Page 7 of Wyoming Bodyguard (Sunrise Security #1)

B y the time Madden dressed, brushed his teeth and led Lily back down to the office, Reid and Peggy had arrived for the day. He wanted a private word with Reid before having Lily sign on the dotted line to make his job official.

He led Lily into the front of the office. “Do you mind sitting in the waiting room while I speak with my business partner?”

Before she could answer, Peggy shot to her feet and hurried to wrap her arms around Lily. “How are you doing, honey? How’s your dad? I can’t believe what happened yesterday. It’s just so horrible.”

Lily rested her head on Peggy’s shoulder and leaned into the hug. “Thanks, Peg. Dad’s in critical condition but stable, and I’m figuring out what I need to do next. Luckily, I have Madden helping me with that.”

Peggy shifted to face Madden while keeping one arm hooked snuggly around Lily’s shoulders. Her gray eyebrows rose high. “Oh really? I’m so glad to hear that.”

Madden ignored his receptionist’s unspoken curiosity. “I’ll be right out, Lily. Peggy can make sure you have anything you might need.”

Peggy gave Lily a little squeeze. “Sure will, dear. Let’s have a seat and I’ll grab you some water or coffee or anything you’d like.” Peggy steered Lily toward the seating area.

Knowing she was in safe hands, Madden walked back to Reid’s office and dropped into the seat across from his partner’s desk.

“You look rough,” Reid said, leaning back in his chair. “Tough night?”

“You can say that again.”

“Didn’t expect to see you coming down from your apartment with Lily Tremont first thing in the morning.”

Madden rolled his eyes. Gossip in a small town was as natural as the spring water trickling through the mountains, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be at the center of it. “We were up there for all of ten minutes. I stayed at her place last night.”

“Excuse me?” Mischief sparked in Reid’s brown eyes.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Madden evened his temper before he said something he’d regret.

Like Lily had.

She appeared remorseful for her comments about his family, but that hadn’t lessened the impact. Especially after seeing firsthand the toll the years had taken on her land.

“She called when she realized someone had broken into her house.”

Reid sat up straight. “Was she hurt?”

Madden shook his head. “The intruder was gone by the time she got there. When I arrived, deputies showed up and told her that her father had been attacked again in the hospital. He’s in critical condition with a guard outside his door. She was scared and wanted to hire Sunrise Security.”

“Wow. Sorry to hear all that happened to her, but glad for her business. We can keep her safe while the authorities figure out who’s after her father.

Set up some cameras on her property, if she agrees to that.

Switch who’s staking out her house. If she’s really nervous, we can even take turns being with her. Make sure she’s never alone.”

The thought of Reid spending time alone with Lily in her home—of her making him breakfast in her short shorts and fitted tank top—fisted Madden’s hands. “She wants more than that.”

“How much more can we do?” Reid asked, frowning.

“She asked me to help her find the person who’s after her father.”

Reid barked out a laugh. “What? She knows we’re a security company and not private investigators, right?”

Madden shifted in his seat. Reid had been his best friend and partner in crime since they’d met in boot camp twelve years before. Reid had stuck by his side through more than one storm, always believing in Madden even when he didn’t believe in himself.

But what he was about to suggest was different. It was changing the entire business model they’d agreed to, that Reid had invested his time and money into.

“But what if we were?”

The amusement fled from Reid’s expression, leaving him slack-jawed. “We have no experience with that. Hell, we hardly have experience as a security company because no one in this damn town will hire us.”

Madden winced but pressed on. “I know. You’re right.

But we could be good at this. We tracked down terrorists overseas.

We understand how to get information and put pieces together until we get a clear picture.

Business sucks right now, but offering something more might be the ticket.

Might be what turns things around for us. ”

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 be helping . 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?”

“No, but I almost lost my father last night, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

” Irritation made her words snap out sharper than a whip.

“You’ve been a part of this family for a long time, and I expect you to help us.

So get over whatever grudge you’re holding on to, at least for the time being, and give Madden the respect he deserves. ”

She kept her focus on the weathered ranch hand, but she couldn’t help noticing the curve of Madden’s lips from the corner of her eye.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Tremont.” Charlie swept his dirty hat off his head. “You’re right. Right now, keeping everyone safe is the only thing that matters. If Madden can help make that happen, I’ll do whatever I can to assist him.”

Lily crossed over the green blades of grass and gave Charlie a quick squeeze. “Thank you.” She pulled away but looped an arm through his. Letting him know that no matter what, they were in this together. She met Madden’s gaze with her own, giving a tiny dip of her head.

“Lily tells me you’ve worked for the Tremonts for a long time,” Madden began. “Have you ever come across anyone who wished Mr. Tremont or his daughter harm?”

“Never,” Charlie said, puffing out his chest as though he found the question insulting.

“What about staff who’ve been let go? Anyone hold a grudge?”

“Not against the Tremonts.”

The meaning behind Charlie’s comment was clear as the blue sky above. Lily jabbed his side with her elbow. “Be nice.”

“Sorry,” Charlie said. “No one wants to hurt Kevin or Lily. Both are wonderful employers who treat us with kindness and respect. Even with layoffs, people understood. No one saw a need to complain about the reasons they were let go. At least not as far as Mr. and Ms. Tremont are concerned.”

Madden ignored the second, subtler jab. “How late did you and Daniel work last night?”

“Well, let’s see.” Charlie scratched his chin.

“I was home in time for dinner, so I would have left here no later than 5:30. Daniel was still here, but we were mostly finished for the day. He wanted to do as much extra as he could so Ms. Tremont didn’t have to worry much about anything besides her dad. ”

“I appreciate that,” she said. “All I had to do was feed the horses and clean out the stalls, which you know is more therapeutic for me than work.” She glanced around, spotting only Charlie’s old truck. “Where’s Daniel now?”

“Said he wasn’t feeling well and had to head home. I told him it was all right. Hope that’s okay.”

“Of course,” she said, making a mental note to call later to check on him. Her hands may be full at the moment, but she couldn’t afford to let anything at the ranch fall through the cracks.

“Do you or Daniel have access to the main house?” Madden asked.

Charlie shook his head.

“What about the other buildings on the property?”

“We’ve both got keys to the bunkhouse, although we don’t stay there much anymore.

We use that mostly when there are guests and there’s more work.

But we each have a key, and a bed inside.

The guest cabins are off-limits to us, unless we’re asked to help with something special.

The barns and outbuildings aren’t locked.

” Frowning, Charlie cocked his head to the side and studied Madden. “Why?”

Madden kept his mouth closed.

Charlie glanced down at Lily. “Is there something I don’t know?”

“Someone broke into the house last night.” She cringed, hating the way Charlie’s face dropped at the news.

“And you think me or Daniel had something to do with it?” Anger turned his cheeks red, and he jabbed a finger in the air, directly at Madden’s chest. “Mind yourself and your damn questions, boy. I’m as loyal as the night is black.

That’s not a quality you and yours know much about, and I won’t have you insinuating I’ve done anything to hurt this family. ”

Lily flattened her palm on Charlie’s arm, gaining his attention. “I know you wouldn’t hurt us, and so does Madden. He’s not asking anything the sheriff’s department isn’t probably planning to ask. We’re just making sure no one was around to see anything suspicious happen last night.”

His shoulders dropped and he closed his eyes for a beat. When he opened them again, tears misted in the corners. “I didn’t see anything unusual. I’d tell you if I did. I’ll keep an ear out. If anything gets said or done that can possibly be connected to what happened, I’ll tell you.”

“I know you will. Thanks, Charlie. Why don’t you head home? I can tend to the horses.”

“You sure?”

“Yep. Besides, I’ve got Madden around to help.”

A tight smile settled on Madden’s lips that she didn’t quite understand.

“All right then. Call if you need anything.” Charlie gent-ly cupped her biceps then aimed a steely glare at Madden before turning away.

She watched Charlie walk back to his truck, his head down and a defeated air swarming him.

“Well, that was interesting,” Madden said. “Has a bit of a temper.”

She bristled, unwilling to hear any negative comments about a man she’d known and respected most of her life. “He’s a good guy. He wouldn’t hurt my dad.”

“What about Daniel? He stayed later last night and skipped out of work early today. Could mean something.” Madden leaned his arms on the split-railed fence and stared at the horses.

“Or could mean nothing.” She wouldn’t make assumptions. But even as she clung to the hope that nothing was happening under her nose that had brought danger to her home, one simple truth remained.

Someone wanted her father dead, and there had to be a reason why.