Page 22 of Max

“Chinese?”

Jasper grinned. He loved Chinese food almost as much as Max did.

“I know just the place, and they deliver.”

“I’m going to go get cleaned up then check in with Shay. Let us know when the food’s here.”

He left Jasper to it and took a quick shower, washing away the sleep and the sweat from his overly long nap. Jasper shouldn’t have let him sleep so long. He’d never get to sleep tonight.

He opened the duffel bag he’d left in the bathroom last night and pulled out some clean clothes. Jeans and t-shirt. He brushed his teeth and slipped on clean socks before heading down the hall to find Shay.

She was sitting in her office staring off into space when he knocked on the open door. Her head turned toward him, and he saw the stark look in her eyes before she masked it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She waved his question off. “Did you sleep well?”

He came into the room and sat down in the chair in front of her desk. “Bullshit. What’s wrong?”

She snorted. “You sound just like your sister.”

Max leaned back and waited. Desi had taught him you didn’t push a woman to tell you things. You called her on her BS then waited her out.

They sat like that for five minutes before Shay gave in. “It doesn’t have anything to do with my stalker.”

Crossing his arms, he stared her down. He should have let it go, but he couldn’t. Oddly, he wanted to know what was bothering her even if it had nothing to do with the case. He wanted to help her.

“My dad’s sick.”

Memories of his mother tried to push forward, and he shoved them down. “What’s wrong with him?”

“His heart. They think he needs bypass surgery.”

Shit. Thatwasserious.

“I’m sorry, Shay.”

“I can’t take time off work. We film every single day, but…”

“But you want to go home and be there for him.”

“Yes. I just spoke with my producer. He’s willing to give me the time to be there for his surgery, but that’s it.”

“Don’t you have vacation days or something?”

She laughed—not a good laugh, either. “It doesn’t work the same in my business. Vacations are scheduled months in advance, and I can’t just take a sick day. It would screw up the filming schedule and put everyone behind.”

“That sucks.”

“I have to call Aunt Ethel and let her know I’ll be there tomorrow for Daddy’s surgery. She called me this morning to let me know his doctor said he can’t put it off anymore. Daddy didn’t even want her to tell me. I’m glad she did, though. There’s no place I’d want to be except by his side.”

“That will give you the weekend with him, though.”

She smiled sadly. “Just the weekend. Ted expects me back on set Monday morning.”

Max resisted the urge to hug her. Damn, but she looked like a woman in serious need of a hug. Instead, he turned her attention back to the case. Hopefully, that would distract her from how helpless she had to be feeling. It was an emotion he was well acquainted with.

“There’s been a break in your case. It’s why I came looking for you.”

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