Page 39 of Surly Sheriff
Rae-Rae wanted to stay and explore the strange sensation that made her all warm and fuzzy inside. She turned her head and looked at Beau. The thought of leaving him physically pained her.
Could she risk staying?
Everything in her screamed yes.
And she wanted a chance at a normal life. Desperately.
Her backstory and safeguards were in place, and she would make dammed sure they stayed that way.
“I want to stay, too,” she blurted out before common sense forced her to change her mind. “And see where this” — she waved her hand between the two of them — “goes.”
He held her gaze. “Maybe beyond four weeks?”
She gulped.
You can do it, Rae-Rae.
“Maybe.”
His lips stretched into a smile so brilliant it eclipsed the sun. “I’d like that.”
Rae chose to ignore the butterfly as it took to the air and flew away.
Adapt
9
Beau
Present day …
Beau closed the vehicle door with more force than needed, eyeing the house with a mixture of wariness and, damned fool that he was,fuckingexcitement. When his young deputy had told him the identity of the 911 caller, he’d figured Toby had misheard.
But despite the changes in her appearance, he’d recognized Raegan immediately. No longer platinum blonde, the dark waves cascading over her shoulders suited her so much better. And she had lost weight, her features now sharply defined. Her eyes were the same, though. Innocent doe-like pools brimming with sorrow when hearing of Andy Long’s fate, reminding him,dammit, of how much he had loved her.
And how much she had hurt him with her desertion.
As the weeks had turned into months and then into years, and Rae had not returned, he had shut down his feelings, shovingthem into that deep black hole of betrayal where he’d buried all affection for his mother and Moira aftertheirbetrayals.
Women were fickle, and there was no place in his life for them.
But now she was back.
Why?
He stepped away from the truck, cursing under his breath. He never wanted to see her again, never wanted to relive her treachery, yet here he was, preparing to do exactly that.
On the other hand, her return afforded him the opportunity to be rid of her, once and for all.
Time to get that divorce he’d been delaying.
A scooter pulled into the driveway beside him.
Beau turned, frowning. He lifted his chin on recognizing the young man. “Milo.”
“Hey, Sheriff.” The teenage son of the Italian restaurant owner unlatched the box and hauled out a pizza box and a paper bag. “One anchovy and pineapple pizza, and a dozen cinnamon sticks.”
His heart stuttered at the mention ofherdreadful food choice. Beau pulled out his wallet and nodded to the items in Milo’s hand. “I’ll get that.”
