Page 104 of 15 Summers Later

“You mean the same no-kill animal rescue where you volunteer your services, free of charge?”

“Yes. That one.”

Despite his embarrassment, he smiled. She was right. He was a soft touch. He often reduced his charges for some pet owners on a fixed income and wrote off other charges. He never refused to provide necessary care to any animal because of the owners’ inability to pay.

“We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?” he said.

“Aren’t we?” she murmured with her half smile that made him want to kiss her again.

He was about to comment when he spotted a well-dressed woman with perfectly applied makeup walking toward them on heels that really had no place in a grassy park. She was followed by a bearded man holding a large video camera.

A sense of foreboding butted into him like Barnabas did when he was annoyed.

“Heads up,” he said, gesturing toward the approaching pair. “Looks like we might have some paparazzi.”

She followed his gaze and he saw her eyes widen with nerves. “Maybe they’re here to cover our adoption event.”

“It’s possible.”

While he would have liked to believe that, something in the determined set of features on the woman told him she wasn’t looking for a fluff piece about some dogs and cats finding new homes.

He walked out to try heading them off, but the woman targeted Madi.

“That’s her,” he heard the woman whisper to the camera operator. “It has to be.”

The woman pushed her way into the small space. “Hi. You’re Madison Howell, aren’t you?”

Madi gazed at her, apparently at a loss for how to answer.

Luke quickly stepped in. “Are you interested in the pet adoption event for the Emerald Creek Animal Rescue?” he asked, though he was fairly certain he already knew the answer. “We’ve got some really great dogs and cats available.”

The woman brushed back her dark curls with a manicured hand, the nails adorned with pale pink tips. “No. I’m Ashleigh Beaujolais with Nine News,” she said, as if he should know exactly who she was.

She turned to Madison, giving her a wide smile with teeth that gleamed in the summer sun. “We’re working on a story about your sister’s book,Ghost Lake, and reexamining the events that happened near here fifteen years ago. We would love to talk with you. Do you have a minute?”

“No,” Madi said bluntly.

Ashleigh Beaujolais looked nonplussed at her outright refusal. Her lush lips pursed in confusion and she exchanged looks with her cameraman.

“Okay. If now isn’t a good time, we could schedule something else. What about this afternoon, whenever you’re done here?”

“No,” Madi said, her voice firm. “I don’t have time now and I won’t have time later.”

“You’re a very important part of the story, Ms. Howell. We would love to get your perspective. I mean, not many people can talk about what it’s like to have a starring role in what’s been called the biggest book of the summer.”

Madi didn’t raise her voice, but her refusal was clear and unequivocal. “I am not interested in talking to you, Ms. Beaujolais. About the so-called book of the summer or about anything else. Excuse me.”

She turned away from the reporter to focus instead on a woman and a small boy who were looking at the puppies playing in an enclosure on the grass.

She even took a few steps in that direction but the reporter followed closely behind. Ashleigh Beaujolais did not strike Luke as the kind of woman who would give up at the first sign of difficulty. Unfortunately.

“Are you aware there are rumors that several celebrities are consideringGhost Lakeas featured titles for their book clubs?” she pressed.

Now Madi turned to face her, eyes wide. “What celebrities? What book clubs?”

“I’m not at liberty to say,” Ashleigh said, her voice coy. “But that certainly wouldn’t hurt your sister’s book sales, would it? You must be happy about that.”

Madi’s jaw clenched. “You’re talking to the wrong person. You should find my sister. She’s working at a stall near the courthouse.”

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