“I get it, though.” Sheriff Sutherland walked to the far edge of the sidewalk and took some photos.
Max waited until the sheriff was a few steps away before closing the remaining distance between himself and Hadley.
He studied her. She was clearly shaken. Her hair was falling out of its already messy bun. And she looked exhausted. Sleeping on the floor and the events of today could do that to a person.
Concern washed through him. He leaned toward her and lowered his voice. “You okay?”
Her gaze went back to her building. “I’m fine. Just discouraged, I suppose. I’ve been here three months, and I finally felt like things were coming together. And then this.”
This vandalism wasn’t a coincidence. Max didn’t know what was going on or who would want to target Hadley.
But he intended to find out.
He’d let Sarah down. He wouldn’t let that happen again.
Not with Lyndee. And not with Hadley.
Hadley looked back at the shattered window and frowned. She couldn’t believe this had happened.
She was still trying to get established, to start this new chapter of her life that was supposed to be a rewrite from her past. Was this a sign that coming here had been a mistake?
Her friends back in Atlanta had begged for her to stay. She’d told them no. Told them she needed a fresh start. That everywhere she went in Atlanta, there were reminders of Ethan, and her baby, and the life that could have been.
Maybe her life was just a string of bad decisions.
Max squeezed her elbow, and she turned toward him, surprised at his touch.
“I know this isn’t what you expected to happen,” Max murmured. “And I’m sorry.”
Warmth spread through her at his words, and some of the tightness in her chest loosened.
She’d been standing out here with Kori for twenty minutes before Max and Sheriff Sutherland—he’d insisted she call him Micah since he was dating her cousin—arrived. She’d been trying to hold herself together.
A few people had come by to inquire if she was okay. She’d told them she was. That was what shealwaystold people. When she’d tried to tell the truth, it became apparent people didn’t really want to know.
But when Max had stepped out of that SUV and crossed the sidewalk toward her, something in her had exhaled.
It wasn’t just his intimidating size that brought her comfort, though she always felt a little safer when he was nearby. But it was also the way he operated with such confidence. The way he’d lowered his voice when he asked if she was okay. How he was looking at her now.
Hadley, you’ve been up since before dawn. You slept on a kennel floor last night. And you’re standing in the cold looking at extensive damage to your clinic. This isn’t the moment to start reading things into how a man looks at you.
Even if hewaslooking at her like he cared.
She’d tried romance once, and it had gone so, so wrong. She wasn’t sure she ever wanted to open herself up to that again.
On paper, Ethan was perfect. He was from a good home. He’d gone to a great college and had graduated top of his class.
He’d been everything she wanted.
Yet that paper had failed her. It hadn’t shown her his true heart. It hadn’t shown the person he was when the going got tough.
She redirected her attention to the window.
Micah returned from inside the building, an old brick in his hand. “It looks like someone threw this through the window. I’m actually surprised no one reported this. I’m sure it was loud.”
Max crossed his arms. “Are you going to question people who work close by?”
“I will. But for now, I have what I need for the report. That said, we can’t leave the clinic like this overnight. I’ve got some plywood back at my place. I can board it up until you get the replacement sorted.”
