Page 18 of Surly Sheriff
The vet stepped aside, his lips twitching. “You two have a good night now,” he added, merriment lacing his words.
Beau grunted, prodding her toward the exit.
Rae only spoke when they reached Esmeralda. “That was rude. You could’ve introduced me,” she muttered.
“Didn’t see the need.”
“Why?”
His scowl from earlier returned. “You’re leaving in a week or two. No need to get familiar with the locals.”
Beau’s answer smarted, however true it was. Shewasleaving, and best she remembered that fact. She slid back into thepassenger seat and snapped the seatbelt on lest the surly man think her incapable.
They pulled off in silence, but at the intersection Beau expelled a hearty sigh after stopping. “Sorry. Being a jerk.” A huge semi hurtled past, eager to reach its journey’s end, but drowning out Beau’s next words.
“I didn’t get that last comment.”
“Hurley’s a player.”
“Hurley?”
“Tony Hurley. The veterinarian. Went to school with him. Flirts with anyone who wears a skirt,” he gritted out, turning onto the road.
“Too bad I don’t wear skirts,” she snipped back.
Noticing his white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel, a crazy idea took hold. Was Beau jealous? She blinked, recalling the sudden desire earlier that day to thump the pretty blonde over the head with a thick recipe book when her eyes gleamed with desire while openly flirting with Beau.
Her pulse sped up again, but not from fright.
Rather, it was from pleasure.
Oh, Rae-Rae. You’re in for a world of hurt.
A wise woman would make like the semi and hurtle away.
But Rae never claimed to be a wise woman.
5
Undate
Walking out of the bathroom while rubbing her wet hair with a towel, raised voices outside her bedroom door drew her attention. Rae flung the cotton in her hand onto the bed, hurried across the floor, and pulled open the door. A frowning Beau — he was shirtless,again, showing off his washboard abs — stood on the landing staring down the stairs.
A door slammed, and he flinched.
“What’s happening?” she asked, rushing to the railing.
“Nate’s taking Bella to the hospital.”
She peered down the stairwell, holding onto the towel wrapped around her body, preventing it from slipping. “Is she in labor?” The woman was only thirty-one weeks.
“My stubborn sister insists she isn’t, but Nate’s not taking any chances.”
“Shit.” She hoped Bella and the babies were okay.
“That about sums it up. Look,” he started, but stopped and dropped his head, muttering under his breath while running ahand through his own damp hair. She was too far away to hear his words. It took a beat before he lifted his head and met her gaze. “I promised Bella you and I would take care of the shop. It’s the only way she agreed to go.”
“Sure.”
