Sheriff Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 10) Laylah Roberts (color ebook reader .txt) 📖

or street lights? You put yourself at grave risk. You’re just lucky you weren’t mine then.”

“I . . . I’m not yours now!”

“Hmm, I’ll have to disagree on that.”

“You can’t disagree. For me to be yours, we both have to agree.”

“That’s true. Under normal circumstances.”

“Under all circumstances. There are no circumstances where that is not true. Because if I don’t agree then you’d be using force. And as an officer of the law, I’m sure you realize that’s illegal.”

“Ahh, but you see, I happen to have some evidence to present that will prove that you want to be in a relationship with me.”

“You . . . you do not!”

“Yep. I do. But I’m not going through all of that while sitting here in my truck. You’re coming inside and you’re going straight to bed. Then I’m going to get you something to eat. You can have a rest. Then we’ll talk about it.”

“Nope.”

He raised his eyebrows, feeling amused at the flush of pink on her cheeks. She was cute when she was angry.

“Nope? You want to elaborate?”

“You’re going to tell me what you mean, right now.”

“Nope,” he replied.

She groaned. “Is there something in the water around here that makes everyone crazy? You can’t just decide that you want to be in a relationship with me, then kidnap me and take me to your cabin in the woods. You’re the sheriff!”

“That just means I know how to navigate the law more easily.”

“Ed!”

He sighed and looked out the window of the truck at his cabin in the woods, as she called it. He was tired of coming home to an empty house, to being lonely.

“Maybe there is something in the water here. I’ve always thought of myself as the voice of reason in the craziness, but maybe I’ve lost it too.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m pretty sure you’d still be considered the sane one.”

He gave her a small smile and leaned back in his seat.

“I don’t like how pale and shaky you are.”

“I’m really all right,” she said softly. “Xavier ran so many tests that I’m certain my insurance company is going to have me on some black list.”

He huffed out a laugh. “Xavier is thorough. There really wasn’t anything wrong? You’re just rundown or something?”

“There’s nothing seriously wrong with me. I guess you could say I’m rundown. Pushed myself a bit hard on my run.”

“That’s good, Georgie-girl.” He placed his large hand over hers and squeezed. “Just answer me one question then decide if you want to stay or go.”

Whether he could actually let her go, he wasn’t sure.

Georgina knew she could refuse to answer, but he looked so worried. About her. When was the last time someone worried about her? Sure, her mother obsessed over every little thing about her. But that was more about maintaining a certain image than any sort of real concern. She didn’t know why her mother was the way she was, but she thought it had something to do with the way she was brought up.

Her brothers loved her. She knew they did. But their love meant they used any weakness to get all into her business. And the last thing she wanted was to be steamrolled by one of them.

But then having your big brothers take charge was a whole different ballgame from having a sexy, handsome man who made you feel incredibly safe.

Yep. No comparison.

“What did you want to ask me?” she asked.

But he was far too perceptive. “Hey, what’s wrong?” His enormous hand cupped her cheek. He was built big. Muscular. And she wondered if he was big all over.

She found herself blushing at the thought.

“You feel a bit too warm. Almost feverish.” His hand moved to her forehead.

“I’m fine,” she squeaked out. “Really.”

Jesus, if he guessed the reason why she was all warm then she really would curl up in embarrassment.

“You’re upset. Why? Did I say something? You got to tell me if I say stupid shit that upsets you.”

“I . . . you didn’t upset me. Please, can you just ask me the question?” She needed to get away from him. Before she threw herself at him and begged him to kiss her again. To hold her tight. To keep her safe.

“Shh, it’s okay. Calm down,” he whispered. He raised his other hand, cupping her face. He moved his fingers to her neck, rubbing his thumbs into her jaw, gently easing the tension there.

She realized her breathing had grown erratic. She wasn’t panicking exactly. But she did feel her anxiety rising. Shoot.

“Breath in. Hold. Breathe out. That’s my good girl. You got it. You’re all right,” he soothed.

“S-sorry.” She couldn’t look him in the eyes, instead her gaze hit his chin.

But she should have known that he wasn’t letting her get away with that. He tilted her face up. “Nope.”

“Really?”

“Really.” He smirked. “No saying sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong. Want to tell me what brought that on?”

“No.” That wasn’t happening.

He sighed and dropped his hands. Darn, she felt the loss of his touch.

She winced. Shoot. She hated that he looked disappointed. In her. She had a real issue with disappointing people.

“Is your stomach sore?”

A glance down showed her that she was rubbing her tummy. Darn it.

“A little. Might just be hungry. The question?” She really needed to get away from him. Now.

“All right. But you should know, I want an honest answer. I know you’ve got a good poker face, but I’m also good at reading a lie. And if you lie, you’re going to be in trouble. Understand?”

What kind of trouble was he talking about? He’d yell at her? Freeze her out? Berate her?

“Why did you come to Wishingbone?”

She opened her mouth to answer.

“The real reason,” he added sternly.

Well, fudge.

14

He’d rather have this conversation inside.

With her tucked up in his bed. Or curled up under a blanket on the couch. The fire roaring.

Under his roof. Under his protection.

Fuck. He’d never felt this possessive of anyone. To the point where if she decided to go back to