Page 63 of Roaring Fork Rockstar

“He’s a good man,” Dad said simply.

“You’ve known him less than twenty-four hours,” I pointed out.

“I know enough.” His eyes met mine. “He looks at Luna the way I look at you.”

Before I could respond, the elevator doors at the end of the hall opened, revealing Sam and Beau, who spotted us immediately. Sam hurried forward to wrap me in a hug.

“Buck called us last night.” Her eyes searched mine. “How is she?”

“It’s cancer.”

Sam’s hand flew to her mouth. Beside her, Beau’s expression turned solemn.

“What can we do?” he asked.

“Being here is enough?—”

“Keltie.” Sam cut me off gently. “I’ve been making calls. There’s an apartment building near the hospital that offers short-term rentals to families of patients. Beau and I made all the arrangements.”

The unexpected gesture left me momentarily speechless. “Sam, I can’t accept?—”

“Please,” she said quietly. “Let us help make this at least a little easier on you.”

I felt the sincerity in her voice deep inside me. These people I’d only recently met were showing up when it counted most.

Beau cleared his throat. “I’ve also arranged for a private helicopter to be at your disposal with very little lead time. It can take Holt to CB when he needs to go, then fly him here afterward.”

I blinked in surprise. “That’s—you don’t have to?—”

“It’s already done,” Beau said simply. “Just let us know when.”

We rejoined the others in Luna’s room, where Sam immediately went to Luna’s bedside while Beau approached Holt.

While the two men spoke quietly, I realized how long Holt had been here. With a sinking feeling, I remembered his conversation with Buck about the forty-eight-hour stipulation in the trust.

I moved to his side. “Holt, you have to go back to Crested Butte.”

He looked down at me, fatigue evident in the shadows beneath his eyes. “I’ll try to talk to the attorney, but it isn’t only the time away I’m dealing with. I have to play a minimum of three nights a week.”

“You need to leave now,” I said, though the words hurt to speak.

“I can’t?—”

“You’ll be back as soon as you can,” Sam interjected. “Victor, Beau, and I will be here with Keltie and Luna.”

Holt’s jaw tightened, conflict clear in his eyes.

I led him into the hallway. “Look, I understand,” I told him, meaning it. “But I won’t let you risk the consequences of not adhering to the trust. Luna and I will be fine for a couple of days. We aren’t alone.”

“I can stay a few more hours.”

I raised a brow.

“I’ll still have time to get to CB. More if I take Beau up on his offer to fly me there.”

When we walked into her room and saw Luna was asleep, Holt led me over to one of the recliners, pulled me onto his lap, then shifted the lever to flatten it. “Close your eyes,” he whispered. “If Luna wakes up, I’ll tell you.”

When I feltHolt’s hand on my arm and heard him say my name, I realized I’d fallen asleep.

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