Page 18 of Wyoming Bodyguard (Sunrise Security #1)

A fter the deputies left Tremont Ranch, giving Lily permission to paint over the threat scrawled across the barn wall, Madden convinced her to head into town for a little breather.

Something he needed as much as she did after the chaos of the morning.

But instead of a relaxing cup of coffee to calm their nerves, he found himself and Lily at the hardware store, debating over dozens of different shades of the same damn paint color.

“Why are there so many different shades of red?” Lily asked, her mouth in an adorable pout.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her irritation. With everything else going on, finding the right shade of red seemed trivial. But at least it was one thing she could control. Not to mention if she picked the wrong shade, they’d have to paint the whole barn.

Wincing at the thought, he studied the thin strips of glossy paper splashed in color.

He plucked one from its place and pointed toward the color on the top.

He placed the sample they’d chipped off the barn beside it.

“I think this is the closest. We can grab a couple cans of varying shades to make sure, though. We don’t need much, and that way we won’t have to come back to town to get more paint right away if we’re wrong.

We can always return the unused cans later. ”

She nodded. “Good idea. I’ll get someone to grab what we need.”

He watched her walk away, warmth snaking its way through his chest. He wished they could go back to earlier when their worries were at least on the sidelines, shelved for a tiny moment in time while they lost themselves in more enjoyable activities.

But it was getting lost in those activities that allowed the destruction of her property to go unnoticed. If he’d have been more diligent, spent time patrolling her property instead of being in her bed, he might have caught the bastard tormenting her.

He had to do better. His feelings for Lily weren’t going anywhere. And if he slipped up and she was hurt again in the process, he’d never forgive himself.

A few minutes later, Lily rounded the corner with a shopping cart, five gallons of paint and some brushes. “I got what we need. Ready?”

“You betcha.”

He walked beside her to the cashier, an older woman who gave them curious glances as she rung up their items. He paid the bill before Lily could grab her wallet from the purse slung across her chest then maneuvered the cart to his truck parked in the nearly empty lot. “You hungry?”

Folding her arms over the edge of his truck bed, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and shrugged. “A little. I guess we didn’t have a chance to eat anything this morning, did we?”

“Nope, and I’m starving. I also need to go over a few things with Reid.

How about we grab some food and take it to my office?

” He rounded the back bumper to the passenger door and held it open, waiting for her to climb inside before leaning his forearm on the top of the vehicle.

“Do you want Tilly’s or something else?”

Hesitation skittered across her face, and she twisted her lips to the side. “I’m not sure I can stomach seeing the spot where my father was shot.”

A heavy weight crushed down on his chest. “I’m so sorry. I should have considered that. We can go somewhere else. Or, hell, I can text Reid whatever you want and have him pick it up for us.”

She blew out a long breath. “Let’s try Tilly’s.”

“Are you sure?” He dropped his arm and found her hand, squeezing gently.

“Yeah. It’d be nice to see Eve and give her a proper thank you for everything she’s done, and I can’t avoid this forever. I pass by it most days, and I’d rather have you beside me when I face those memories for the first time.”

Her words warmed him down to his toes. Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’ve got you.” He smiled then closed the door before climbing behind the wheel.

Silence filled the cab, and a quick glance showed him the nerves displayed on Lily’s face—furrowed brow, pinched mouth and hands clasped tightly on her lap. He rested a palm on her knee, wanting her to know he was there.

He opted for the small lot behind the restaurant. Better to ease her into the scene of the crime that had led to her current nightmare. Shutting off the engine, he faced her. “Ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He hurried around the hood of the truck to meet her then captured her hand. “We can go in the side door first. No need to head right for the sidewalk.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I want to get this over with.”

Matching her step for step, he stayed as close to her side as possible as they turned the corner onto Main Street.

Late morning on a weekday meant only a few pedestrians popped in and out of shops or strolled down the sidewalk.

He ignored their curious glances, his only focus on being the rock Lily needed right now.

Her steps slowed for a few beats before she stopped at the intersection in front of Tilly’s.

She locked her gaze on the hard ground, red stains shining in the harsh sunlight.

She blinked back tears. “In some ways it seems like it was months ago when I sat there with my dad in my arms. So much has happened since then.”

Memories of Lily’s piercing scream after shots were fired assaulted him, and he squeezed her hand a little harder. “When I came out that door and saw you covered in blood, I thought you’d been hurt. I’ve never been so damn scared in my life.”

She glanced up at him, her lips curved at the corners. “Really? Even though you hated me?”

“I’ve never hated you, just didn’t understand you. I’m glad we’ve moved past that.”

She turned into him, releasing his hand to wrap her arms around his waist, and buried her face in his chest.

He kissed the top of her head and held her tight. “I’ve got you,” he repeated.

Peering up, she locked her eyes with his. “Thank you.” She cut her gaze back to the ugly spot on the sidewalk. “I need to visit my dad today. I hate seeing him looking so small and frail, but I can’t stay away because of my feelings. He needs to know I’m there for him.”

“Okay. How about we stop by the hospital after we eat? Then we can head back to your place and clean up the barn. That’ll take some time, but we should get most of it done before dinner.”

“Does everything revolve around food for you?” she asked, one eyebrow quirking toward the blue sky.

“That and other things.” Unable to stop himself, he swept down and pressed his mouth to hers.

The sound of a woman clearing her throat broke into the moment. “Well, well, well. Isn’t this an interesting development.”

Madden turned to find Eve standing in the doorway of Tilly’s.

Her smile was ear to ear, arms crossed over her chest. The subtle wind made her long, auburn hair blow across her face before she tucked it behind her ear. “Looks like we’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

He glanced down at Lily who gave a tiny nod before leading him toward the restaurant. “You have no idea.”

* * *

An hour later, the salad Lily ate while Madden and Reid went over Sunrise Security’s business turned in her stomach. The smell of sickness and industrial strength disinfectant as soon as she stepped into the hospital hallway didn’t help.

Madden kept a steady palm on the small of her back.

She stared at the shiny white floors. The bright glare of the fluorescent lights overhead bounced off the linoleum. She trusted him to guide her to her father’s room.

The idea tightened her chest.

She trusted Madden. Hell, she not only trusted him with her life, but a larger part of her was opening up to the possibility of trusting him with way more.

“Hey, Duke,” Madden said, dipping his chin to acknowledge the deputy standing guard beside the closed door. “How’s it going?”

“Been quiet.” The young deputy’s green eyes were sharp, his stance rigid and on alert under his perfectly pressed uniform. “No one’s stopped by to see Mr. Tremont besides medical staff.”

Relief loosened the knots in her gut. “I appreciate your diligence. Having him here is difficult, but knowing he’s being looked after makes things a little easier.”

“Least I can do.”

“I can stand guard if you want to take a break,” Madden said. “Lily wants some time with her father. I plan to stick close while she’s in the room. You can grab a coffee or hit the john if you need to.”

“You sure?”

Madden nodded.

“Thanks, man. I won’t be long.” Duke offered Lily a tight-lipped smile then hustled down the hallway.

Lily hesitated, hating the fear keeping her from turning the doorknob. “You sure you don’t want to go in?”

“And chance giving your father a stroke if he happens to wake up and see me standing over him?” He wrinkled his nose and chuckled. “Nah, we’ll ease him into the idea of you and me once he’s stronger.”

His words touched the dark, scary spot inside of her that feared her dad would never make it home.

She shoved those thoughts as far to the back of her mind as she could and forced a brave smile. “Good point. Okay, I’ll make it quick.”

“Take all the time you need.”

Before she could talk herself out of it, she pushed open the cream-colored door and stepped into the sterile room.

The sound of beeping machines greeted her along with the painful image of her father lying with his eyes closed in the hospital bed.

Her breath hitched. Her pulse sped up, and tears stung the corners of her eyes.

She willed herself to take another step forward then another until she stood at the side of the bed. She rested her hand on top of his, the rough skin on his weathered knuckles familiar and comforting despite its coolness. “Hi, Daddy.”

Nothing but the steady beep, beep, beep answered.

A lump lodged in her throat, making it hard to speak, but she wanted him to hear her voice.

To have no doubt she was there. “Sorry I didn’t come by yesterday, but things have been a bit crazy.

I wish you’d wake up and explain everything.

I don’t understand why someone would try to kill you or why they’d hide drugs on our property or vandalize our barn and my riding equipment.

None of this makes sense, and I’m afraid you’re the only one who has the answers.

You’re the only one who can make it stop, but you’re stuck in this bed and can’t even open your eyes. ”

She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.

Fear and worry and anger swirled together inside her like a dust storm, blinding the way in front of her.

Her father was supposed to be her guidepost. He was the one who taught her right from wrong, but right now he’d thrust her into a nightmare she couldn’t escape.

Guilt burrowed into her chest. Her father was fighting for his life. She shouldn’t be sending out anything except positive energy and love. But damn it, she couldn’t help but be a little bit mad at the position she’d been forced into.

A position where her father’s actions might have played a role in putting her life in danger.

But what could he have done? What decision could he have made to bring so much turmoil into her world?

She shook her head in an attempt to rid herself of unwanted thoughts. She had to believe the decisions her father made were done with nothing but the best of intentions. If she didn’t, she’d crumble.

“No matter what, I will always be here for you. You just need to get better, then we’ll figure everything out.

I know there has to be an explanation, and I promise you, I’ll get to the bottom of it.

” Smoothing back locks of white hair from his forehead, she leaned over and kissed him. “I love you, Dad.”

She gave him one more long look then crossed the room to the door where another man she trusted waited. A man she’d doubted for so long and had finally learned the truth. That truth had opened a host of possibilities for her future.

She could only hope whatever truth she uncovered about her dad wouldn’t steal the rest of his.