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

Usual Suspects, which is apparently a murder thriller. We figured that was more fitting for an FBI agent.”

“You really didn’t have to do that.”

“Nonsense.” Kiesha took her hand and dragged her across the room. She’d expected to have to push through the crush, but people quickly got out of their way. A number of them called out greetings to Kiesha and she waved back at them, yelling out hellos, and even asking someone how their pet chicken was.

What had she gotten herself into?

“Lady Cluckers has been really sick,” Kiesha explained as she stopped at a small table. “Poor Rufus has been so worried about her. He thinks she’s got a cold or something.”

“Do chickens get colds?” Georgina asked.

Kiesha looked thoughtful. “You know, I have no idea. Here we are. Take a seat. I’ll introduce you to the girls. We’re just waiting on Juliet.”

“Okay.” She sat, feeling like she’d landed on some alien planet. Two women were standing by the table, chatting. Shoot. Why hadn’t she thought about this? Not only did she have to talk with Kiesha, which wasn’t too hard since she did the majority of the talking, but she was going to have to socialize with other people?

Nightmare.

Why was it she could handle other people in a professional capacity, but as soon as she entered a social setting she froze up and became quiet?

Perhaps it’s all the times that Mother told you to keep quiet during her dinner parties.

Yep, that could likely be it.

“Girls, meet Georgie. Georgie, this is Cleo.” A tall, beautiful, dark-skinned woman with the most amazing curly black hair nodded at her.

“Hello, Georgie.” Cleo wore a plain white t-shirt and skintight jeans. She looked effortlessly sexy. But there was a small frown on her face as she stared at Georgina.

Shoot. Was she angry because she was here? Georgina straightened up, trying to hide her nerves. Why did this feel like she was starting middle school all over again? All the bullies circling around her because she was smaller than everyone else.

“Hi. Sorry to crash your team.”

Cleo waved her hand elegantly. “Kiesha is always bringing strays.”

“Cleo. Jesus. Think before you speak. Just because you’re a negative nelly doesn’t mean you have the right to be rude,” the other woman told her.

“What did I say that was so rude?” Cleo asked, appearing confused.

“You just called her a stray.”

“Oh.” Cleo stared at her. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Georgina didn’t know quite how to take her, but she nodded anyway. “I’m fine.”

“Hi,” the other woman said brightly. “I’m Isabelle but everyone just calls me Isa.” She reached over to shake her hand. Isa had dark-blonde curly hair that was pulled back in a high ponytail. She wore a sparkly silver dress and cowboy boots. “Don’t worry about Cleo, she’s been in a bad mood for about, umm . . . “

“A century,” Kiesha replied.

“I haven’t been alive for a century,” Cleo said dryly.

“Feels like it,” Isa replied, sitting down.

“You’ve all known each other for long?” she asked.

“Since kindergarten,” Isa said cheerfully. “Cleo stole my lunch and Kiesha beat her up.”

“That is not what happened,” Cleo protested as she took a seat and glared at Isa.

“I’m going to order drinks, usual for everyone?” Kiesha asked.

“Yep,” Isa replied.

Cleo nodded.

“Georgie?”

She thought about telling her that her name was Georgina, but she kind of liked the nickname. It would horrify her mother. Which made her like it that much more.

“Just water, please.”

“Okay, I’ll surprise you then.”

“No, wait . . . . shoot,” she said as Kiesha took off in the direction of the bar.

“Don’t worry, if you don’t like it then you don’t have to drink it.”

Surprisingly, it was Cleo who spoke.

“I’m not really much of a drinker.”

Suddenly, Isa stood. Then she went up onto tiptoes. She was tiny, maybe even shorter than Georgina and she was only five foot two. Isa climbed up onto her chair. Georgina watched her with worry.

“Isa, get down before you fall,” Cleo bossed.

“I thought I saw Juliet.”

“Shoot, it’s my turn to get her tonight.” Cleo stood and looked around worriedly.

Get her? What did that mean?

“Are you sure that you saw her?” Cleo asked. “Maybe it was just someone that looked like her.”

“Nobody else looks like Juliet,” Isa argued back. “I’m sure it was her. You’ll have to run after her, she could be headed back home by now.”

Okay, Georgina couldn’t resist standing up to see who they were talking about. But like Isa, there was no way that she could see above the crowds of people.

“There she is! In the doorway.” Isa pointed.

“I see her.” Cleo took off.

“Here, come up with me,” Isa said, gesturing at Georgina to get up on the chair with her. “We have to keep an eye on her in case she tries to leave again.”

There wasn’t any way she was getting up on that chair. It was unsafe with just one person on it.

Suddenly, Isa grabbed her arm and practically hauled her up onto the chair. Shoot, she was strong for someone so small. Georgina wobbled and Isa wrapped an arm around her.

“There she is. That’s Juliet. Shit, she can’t see Cleo.”

Georgina squinted, trying to figure out who Juliet was. There were a few women standing close to the door. And then she spotted where Isa was pointing.

There was a very slight woman standing nervously in the doorway. She was dressed all in black and her brown hair was pulled back in a braid that hung over her shoulder. The poor thing looked so nervous that Georgina felt bad for her.

Juliet stepped back, nearly walking right out the door. “Oh shitballs, grab her, Cleo,” Isa muttered, bouncing up and down slightly. The chair under them wobbled and Georgina gasped.

They were going to fall.

But Isa settled down with a sigh of relief. “Cleo has her.”

Georgina looked over to see that Cleo had wrapped her arm around the nervous girl and was leading her back towards them. Juliet had her hand twisted in Cleo’s top.

Isa jumped down and Georgina wobbled at the