Page 35 of Noble Neighbor
A broad-shouldered man dressed in a formfitting, long-sleeved tee jogged closer and held his arm out. “Harlan, Michaela’s dad, and” — he inclined his head toward the lake — “under strict instructions to help you back to our spot.”
Sunny flashed a grin as she returned his handshake. “Appreciate the help.” A second, equally buffed man approached at a more sedate pace. Harlan introduced the second as a teammate, Ronan “but we call him Law” Murphy.
The trio moved to the rear of the vehicle. “You’re both on leave?” Sunny asked Harlan as she stepped aside, allowing the men to empty the back. She would not say no to some help. Her body was aching from stripping wallpaper.
“Yes, ma’am.” Harlan’s smile stretched ear to ear. “Surprise downtime. For a couple of weeks.”
“I’ve got this, Harlan.” Oliver moved around Sunny and reached into the SUV, taking hold of the picnic basket she’d packed.
Sunny blinked at the abrupt tone of Oliver’s voice. She hadn’t seen him since the night they’d come for dinner. Which was fine by her.
Being around Oliver weakened her resolve.
According to Frank, he’d holed himself in his writing cave, only appearing for meals. She kept telling herself it was a good thing, giving her a chance to build her resistance.
But by the way her stomach fluttered from only hearing his voice, it had been for naught.
“Reckon we can all help,” Ronan drawled, clearly amused by Oliver’s actions. “Seeing as we’re going the same direction.”
Oliver grunted, grabbed the collapsible canvas chair with his spare hand, and stalked off, leaving a gaping Sunny staring after him.
“What’s got his dander up?” Harlan stood beside her, the cooler bag slung across his shoulder.
His friend chuckled as he draped her new quilt over his arm. “Maybe we stepped into his territory?”
Sunny felt her face heat.
“Huh?”
Ronan nudged Sunny’s shoulder with his. “Talking about this lovely lady.”
“But we’re both married,” Harlan protested.
“Romeo might know you’re taken, but he doesn’t know me from Adam.” Ronan turned to Sunny, brows lifted, lips quirking, eyes dancing with merriment. “Am I right, or am I right?”
“Guess so,” she muttered, her eyes still trained on Oliver. He’d reached the area where Bella and Ruth had set up and stood staring back at her, hands on hiships, clearly out of sorts.Idiot.Especially since his attitudealerted her girlfriends to the situation. Now she’d have to deal with their comments.
Ronan crooked his elbow for Sunny. “Shall we?”
Sunny narrowed her eyes at the man. “You’re a troublemaker,” she accused, but slid her hand around his arm.
“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned. “It’s the Murphy in me,” he added with a wink.
She couldn’t help but laugh at his unrepentant attitude. “And tell me, kind sir, whereisyour wife?”
His features immediately sobered. “Afghanistan.”
“Is she serving?”
“Best helicopter pilot around.”
Sunny paused and tugged Ronan to a stop. “It must be brutal on your relationship. Thank you for your service and sacrifice,” she said with utter sincerity.
“We manage.”
“You miss her.”
“Something fierce.” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing like mad, and stared past Sunny’s shoulder. “But we’re both finishing next year and then …” He shrugged. “We’ll figure it out. Come.” Ronan started walking again. “Let’s have some fun ruffling Romeo’s feathers.”
