Chapter 13
Madi
Do you think Paul has something to do with it? Matt’s question looped in my head as I searched for answers.
“I doubt it. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence he was here today.” He probably went shopping after his clinic appointment. Though I couldn’t say that to Matt without violating HIPAA.
“Madi, I want you to really think about your answer to the question I’m about to ask. And maybe not bite my head off.”
I turned towards him, knowing that the words about to pass his sexy lips would piss me off.
“If you were to ask your father, or any of your brothers, if they thought it was a coincidence, what do you think they’d say?”
I sucked in a deep breath while reminding myself that pouting like a twelve-year-old wouldn’t get me anywhere—no matter how badly I wanted to cross my arms, stomp my foot, and ignore his question. “They’d say they don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Neither do I.”
“I know. But it’s hard to believe Paul might be a stalker or an arsonist. He’s a firefighter. He serves his community.”
“Being a first responder doesn’t guarantee that he’s not a psycho. And he knows how to handle a fire, he could have set it, thinking he could control it and put it out with relatively low risk.”
As much as I hated to admit it, Matt was right. Just because I wanted to believe the best of Paul didn’t negate the creepy circumstances of him showing up more often than I’d like. His station was a few towns over; it defied logic that he’d visit Weatherford so often.
Though I understood him not wanting to see a doctor in his hometown. Lots of guys in the Navy saw civilian doctors when they didn’t want an injury to interfere with their duties.
I’d bet a year’s salary Matt had done it.
“Why would he start fires? Surely there are better ways to get my attention?”
“I won’t pretend to understand his reasoning, but if I had to guess, he wants to come to your rescue. Be your hero.”
True or not, the idea of a man thinking he could impress me by coming to my rescue pissed me off.
“That makes sense, except he wasn’t at the clinic to help with that fire.” I clung to that as I tried convincing myself Paul wasn’t involved. He was pushy and a little awkward, but that didn’t make him an arsonist or a stalker.
“I don’t know, Madi.” He shrugged and flipped his turn signal. “If he’s unhinged, his reasons will make sense to him but not to us.”
He was right.
“There isn’t enough evidence to convict him.” I tried using terms he should understand as a PI in training. Terms my father and brother, both former cops, would absolutely understand.
“No, but the circumstantial evidence is too compelling to ignore.” Matt parked near the mechanic’s front office and asked, “Want me to come in with you?”
“No.” I looked towards the bay, where O.P. hovered in the air thanks to the lift. “Thanks for asking.” My smile probably looked as fake as it felt as I exited the black SUV.
The scent of heavy oil and the brrrp of a power tool assaulted my senses as the woman behind the desk asked, “How can I help you?”
“I’m Madeleine Sheppard.”
“You’re here for the purple Jeep?”
“I am.”
“I love the color. Custom?” She asked, sorting through papers.
“Thanks. It is.”
“Here we go. There’s no structural damage, but the melted tire needs to be replaced.”
“That was fast.”
“Your dad called in a favor.”
I wanted to be at him, but how could I be? The mechanic wouldn’t have looked at O.P. mere minutes before the shop closed without Dad’s help.
“Thanks.”
“Sure thing. We had to order the tire; it should arrive tomorrow morning.”
One day without my car. It could be worse. The thought didn’t keep my irritation from rising. I wouldn’t be here if someone hadn’t set it on fire.
As I filled out the paperwork, she asked, “Do you need a rental?”
“No, I have a ride.”
She looked over my shoulder. “Is it that gorgeous stud leaning on the SUV?”
I glanced over my shoulder. Of course. Matt wasn’t sitting in his truck. He leaned casually against the passenger door. Well, to someone who hadn’t grown up with cops, he looked casual.
And sexy. His boot-clad right foot rested against the tire, his jeans hugged his thick, tattoo-covered calves. His tattoos weren’t visible, but the tribal and geometric designs lived rent-free in my mind.
Matt touched the edge of his baseball cap bill as he dipped his head in greeting.
His grin made me want to take him home and strip him out of his leather jacket and…
The receptionist interrupted my thoughts. “Damn, girl. I wish I had a man who looked at me like that.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed. He was sexy as sin, and he played the part well, but men like Matt lived to play the field. He’d never settle down, and even if he did, I wouldn’t be the one he chose.
Playboys like Matt didn’t want fiercely independent women who had secret, hopeless romantic sides. They wanted less complex partners. They certainly don’t want a woman who has three overbearing brothers. Men who made dating her a pain in the ass.
Or in Matt’s case, a pain in the eye. The black eye may have happened in training, but Jay’s message was loud and clear.
As I approached, Matt opened my door. This playboy acted more like a gentleman than most men I’d dated.
Once he was behind the wheel, I swallowed my pride and asked, “Since you have to follow me anyway, would you mind giving me a ride to work tomorrow morning?”
“Not at all. I’ll pick you up a few minutes early so we can stop by Grannie’s and grab coffee.”
When Jay’s name flashed across the dash display, Matt let it go to voicemail.
“That won’t be necessary. Dad‘s picking up coffee for everyone for our meeting.”
“That’s right, he and Doug are meeting with Dr. Greenfield tomorrow.”
“We’re meeting at eight; can you pick me up at seven-thirty?”
“Of course.”
The country music provided background noise as my mind replayed the day’s events.
“Madi?”
Hearing my name snapped me out of the loop.
“Yeah?” When I looked over, Matt squinted and looked me over before nodding.
Before I could ask what he was thinking, he asked, “It’s been a day, you feel like grabbing a beer? It might take your mind off things. My treat.”
It was a sweet offer, and I actually wanted to take him up on it, but I declined. “Thanks, but Jack expects me home. As much as I want to avoid dealing with my brothers right now, I can’t. Things’ll get worse if I wait.”
Matt nodded with a mm-hmm. “Call me if you change your mind. We have a relationship to sell.” He glanced over and winked at the shock on my face.
I laughed. The only person we needed to convince didn’t live in Weatherford. “Rain check for Wednesday?” I asked, wanting a night away from my brothers.
And sometimes a girl just needs to talk to her mom. Delaying our date gave me time to talk to her about all the upheaval in my life.
“It’s a date.”
Jay’s name flashed on the display again.
“Maybe you should answer that.”
“Nope.” Matt chuckled. “We both know he’s calling to warn me to stay away from you despite your father assigning me as your bodyguard.”
I groaned at his use of the word bodyguard. The last thing I wanted was to be my father’s client.
“Madi, you know needing a little help doesn’t make you weak. In fact, it’s a show of strength to ask for and accept help.”
Great, just what I needed—Matt getting all philosophical.
I picked at my cuticles and avoided his gaze.
“I know, I just wish it wasn’t like this.” There were plenty of things I’d be willing to ask my brothers for help with, like carrying my new furniture when I finally got my own place. Things like helping me paint my walls or installing my security system.
Needing them to provide me with a bodyguard wasn’t on that list.
Matt reached over and squeezed my hand.
It was a perfect boyfriend-ish way of showing his support.
He’s a pretty good fake boyfriend.
“Let’s get you home. Let me know if you want backup talking to Jack.”
I appreciated his offer, but I needed to do this on my own.
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.”
As we neared Jack’s, I saw my father’s car in Jack’s driveway. I might not want Matt’s help, but I appreciated my father’s presence; he wouldn’t let Jack give me too much shit.
And the best part, Dad wouldn’t need words.
But once Dad was gone, all bets were off.
A small part of me wondered if I could use the same threat I’d used when we were kids—if you don’t stop, I’ll tell Dad.
Obviously I could; the words were easy to say. And the threat was real enough. Who knows, maybe sounding ridiculous will lessen the tension.
But I knew I’d never resort to such childish ploys, giving my brothers a reason to doubt my ability to stand up for myself.
Matt parked, killed the engine, and told me to wait. He got out, walked around the hood of the SUV—I couldn’t help but notice how gorgeous he looked—and opened my door.
“Before you say anything, I know I don’t need to open your door, but chances are your father and brother are watching and scanning for threats before letting you exit the car is part of the job.”
I stared at him for a second as several sarcastic thoughts ran through my head, but in the end, I kept my mouth shut.
His acknowledging that I didn’t need his help with my door softened the blow, and I didn’t want to get Matt in trouble.
“Okay.”
He grinned. “Not gonna fight me about it?”
“No, I don’t want to get you in trouble.” Nor did I want my brothers giving me shit for not following the rules.
Playing by the rules doesn’t mean I won’t find a way around them. I had a history of following the rules while working silently behind the scenes to change them.
Mostly it was challenging the Navy’s ‘that’s how we do it’ excuse when it no longer made sense. Outdated and inefficient practices were common, but I wasn’t one to toe the line. I was the sailor who rocked the boat.
“I appreciate that.”
“I suppose you need to walk me to the door, but unless my father or brother asks you to, I don’t need you to come in.”
“As you wish.”
I wondered if he knew he’d quoted the hero from one of my favorite movies about a princess and a dread pirate.
Probably not.
Jack opened the door as we approached. His eyes scanned me from head to toe before he pulled me into a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks, Jack. “
“Robinson, you have a minute?”
“Sure thing, boss.”
He said he didn’t want to get into trouble, yet he seemed to like pushing my brother’s buttons.
“Hey, Dad.”
I was about to tell him he hadn’t needed to wait for me, but he was holding Natalie and it was clear he was enjoying time with his granddaughter. I convinced myself that was the reason he’d stayed.
“Madi!” Meg rushed over and pulled me into a tight hug.
Of course they told her.
I shouldn’t be surprised; it wasn’t a violation of my privacy since she worked at SSI. Even on maternity leave, she checked in and helped out with paperwork.
Just like Jack.
“I’m okay, Meg. O.P. is a little worse for wear and has to stay in the shop overnight.” Paying for a new paint job sucked, but the damage could’ve been worse.
The detailer who did the paint job was friends with my cousin, Cass, and had come highly recommended. Cass had insisted I get the friends and family discount when she introduced us. Maybe I can get the discount again.
“Hey, Matt.”
“Hi Meg, how’s momhood treating you?”
“Momhood?” She tilted her head like a confused puppy.
A smile spread across her face, making her emerald-green eyes sparkle.
“I think I like that phrase. Momhood.” She nodded, confirming her opinion.
“It’s treating me well, except for the lack of sleep.
Thank God, Madi’s here.” She squeezed my shoulder. “She’s been a godsend.”
Dad handed Natalie to Meg. “Robinson, thanks for helping out.”
I almost laughed. Dad was literally paying Matt to ‘help out’.
“I’ll pick Madi up in the morning, since I’m meeting with Dr. Greenfield. Jay adjusted your schedule, you’ll cover the clinic until the new security system is in place.”
With any luck, they’d install the system right away and I could be bodyguard-free.
“What about after the cameras are installed, sir?”
Dad raised an eyebrow, and Matt corrected himself. “John.”
“Then we’ll station you on the street for rapid response. For now, I want you positioned on the porch. If anyone sets off your intuition, follow them inside.”
I’d argue with my father about that order after Matt left.
“Copy that.”
“We’re stopping at Grannie’s on the way to the clinic. Can we grab you anything?”
Matt declined the offer. “I’m stopping by the office first. What time do you want me at the clinic?”
“The meeting won’t take long.” Dad turned to me. “When do your first patients arrive for their appointments?”
“We unlock the door at eight-fifty-five.”
“Be there by eight-forty-five,” Dad said before dismissing Matt.
“Dad, Matt can’t follow patients, it violates their privacy.”
“No, but he can linger in the waiting room, so he’s nearby if something happens.”
I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t argue.
“We’ll discuss it with Dr. Greenfield tomorrow,” I said, hoping she’d be on my side and insist Matt stay outside unless called in.