Why were they here in the first place?Wouldn’t they just torture their parents to get information out of them?
Or, was it possible Clay and Royce were searching for her father and Beau’s mother?Were the pair together?Had they escaped?
Wouldn’t her father reach out if that were the case?Or Beau’s mother?
Not necessarily.They could be too scared to involve their children.Maybe it was time to dig deeper into a possible connection between the two.
Did her father know Beaumont Sturgess?What dealings would her father have had with a horse racing operation owner?
It dawned on her that her father’s former gambling problem might have been an issue and a possible point of connection with horse racing.Who knew what he’d done when he was under the influence?By his own admission, he was a blackout drunk.Would he even remember what he’d done?
Ivy pulled up to the hotel while questions swirled.She was too tired to figure anything out tonight.Shower.Sleep.Then, breakfast and coffee.She might feel human again if she could secure those things in that exact order.
The valet came around to her side.No way was she going to take the time to park the truck herself.The extra spend would pay for itself if it meant a few more minutes of sleep.
The attendant welcomed them with a smile, opening her door.She handed over the key fob and walked into the hotel side-by-side with Beau.The blood on his shoulder was catching attention, so she helped him to a chair in the lobby and then went to check in by herself.The fewer questions asked, the better.
It took all of five minutes to secure a room and have the key in hand.
When she turned to signal Beau, she panicked.
He was slumped over in the chair.
16
“Wake up for me.”The pleading voice drew Beau back from a place of darkness.
He blinked open his eyes.
“Do I need to call an ambulance?”Ivy’s face slowly came into focus.
“No.Tired.”He was beat.The minute he’d sat down, he’d realized how bad that idea had been.“I can get up.”His first attempt landed him on his backside in the chair.The second attempt was fruitful.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Beau?Be honest with me and yourself.”
He hadn’t meant to cause this much fuss.
“Honestly, I feel like ass, but it’s nothing a shower and a bed can’t fix.”
“You’re sure about that?”Concern lines etched in her forehead.
“I am.”He pulled on the last bit of strength he had to stand upright and take the first couple of steps toward the elevator.Ivy looped his arm over her shoulder, giving him a much-needed boost.
As they walked past the check-in desk, she turned her head to the side and said, “Bull rider.”The lie must have struck gold.She added, “Bull won this time.”
“Sleep should help,” the attendant said with a smile in her voice.
“It always does,” he managed to say without slurring his words.
They made it to the elevators, the second floor, and room 27 in a matter of minutes.
“A shower sounds like heaven right now,” he said, turning toward the bathroom the second he stepped into the room.
“You have a problem, Houston,” she said as he wobbled for the umpteenth time.
“I know.”He paused.“This is a big ask.Feel free to say no.But I’d appreciate your help getting undressed and into the shower.I can handle taking off my boxers on my own, so I’ll spare you seeing my whole naked body.”
“Wouldn’t be a problem for me,” she murmured.
