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

overwhelming, especially when you’re out of the hospital and probably feeling a bit weak.”

More than a bit.

“But you don’t have to worry so much, okay? Give me some of your worries. I have big shoulders.”

“You seem to have enough on your plate. You’re the sheriff. Shouldn’t you be at work right now?”

He shrugged. “Took a few days off. Got a lot of vacation time owing. And the town isn’t going to go to rack and ruin if I’m not around for a bit.”

“You sure about that?”

“Don’t worry, my deputies have me on speed dial. Along with most of the town. If something goes down, I’ll know about it.”

“I don’t want to put you out or anything. Or make you use vacation time for me—”

He reached over and placed that big hand over her mouth. She froze in shock. “Hush. You’re not making me do anything. I want to be here with you.” He removed his hand and gave her a stern look. “Understood?”

She licked her lips and nodded. “I didn’t expect you to turn up at the hospital. Well, I didn’t expect anyone to. But especially you, after I . . . “

“Sent me packing?”

“Yeah.”

He nodded. “I’ve been hurt in the past, wanting someone who didn’t want me back. I told myself I wouldn’t do that again.”

She winced. No, that wasn’t the problem. Her issues with opening up and letting someone close were the real problem.

“But I wasn’t going to be able to live with myself if I didn’t try once more. If I put myself out there, I thought you’d see that you could jump because I would catch you.”

“Rather than letting me go splat,” she commented before she could think better of it.

“Right. Wouldn’t want that pretty face to get squashed.”

She grimaced. Pretty? Her? Hardly.

“What was that?”

She wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Nothing.”

“Uh-uh, there’s no lying, remember?”

Groaning, she threw her head back against the arm of the sofa, scooting down so she was lying on her back. Then she wouldn’t have to look at him as she said it.

She should have known better. He picked her up and settled her on his lap, re-tucking the blanket around her, treating her as though she was precious.

Tears filled her eyes and she had to blink them back.

“Hey,” he crooned. “What’s the matter? Why are you upset?”

“I’m just not used to this.”

“Being held on someone’s lap?”

“That, and everything else. Being touched, I guess. With gentleness.”

“Someone touched you who wasn’t gentle?” he bit out.

“No. Nothing like that.” Well, not in years. “I just don’t get touched except for the occasional handshake or when someone brushes past me in the supermarket.”

He tensed. “When was the last time someone hugged you?”

“Oh, well, actually, I lied. I have been touched recently. Kiesha hugged me. Think Isa did too. Definitely not Cleo or Juliet. She was just joking when she said her brother would re-do her house so I could stay there if I was in a wheelchair, right?”

He grimaced. “No. She wasn’t.”

“Why does everyone seem so scared of him?”

“We can’t talk about it. And don’t say his name too often, he’s like Rumpelstiltskin. He’ll just appear.”

She burst into laughter. Then she saw that he wasn’t joking.

Holy hell.

“All right, when was the last time you were hugged before coming here?”

“Umm.” She had to really think about that. “I think when I graduated from college.”

“Jesus. Right, first rule.”

“There are rules?” she asked.

“For you, there are.”

“Okay. What is it?” Taking off her shoes before walking in? Cleaning up after herself?

“If you need a hug, you ask for it straight away. No matter what time it is or where we are.”

“That’s a rule?” That was the weirdest house rule she’d ever heard of. And also the sweetest.

“No, I haven’t finished. If one of us leaves the house or returns, we need to hug when we see each other again. So, when I leave to go get your stuff from the motel, I’m going to need a hug. Same when I come back.”

She could feel herself blushing, but she nodded. She wasn’t against hugging. It was as good as kissing him in her opinion. She still got that same feeling of safety. And excitement. Hugging him was definitely no hardship.

She wondered if there was going to be a kissing rule.

His chest moved as he laughed. “A kissing rule?”

“Oh shoot, why do I keep doing that,” she mumbled from behind her hand, which she’d once again placed over her mouth.

“I don’t know, but like I said, it’s adorable. And we can have a kissing rule if you like. Right now, I want you to eat then go have a nap. I also need to read through your discharge papers to make sure I’m taking care of you properly.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she said hastily. “I’m really fine.”

He was silent for a long moment. “There something in there you don’t want me to know? Because you said that Xavier didn’t find anything—”

“He didn’t!” Shoot. She didn’t mean to worry him. Damn it. She was going to have to tell him. “I’m fine, really.”

“Healthy people don’t collapse on the side of the road like that. Even if they do push themselves too hard. And they don’t shake with exhaustion. It’s obvious you haven’t been taking care of yourself. You’re thinner, you’re pale, you look like you haven’t been sleeping properly. Do you have nightmares like the one in the hospital often?”

She took a deep breath in. “Yes. Although I’ve been having them more often lately.”

“Do you want to tell me about them?”

“No,” she whispered. “Not yet.”

To her surprise, he let that go. “Okay, just remember, I’ve got big shoulders and you no longer have to go through things on your own.”

She stared up at him in amazement.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” No, she needed to say something. “I’ve just often wished I had someone I could share things with. Who would help. I know I’m meant to be able to do it all—”

“That’s bullshit,” he cut in. “If we were meant to be able