He hesitated, then stepped closer and pressed a light kiss to her cheek.
The contact was brief, but it sent warmth through her all the same.
Hadley smiled as she stepped back. “Have a good day.”
“You too. Call me if you need me—for anything at all.”
“I will.”
She turned toward the clinic, aware of Max’s gaze on her. She hadn’t expected to feel this way again. After everything with Ethan—the loss, the betrayal, the way her old life had unraveled—she’d told herself she was done with romantic relationships. That she didn’t need to risk that kind of hurt again.
And yet . . . what was happening between her and Max felt different.
Not easy. Not perfect. But real. And safe.
Even with everything else closing in, she couldn’t deny that.
She reached for the door handle and paused.
It was still locked.
That wasn’t unusual on its own, but Susie almost always arrived before her to get things up and running. Hadley glanced back and gave Max a small wave. He was still in the truck, watching, and he nodded once before she turned back.
Maybe Susie was just running late. It wasn’t like her, but things did happen.
Hadley pulled her keys from her bag and slid one into the lock. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
“Susie?” she called.
The lights were on, but there was no answer.
Hadley took a few steps forward, her gaze moving across the room.
That’s when she saw two feet sticking out from behind the reception desk.
Her breath caught.
“Susie?” she said again, her voice sharper now as she rushed forward.
She rounded the desk—and froze.
It was Susie.
She lay on the floor, unmoving.
CHAPTER 30
Max kepthis hands on the wheel a moment longer after Hadley went inside, his gaze lingering on the clinic door.
Something in him resisted leaving.
He told himself it was just everything that had happened. The break-in. Kenny. The threats. It made sense that he’d feel on edge.
Still, he didn’t like driving away. However, Hadley was a grown woman. He couldn’t shadow her all day. She wouldn’t want that.
And he had a job to do and responsibilities to fill as well.
He forced himself to shift the truck into gear.
