Page 73 of Noble Neighbor
But he’d honored his promise to Oliver and not continuedhis search, as much as it chafed him.
“I love her, Beau. And I intend to have her in my life. I’m hoping for marriage.”
“You’re a fool.”
“That’s my prerogative.”
“And it’s mine to ticket her when she breaks the law.”
Oliver shot to his feet and flung his arms in the air. “What the hell iswrongwith you?”
Beau swung from the wall and faced Oliver. “What’s wrong?She’swrong.”
“I know there are parts of Sunny’s life she’ll never talk about.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Beau asked, incredulous.
“If that’s the only way I can have her in my life? Yes.”
“Oliver …” He sighed, scrubbing a hand over his face, at a loss.
Oliver was happy. After seeing them together yesterday evening — kissing, laughing, having fun — it was blatantly obvious there was something special developing between them.
“Look, Beau, I came here today to ask you to back off. You’re making life unpleasant for her.”
“Been whining to you, has she?”
After a long, narrow-eyed stare, Oliver shook his head. “I pity you, Sheriff. You need to learn to color outside the lines.” He swung around and stalked to the door.
Remorse surged through Beau. “Wait!” he called out, knowing if Oliver walked out that door, years of friendship would forever be lost, not just bruised.
Still facing the door, Oliver halted, staying silent.
Viewing the rigid back before him, Beau pulled in a deep breath through his nose, exhaling slowly before opening his mouth. “I’m sorry. And you’re right. I’ve been unfair to her, looking for reasons to justify my mistrust.”
“Will you stop?” Oliver asked, looking over his shoulder.
With a lift of his chin, he agreed. “I’ll stop.”
Oliver turned and stepped forward. “Thank you. Beau,” he started, then wavered, compressing his lips to a straight line before continuing, “I know you’ll find this hard to see, but Sunny is a wonderful woman, and a helluva fine mother. And I simply love her. Be happy for me?”
Beau extended his arm. “I wish you all the best, Oliver,”he said, surprising himself by meaning the words.
The relief he felt when his friend accepted the handshake was overwhelming. “Consider the fines cancelled.”
With a wry smile, Oliver said, “I’ve just paid them.” His smile kicked up into a wide grin. “And by the way, Sunny never told me about them. I noticed them in her garbage can.”
Long after Oliver left, Beau stared at his empty doorway, lost in thought, finally admitting the inconvenient truth behind his grudge of Sunny Jones.
Jealousy. He envied the happiness his friend had found.
21
Winter moves in
Sunny sucked in a breath as she opened her curtains and surveyed the pristine fairytale landscape spread as far as the eye could see. Perfect conditions for tobogganing.
A smile broke across her face, and she lifted her chin heavenward. “Thank you.”
