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

“There you are. Ready to go?”

12

Ed had come to a decision sometime in the early hours of the morning.

When he’d left the hospital after Xavier told him Georgina wanted to be alone, he had told himself that was it. She didn’t need him. Didn’t want him. He wasn’t going to beat a dead horse.

Except, his brain wouldn’t let any of it go. The panic he’d felt when he’d seen her collapsed on the side of the road. How pale and fragile she’d been lying in the hospital bed. The way she’d clung to him after her nightmare, when Greg had been spouting off about restraining her. The fact that she’d come here for a week. Her reluctance to call anyone from her family to help her.

His need to be around her, protect her. His jealousy over Xavier’s harmless flirting.

Despite the fact she’d run from him once, he felt something towards her. Something strong.

And he had a choice. Fight for her. Or let her go.

If he let her go without a fight then he knew he would regret it. And he wouldn’t get the answers he was after. He’d seen enough glimpses of a vulnerable side to make him think he was missing a lot. And he really didn’t like the idea of her being ill and on her own, with no one to care for her.

Sure, he could let her go home with any of the people currently arguing over her and she’d be taken care of. Well, maybe not with Remy. He didn’t know him. And how Juliet was going to take care of her, he had no idea.

But he wanted to look after her. He had this need to have her close, to watch over her.

And if he had to get bossy and throw his weight around a bit, well, perhaps that’s what she needed.

Or maybe she’d punch him in the nuts.

Guess he was going to find out.

He strode to where she sat in a wheelchair. Xavier was standing behind her, smirking, his hand lightly resting on her shoulder.

“Wanna remove your hand?” Ed snapped.

“Why would I want to do that?” Xavier asked.

“Remove it. Now.”

“Ed? What are you doing? Why are you snarling at Xavier?” she asked.

Xavier removed his hand and Ed grunted in satisfaction. Maybe it was a bit over-the-top caveman of him. But he’d decided that Georgie was meant to be his. And it seemed that he was rather possessive of what belonged to him.

Although, he’d never felt this way towards any of the other women he’d been involved with. Which told him he’d made the right decision.

“Hey, honey, how you doing?” He crouched in front of her, giving her a once-over. She stared at him, her mouth dropping open.

“Umm . . . I . . . what?”

“These are for you.” He was aware of everyone watching. And he didn’t give a shit. He handed her the flowers.

She grabbed hold, staring down at them.

“Wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just picked the biggest bunch they had.” He shrugged. He knew shit about flowers. But figured he couldn’t go wrong with whatever he chose. But seeing her struggling to hold them, he realized maybe he might have gone a bit big.

“Hope you’re not overcompensating for something,” Xavier snarked.

Ed glared at him. “I’m not.”

“What do you mean, overcompensating?” she asked.

“Doesn’t matter.” He moved the flowers to one side so he could see her face better. “You still look pale and tired. Didn’t you get any sleep? Did you eat? Are you sure she should be leaving?” He looked up to Xavier as he asked that last question.

“Wouldn’t be discharging her otherwise,” he said mildly. “Took you long enough to show up. Was beginning to think you wouldn’t.”

Ed just grunted.

“Ed? Why are you here?”

“Yes, Ed, why are you here?” Kiesha demanded. “I told you I was going to come and get Georgie. We’re besties. That’s why I asked for time off.”

Ed turned to frown down at her. Today she was wearing a bright yellow sweater. On the front were the words:

I have two moods.

1. Sweet and smiley.

2. I’ll cut you.

Dear God.

“Change your sweater before you get to work. Which is where you should have been thirty minutes ago.”

“But I told you I’m going on leave.”

“Which I told you that you couldn’t have.”

“Yeah, well, I was just going to take it anyway.” She waved her hand in the air. “What are you going to do, fire me?”

“Yes,” he bit out.

“Pfft, yeah, right. I’m family. I’ll tell your mom if you do. Right, Xavier, tell me what to do. Does she need to stay in the wheelchair? Because we might have problems with the stairs at my place. Although she’s small, I think I can carry her.”

“I know I can carry her,” Loki boomed. “And I have no stairs anyway.”

“I have stairs too,” Cleo added. “But O’Ryan has lots of muscles.”

“Thanks, babe.” O’Ryan winked at her. “Nicest thing you’ve said about me in ages.”

“And how is she going to get any rest with the two of you going at it all night?” Isa demanded.

Juliet leaned up to whisper into O’Ryan’s ear. He grimaced again. “Christ. Juliet said that Reuben would happily pay for any alterations to her place for Georgina’s needs.”

“Shit, he wouldn’t come here and personally oversee them, would he?” Ed asked.

Juliet nodded happily.

He swore he heard everyone groan.

“What’s up with this Reuben guy?” Remy asked. “Everyone seems to be—”

“Don’t say it, man,” Loki said hastily.

“What are you even doing here?” Ed asked Remy. “Everyone else I understand . . . “

“Heard she was getting released today, thought she might need a ride back to the motel. Didn’t realize half the town would be here. Guess you’re in good hands, sugar.”

Georgina didn’t reply. She seemed like she was in shock. Or maybe overwhelmed. This had to be a lot.

“Well?” Kiesha demanded.

“What?” Georgina asked.

“Are you going to tell us who you want to go home with?” Isa asked.

“I . . . well . . . I . .