“But you’re hiring Odette as your planner, right?” Noah’s eyes narrow threateningly.
I chuckle, clapping him on the shoulder. “Yes, your wife will be our wedding planner, even if she is the most obnoxious little sister I never had.”
“She’s not obnoxious. She’s perfect.”
His eyes track her from across the room. She stands in a circle along with Izzy and Summer. They’re all giggling and sipping on champagne.
“I can’t believe my sister is married,” Noah says, a grin plastered across his face as he watches them too. “I can’t believeI’mmarried and have been for two years now.” He laughs. “If younger versions of us could see where we’re at now, they’d flip.”
“Maybe. Or they’d just be really damn happy for us.”
“Shit, Ez. That was kind of romantic.”
I glower at him. “Don’t you ever say that again. I’ll punch you.”
“You boys wouldn’t be causing trouble over here, would you?”
We both turn to find Daniel Turner sipping on a glass of what looks to be punch.
“No, sir. I meanSheriff Turner. I meansir.” Noah stumbles over his words, and it’s comical to watch him squirm. “We never cause trouble.”
“Mm-hmm, sure you don’t,” the older man says, his eyes falling to slits as he looks at me.
I certainly cause trouble. While I don’t speed nearly as much as I used to, I’ve still been pulled over five times in the last few years. I’m pretty sure if I didn’t make his daughter so damn happy, I wouldn’t have a driver’s license at this point.
“And it’s just Daniel now,” he reminds Noah.
“Sorry. I know you’re retired now, but it’s a tough habit to break.”
For a split second, he looks pained when Noah saysretired, but it disappears as quickly as it came on.
After the heart attack, I think everyone expected Daniel to withdraw from the race for sheriff, even with all the well-wishes. He didn’t. He won and served for another six months before announcing that he was stepping down to focus on his health.
I know a lot of that had to do with Summer deciding to stick around Port Harbor.
“Dad!”
Speaking of Summer . . .
“Dance with me,” she says, more than a little tipsy on all the champagne that’s flowing.
He rolls his eyes but heeds his daughter’s request.
She tosses me a wink as he leads her out onto the dance floor, and I watch as he twirls her around.
It’s sweet, and since Summer and I have been together, I’ve been privileged to witness many moments like this between them. Their bond is special, and his unwavering support is a big reason Summer kept going when the sale of Sunnie’s fell through the first time.
Summer was devastated, though she didn’t want to show it. She was so close to getting her dream—it was right there within her reach—and it was ripped away, all because the bank wouldn’t back her without a cosigner.
I jumped in, ready to help her, but she refused me at every turn.
Ultimately, it was Daniel who stepped up and made it happen.
While they’re technically co-owners of Sunnie’s, he’s only around to make repairs and run errands whenever a supplier inevitably screws up. Otherwise, the place is all Summer’s, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.
“Ezra!” Daniel calls, waving me over. “Come take over, son!”
Son.
