Stirring Up Trouble by Andrea Laurence Page A

she’d done. Especially not her brother. If Simon knew, the whole family would soon know she’d made out with the local bartender, and she’d never hear the end of it. Maddie never made out with anyone, so it would turn into a huge thing. “We didn’t kill each other,” she offered, “if that’s what you were hoping for.”
    â€œI don’t endorse bloodshed,” Simon said. “I was just hoping you two would take this time together to talk over your issues and find a way to peacefully coexist on the same street. Any ground covered there?”
    â€œNot really,” Emmett admitted, and he was right. They’d shared a long night together, but not one moment of it was spent discussing how they were going to learn to get along. They were both far too focused on how they would make it through the night, much less worry about the future.
    â€œWell, you two better figure out how to play nicely or I’ll do this again. Don’t think I won’t.” Simon pulled out his keys and unlatched the cuffs. “Free at last,” he announced.
    â€œThank the Lord,” Emmett said, rubbing his wrist and sighing in contentment.
    Maddie scoffed at his expression of relief despite the fact that he’d taken the words right out of her mouth. “You’d think being handcuffed to me was the worst thing in the world.”
    â€œWell, it certainly wasn’t a picnic.”
    â€œHey,” Maddie complained. “I was being nice. I helped at the bar and, more important, I didn’t once ask to use the restroom.”
    Emmett’s eyes widened. Apparently he hadn’t considered how much closer they would’ve gotten if nature had called with any sort of urgency over the last few hours. “Well, thank you for your help, Fancy. The next time Joy calls in sick, I’ll be sure to give you a call.”
    Maddie snorted. She couldn’t imagine herself working at a place like that. Being surrounded by grabby drunks was her idea of her personal hell. “Don’t waste your breath, Emmett. I’m not taking another step into that dirty, stinky bar of yours.”
    Emmett’s eyes brightened in excitement, his face lighting up despite the exhaustion on his face. “Is that a promise? Can I hold you to your word? It’s not nice of you to tease about something like that.”
    â€œCan you two keep it down? It’s six in the morning and there are houses nearby,” Simon interjected, but neither of them paid him any attention.
    â€œI wish it were a promise,” Maddie said, planting her hands on her hips, “but that would require you keeping the noise down so I can stay away.”
    Emmett snorted in contempt. “At this point, I’d unplug the jukebox so I don’t have to see your face ever again.”
    â€œIf only that were true,” Maddie snapped.
    â€œIf what were true?”
    â€œSeriously, you guys, you’re disturbing the peace,” Simon complained. “Don’t make me take you in. I’m off duty and I’d much rather go home and go to bed than head back to the station and fill out all that paperwork.”
    â€œThat you don’t want to see my face,” Maddie continued. “I think that’s a lie. You seemed quite pleased by it earlier.”
    â€œAnd you weren’t pleased?” Emmett challenged. “You certainly acted like you were having a good time. You were practically purring in my arms.”
    She had been. But she wasn’t going to admit how easily she reacted to his touch. That kiss had set off explosions in her walled-up libido, knocking down barriers and freeing the beast she’d tried very hard to keep tamed. Emmett was not the kind of man she was usually attracted to. Everything about him flew in the face of the values she held dear. And yet, when he touched her, all bets were off. Her body had betrayed her in that moment and she’d have to