Page 36 of Noble Neighbor
*
“I knew she was bad news,” a voice grumbled.
Oliver broke his morose stare over the glinting watersand faced Beau as the man sidled up to him. He kept quiet, not yet having forgiven the sheriff for investigating Sunny.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” Beau added.
“About?”
“Everything.” Beau exhaled. “I’m sorry for sticking my nose in your business. And I’m sorry you have to watch” — he turned to the dance floor — “that.”
Thatwas Sunny on the dance floor with Harlan’s teammate. “I was ignoringthatuntil you came long and reminded me,” he groused.
“Bullshit.”
“Beau …fuck.” Oliver ran his fingers through his hair. “What iswrongwith me? What is it about Sunny Jones that has me panting after her even though she’s put up walls?”
“I’m the wrong person to ask. I have never, and will never, understand women.”
Oliver had no reply to that. Beau’s wife had walked out on him years ago. No explanation. Just a “Bye, honey, I’m done.” Andpoof, she was gone. It didn’t help that Beau and Bella’s mother had done the same when they were little.
The two of them continued to watch in silence, and when the dance ended, Oliver expected the couple to remain on the floor for the next one. To his relief, they moved off, and Sunny made her way to the restroom while her partner turned toward the makeshift bar.
“Why don’t you go after her?” Beau suggested.
“I’m not going to force myself on her.”
Oliver endured another lengthy silence. If he could go home now, he would, but he’d promised Clement they could stay till after the fireworks.
“Beau. Oliver.” Felicity approached them. Unlike Beau, who was in his uniform, the deputy was off duty and dressed rather provocatively in tight jeans and low-necked top. Sunny wore something similar, but whereas she looked fresh and inviting, Felicity looked garish, especially with her face slathered with makeup.
“Felicity,” Oliver greeted, not wanting to be rude.
Beau grunted, obviously not caring what his deputy thought of him. There was no love lost between the two of them.
Felicity pressed her body to Oliver’s side. “Come dance.”
About to rebuff, he noted Sunny rejoin her partner. The two walked back toward the picnic area, arm in arm. Which was where Oliver should go, but he’d rather dance with Felicity than watchthat manfawn over Sunny.
“Sure,” Oliver said and allowed the woman to drag him toward the dance floor. He’d figure out how to untangle himself from her clutches later.
*
Tired and her hip aching from the energetic dancing with Ronan, Sunny plopped down on the quilt, refusing to join the ball game the guys were starting.She needed a moment to catch her breath.
The day had been … bittersweet. These people — her new friends, the townsfolk — accepted her and the girls. In her experience, small towns were wary of strangers, and it could take years to become a local. Yet so many people, complete strangers even, had stopped to chat with her today. They’d been friendly and warm. Welcoming.
Of course, her finding, helping, and adopting Hooch played a huge roll. Apparently, the town had pulled together to search for the evasive dog, and more than one person today commented that Hooch had chosen them.
And she enjoyed herself, feeling a contentment long missing. Here, within this close-knit community, she and her girls could finally settle. She even relaxed her hold on Kenzie and Molly, allowing them to join the organized activities without her constant helicopter vigilance.
Yet inexplicable sadness had nipped at her heels all afternoon, and she’d found herself tearing up on more than one occasion. Her gaze drifted over the crowd, and she purposefully shrugged off her melancholicmood and snuggled into the hound beside her. A light smile tugged her lips as she noted her children laughing with Michaela and a couple of other girls.
But her smile faded when she locked in on the coupleon the dance floor.Why’s Oliver dancing withher?
Sunny couldn’t drag her gaze from the sight of Felicity in Oliver’s arms. She thought he disliked the woman, yet the deputy was clinging to him like a flea on a farm dog.
“No offense to you, Hooch,” she whispered, rubbing the dog’s flank. Hooch moved his head to rest onSunny’s thigh and uttered a deep sigh. His contentment was a sharp juxtaposition to her downcast emotions. And, she admitted, that small seed of jealousy.
