Page 23 of Noble Neighbor
He thought of the lack of personal items in her house. Those things one collected over the years — family photos, favorite knickknacks. And her furniture — all new.
Snippets from the past weeks flitted through his mind.
Sunny’s eyes lit with merriment, a smile tugging her lips, her burst of laughter, and how that sound had thrilled him, like he’d witnessed something precious.
Her obvious love for her daughters, the care she’d given him when he’d collapsed in her backyard, and her indignation about a pregnant cat being dumped on the side of the road.
Oliver rubbed his chest at the twinge of pain as he recalled Sunny’s soft words to the cat about being “desperate to protect your family.”
And Kenzie’s immediate action to shield her baby sister when confronted by a strange man, followed by Molly’s “are you the bad mans?”
“Fuck,” Oliver whispered.
“I’m glad you’re seeing it from my perspective.”
Oliver swung around. “No,” he snapped. “What you did was wrong, Beau.
“You invaded her privacy. Everything you’ve raisedwill have a perfectly good explanation. If Sunny’s hiddenher past, it’s for a good reason. It’s not like she’s trying to isolate herself on the farm. She’s open and friendly, making friends as you say. There’s nothing nefarious about her actions, and I’ll be damned if I listen to you issue one more accusation against her.”
“Oliver—”
“No,Sheriff. Don’t. I think it’s best if you leave. Now.”
Beau rubbed his nape, looking down at his feet. “I hope you don’t regret those words,” he muttered.
“That’s not your concern. And unless you have concrete evidence” — Oliver threw his arms out — “she’s cooking meth or running drugs and guns, Sunny Jones and her girls arenoton your radar. Understood?”
With a shake of his head, Beau turned and stalked to his vehicle. Over the top of the blue Tahoe, he called out, “For what it’s worth, I only have your best interest at heart, Oliver. You and Clement have had enough trouble.”
Oliver watched his former friend pull off and drive down the road. His father stepped up beside him. “You made the right call, son.”
“You heard what he said?”
“Most of it. And I waited for your response, 'cause if you hadn’t come to her defense, I would’ve.”
“He’s partly right,” Oliver admitted, remembering the fear in Kenzie’s eyes and her instant response to protect Molly that first day. “Sunnyisrunning from something, and whatever it is could bring danger here.”
“In that case, we’d better make sure those girls know we’ll stand by them.”
Olivier turned to his father with relief. “I’m glad you see it my way, Dad.”
“Guess you’re not in the mood for my cinnamon streusel coffeecake.”
He glanced at his father’s baking effort where it layon the tray beside the coffee press. The crumbly pastry,coated in cinnamon and sugar, looked delicious. But his father was right — the idea of eating soured in his stomach. But … “How about I go visit our neighbor and let her be your taster today? Sure her girls would love some, too.”
His father grinned. “Oliver. My wise son. I’m sure Sunny will appreciate your … neighborliness.”
Oliver snorted. There was nothing neighborly in him when he was around his new neighbor.
And he didn’t care what her name was. Sunny Jones suited her.
*
Oliver found her meditating. Or at least that’s what he assumed she was doing. Sunny sat cross-legged in that weird yoga position with her hands resting on her knees. In the full sun. Wearing bright pink fitted pants and a slinky black tank top with a stripe of the same floral pattern on her pants diagonally across her, er, buxom chest. No drug dealer or gun runner or master criminal could look that gorgeous. He cursed Beau for putting ideas in his head. And she was too lax with her security. Sitting out here, all alone. This was a safe community, but if someonewasafter her—
“Oliver.”
He frowned. Her eyes were closed.
