Page 120 of Surly Sheriff
Jack tilted his head and placed a finger on his lips. A small dent appeared between his eyes. “Maybe.” His face brightened. “But only if she promises not to make Momma cry again.”
“Why don’t we go and listen to what she has to say?”
“Best get this over with,” Rae said, walking out the closet.
“Maybe you want to change first?” Humor laced his words.
She looked down.Damn.Still in PJ’s. “Give me fifteen minutes to shower and dress.”
Beau nodded, slanting a hint of a smile at her. He turned away and held out his hand to Jack. “Coming with me?”
Jack placed his hand in the much larger one.
She took a few moments to reflect on the absolute trust Jack placed in Beau from the first moment they met. “I like Mister Beau, Momma,” he had said that first morning when Beau stopped by to do the swab. “He’s nice. And he laughs like Uncle Chance.”
Absolute trust. She mulled the words in her mind, understanding that she hadnevergiven Beau her absolute trust.
“You need to fix that, Rae,”she whispered.
Less than ten minutes later, she joined Beau, Nate, and Bella on the patio, each with a mug in hand watching Jack frolic in the sprinkler with Xena. They were both soaked, and Rae shudderedat the thought of Xena and her wet fur all over the house. Kismet lay on the edge of the flagstones, watching over the scene.
A Thermos — she hoped it contained coffee — and a clean mug sat on a tray beside a box of—
“Are those cinnamon sticks?” The Pizzeria’s cinnamon sticks were the ultimate. One of the few sweet snacks she liked.
“A peace offering,” Nate said, nodding toward the box.
Beau rose and pulled out the chair beside his. “Fresh from the oven. Coffee?”
She gave him a grateful smile. “Please,” she replied, sitting. Casting her eyes over the couple opposite her, her gaze lingered on Bella. “I deserve your scorn. But what you said in front of Jack …that’swhat I cannot get over.”
Bella hung her head. “I know,” she whispered. “I lost my mind and lashed out. Seeing you with Jack … I just couldn’t deal. I am so sorry, Rae. So very sorry. And—” She stopped and looked at Beau, biting her lip.
Beau placed the mug in front of Rae, sat, and leaned back in his chair. He folded his arms and raised his brows. “Waiting, Belinda.”
Uh-oh.Rae winced at the use of Bella’s full name. And she figured she knew what was coming. Felicity had filled her in yesterday.
Belindaexhaled and muttered something incoherent. A few moments later she sucked in a long breath and puffed it out, looking Rae in the eye. “I confronted Beau yesterday. At work. I’d just found out he stayed over that night before and accused him of sleeping with you. And I called you a succubus. Everyone heard and it’s all over town. I said horrible things,” Bella whispered. “But dammit, Rae …” A defiant look flashed across her features, and she straightened her shoulders, leaning forward. “You hurt my brother, and I hated you for so long, butone day in town and he’s back in your bed.” She slouched in her chair. “Or so I thought,” she snipped.
Rae lifted her mug and took a sip of the delicious brew.Repentant … to a point. Bella’s loyalty to her brother ran deep, a trait she admired. “A succubus? Rather original,” she quipped.
Bella tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “You already knew,” she accused.
“Felicity filled me in.”
“Right. Your sister.” Bella’s words had a bite to them.
Rae placed her mug down, giving the woman a sharp look. “Don’t eventhinkof disparaging—” She paused, blinked, and issued a short laugh and sat back. “Sibling loyalty runs deep amongst us.”
Bella took a moment to reply. “Yeah, it does,” she said, a smile tugging on her lips.
Deciding to let go of the resentment, Rae raised her mug. “To siblings.”
Her sister-in-law lifted her own mug. “To family.”
“To family,” Rae agreed.
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