“You’re not adding more items to the list, are you?” Ash said curtly, and not for the first time I wondered why he always seemed more tense when Maya was around. From what I could see she was bending over backward to help him in any way she could, but I supposed sibling rivalry could get the best of us, no matter our age.

“Uh-oh,” I joked, trying to get rid of the tension before it bloomed. “Sounds like you’ll have to put in a change request with the boss.”

“No, it’s not more work in here,” Maya said. “What you’ve done is fantastic, but the thing is, we both know Ash should take a break.”

“No, I shouldn’t,” Ash said.

“Yeah, you should,” Maya and I replied in unison.

She grinned. “Anyway, we could use your help at the restaurant.”

“Me?” I said. “Really?”

“Yeah. I talked to Patrick and he’s more than happy to give you a few shifts a week, maybe more. He knows our situation, we’re short-staffed and I said I’d vouch for you. You could start tomorrow. I’ll show you the ropes, but you’d be hosting, mainly, and the guests will love you. You’ve got that innocent, girl-next-door charm thing going on. You don’t mind me stealing her away for a bit, do you, Ash?”

As he shook his head I could feel the heat in my cheeks. Maya had paid me multiple compliments since I’d arrived, from my complexion to my freckles, my toned arms and my tenacity to find Ash and not having given up on him. I’d worried it was fake at first, but she’d gone out of her way to make sure I was comfortable when visiting them. The initial vibe of jealousy I’d picked up from her had waned and disappeared. Maybe with my being in Newdale she didn’t see me as a threat anymore, and in her mind, getting me to work at the Cliff’s Head would lessen the worry about me trying to whisk Ash off to Maryland. Not that he had any intention of leaving, he’d made it quite clear, and the more time I spent here, the less I wanted to go back myself. Yes, there was still the confusion about Ash giving me a fake name, not to mention the cash, possible gambling and the break-in at his apartment, and yes, it all bothered me, but I wanted to keep my promise and help him figure things out. Until I knew for sure why he’d felt the need to mislead me about his identity, I wasn’t willing to give up on him.