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

I felt like nothing I was doing made a difference. Like it was Groundhog Day every day, you know?”

“The therapist didn’t help?”

She grimaced. “I didn’t like him. He’s kind of old-school and condescending and I hated talking to him. Which wasn’t helping my case to move back to fieldwork. Truth is, I’m not sure I can do it again. I was a hindrance, not a help.”

“Is that why you’ve taken some time off?”

“Not exactly.” She grimaced. “There’s more. I was out getting lunch one day and this car backfired. I ended up crouched up against the building, having a panic attack. And guess who just happened to be right there.”

“The therapist.”

“Yep. He told me that I was burned out. And that I was suffering from work-related anxiety and stress. Boom. Indefinite leave.”

“Fuck. I’m sorry.”

“I was pretty mad. Then I was lost. I don’t really have anything else but work. I sat in my apartment, trying to figure out what was going on. I felt so exhausted and useless and stupid. My thoughts were overwhelmingly bad. I didn’t tell my family what happened. My mother has been trying to get me to quit ever since I became an agent. And I just didn’t need that. Before I knew it, I had packed some stuff and was heading here. To you.”

“Good. That’s exactly what you should have done.”

She shook her head. “I didn’t let myself think of how insane it was, I just got in my car and drove.”

“I hate that you drove while upset.”

She rubbed her tummy anxiously. “And then when I got here, I acted like a crazy person. I saw you with Kiesha and I thought that you were with her. I’m sorry—”

“Hush, it was a misunderstanding. You don’t need to be worrying about any of that, all right? It’s in the past.”

“Overthinking things is kind of my thing.”

“Then we need to think of ways to distract you from your thoughts don’t we?” He winked down at her. “I can think of a few.”

“Me too,” she whispered.

“I have an idea. Anytime you start thinking negative thoughts or overthinking things, you come find me and I’ll kiss you until you can’t think, all right?”

Her breathing quickened. “I think I can deal with that.”

“Best deal I ever made.”

She smiled shyly.

“Anytime you want to talk to me. About anything, I’m here.”

She was grateful he wasn’t pushing her for more. At the same time, she got that it was a reprieve and he wouldn’t let her get away with it forever.

He opened up the bottle of water and shook it. “So if you weren’t feeling ill then how come all of this isn’t drunk? And you’ve barely eaten anything.”

“Umm. I fell asleep.”

He picked up her phone and looked at it. “And is that why you didn’t turn your phone on?”

She grimaced. Shoot.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “What did I tell you before leaving the house?”

“To drink the water, eat some food, get some rest, and turn on my phone.”

“And did you do any of that?”

“I did some of it!”

“Not good enough.” He turned her phone over and went to hit the button to turn it on.

“No, wait, don’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“I’m just not ready to face the rest of the world. Not yet.”

His face softened. “All right. But you’re going to have to turn it on sometime soon. If I have to go out again, I want to know that you have a way to contact me. Not that I’m likely to leave you on your own again anytime soon.”

“You’re overreacting.”

He scowled. Then pointed at the water. “I want all of that drunk down while I unpack your stuff. Do you want to brush your teeth?”

“Desperately.”

“Okay, I’ll unpack your toothbrush first.”

“I’m going to have a shower too, so I’ll grab some fresh clothes.”

“Nope.”

“Nope? What do you mean, nope?” she asked.

“I mean that you’re not having a shower. It will get hot in there. You might feel light-headed and faint. Unless you want me to shower with you?”

“I want to shower on my own,” she said in a high-pitched voice which was kind of embarrassing.

“That’s disappointing.”

She glared at him as his lips twitched.

“Relax,” he told her. “I know you’re not ready for that yet. But it’s coming. I’ll run you a bath. You can soak while I unpack everything.” He kissed her lightly on the head. “Now drink that water before we have to start talking about consequences for when you’re naughty.”

Consequences for when she was naughty? Just what kind of consequences was he talking about?

18

Georgina lay back in the bath with a sigh of pleasure. When was the last time she’d had a bath? She didn’t have one in her tiny apartment. Plus, she was usually too busy to take the time when a shower would do.

Is that what her life had come to? Working so much that she didn’t even have time for a freaking bath?

Was she really living or just existing?

“Georgie?”

She tensed. “Yeah?” The bathroom door hadn’t had a lock. She guessed because it was the master. Not that she expected him to just barge in.

“I’ve thrown all your clothes into the wash as I wasn’t sure what was clean or not.”

“All my clothes?” she squeaked out. Shoot! She had her onesie in there. Had he seen that when he was throwing everything in the wash?

“Yep, so I’ve got another of my T-shirts for you here.”

She groaned and closed her eyes.

“You all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Just realized I don’t have any clean underwear.”

Shoot! Why’d she go and say that? He didn’t need to know about her underwear situation. She heard him clear his throat through the door.

“Well, I do have some boxers. They’re brand new. Kiesha got them for me.”

They’d likely slip off her but maybe they’d be better than nothing.

“Thanks.”

He returned a few moments later. “I’m going to open the door and put them on the bathroom counter. Don’t worry, I won’t peek.”

She glanced down at herself. She’d found something in his cabinet called Manly Man’s Bath