Page 30 of Max

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as they stood in line.

“Sorry? Darlin’, you got nothing to be sorry for. That woman was an ass, and you need to forget everything she said. Jealousy will do all kinds of things to people.”

Tears welled up in her eyes again, and he got nervous. He hated when a woman cried. It made him feel unsettled, and he didn’t know how to help. Tears undid him.

He hugged her to him and just kept stroking her hair. It usually worked with Desi, and Shay seemed to be calming down with the soothing motion. To think that woman had just casually remarked on Shay’s miscarriage. It made his blood boil. People needed to remember their manners and that “what goes around comes around.” Karma always caught up to you. It was the one lesson his mama had taught him and Desi. Be kind and you’d get kindness in return.

They got their coffee and headed back inside to her father’s room. If nothing else, Max promised himself that he’d keep up their ruse just so he could protect her from all the nasty people who seemed determined to upset her more. The people she knew from home were probably going to be the harshest critics while she was here, and if he could protect her from their shadiness, he would.

It had nothing to do with how she made him soften when she cried or the fierce protectiveness she inspired. Nope, had nothing to do with that. He was just a nice guy.

That was all it was.

Shay sighed as they left the hospital. It was late, and all she wanted to do was get a hot bath and some rest. They needed to be at the hospital early tomorrow morning for her father’s surgery. Truthfully, she was terrified. What if something went wrong? What if his heart didn’t restart? What if…

Stop it. Nothing was going to go wrong. She wasn’t going to lose her father. She wasn’t.

“What’s wrong?” Max turned his head to look at her as he shut off the ignition to the truck he’d rented at the airport. Shay looked out the window at her house, the lights all lit up, and it made the place seem welcoming. She’d bought it before she met Duncan, and thanks to the prenup, she hadn’t had to share this with the bastard.

“Just worried about tomorrow.”

“Your father is going to be fine, Shay. This surgery isn’t new. It’s performed countless times a day all over the world. Besides, from what I know of your dad, he seems too stubborn to let something like this get the best of him.”

Her chest heaved, and she fought back the tears that slipped out despite her best efforts. She heard Max curse and turned away from him, not wanting him to see this weakness, but she couldn’t stop the waterworks. Too much stress over too many days.

He unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her across the bench seat until she was nestled in his arms, her tears spilling once again across his shirt. He was always right here when she needed him, just as Desi promised. Shay would have to thank her best friend for giving her someone who did what she needed when he didn’t have to. She’d hired him to protect her, not to comfort her or pretend to be her boyfriend to keep her father from becoming upset. Max was an all-around good guy.

She sat there for a long time, Max not saying a word, just holding her while she cried. Shay appreciated that. Duncan would have made some offhand comment and told her to get her shit together. He never had time to comfort her, not even after she lost the baby. He blamed her for it, even though he’d been the one to push her. She still blamed herself. Her body hadn’t been strong enough to protect her sweet little one.

“I’m sorry,” she said at last and pulled back.

“For what, darlin’?”

“For breaking down and crying all over your shirt again.” She attempted a smile, but it came out more of a grimace.

“No, you’ve got nothing to be sorry for. You’ve been through a lot the last few days, and you have every right to a good cry. I just happen to be around when you needed a chest to cry on.” He flashed her a smile that went straight to her core. This man was dangerous when he smiled.

“Still, this isn’t what you signed on for.”

His hand came up and cupped her neck, his thumb gently sweeping back and forth across her cheek. It felt so good a little moan slipped out of her.

“I’m a decent human being, Shay. My dad taught me to be a good person. You needed comfort, and I’m glad I could provide that for you.”

“Your dad sounds like a good man.”

“He is. He took me in and raised me like his own, never making any difference between me and Desiree. He loves me the same way your father loves you.”

She glanced up into eyes burning with something more than compassion. They were hungry, and she gasped slightly, unable to remember the last time anyone looked at her like that.

“Max?” Her voice came out huskier than she’d meant it to.

“I…uh…” Max swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “We should probably get inside. The others will be wondering what’s keeping us.”

“We should,” Shay agreed, but she didn’t move. She leaned closer until her lips were a hair’s breadth from his. “We really should.”

Max fought every instinct he had to lean in and kiss her. She was leaving the decision up to him, and dammit, he couldn’t kiss her. She was a client.

A client who was making him jump through hoops he normally never would have for anyone. Something about this woman brought out every protective instinct he possessed. That was why he’d agreed to her terms, why he agreed to stay with her.

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