Harper asked about Brock Markovic, who’d been Madison’s leading man in more than one film. “Okay, Madison. It’s tacky, and you probably don’t want to hear it, but I just have to know. Are you and Brock a thing?”
She thought of Sten, felt a painful twinge of longing in the vicinity of her heart. If only he were here with her, nobody would be asking about her and Brock. “Sorry to break it to you, Harper, but Brock and I are not a thing and never have been.”
Hailey let out a moan. “We were so sure you two were crazy in love.”
“Nope. He’s a great guy, and everyone says we have killer chemistry on-screen.”
“Oh, yes, you do.” Harper made a show of fanning herself.
“Yeah, well. In reality? Never gonna happen.”
The DNA was collected without much fanfare by Percy and Great-Aunt Daffy. A simple swipe of the inside of the cheek and it was done.
Percy had a kit for Madison and each of the Bravo siblings, including Aislinn, who already knew she was Martin Durand’s daughter. By testing against the other siblings, Aislinn could eliminate herself once and for all as a Bravo by blood, thus getting as close as possible to proving that Paula Delaney had been her biological mother.
After the meal, Madison tried to get a little face time with her newly found brothers—starting with Liam. She found him charming and full of questions about her life in LA and the movie business. He didn’t talk much about himself, though, and he said zero about whatever was going on with him and Karin. Not that she really expected to learn anything about his private life. After all, they hardly knew each other and she was reasonably certain he had no clue what she and Sten had overheard the other night.
Third-born Connor, who worked with Daniel at Valentine Logging, revealed a little more about himself than Liam had. Connor had been married, he said, to his best friend’s only sister. His ex-wife had left him to make it big in advertising in New York City.
Madison was outraged on his behalf. “So you’re saying she just divorced you and left?”
Connor’s expression turned sheepish. “Well, not exactly...”
Madison figured it out about then, and accused, “You wouldn’t go.”
“Why am I talking about this?” Connor was suddenly all about his empty glass. “I think I need another drink.”
Madison moved on to Daniel and then chatted with Matt and his wife, Sabra. Later, she ended up sitting in the kitchen with Aislinn and Keely, drinking really tasty cinnamon tea and hearing great stories about what it was like growing up in Valentine Bay.
By nine, the kids were in bed. Percy and Daffy and a few of the others had already left. Madison got out her phone to summon another cab.
“Put that phone down,” ordered Aislinn. “Jax and I go right by Sweetheart Cove on the way back to the ranch. The truck is a crew cab, so there’s plenty of room.”
Aislinn waited until they were on the road before she remarked way too casually, “I was surprised that Sten wasn’t with you today.”
Madison almost lied and said he couldn’t make it. But already, she felt close to Aislinn. She trusted her—and Jaxon, too. And that lifted her spirits a little. She’d begun to create real relationships in Valentine Bay. “Not much fun to bring him with me when I’m not speaking to him.”
Jax and Aislinn shared a glance. Madison watched them from the back seat, feeling suddenly envious—of their closeness, their intimate connection.
She wanted that, an intimate connection with a man, she really did. And not just any man. With Sten.
Maybe. If he ever started taking her seriously.
“I keep meaning to ask,” said Aislinn. “How long will you be in town?”
“Three more weeks and five days.” She wasn’t even at the halfway point in her stay.
Still, it felt like her hiatus was flying by much too fast. Even if she did hold firm on her birthday goal to leave acting behind, she still had contracts to honor. Unless her current project suffered more delays, she would be back on a soundstage by the first of May.
“Plenty of time for you and Sten to work things out.” Aislinn said it as though she honestly believed it.
And Madison couldn’t help but hope she was right.
* * *
For Sten, the day had crawled by. He spent hours in his workshop, getting a lot done and feeling zero satisfaction about it. Mostly, he was just trying to keep his mind from straying to thoughts of the movie star next door.
After dinner, he went to check on the flip house, where the list of what still needed doing went on and on. At least they were on schedule, a rarity in his experience.
