Royally Broken by Elle Boon Page 0,38

biting her nails, and running her hands through her hair. Which was out of character for the always put together woman.

“Karla, is something wrong? Is Gary okay?” she asked, knowing Karla’s husband was the one who did most of the fixing around the place even when he shouldn’t.

“What? Oh, yes, he’s fine. Stubborn but fine. It’s just—I don’t know how to say this, but—her eyes darted to Keys then to Palmer. “Can I speak to you in my office for a moment?”

Keys put a hand on Palmer’s shoulder. “Whatever you have to say you can say in front of me.”

“It’s fine, Karla. What’s the matter?” For a moment she worried something had happened to her MeMaw or grandfather. Karla knew how close she’d been to them since they’d raised her, everyone in town did.

“I’m sorry, but when I went to run your card for today it was declined. I tried it again, but a note popped up saying to confiscate the card. I’m not going to do that, but well, I couldn’t get payment for your suite.” Karla fidgeted as if embarrassed.

“This has to be a mistake,” Palmer whispered. She was rich in her own right since Thomas’s death and being his widow. What the heck was going on?

“Put her suite on my card and whatever else she might need, Karla. Was that all?” Keys bit out.

“I can’t ask you to do that, Keys.”

He shook his head. “You didn’t ask, but I’m insisting. I’m assuming you didn’t remove her things while we were gone?”

Palmer shivered at his hard tone.

“Good gracious, no.” Karla’s hand went to her chest as if she was offended.

“If you get any inquiries about either of us, you won’t be saying a word, correct?” Keys question made her look at the owner with renewed eyes. Her day had started out full of promise. The sun had been shining, her suite of rooms was beautiful, and she was out from under her grandfather after securing her future. Or so she’d thought. Why was her card getting denied?

“Karla, if anyone calls or comes in search of me, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t give out my personal information to anyone. I—I do not wish to speak to anyone at this time.” Crap on a cracker, she didn’t wish to speak to anyone in this town at all.

“Of course. If there’s anything either of you need give the front desk a call. Oh, Mr. Royal, your receipt for Mrs. Kincaid’s room.” She held the slip of paper out.

Keys phone dinged. “Already got my copy. Technology is a wonderful thing, Karla. If you know your way around a computer, and the right people, you can find out everything there is to know about them. Why, you can even find out if they’d been married before and if they’d fooled around with their student, left their wife of seven years with a little one, to marry the barely legal student. Amazing what a little digging can come up with, don’t you think? You have a nice day now, you hear?”

Palmer was watching Keys and Karla, feeling like she was watching a movie without knowing the language. Keys firm arm around her back guided them toward the wing where her rooms was located, his control absolute while she felt anything but. She stayed quiet, her mind reeling as she wondered how he knew where she’d been staying. Only he didn’t stop at her suite, guiding them further along to the last set of doors, the largest suite the Inn rented. She should’ve known he would’ve taken that one.

“Keys,” she opened her mouth, closing it as he shook his head.

His key slid into the ornate lock, turning until the click happened. Keys held his hand over his lips. “Stay right here.” He ushered them inside, placing her and Jaxson by the wall.

A minute passed, then another while she was sure her nerves stretched to the point of snapping. Jaxson twisted his head around, baby drool wetting the front of her dress as he babbled. “Ssh, we gotta be quiet, little man.”

“There ain’t nothing little about Hoss. Come on in, everything’s as I left it.” Keys held his hands out for Jaxson.

She looked for the bags of groceries, but he’d clearly put them down somewhere in his suite. “Alright, are you going to explain what in tarnation is going on?”

Keys tossed his head back, laughter booming out of him. “Did you just say tarnation? Woman, you’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on, and