Page 168 of No Headlines Please

Tessa asked, "What point?"

It was Maisie who answered. "What Maddox means is, the wording's a little funny, like Delaney was meeting a whole bunch of people. Plus, that guy could've meant a different island."

I shook my head. "Honestly, I think you're grasping at straws."

Tessa looked to me and said, "And here's a question. What, exactly, were you doing for money?" Her gaze shifted to Maddox, and her expression soured. "Unless…he was paying you for something."

Good Lord.

I gave an indignant scoff. "Do you know who you sound like now?"

"Who?"

"Mrs. Stelter."

Tessa gave a little gasp. "No way. You met her?"

"Unfortunately." I gave her an ominous look. "While Herb was fly-fishing."

She winced. "Yikes."

"I know, right? Get this. She accused me of turning tricks in the building, which just for the record, I wasn't."

Tessa looked offended. "I know you weren't. Obviously."

Yeah, right. "Really? Because the way you talked just now—"

"Oh, my God," she said. "I didn't mean Maddox was paying you for sex. I just thought that maybe you were doing some freelance work. I know you're a really good writer."

When I looked to Maddox, he appeared almost ready to laugh.

Tessa asked, "What?"

I felt heat rush to my cheeks. "Nothing."

Tessa looked from me to Maddox. "Okay, you're obviously hiding something. What is it?"

I knew exactly what it was. And I could've kissed Maddox for not spilling the beans.

Actually, I could've kissed him for a whole bunch of reasons – and not only because he looked so ridiculously kissable. But already, he'd put up with a ton of grief from my sister, and I was desperate to make it stop.

I told Tessa, "You do realize this whole reunion wouldn't have happened without him, right?"

She sank lower on the couch. "So?"

"So maybe you should be thanking him, not treating him like a monster."

In a quiet voice, Maddox said, "Delaney, it's fine."

I gave him a look. "Oh, so you'd be fine with Ryder treating me like a monster?"

Maddox frowned. "Hell no."

I smirked. "See?"

And then he smiled, making my heart give that familiar flutter.

Tessa ruined it by saying with a loud sigh, "Just tell me. What exactly was he paying you for?"