Maddie chewed her lip. Maybe she should come clean. It was only Linda after all. If she couldn't confide in her sister, who could she trust? "It's not just that. It's the tip of the iceberg. Sam has never looked at me like, you know, he wanted me. Until the other day. All those years and he barely even spoke to me except to call me a nerd."
"He did that once, Maddie, don't exaggerate."
"Fine, it was only once, but that's enough. It just proves that we're entirely different people. I'm a nerd and he's Sam Hennessy for God’s sake. He's the bad boy and I'm the good girl. He shouldn't be attracted to me. Then or now. I haven't changed that much in fifteen years."
"You're right, he is Sam Hennessy, bad boy, so make the most of it. To hell with what might or might not happen later. Nothing you've said so far is convincing me."
"Then maybe this will. He only likes me now because of Pheramour."
"The love potion you're working on?"
Maddie nodded. "I tried it on myself before he came over Friday night, then again yesterday morning. It worked."
"Crap." Linda frowned down at Ronan then jerked her head up, her face brighter. "You weren't wearing any on Thursday night, and he liked you enough then to visit you on Friday."
"You sent him round on a stupid errand. And thanks for the shoes, by the way, but next time deodorize anything you've worn on your feet before you give them back."
"Sam wouldn't have taken the shoes to you if he wasn't interested."
"He's too polite to say no. Besides, he wasn't really that interested until Friday night."
"What happened on Friday night?" She leaned forward. "Did he kiss you? Was it good? I want details."
"Linda! I'm having a nervous breakdown. Be supportive."
Linda pouted. "So you think Pheramour is the reason for his sudden interest?" A slow smile crept across her lips. Maddie knew that smile. She'd seen it many times right before Linda convinced their parents to let her stay out late. It was the I'm-going-to-get-my-own-way smile.
CHAPTER 10
"So wear Pheramour forever," Linda said.
Maddie sighed and slumped further into her chair. "That's what I thought too. But I can't."
"Why not? This is Sam Hennessy. He's worth a bath every day in that stuff. He'll never know."
Maddie shook her head. At least she'd been drunk when she thought wearing Pheramour forever was a good idea. Her sister was sober, and completely nuts.
"I can't. It's not right. It's not fair. Besides, I've noticed other men are falling for it too."
"Really? Like who? I want details."
"Remember Justin?"
"The man-boy?"
Maddie nodded. "We bumped into him yesterday. He said I looked good. He never used to give me complements."
"That's because he's a jerk. So do you think he wants you back? I hope so. I hope he wants you bad. Make him suffer, he deserves it." She licked her fingers and smoothed Ronan's hair down at the front where it had a habit of curling up into a 'C'. "But that's not enough, Mad. Two men don't make Pheramour a raging success."
"It was happening all day. Men kept looking at me. I thought I had something hanging from my nose, but I didn't. Once, when Sam wasn't around, a guy asked me on a date. Just like that! It took him two minutes."
"Wow. I guess it is working then."
Maddie didn't know whether to agree with her or be annoyed that her sister didn't think she could earn that much interest without chemical assistance.
"Wait a minute. Pete doesn't think you're attractive." She frowned. "I hope."
"It doesn't work on all men. I’m not sure why. It must have something to do with the unique chemical make-up that—"
"Enough of the science talk," Linda said with finality.
Maddie sighed and thunked her head on the table. So much for Linda convincing her Pheramour wasn't working. She'd only confirmed her own fears. If those who knew Maddie best couldn't believe she'd be attractive to so many men, including Sam—especially Sam—what hope was there?
It hurt to admit, but she had to agree with Linda, she'd never been a sex kitten. She was barely even an alley cat.
"I think I'm going to cry," she said on another sigh.
But Linda was looking at her son trying to blow bubbles. "This is terrible."
"I know."
"This could be the end of society as we know it. Morals, human sexuality and behavior, everything's going to change."
Maddie cocked an eyebrow. Her sister was scaring her. She sounded...sensible. "You're not talking about Sam and me are you?"
"No. Pheramour. What if people start wearing it and other people—complete strangers, people's husbands—fall for it? There'll be total sexual chaos."