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

you paid for the week, but Arnie is unlikely to give you a refund. I can put the pressure on him—”

“No, it’s fine,” she told him. “I really don’t care about the money. Honest. But umm . . .” She trailed off looking uncertain and miserable.

He definitely didn’t like her looking that way. Reaching out, he ran his fingers down her cheek. “What is it?”

“Well, shoot. See there is something I need that you might not find.”

That wasn’t mysterious or anything.

“What is it?”

“Under the pillow is a toy, a parrot.”

A parrot? That was interesting. And under the pillow? Why would she keep it there?

“I know it’s stupid to want a stuffed toy when I’m an adult,” she said, shame clear in her voice.

Nope. He wasn’t having any of that.

“Hey.” Reaching out, he tilted up her chin. “Listen to me.”

Her eyes flared at the firmness in his voice. Good. He wanted her to know he was serious about this. “There is nothing wrong with needing a comfort object. Whether it’s a toy, a blanket, some sort of keepsake. All right?”

She still looked uncertain but she nodded. “All right.”

“Do you need it to sleep?”

Her cheeks went bright red but she nodded. “Well, I don’t really sleep much but yeah, I feel better when I have him.”

He frowned. “You should have asked me to get it for you when you first woke up in the hospital.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that. I mean, I was worried about what you . . . “

“About what I’d think? Because you always have to be strong? Make all the decisions? Be confident?” he asked gently.

Her shoulders slumped. “Something like that.”

Placing his hand under her chin, he tilted her face up. “You don’t have to do everything. You can let all that go when you’re with me. You can give me your fears, your burdens.”

“I don’t need someone to make decisions for me,” she told him. But there was a look of indecision on her face.

“Is that what you truly believe or what you think you should say?”

She gulped.

“Letting someone help isn’t a sign of weakness. It takes a lot of courage. And trust. You need to know that they will protect you, keep you safe, have your best interests at heart. You can lean on me.”

“I’m not sure I know how to do that,” she admitted.

“I can help you.”

She looked unsure. And exhausted.

Inwardly he cursed himself. She’s just out of the hospital, dickhead. But maybe he could subtly Top her. Help her. It seemed she had a lot of misconceptions about herself. He stood. “Are you going to be all right if I head out and grab your stuff as well as fill your ‘scripts?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I want all this water gone and at least half the food by the time I get back. And rest,” he bossed.

She flung him a salute. “Yes, Sir Pumpkin Lips.”

“Not happening, brat,” he growled at her. “Maybe I should have gotten someone to sit with you. What if you get out of bed and collapse?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not going to get out of bed and collapse. I’ll be fine. I don’t feel dizzy at all.”

“Even so, I don’t want you getting out of bed unless it’s an emergency, understand?” he said sternly. Shit. The pharmacy closed earlier today. If he waited for someone to come sit with her, then he might not get these ‘scripts filled.

“And what if I have to pee?” she challenged.

“Not an emergency. I can change the sheets when I get home.”

“Ed!” she squeaked.

He grinned at her.

“Stop teasing me,” she grumbled. “Jesus, I thought you were serious. Thought you were going to whip out a pair of adult diapers.”

“Hmm, you’re so small, I think toddler-sized ones would fit you.”

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

“Hey, where did these violent tendencies come from?” He shook his head. “You think you know someone . . . “

“Idiot,” she muttered but he saw her fighting a grin.

“Rest,” he commanded. “Stay in bed unless it’s an emergency or you need the bathroom. Where’s your phone? I’ll put it on the bedside table.”

“I don’t know, I guess it’s in my handbag.”

“I’ll go get it for you.”

He returned quickly with her handbag. “What? You didn’t go looking for it yourself?”

“Hey, I know better than to go through a woman’s handbag. I’m not a complete caveman. Kiesha taught me that when I was younger. She likes to keep Kit Kats in her bag and I used to go in and steal them. One day, she booby-trapped her bag with a mouse trap. No idea how she managed it but to this day, I’ve never gone into another woman’s handbag without permission. Unless it’s for work, of course.”

She grinned. “I love Kiesha.”

“She loves you too.”

Her grin disappeared. “Do you think so?” She drew out her phone and tried to turn it on.

“I know she does.”

“I’ve never had a friend.”

Never? What the hell?

“What about at school? At work?”

She shrugged. “I was homeschooled when I was younger. Then when my father finally put his foot down and sent me, I was the strange kid. The odd one out since everyone else knew each other. And once I was older . . . well, any girls who did try to be my friend, it was usually because they wanted to get close to my brothers.”

“I’m sorry, honey. They’re older?”

“Yeah, and they’re the bane of my existence. I’m thirty-four years old and they still think they get to boss me around and stick their noses into my business.”

“Big brothers can be protective of their little sisters.”

“They can also be big, fat jerks,” she muttered in a surprisingly sulky voice. This was a new side to her he hadn’t seen and while he shouldn’t encourage sulkiness, it was kind of cute.

“Your phone’s dead?”

She nodded. “Yeah, the charger is at the motel.”

“I’ll get mine. It’s the same model. You shouldn’t let your phone die.”

“I know. I’m going to pay for that.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.