Max’s gaze shifted, and for a second, something darker crossed his expression before he looked back at the fire.
He drew in a slow, measured breath as if he were deciding how much to say. “I grew up in Ohio. Joined the military after graduation. Made it all the way up to Ranger.”
Her brows shot up. “That’s impressive. Why did you get out?”
A shadow crossed his gaze. “There was . . . an incident, for lack of a better word. I thought I was doing the right thing.” He shook his head and corrected himself. “IknowI was doing the right thing. But everything . . . everything was turned upside down afterward. My military career ended.”
Hadley tightened her grip on his hand. What did that mean? What had happened? Something on one of his missions?
She didn’t push for more details. She simply waited.
Max glanced at her, something guarded settling back into his expression. “Let’s just say I hit rock bottom afterward. I came to this area to stay with my aunt and uncle. I needed a fresh start. But I couldn’t find work. No one was exactly lining up to hire me.”
Something in the way he said it told her there was more behind that than he was sharing. Why wouldn’t people want to hire him? Because he was an outsider?
“That’s when I met Sarah,” he said. “She didn’t ask a lot of questions. She simply gave me a chance.”
“I heard you were the one who found her after . . .” She couldn’t bring herself to finish. It seemed too morbid to say the words “she was killed.”
Max’s expression tightened as he stared at the fire. “I did. I should have been there for her earlier. I should have been close. Maybe then she wouldn’t have died.”
Hadley’s heart pulled when she heard the pain behind his statement. “You couldn’t have known what would happen.”
“I suspected Richard was abusing her. I just didn’t have proof. I kept telling myself I needed something solid before I acted.” He let out a breath, heavier now. “I tried to talk her into leaving him—for her own safety—but she wouldn’t.”
“People in my family are determined to see their vows through, I suppose.”
“Normally, that’s a good thing. But I could see Richard’s microaggressions eating away at Sarah. He was always critical—but never in front of other people. When others were around, he put his best foot forward.”
“Abusers often do.”
“I thought I could protect her. It would be my way of telling her thank you for seeing the good in me when no one else did. But I was wrong. I failed her.” The regret settled deep in his voice.
Hadley rested her head against his shoulder, and Max leaned into it as if he needed the contact as much as she did.
CHAPTER 29
The next morning,Max was up before the crack of dawn. He’d already done some chores and checked on the dogs.
Then he went back inside and waited for the rest of the house to awaken.
Specifically, for Hadley to awaken.
He couldn’t wait to see her again. Those stupid flutters—the ones men weren’t supposed to feel—were back again.
He’d just poured a cup of coffee when Hadley stepped into the kitchen. She was already dressed in her scrubs for work. Her hair was pulled back into a loose bun, and her movements seemed careful, like she was still working around the soreness in her arm.
His throat tightened at the sight of her.
Even after just waking up, she looked beautiful.
He cleared his throat before saying, “Morning.”
“Morning.” Her voice sounded soft but steadier than he’d expected.
He studied her, taking in the bruise along her cheek. She’d been through more than anyone should in the span of a week, and yet she was still here. Still moving forward.
Not just today either.
