Beau blinked.“No, I guess I haven’t.”
“They make ’em the size of a bird now, and we can be far enough away to stay out of sight.No one has to put themselves in harm’s way to investigate the site,” Kade said.
Ivy exhaled sharply.“Is that even possible?Where would we get one of those?”
“I ordered a handful,” Kade said.“After everything that’s been happening around here in recent months, it seemed like a good idea to be prepared.”Kade had been recovering from survivor’s guilt when he’d learned the baby Bree Kyndall was carrying belonged to him, but a killer had tried to stop them from getting a second chance at love.Then there was the stalker who’d been after Chloe and, as it turned out, her portion of the family inheritance.Conrad had found himself at the center of a murder investigation when the family lawyer had been brutally killed, and Conrad had been the last person seen holding the murder weapon.A text announcing that Archer’s twin brother, Owen, was dead had brought more danger to Rescue Ridge Ranch and Saddle Junction.
Then, just when Owen had been healing from being abducted because he’d been confused for his twin, he’d answered a call for help that had thrust him right back into danger—and the sights of a killer.Most recently, Hudson had been placed in danger when he’d run into Cassie.Saddle Junction was supposed to be a quick stop until she’d met Hudson, and saved him from a rare mountain lion attack.After realizing she was in serious trouble, Hudson hadn’t hesitated to help her right back, even when it put him in danger.So, yeah, the Sturgess family had a history of showing up for each other.
Beau had never felt part of that…until now.
Should he lower his guard?Let Kade and the others help?
Beau had always prided himself on his ability to handle problems on his own.He’d never needed anyone’s help before.Why should he now?Wouldn’t that just make him weak?Indebted to a family that he was still feeling his way with?Did he even want to be a Sturgess?
7
“I’d feel better if everyone stayed a safe distance from anything that looks remotely dangerous,” Beau said to his brother, practically flooring Ivy.Didn’t he want the help?Wasn’t it best to have as many eyes on this situation as possible?Wouldn’t having more minds and thought processes help figure out how best to approach the strip mall be a good thing?
Eyebrow arched, she studied Beau.
“I get it,” Kade said.“You want to wrap everyone in bubble tape, but that’s not how a family should work.”
Beau’s muscles tensed underneath her fingertips.It dawned on her that he might not consider himself part of this family.Was Kade extending an olive branch?He seemed like he genuinely wanted to help.
“Everyone will get in the way,” Beau said.“Too many cooks in the kitchen.”
Ivy’s jaw almost hit the floor.She withdrew her hand, stood up, and started pacing.“What do you mean?How can you refuse?”She ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it back from her face, and wrangled it into the rubber band she nearly always kept on her wrist.
Kade stood.“I’ll be in the office if anyone needs me.”He started toward the hallway.“Just an FYI, though, the rest of the family is planning to show up this morning.”He glanced at his cell phone.“In fact, they’ll start arriving any minute.”He tapped the screen while using his forearm to hold the coffee mug against his body.“There.I just let everyone know to come in the front door and meet me in the office.”His gaze shifted, bouncing from Beau to Ivy and back.“Let me know when you work it out.”
“We will,” Ivy responded when it seemed like a cat had Beau’s tongue.
The second Kade disappeared down the hallway, Ivy turned her attention to Beau.“What are you thinking?”
His face was unreadable.Not true.His gaze was fixed, eyes wide, mouth slightly open.The man appeared to be in shock.
Ivy walked right over to him and snapped her fingers not two inches from his nose.He blinked, leaned back, and caught her hand in his.The warmth, the electricity, shouldn’t catch her off guard at this point.You’d think she’d be used to it by now.Nope.A current strong enough to pull a swimmer out to sea pulsed through her wrist and up her hand, and that’s exactly how it felt, like dangerous water that could churn her upside down and then spit her out on the shoreline, her body broken and lifeless.
She sucked in air and took a step back.Beau released her hand.The world had tipped on its axis for a few seconds there.
“Why won’t you let your family help us?”she asked, forcing her thoughts to the present.
“I have my reasons.”His stoic expression warned her not to argue.
Too bad.
“Your reasons better be worth it because they could cost your mother and my father their lives.”She folded her arms across her chest, daring him to fight her on this.
“You think I want that?”Anger radiated from his tone and tense body.
“Then, tell me your reasons for being bullheaded because I don’t think either one of us is in a position to turn down free help.”
Beau sat there, silent, for what felt like an eternity.Then, he exhaled.“I think it’s a bad idea for me to get used to them coming to my aid.”
“Your brother said that’s exactly what you’ve done for them.You’ve shown up for your family, and that’s the reason you were shot.”Ivy would give her right arm to get her brother back, so she had no clue why Beau was being so stubborn about this.“Do you even know how lucky you are?”
“Lucky?”More of that anger dripped from his tone.“You think being the bastard child of a millionaire rancher makes me lucky?You think growing up without a father makes me lucky?You think growing up with a mother who suffered from a mental illness made me lucky?”
