11
Getting outside took more effort than Beau realized.He planted a hand on the house to keep himself from falling.He regretted snapping at Ivy, but he couldn’t take it back at this point.She probably hated him already, perhaps as much as he hated himself.
Beau always seemed to be letting everyone down.He would disappoint her, too, given enough time.It had been a rollercoaster ride with his siblings; much of the bad ride had been caused by him.
He had a knack for hurting people close to him.Whether intentional or not, the outcome was the same.
The back door opened as his arm gave way.He bounced against the house before hitting the ground with his backside.Shit.
Ivy took a tentative step outside.“Beau, I’m sorry, I just wan—”
“I’m the one who’s sorry,” he interrupted.“You’re just trying to help.”He paused as he tried to catch his breath.The butt-plant had knocked the wind out of him.“And I’m being an asshole.”
“Which is understandable under the circumstances,” she said.
“No, it’s not.You didn’t do anything wrong, and you don’t deserve to be snapped at.I’m a jerk, Ivy.You’d do best to keep a distance until this ordeal is over and we bring our parents home safely, and then you should steer clear of me.I’ll only bring you down.”
Her body stiffened like she’d taken a physical blow.
“If that’s the way you want it, I won’t argue anymore,” she said, hugging her arms to her chest.
Dammit.
In no way was that what he wanted.He was doing this for her benefit because his foolish heart told him he should go all in with her and see where this attraction could lead.What would that accomplish?He’d end up hurting her or vice versa.And where would that leave them?
“It’s for the best.”A voice in the back of his mind tried to tell him that he was wrong.He shoved the thought down deep.He was too broken, mentally and physically, to do anyone else any good.Selfishly, he wanted to be with Ivy, but she deserved better.He didn’t want to be the one to bring her down.
“The news about the image has my head spinning,” she said.He noted the change in subject.“Can I sit next to you?”
He nodded.
Ivy sat far enough away that a person could fit between them, and yet the sparks still flew, filling the gap with electrical impulse.
“I had a feeling something was off in the picture,” he said.
“Do you want to go back inside and figure out what was bothering you?”
“In a minute.”He exhaled.“I just need to catch my breath.”
“This whole ordeal has been a whirlwind,” she said.“And I have no idea where to begin searching for them now.”
“Agreed.”They were at a standstill.
“Do you think they’ll reach out again?”Her question was legitimate.
“We can hope.”Nothing added up.“If these people wanted our parents dead, they could’ve done that already.They haven’t asked for money, so it can’t be about ransom.”
“If we could figure out the connection between our parents, that would be a good place to start.”
“I’m not coming up with anything logical other than they might have been drinking buddies at one time, but the details of my mother’s private life have always been just that…private.She didn’t tell me everything.”
“Same with my father.He can’t remember everything, even if he wanted to fill me in.”She shrugged.“I guess after losing my mom and Eric, I realized how short life can be.There are no guarantees.You know?”
He did know.“Yes.”
“So, I can’t imagine not wanting to be awake and alert during the short time we have.”
“I’ve never heard it said like that, but I couldn’t agree more,” he said, reaching over to her.He took her hand in his and—much to his surprise—she didn’t pull hers back.Instead, she threaded her fingers through his.The familiar jolt of electricity warmed him as need welled up inside him.No one had ever caused a reaction anywhere near as powerful as the one she did.
