Page 25 of Max's Mission

“Why do I get the feeling that’s the last we’ll hear from him until they make an arrest?” Margot asked, tucking her head into the wind as they hurried to the car.

Max snorted softly. “Because it probably is.”

Reaching the car, he unlocked it, and they got in, out of the wind. He started the engine. It shouldn’t take long for the heat to kick in. They hadn’t been inside that long. Taking his phone from his pocket, he jotted down all the information he’d memorized, then put the device away.

“Ready to go?” He glanced over at Margot to make sure she had her seat belt on.

She did, but it was the tense look on her face that made him pause. He leaned forward so he could better see her face. Moisture shimmered in the corner of her eye as she stared out her window.

“Hey.” He extended a hand to cover hers. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she quickly shot back, still staring out the window.

“No, you’re not. Talk to me, Margot.”

“I can’t.” Her voice stayed low and controlled. “Not right now.”

“Margot—”

“Please, Max. Just drive.” The controlled tone remained in her voice, but he recognized it for the coping mechanism it was. She was hanging on by a thread.

Clenching his teeth, he sat back. He didn’t want to force her to talk; it would just make her angry at him. Her ex-husband was a touchy subject. Pushing her to talk could drive a wedge between them.

Contrary to what the team thought, he wasn’t as secure in his relationship with Margot as it appeared. He worried every day she’d come to her senses and realize that a friendship with a single man on the downswing toward fifty wasn’t doing her any favors in the romance department and yank the rug out from under him. As much as he wished there could be more with Margot, he wasn’t a fool. He knew how old he was compared to her.

But that didn’t stop him from wanting more. She and her twin terrors had wormed their way into his heart with little effort. He’d do anything for Margot and the girls.

Right now, that meant he needed to keep his mouth shut and drive.

So, that’s what he did.

Ten

The bitter wind swirled Margot’s hair around her face, but she didn’t feel the bite in the air. Her racing thoughts and rioting emotions chased away any discomfort. She knew she should probably go inside, but it felt safer to deal with her emotions out here, where there was space. She wasn’t normally claustrophobic, but the walls of her room had closed in on her shortly after they returned to the hotel. She’d paced the floor for about ten minutes before donning her coat and escaping outside. Now, she was huddled in an alcove at the side of the building, staring at the snow-covered field kitty-corner to the hotel.

Max would likely come looking for her soon. They hadn’t eaten dinner yet. When they returned, she’d mumbled something about needing some time to herself, then fled into her room.

It was cowardly, she knew. Especially after the silence on the hour and a half ride back. But she just needed some room to breathe. Somewhere without anyone’s eyes on her—no matter how kind or well-meaning.

Part of her wanted to walk into that field and scream. Tad was supposed to be behind her. She’d moved on.

But here he was, invading her thoughts and making her sad again. She’d already mourned the loss of her marriage. But she’d never wished him dead. Deep down, she’d harbored hope he’d figure out whatever was going on with him and come back to be a father to Emily and Lily.

That could never happen now.

A tear trickled down her face, the skin of her cheek growing tight as the moisture froze to it. She didn’t bother wiping it away. Another one would just fall. Icicles could form and she wouldn’t care.

Darkness gathered around her. Long shadows fell on the ground from the building and the trees. Streetlights blinked on, chasing some of them away.

The temperature dropped as the sun went down, and soon, Margot couldn’t feel her nose. But she still couldn’t bring her feet to move her body inside. Huddling deeper into her coat, she pulled the hood tighter around her head and tucked her nose in her collar. Her teeth weren’t chattering yet. She’d go in when that happened.

A tall figure rounded the corner of the building. Wind whipped through his dark blond hair and fluttered the lapels of his coat as he walked down the sidewalk, hands stuffed into his pockets.

Max.

Margot saw him before he saw her. Without thinking, she stepped back, still wanting to be alone, but stopped herself before she could fully sink into the shadows. He’d raise the roof if he couldn’t find her. She imagined he was already concerned, since she wasn’t inside. She’d made it no secret it was too cold here for her.

The man was a saint. She didn’t know how she’d lucked into finding a friend like him.

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