My mind wanders as I let myself in, kicking my shoes off in the mudroom area, hanging up my jacket. The thought of coming home to Beau’s house, maybe with a dog to greet us at the door after work, is something that makes me smile, until that damn sinking feeling in my stomach returns.
“Stupid Chad, stupid me, stupid so many damn things,” I huff out as I text Graham. The message says delivered but not read. I bet he’s the type not to have read receipts on. Without a response, I decide to give my attitude to the floors and all but stomp towards Beau’s bedroom, stripping off my clothes along the way, silently seething that I’ll be burning these clothes and any other reminder of tonight and how Beau has to deal with the fallout.
I turn the shower water on, making sure both phones are right outside the stall, not sure which phone Beau will call or if Graham needs something like money to bail Beau out. I’m huffing and puffing as I get in, soak my body with the water, and grab the bodywash that I left here earlier this week along with shampoo and conditioner, a toothbrush, and a change of clothes. Beau was firm with me leaving it. Sadly, it was the only day this week, a Monday evening, no less, when our schedules aligned and I was able to spend the night. I wash my body, my hair. Usually, I’d luxuriate in the hot water raining down on me. Tonight just isn’t one of those nights. I turn the water off, throw my hair up in a towel turban style, and wrap the other towel around my body until I’m dry enough to snatch the robe that’s hanging on the back of the door. Apparently, a gift from his mom, one of those years she had no idea what to get him, and he never used. It’s coming in handy now as I wrap it around my body, look at the phones one more time before putting them in the pockets of my borrowed robe, and tie the knot tighter.
“May as well go back to the living room and at least turn the TV on, Liliana,” I mutter to the too quiet house. It hasn’t even been twenty minutes since I’ve arrived, and it seems like tonight is going to feel never ending until I hear from Beau.
Chapter Seventeen
Beau
“Christ, am I glad to see you,” I tell Graham from behind the bars of the local holding area at the Sheriff’s office.
“I bet you are. You’re lucky it’s me picking you up instead of your woman. I’m pretty sure she would have kicked and screamed her way back here. She was trying to talk me into letting her come up here.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second. What do I owe you?” I ask him, assuming he had to bail me out. I’m sure Chad pressed charges, and Salsa’s without a doubt banned me from their establishment, meaning I won’t be able to take my woman there again. Shit, she loves their food.
“Nothing, literally. They just needed to hold you here until they got things figured out. Which I’m assuming is quite the story.” The other officer opens the holding room door, and I walk out. They didn’t even take my wallet, so I’m guessing old Chad ran away with his tail tucked between his legs.
“You have no idea.” I shake my head but stay quiet until we’re out of the office. No way am I saying anything around someone who may be out to cause more mayhem than anything.
“I think I have a bit, but we’ll talk more in the truck and when we get back to your place. Speaking of, I didn’t get to respond to Lily’s text. You may want to call her, give her a heads-up that we’re on our way and I’d like to go over everything so it’s ready in case anyone tries to come back on Monday with a different charge.”
“You think that will happen?” I ask as soon as we are in his Cherry Falls-issued Tahoe.
“That depends on this Chad guy. Salsa’s dropped their charges and didn’t even ban you. Apparently, Chad paid the busboy to make up this elaborate story of how you were beating a guy within an inch of his life. So, that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about. Call your woman. If you don’t, she’ll surely be blowing up my phone until you do.” Graham tosses me the phone, leaving me with my thoughts and wondering how this is going to play out.
“Graham, have you heard anything? Do you need bail money?” is how Lily answers the phone.
“Breathe, honey. It’s me. We’re on our way back to the ranch. How are you holding up?”