying the moment.

Camila beamed up at her husband, pride evident in her eyes.

The entire scene turned my stomach. Something wasn’t right, but what could I say? All my suspicions were currently unfounded. It didn’t seem prudent to start throwing accusations around because of a gut feeling.

“Shall we meet him?” Maxwell almost sounded like he was pleading with Brooke.

I didn’t like that at all.

“Yes,” Brooke sang. “Logan, you have to come with me.”

There was no way in hell I was leaving her side. “Absolutely,” I responded, more to Maxwell than Brooke.

Maxwell’s brow furrowed, but he quickly recovered and said, “Of course, he’s welcome.”

Brooke waved at Lola, Camila, and Alejandro before she slipped her arm through mine and we walked toward one of the seating areas at the back of the store near the nonfiction section, with Maxwell leading the way.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered for my ears only. “I hope I don’t screw this up. Seriously, stop me if I start word vomiting.”

“It’s part of your charm. Don’t hide that from anyone.”

Brooke’s doe eyes peered up at me. “Seriously, Logan, you are dangerous.”

“Why do you keep saying that? What does that mean?” The last thing I ever wanted was for her to fear me.

“It means you’re wonderful.” She popped up on her toes and pecked my cheek.

I touched my face where her warm lips had left their mark, understanding what she meant. She was just as dangerous, as were the emotions we were playing with that summer.

A man in his fifties dressed in designer jeans and a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows approached us. No doubt it was SidneyHarper. Despite his casual attire, he wore an air of self-importance to match Maxwell Harrington’s.

Maxwell made sure he was the first to greet him. “Sidney, it was so good of you to come.” The men shook hands like old friends.

“How could I refuse when you presented me with such talent?” Sidney’s gaze shifted over Maxwell’s shoulder and landed on Brooke.

Brooke’s cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink as she gripped my arm tighter, steadying herself.

“Shall we sit?” Maxwell waved to the seating area, clearly used to being the one who called the shots.

Brooke and I took the small couch across from the two chintz chairs that Sidney and Maxwell occupied. Brooke’s small frame trembled beside me, so I took her hands in mine, cradling them, hoping to lend her some support. Maxwell’s eyes immediately zoomed to our clasped hands. The way he flinched showed he didn’t care for it. It only made me sit closer to Brooke.

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