Page 5 of Wyoming Bodyguard (Sunrise Security #1)

E ven if Madden was grateful to cut his tense evening with his dad and brother short, he hated the reason.

Lily must be terrified if she called him for help.

The thought circled his brain as he pulled into the long driveway that wound around Tremont Ranch.

A wave of nostalgia tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

It’d been years since he’d stepped foot on the neighboring ranch—years since he’d been welcomed.

As kids, he and Dax would often tag along with their mom while she visited Mrs. Tremont.

The two women had been friends for years, grabbing a cup of coffee or a sip of wine when possible.

Probably discussing the struggle of being married to stubborn ranchers.

Back then, Lily had been a tomboy who’d climb trees and roped calves, proudly showing the McKay boys the differences between their two ranches.

One, a working cattle farm filled with hardened ranch hands and smelly cows, the other bustling with fun activities and polished in a way that made Madden feel like he’d stepped into an alternate universe.

But those days had ended with the death of Lily’s mother.

Now, as he drove toward the large cabin at the center of the property, the polish he remembered from his youth had faded. Even with only outdoor lighting on the barns and moonlight, he could see the years had taken a toll on the property.

Property that had been hit hard lately with the new hotel stealing tourists who normally would stay at Tremont Dude Ranch.

The glow of headlights from Lily’s truck snapped him back to the present. The past didn’t matter right now. Not when Lily’s father had been shot and she waited for him because someone had broken into her house.

Parking in the spot beside her, he shut off his vehicle and jumped out.

Lily climbed down from her truck and met him before he could open her door.

He struggled not to wince at the sight of the dried blood on her shirt and the shadows under her red eyes. “Are you hurt? What happened?”

Wrapping her arms around her waist, she averted her gaze as if second-guessing the decision to call him.

“Just shaken up. I went in and noticed papers in the hallway. Someone was in my dad’s office.

I didn’t stick around to see if anything was taken or if anyone was still inside.

Just called the police and got the hell out of there. ”

“Good. That was smart. Do you want me to look inside for you?”

“That’s why I called you over here, isn’t it?” she snapped. “I hope you didn’t think I was just scared and wanted your lovely company.”

Her brisk attitude rocked him back on the heels of his cowboy boots and he held up his palms as if speaking to a spooked horse. “No. Definitely didn’t think that.”

She squeezed her eyes shut for a beat, and when she opened them again, she finally met his stare head-on.

“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I’m exhausted.

It’s been a long day, and the last thing I expected was to come home to more stress.

I didn’t know what else to do after I called the authorities.

I figured…” A hint of desperation clung to her voice as it trailed off.

“You figured you’d call someone close by who owns a security company who might be able to help.” He finished the sentence for her in a way that wouldn’t ding her pride. Wouldn’t let her know he understood she’d been desperate enough to reach out to him.

“Exactly.”

“Have you noticed anything else unusual? Any noises that could have been another vehicle or even a four-wheeler? Someone coming this far out of town would need a way to get here. I can’t be positive until I go inside, but chances are whoever was here isn’t any longer if their means of getting away isn’t around. ”

Lily’s mouth dropped open. “Huh. Never thought of that, but no. No other vehicles except Eve’s when she brought me home. Thank you for calling her, by the way.”

“No problem,” he said, then quickly got back to the matter at hand. “I’ll step inside and clear the house. You can wait out here until the deputies arrive. Shouldn’t be much longer.”

“Nope. Not gonna happen. No way I’m standing out here alone, even if you think whoever broke in is long gone.” She lifted her chin and pressed her lips in a straight line.

He’d seen that expression more times than he cared to count.

Nothing he said would change her mind. No reason to waste time arguing.

“All right then. Stay close. Be on alert. And I know this part will be difficult but listen to me. If I tell you to run, run. If I tell you to stay, stay. Not trying to be an ass, just want to keep you safe.”

She rolled her eyes and marched forward.

He couldn’t help but grin. She could be a royal pain in the ass, but it was nice to see some of her spunk return. Especially after the day she’d had. Keeping his amusement to himself, he quickened his pace to get a step ahead of her before she reached the front door.

“Ready?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.

She nodded, eyes wide and filled with apprehension.

He stepped into the entryway. Lights blazed like fire from the giant chandelier overhead. The open concept gave him a good perspective of the area, which seemed clear of any intruders, but he searched every corner to be certain. He noted the French doors off the kitchen appeared compromised.

“Did you lock this door before you left today?”

“I didn’t check,” she said. “Usually we lock everything up, just to be safe. But I can’t be positive.”

He made a mental note to tell the deputies his suspicions then went down the hall.

The mess in the office spiked his blood pressure.

Instinct urged him to tidy the clutter and put the room back in place, but the sound of sirens told him the deputies were here.

They needed to see the damage for themselves.

Lily stood just inside the doorway. “Why would someone do this? Break in and throw things around the room like confetti? We haven’t seen the rest of the house, but so far, it doesn’t appear as though anything was taken.”

“Honestly, it looks like someone was searching for something. I don’t want to speculate, but if the intruder had a specific thing to find, they’d come in and do exactly what was done.

Go through the targeted area as quickly as possible, not caring about the mess.

Grabbing what they needed and leaving before getting caught.

If we find that no other room was raided, it will be telling of the intruder’s intentions. ”

Lily furrowed her brow. “Sorry, my brain is mush. I’m not following.”

“If the office was the only place someone searched, they were probably looking for something related to the business.”

A doorbell rang, confirming law enforcement had arrived. “I can keep clearing the house if you want to answer that.”

She hesitated, her gaze lingering on his for a beat before dropping to the floor.

Either she was too tired to hide it, or she hadn’t changed as much as he’d thought over the years, but he could read her like a damn book. “Or I can stay with you. The deputies will search anyway. No reason for us both to go through your home.”

A glimpse of a smile poked through. “Good point.”

She led the way back to the front of the house and welcomed the deputies. He recognized both, though didn’t know either of them well.

The woman, not much older than him, offered a hand to Lily. “Ms. Tremont, I’m Deputy Silver. This is my partner, Deputy Hill.”

The younger of the two removed his hat, revealing dark hair and blue eyes. “Evening. Sorry about your troubles. May we come in?”

Lily stepped back, allowing them access to the house. “I called Madden McKay.” She waved a hand in his direction, and he gave a nod. “He owns Sunrise Security.”

Madden offered a hand to each of the deputies.

“I searched the main living areas and office before you arrived. The rest of the house needs to be cleared, but figured you’d want to handle that yourselves.

The doors off the kitchen appeared to be tampered with.

Might be where an intruder gained entrance. ”

“Thanks,” Deputy Silver said. “We’ll take a look, as well as go through the rest of the residence, but first we have some bad news for Ms. Tremont.”

A soft gasp echoed off the high ceiling, and Lily’s body swayed as if about to crumble. “Is my dad okay?”

The crack in her voice moved Madden to her side. He secured an arm around her waist and held her upright.

Deputy Hill frowned. “We received word from the hospital on our way here. Someone snuck into his room and attacked him in his bed. He’s stable for now, but it’s unclear if he’ll stay that way.”

A strangled sob shook Lily’s shoulder.

She collapsed against Madden’s chest, and he held her close as she cried.

* * *

An eternity passed by the time Lily and Madden stepped back into her home, and she was ready to fall asleep on the spot. After speaking with the authorities and a return trip to the hospital to see her dad, she was convinced one more step might be the death of her.

“Do you mind if we head downstairs? That’s where my living space is.” Never in a million years did she imagine she’d invite Madden McKay to her bedroom, but the wall of windows in the living room made her feel exposed. As if whoever had put this nightmare into motion watched her every move.

“Sure. Wherever you’re most comfortable. Give me one second.” Madden made a lap to double-check the house was locked then met her at the staircase leading to the basement.

She hated how safe he made her feel. He’d stuck by her side while the deputies cleared the rest of the house then asked her questions about her father.

Each insinuation that her father had involved himself in something that had put a target on his back had landed like a missile.

Her dad might not be a saint, but he wasn’t a criminal.

Madden hadn’t said a word. Just offered her support and comfort and protection.

And now, as the clock ticked into a new day, he was still there.

Once downstairs, she flipped on the light, highlighting the stone wall that matched the one directly above it, the fireplace a smaller version than the one upstairs.

The couch and love seat centered around it were a lighter beige and softer than the dark, firm leather her father preferred.

The low ceiling wouldn’t allow wooden beams to be stretched across it, but the white tile and marble countertops in the connected kitchen mirrored the place she shared most her meals with her father.

Leaving her childhood home wouldn’t have been wise since she spent most of her hours working at the ranch or visiting her dad, but she’d wanted her own space.

Space that gave her all the qualities she loved about her home but with a little more privacy.

Madden whistled. “Wow. Not what I expected.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Let me guess, you thought it’d be dark and gloomy. A lonely, desperate cellar for the lonely, desperate woman?”

“I’d never call you desperate.”

The somber tone of his voice turned her to face him. She braced her hands on the back of the sofa. “Only lonely?”

He shrugged. “Wouldn’t know that. Don’t know too much about your personal life.”

His remark reminded her that the reason he was here wasn’t personal. At least not in the “let’s sit and chat and get to know one another” way. Madden might be a means to an end, but he was still the main reason her ranch was failing.

He was still the enemy.

“Never mind. That doesn’t matter. I want to thank you, officially, for everything you did for me today. You’ve spent a lot of your time helping me. I want to pay you for that time.”

Irritation pinched his mouth. “I didn’t help you so you’d give me money. I did it because it was the right thing.”

“You can think that if you want, but I don’t want any charity.

Not from you or anyone else in this town.

Having you close has made me feel safe. I didn’t understand how important that was, and I don’t want to give that up until I know for certain whoever is after my father won’t set their sights on me. ”

Anxiety danced up her spine. She straightened the moss green throw on the back of the couch, as if smoothing the soft fabric would sooth her nerves.

“That’s smart. Sunrise Security can offer you protection until it’s no longer needed.”

She lifted her chin. “I don’t just want protection. I want to figure out who is after my father and why. Can you help with that?”

Shifting his weight from his left leg to the right, he scratched the back of his neck and sighed.

“I’m not an investigator, Lily. I’ve never worked with law enforcement.

But I have experience with tracking down criminals.

With solving problems and I tend to know how to ask the right questions.

I can’t promise you I’ll figure out this mess, but if you want me to try, I will. ”

Relief blossomed in her chest. “I’d be grateful if you started now. If you could stay close for the duration. I’m not sure how much sleep I’d get if I was here alone. There’s only one bedroom down here, but the couch pulls out to a bed. I can sleep on that if you want my room.”

“Not necessary. I’ll sleep upstairs and stay on the sofa in the living room. I want to be able to keep a closer eye on things.”

A pinch of disappointment shocked her, but she wouldn’t let him see it.

Besides, she was only scared, and why wouldn’t she be?

Her father had been attacked twice and someone had violated her home.

Anyone would have the same reaction. “Sounds good. We can discuss the payment for your services in the morning.”

A vein ticked at the side of his head, but he nodded. “Sounds like a plan. Have a good night. Grab me if you need anything.”

Turning on her heel, she headed for the short hallway that led to her bedroom. As she readied herself for sleep, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d just made a deal with the devil.