Sheriff Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 10) by Laylah Roberts (good book club books txt) 📗

over to a chair and making her sit. Her legs bounced up and down nervously. He crouched in front of her, taking her hand in his.

Yeah, she definitely didn’t need more energy.

“I do need sugar!” she cried. “When I’m anxious, I eat. And right now, I need to eat chocolate and candy.”

“She’s going to be fine, Kiesha. I promise.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, looking lost. He knew being in the hospital had to bring back bad memories for her.

“I promise,” he said firmly. “Now, you’re freezing. I’m going to go get you a blanket, all right? Maybe something warm to drink.”

He stood and turned to Remy who watched them with interest.

“We’ve known each other a long time,” he said. Shit, why was he explaining himself to a stranger?

Remy just gave a chin lift in response.

“Look, thanks for helping, man,” Ed told him. “But don’t feel like you have to stick around.”

“Where is she? What happened? What’s going on?”

Ed turned to see Isa walking in. She was dressed in a long-sleeved dress and high cowboy boots. Unlike the rest of them, she wasn’t wet at all.

“Don’t you ever wear a jacket?” Remy snapped at her.

Ed stared at him in surprise. And Isa’s gaze narrowed in on him. “You! Did you have something to do with Georgie ending up in the hospital? Because if you did . . .” She stepped forward, her hands in fists.

“Whoa, spitfire, I didn’t have a thing to do with your friend ending up here. I was helping her.” Remy stepped forward as well, until they were inches apart.

“Hey! What’s going on here! Why are you glaring at my friend? Isabelle, get over here.”

Fuck. That’s all he needed. Loki had walked in after Isa. Unlike Isa, he was drenched. Ed guessed that he’d dropped Isa off then parked. Loki was a good guy. But he was far more reasonable when he was Lachlan and not Loki. Which, at the moment he seemed to be.

“Who are you?” Remy asked belligerently.

Loki stepped forward and gently moved Isa behind him, crossing his arms over his huge chest. “None of your business. Who the fuck are you? And why were you yelling at Isa?”

“She yelled at me first,” Remy told him.

“Isa, Remy was helping me search for Georgina. That’s why he’s here now. He had nothing to do with what happened.”

“Oh,” Isa said.

“You sound displeased,” Remy rumbled. “You got an apology for me, spitfire?”

“Don’t press your luck,” Isa muttered and moved around Loki towards Kiesha. Loki gave Remy a once-over and followed her.

“Think I’ll just sit over here and wait,” Remy said, moving down to the opposite end of the room.

Isa glared at him, while he just stared back at her calmly.

Ed nodded at Remy then went out to find a blanket for Kiesha. Over the next half an hour, more people trickled in to wait to hear how Georgina was. Ed thought it might shock her, how many people were in the waiting room. Cleo had arrived with O’Ryan, a scowl on her face. Juliet was there, soon after, wearing a rain jacket and a bike helmet.

Ed had wanted to lecture her on riding her bike in the storm. But frankly, he didn’t have the heart. But Jesus, all he needed was Juliet ending up in the hospital. Not only because she was one of his, and he didn’t want her hurt. But also, because her brother would likely sue the entire town. Reuben Jones was fiercely protective of his sister. Ed was still shocked that Reuben hadn’t forced her to move out to Boston with him. It was the one time Juliet had stuck up for herself. She’d refused to leave her town and friends.

He thought it was just as well she had. Reuben would likely keep her locked up in a safe room.

Maybe he should lock Georgina up in a safe room. He eyed Kiesha. So maybe he understood Reuben’s point of view. It would definitely give him fewer headaches if the people he cared about were safe.

Fuck. Did he care about Georgina? Still? Sure, he’d felt something for her when they’d kissed. But it had just been a kiss. And she obviously didn’t feel anything in return. Or she wouldn’t have just left without a goodbye. Or returning his calls.

Unless she was scared . . .

Fucked if he knew and the one person who did know couldn’t tell him. He just hoped she was all right.

“Who is here for Georgina James?”

Ed turned and looked over at Xavier. Good, he’d hoped he was on duty tonight.

“We all are,” Kiesha said, standing. She had mascara tracks down her face and she looked drawn. He’d tried to convince her to go home, along with everyone else. But none of them were budging.

Yeah, he thought Georgina might be shocked by how many people were concerned for her.

“Is she okay?” Isa asked.

“What’s wrong with her?” Cleo snapped. “Is it cancer? Is she dying? I think we need a second opinion.”

“Whoa, okay, Cleo. Let’s not jump to conclusions or put aspersions on my skills as a doctor, okay?” Xavier said calmly.

“Just tell us,” Kiesha cried.

“What’s going on, Xavier?” Ed demanded, his heart racing.

Xavier sighed. “Guys, I can’t tell all of you what’s going on. There’s a thing called doctor-patient confidentiality.”

“So let me go ask her if you can tell us all,” Kiesha said, taking a step towards the doorway, looking determined to track Georgina down.

“Kiesha, stop,” Ed said firmly.

Kiesha froze and glared at him.

“You’re not going back there right now,” Xavier told her. “At the moment, Georgina is resting. Something she desperately needs. And I won’t have any of you waking her up, understand?”

At Xavier’s stern tone, everyone nodded.

“Ed, speak in private?” Xavier asked.

He followed Xavier into a smaller examination room.

“What’s going on? What’s wrong with her?” Ed demanded.

“Are you asking as the sheriff? Or something more?” Xavier asked him.

He stiffened. “What makes you ask that?”

“You just seem worked up.”

“A woman in my town just collapsed on the side of the road and