Page 106 of Noble Neighbor
“They are happy and love Oliver and Clem. Frank. One day they will understand the sacrifices, and they will thank you for keeping the dark away from them. It’ll be my honor to marry the two of you today.”
“Daddy.” She bit back the tears.
“Best you get used to calling me Pete,” he said, addinga chuckle.
She couldn’t even imagine it, but he was right. They planned to meet in a setting similar to this at least twice a year from now on, but to continue protecting her girls, the ruse must carry on.
Her dad shifted his gaze to beyond her. “Look. The sun is rising, darlin’. It’s a new day. You’ve a new future. One filled with hope and promise.”
*
Oliver made his way down the staircase, desperate for the coffee he could smell brewing in the kitchen, but instead of finding Sunny, it was Beau leaning against the counter staring out the kitchen window with a mug in his hand.
“What’re you doing here?” He reached for a mug.
“Came to talk to you and Sunny.”
Oliver looked around the open living area. Where was Sunny? Frowning, he turned back to his friend. “About?”
Beau ignored his verbal question, instead answering his non-verbal one. “She’s down by the lake, talking to her father.”
“Talking to …” Ah, hell. With a measured move, Oliver placed the carafe back on the hot plate and took a sip of coffee before looking at Beau. “You figured it out.”
Beau met his stare. “I followed the case, recognized the Delaneys, figured the rest.”
“She was a victim of his, too. Don’t you dare make trouble for her, Sheriff,” he warned.
“Fuck, Oliver. What do you take me for?”
“Someone who views all women through the lens of distrust.”
“Give me some credit, man.” Beau turned away and continued his earlier stance. “That’s why she took off in January.”
“Yeah. She found out Christie was Agatha Newton. Figured I’d never forgive her.”
“Yet you have.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Beau. I understand her reasoning for—”
“Faking her death. Committing fraud.”
Oliver’s temper flared. “Doing what she had to do to shield her children from condescending assholes like you,” he hissed. “I went to great lengths to do the same for Clement, and I’ll move mountains to protect Sunny and the girls.”
“Whoa. Hold your horses, mister knight-in-shining-armor.” Beau exhaled and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Strange as it seems, I actually applaud her resourcefulness and tenacity.”
Blinking, jaw dropping, Oliver could only stare at Clearbrook’s sheriff.
Beau chuffed a short laugh. “Icancolor outside the lines. And for a mother to go to such lengths to protect her children … well, it’s commendable.”
“I suppose I need to be grateful for that.”
Both men turned at the sniping remark from Sunny as she stepped over the kitchen threshold.
“Sweetheart—” Oliver stopped as she held up her palm to him while focusing her attention on Beau.
“I only heard from the faking death. What exactly” — she narrowed her eyes to slits — “were you discussing, Sheriff Stirling? Besides your sudden admiration of me, of course.”
Oliver moved closer to Sunny — just in case she decidedto attack the man — and found some perverse pleasure in the deep flush staining Beau’s countenance.
