Page 137 of Surly Sheriff
Felicity let out a great, exasperated sigh, and swore viciously. She tossed the cigarette to the grass, grounding it into the turf. Another sigh followed. “Sorry. I’m just …” She shrugged again.
“Out of sorts,” Rae supplied, making a mental note to collect the butt before Xena or Kismet went digging for it.
“Yeah.”
A nasty wind kicked up, and Rae rubbed her arms. “Forgotten how cold it gets here.” Four years in California had thinned her blood.
“This isnothingcompared to the winds coming off the Colorado Rockies,” Felicity scoffed. “Come, lightweight, let’s go back in” — she gave a short laugh — “and be thankful.” Putting action to her words, Felicity grabbed her smokes and matches and shoved them into her sweater pocket.
Rae followed at a much slower pace, more concerned now about her sister than before. Movement caught her peripheral vision, and she twisted her neck. Habit had her reaching to her waist, but of course, she no longer carried the weapon. “Ronan.”
The man held his hands up. “Sorry. I know better than to sneak up on a person.” His gaze turned to the patio door closing behind her sister. “Is she okay?”
Frowning, Rae viewed the man. “Did something happen in New York? Or Hartford?”
His huge sigh matched Felicity’s earlier one. “I did something that upset her,” he confessed, walking closer.
Although she had only known Ronan for a few short months, the man did not strike her as mean or cruel. “Then best you make amends, Ronan Murphy. Because I do not want to lose my sister so soon after reconnecting with her.”
They climbed the steps together.
“That’s the plan,” he muttered. “But it’s proving to be a difficult task.”
“You’re a Marine.” She tilted her head. “What’s that slogan you use?”
Ronan grinned. “Improvise, adapt, overcome?”
“That’s the one.”
His grin widened. “So, I’ve your blessing?”
“I guess.” She stopped outside the patio door and turned to face him. “But, Ronan, treat her with care.”
His look became serious. “Like a princess.” He twisted the door handle and held it open for her.
Rae didn’t miss the narrow-eyed stare her sister gave them when Ronan entered the room right behind her. Nor the “Stubborn woman,” he uttered before moving away and retaking his seat between Aubrey and Clement. And her worry about Felicity lessened. In fact, it would be fun to watch what methods Ronan employed to win her over.
*
“Here you are,” he said, stepping onto the balcony.
“I wish I remembered more of my mother,” Rae murmured.
Sliding his arms around her, Beau drew her back up against his front. “I am sorry you were robbed of that opportunity.”
“Yeah.” She leaned against him, tilting her head to the sky. “I hope she can see that her daughters found good men to love them.”
“I am sure she can. Wait …men?”
“Hmm. Liss has Ronan.” Rae chuckled. “She just hasn’t accepted the idea yet.”
“Ronan’s wifedied, Rae. In his arms. That’s a hard fact for a man to come to terms with. And I’m not sure Felicity is the woman to break through his torment.”
“It’s the other way around. Ronan is the perfect person to break throughhertorment. Clearbrook has a way of bringing divergent people together. Just wait and see. It’s fated,” she added, twisting her neck to grin at him.
“Guess I can’t argue with that,” he whispered, returning her grin.
She looked back at the stars. “I’ve been thinking about Andrei …”
