Page 18 of Wyoming Bodyguard
Reid picked at his thumbnail, a habit he had when he thought things through.
“Listen, I want to do this for Lily. It’s not like Wyoming requires us to have a PI license or anything. I’ll handle her case. Stay with her until it’s over and help figure out what the hell her dad got himself tangled in. Once this is over, if we don’t think it’s worth it to explore the investigative side of things, we stick with security. No harm, no foul.”
“And you want to stay with her for the duration? By yourself?” Reid’s eyes narrowed to slits, as if trying to read exactly what was happening in Madden’s head. “I thought you two couldn’t stand each other?”
Unsure how to answer, Madden shrugged. Complicated didn’t even begin to explain his feelings for Lily right now. Was she a pain in the ass? Yes. Could she spit out venom on a whim? Absolutely. Did a part of him feel as though he owed her something?
Maybe.
Yes, that was it and nothing else. The decision his family made to protect themselves had hurt her and her father. Tremont Ranch getting caught in the crosshairs hadn’t been intentional, but that didn’t make it any less damaging.
“We’re not friends, that’s for damn sure, but there’s a certain kind of trust there. We’ve known each other since we were kids, and even if she hates me, she knows me. Knows I’ll do whatever I can to help her.”
“And that’s all this is? Not wanting to spend time with a beautiful woman who wouldn’t even look your way the day before yesterday?”
Madden’s jaw tightened, but a tiny prick of awareness told him Reid might have a point. “Are you suggesting I’d act inappropriately with a vulnerable woman in a desperate situation?”
Reid lifted his palms. “Nope. Not saying that at all. Just want to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
“Absolutely. Now that we’ve got this hashed out, I’ll have Lily come back so we can hammer out all the details.”
Reid nodded. “Sounds good.”
Standing, Madden made his way to the waiting room to grab Lily so she could officially become Sunrise Security’s newest client.
* * *
After Lily dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s, Madden drove them back to the ranch.
A weird tension had followed them from the office to his truck and refused to leave. His silence shouldn’t bother Lily. Hell, she’d spent years hating when he’d open his mouth to say something he thought was charming or sarcastic.
But as much as she hated to admit it, something had shifted inside her. She’d witnessed a softer side of Madden, and even if her animosity never fully thawed, she didn’t want to go back to despising the man who’d been her rock when she’d needed one most.
As they drove up the lane, she spotted Charlie beside the fence around the pasture, watching the horses meander along the field.
“Looks like Charlie’s taking a break,” she said, nodding toward the older man. “Would be a good time to talk to him. I should help with the horses, anyway.”
Madden parked close to the barn.
She hopped out and waited for him to walk to her side before making her way to Charlie. She lifted her hand and waved. “Hey, Charlie. How are things?”
Charlie sighed. “Okay, Ms. Tremont. Got most of the chores done. Just wanted to give the horses some time in the pasture before taking them back into the barn. How are you holding up?”
A million responses whirred through her mind, but she simply said, “I’ve been better. This is Madden McKay.”
Charlie grunted. “I know who he is. Why’s he here?”
Madden stiffened but didn’t respond.
“Here’s here to help.”
Charlie wiped a large, wrinkled hand over his heavy jowls. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Your dad would throw a fit if he knew the McKay boy was standing on his property, pretending to behelping. What’s your game, son?”
“No game, sir.”
She had to hand it to him. He took Charlie’s attitude in stride, but she noticed the vein beside his temple throb just before he placed his cowboy hat on his head. “Charlie, Madden’s been by my side since Dad was shot. Not because I asked him to, but because he was being a good neighbor. When I called later, he came without hesitation. I need his help now to get to the bottom of whatever the hell’s going on, and I need you to be on board.”
Charlie’s big, brown eyes widened. He shook his head as if she’d asked him to kick a dog. “Be on board with a McKay? Have you lost your mind?”
