Vivienne was changing Amber Rose when Max appeared at the door of the guest bathroom.

“Has everyone left?” she asked, securing the baby’s diaper so that it wouldn’t be too tight.

“Wilson is driving my parents home.” Max leaned against the doorframe. The dark circles under his eyes and the weariness in his expression spoke volumes about how tired he was.

“How are you holding up?” Vivienne buttoned Amber Rose’s onesie and raised her to her chest for a last cuddle.

“I was such an idiot,” he said, messing with his hair. “But I don’t regret that night. Amber Rose is the result of my carelessness, after all.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. You couldn’t have known that this girl would go to such extremes to get pregnant.” Vivienne leaned in to smell the baby’s head.

Maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day soon, Max wouldn’t need her services any longer. Vivienne knew it was the way of life. Every baby she had cared for had eventually grown up, and she had moved on to the next family. Bur Amber Rose was different. Vivienne had named her.

“I’m sorry you had to listen to the details about her mother.” Max pointed his chin at the baby. “I’ve had lots of women—”

Before his words could hurt her, Vivienne raised her free hand to stop him. “It’s not my business, and you don’t owe me an explanation.” Her jealousy was irrational, and she better nip the sentiment in the bud. One thing was falling for Max, another deluding herself that he could reciprocate.

“Let me finish,” he gently rebuked her, a tired smile tugging at his fleshy lips.

“Please.” She nodded, mimicking the action of zipping her mouth close.

Amused, he shook his head slightly before continuing, “There’s obviously something between us. We both feel it.” He let the thought sink in for a few seconds. “But this is a very fucked up moment in my life, and I understand if you’d rather run as far away from me as you can.”

“I wouldn’t—” she said over his words.

“It’s going to get worse, way worse, before this situation gets any better,” he continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “And I don’t want you to be dragged down with me.”

This time, she waited for him to take a pause before talking again. “I don’t care.”

Max’s eyes shone brighter for a moment. Soon, his expression darkened. “You say this now because you are a good person and don’t know how low people can sink for money or revenge.”

“I don’t care,” she repeated louder, reaching for him. “I won’t leave you two alone.”

He stepped into the bathroom, coming close to Vivienne, towering over her. With any other guy, she would’ve felt crowded in. Usually, a few chosen words would follow, and she would stomp away, carrying herself straight. Max was different. For one, he didn’t use his body to intimidate her but made her feel safe. And the way he looked at her right now, devouring her with hungry eyes, melted her heart.

That was the problem with bad boys. They didn’t believe in half measures but rode through life at two hundred miles per hours, always a blink away from disaster. Like a moth circling the flames closer and closer, Vivienne knew that getting ideas about Maximus Prize was stupid at best and most assuredly dangerous, but she couldn’t stop herself from wondering what it felt like to be the center of his attention.

“I’m damaged goods,” Max said, his voice low and gravelly, reaching something deep inside Vivienne.

“Do you want me to leave? Is that why you’re trying so hard to scare me away?” she asked, swaying toward him.

“I want you to stay but it isn’t fair to you. We’ve just met.” He leaned in.

“You can drop the hard-to-get act. I’ve already said I won’t leave you and Amber Rose to fend for yourselves when you need me the most.” Vivienne’s head spun. His clean, male scent enveloped her as his gaze went predatory. Still, she wasn’t scared.

“Thank you.” The words rumbled between them, heating the air several degrees. Max dipped his head, his mouth red and inviting as he kept staring into her eyes.

Amber Rose stirred in her arms, bringing Vivienne down to earth. “I’ll sleep in the guestroom with the baby,” she said, needing a safe topic.

“It isn’t necessary,” he said, his mouth a hairbreadth from hers.

“It’s easier for me when I need to feed Amber Rose during the night.”

“I have no intention of leaving her alone. She’ll sleep in my room, so I can check on her.”

His statement pleased Vivienne because it confirmed the idea she was building of him as a responsible father, but it also displeased her greatly. She was being replaced sooner than she had thought. Still, she couldn’t be disappointed that he was being nothing less than an outstanding guy.

“I can keep using the guest bedroom in that case.” She made to move toward the door, but his humongous body was in the way.

Max hesitated for the longest moment before moving sideways, letting her pass.

“I’ll need toiletries and changes of clothes for the rest of the week,” she said, looking over her shoulder on her way to the guestroom. In all the commotion, she had forgotten to ask Jack to grab something from her apartment.

“I’ve had a few things brought for you already.” Max followed only a step behind, close enough she could sense his warmth radiating from him. “I’ll go grab them,” he said when they reached Amber Rose’s temporary nursery.

He split, continuing along the hallway, and Vivienne remained at the door a moment longer to watch his large retreating form. He was a protector, through and through, and a bad boy turned protector was impossible to resist.

Max came back a few minutes later with two Nordstrom bags and a Target one. “Just a few things I thought you’d need. I know it was highhanded of me to take for granted you would stay—”

She stopped him with a smile. “It’s okay.” Taking a brief look at the bags he placed on the small desk under the window, she said, “That’s enough clothes and toiletries for a full month.” She picked up an angora sweater and couldn’t help but rub the soft fabric between her fingers before checking its label. “This is my size,” she commented, surprised. It was difficult to find clothes in the petite sizes that would fit her properly. “How did you know?”

“It’s my special power,” he answered, his right dimple making an appearance when he smiled. “I can tell a girl’s size by looking at her.” A long once-over accompanied his bold statement.

Vivienne felt the heat of his gaze as it traveled from her mouth to her chest. Amber Rose stirred in her arms, breaking the sensual moment and transforming Max’s hooded look into adoration for the baby.

He reached for his daughter, and the baby’s face lit when her green eyes focused on him. A happy giggle escaped her mouth when he took her in his strong arms. Vivienne inwardly sighed at the picture-perfect sight they made.

“You are the most beautiful baby-dragon in the whole world,” Max cooed, his head tilted to the side as he tenderly looked at Amber Rose.

The baby girl, who had been wide awake a moment earlier, dropped her head forward as if she had fallen asleep at once.

Vivienne’s heart momentarily stopped beating.

Something was terribly wrong with Amber Rose. Vivienne knew it with an inner certainty she couldn’t explain.

“Baby’s tired,” Max said, raising his eyes to Vivienne.

She wasn’t fast enough and hid her emotions a moment too late.

Max’s eyes darkened. With a worried expression, he turned Amber Rose in his arms. “She’s just sleeping.” His statement sounded a lot like a question. He gently cradled her as his large hand cupped the small face that was now expressionless and too still.

His pained roar jumpstarted Vivienne to action. She reached for her cell phone and called the Shifter Neonatal ER.