Did she trust him?
She took his hand and let him pull her up.
“Good girl,” he whispered against her ear. This time the full body shiver had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with this man’s voice.
She let him lead her out of the office, and together they went and found Jasper, content to wait for the food to arrive.
The flight to Richmond was uneventful, as was the ride to the hospital. Max, Cole, and Jasper rented two SUVs at the airport. Max drove Shay directly to the hospital while Jasper and Cole went to her home right outside of Richmond. They wanted to meet up with Mason, who was installing security and sweeping for bugs.
When they arrived on the cardiac floor, Shay hunted down the room while Max studied their surroundings, letting his military training kick in. It had been a while since he needed to use it, but it was like riding a bike. You never really forgot it.
The nurses’ station took up a large section of the floor, with rooms down several hallways. The one he followed Shay to was quiet and to the left of the nurses’ station. She tried to rush down the hall, but he stopped her.
“I’ll go first.”
Rolling her eyes, she let him step in front of her. “I don’t think my stalker is down there anywhere. It’s only people who’ve had heart attacks.”
“You’d be surprised at what people do.”
Instead of waiting for more snark, he walked in front of her and pushed open her father’s room, his eyes sweeping from left to right. It was your standard issue room with the window blinds pulled up, allowing as much light into the room as possible. He opened the bathroom door before allowing Shay to enter.
She ran into the room and straight to her father’s bedside. The man lying there looked frail in his hospital gown and with an IV stuck in his hand. Salt and pepper hair looked mussed, like he’d just woken up from a fitful nap. Shay’s blue eyes stared at him, from her father’s tired face.
“Shay.” Even his voice sounded weak.
“Daddy.” She wrapped him in a hug as best she could, and Max stepped outside the room, giving them some time.
He leaned against the wall and casually looked around. Two other rooms were on the opposite side, and only one of those was occupied with a little old woman who looked weaker than Shay’s father.
He checked his messages and saw that Jasper had sent him a text saying they were at the farm, and he’d be joining Max at the hospital while Cole stayed behind to help Mason.
They’d already informed hospital security of Shay’s situation and that they’d be there. Security promised any help they could give, which was a blessing. Sometimes private security guards could become defensive.
“Max.”
He heard Shay call for him, and he went back inside. Her father gave him a once-over, his gaze shrewd.
“Daddy, this is Max Sheridan. Max, this is my father, Angus Moore.”
Max shook the man’s hand. “Sir, it’s good to meet you.”
“Well, at least this one has some manners.” Angus humphed and settled back against his pillow.
“Dad never liked Duncan,” Shay explained and looked for a chair. Max beat her to it and picked one up, setting it beside the bed. “Thank you.”
He nodded and kept standing, his back to the window so he could see the door.
“I told you that one was no good the minute you brought him home.” Angus shifted uncomfortably. “He had no manners.”
“I know, Dad.”
“How long you been dating this one?”
Max’s gaze flew to Shay’s, whose begged him to play along. She’d said on the plane she didn’t want her father to know about her stalker, but she hadn’t figured out how to explain Max yet.
“A couple weeks.”
Fuck it all to hell and back. He was going to murder Shay and Desi both. He hated lying. Despised it, really. But it was a good cover.
Angus sighed. “Boy, you been taking care of my little girl?”
“Yes, sir, as best I can.” That much was the truth, at least.
“Why’d you come with her? Don’t you have to work?”
“I have the weekend off, and I didn’t want her coming by herself after her house got broken into. My dad would skin me alive if he thought I’d let a woman walk into any kind of danger without someone to watch over her.”
“You from down south?”
“A little town right outside of Austin, Texas. My family owns a ranch down there. My dad raises horses and cattle. I moved to New York for work after I got out of the Marines. A buddy of mine from my old unit owns a company there and offered me a job. Paid too well to pass up.”
“What do you do?”
“I find people who don’t want to be found.”
Angus cocked his head questioningly.
“We do private security, background checks, and private investigation work. I have my PI license, and I track down missing people.”
“Like Magnum PI?”
Max smiled. His own father watched that show religiously, especially now since reruns were all over TV thanks to the reboot.
“Sort of. You own a farm, right?”
Angus nodded.
“Let’s say your accountant emptied your farm’s business account and ran away. I’m the person who would find him. I’m very good at tracking people down. Once we figure out where he went, then I go in and find him on the ground.”
“You were in the Marines, you said?”
“Yes, sir. It’s where I learned all my tracking skills.”
“Why’d you join up?”
“My birth father was a soldier. I guess I wanted to do something that might make him proud. He died when I was baby. My stepfather raised me, and to me he’s my father.”
Angus nodded. “My brother’s kids aren’t his by blood, but he raised them, so they’re his. Blood don’t mean shit.”
“Dad! Language!”
The old man snorted. “I been cussing since I was twelve, little girl. I ain’t about to stop now.”
Despite the third degree, Max found he liked Angus Moore a great deal. He reminded him of his own father, who was blunt but genuine. Made him miss his father. He was going to have to get down to the ranch sooner rather than later to visit.
“Shay!”
The woman who came in threw everything down and rushed over to Shay. Her short, pixie-cut hair was dyed a light purple and clashed with the blue floral print blouse she wore. Loud was the word that came to mind. Max hid a grin and stood back before he got run over.
“Aunt Ethel.” Shay stood and hugged her aunt. God, she’d missed her so much. Even her purple hair, which Shay thought was a bit much for a woman in her sixties, but hey, who was she to tell someone not to do something that made them happy?
“Let me look at you.” Ethel disentangled herself and gave Shay a once-over. “You look tired, honey.”
“I’ve been working non-stop.” Shay was tired. Bone tired, really. She hated her schedule, but it was necessary.
“Who’s this?” Ethel’s attention moved to Max, and Shay almost winced. She hadn’t told her father or her aunt about her stalker. She didn’t want them to worry. Thank God Max went along with her little white lie. She didn’t like putting him on the spot like that, but she saw no other choice. She panicked when her father asked about Max. It was the first thing that popped into her head.