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

They’d bought an assortment of cute clothes. There were a couple of onesies with drop seats. Some long fluffy socks that went to mid-thigh and had faces of animals up the top. Some denim shorts and skirts, even though Ed grumbled that he’d have to turn up the heat in the house. He’d also insisted on some warmer clothing. So she had a sweater with rabbit ears on the hood and several pairs of leggings.

One of her favorite things were her new shoes, though. They were light up with rainbows over the top.

Light up shoes! In her size!

So. Awesome.

But the best things were the sword and scabbard, pirate hat, eye patch, telescope, and compass. She was going to be a real pirate now.

She fidgeted back and forth as Aunt Marie added everything up. Ed had also insisted on a soft toy that was meant to help with anxiety. It had long arms with weights in them that you could wrap around your shoulders or neck. Like it was giving you a hug.

Georgina knew she could have done with something like that a few weeks ago. But now she had Ed. Still, she indulged him and chose one. They’d also grabbed some coloring books and one of those toy steering wheels. Something else she’d always wanted. This one had a real horn and made noises.

So. Fun.

Ed leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Do you need to pee before we go, my girl?”

She froze. Did he just say that? She looked over at Aunty Marie, but she wasn’t paying any attention. She kept adding things up and bagging them.

“No.”

“Hmm, are you sure? You’re bouncing around on your feet like you need to.”

Did she need to? Drat, maybe he was right. She glared up at him. He gave her nose a warning tap while giving her ‘the Ed look’.

“Aunt Marie, we need to use the bathroom.”

The older woman just waved her hand at him without looking up. “You know where it is.”

Ed took her hand and led her to a door off to the side. It had a picture of a unicorn on the front. She wasn’t sure what a unicorn had to do with peeing, but it was a cute unicorn so she went with it.

Inside, the bathroom cubicle was large. It had one of those changing tables that pulled out from the wall. But it was longer and wider than a baby needed.

Well, an actual baby. But it was perfect for an adult baby. She blushed at the thought. The toilet had a cute lid with frogs on it.

“Need me to stay?” Ed asked.

“No!” she squeaked.

He headed out the door. “All right. I’ll leave. Today.”

Did that mean that another day, he wouldn’t? Yikes. She peed then cleaned up and opened the door. He was waiting on the other side. She could have found her own way back to the counter, but she rather liked that he’d waited for her.

When they reached Aunt Marie, she read out the total. Georgina grabbed out her wallet.

“What are you doing?” Ed rumbled, taking her purse from her hand.

“Hey, I need to pay for this.”

“Yeah, that’s not happening.”

“What?” She gaped up at him.

His forehead was furrowed as he stared down at her. “You’re not paying.”

“This stuff is for me, so yeah, I am.”

“Oh, this should be interesting.” Aunt Marie watched on.

Shoot. She forgot they had an audience.

“Ed, please give me my purse.”

“Not happening. You’re not paying. When you’re out with me, my girl, I pay.”

“But this isn’t stopping for an ice cream, Ed. This is hundreds of dollars of stuff. For me.”

“For us. And I’m paying. So put your hand down right now.”

“No.” She glared at him stubbornly. But the look on his face told her he wouldn’t budge. “Fine. I can be reasonable. We’ll go halves.”

“Go. Halves.” He was staring at her like she spoke another language.

“Yes. Halves. That’s the only thing to do.”

“Do you hear what I’m hearing?” he said to Aunt Marie. “Has she lost her mind?”

“Now, dear, you’re forgetting that she’s from the city. Most men aren’t gloriously old-fashioned like they are here.”

Ed sighed. “You’re right. I need to be patient.”

“Um, I’m standing right here. And this has nothing to do with me being from the city.”

Aunt Marie and Ed shared a look.

“Here’s the thing, Georgie-girl,” Ed told her calmly. “I’m an old-fashioned guy. So when you’re out with me, I open up doors. I help you in and out of my truck. I walk on the outside of the sidewalk. I hold your hand when we’re crossing roads. I carry things. I fill up the gas tank. I drive. And when you want something, I pay.”

“That’s . . . that’s . . . “

Aunt Marie sent her a warning look. “Think about it, honey. Before you speak. Think about how a man doing those things for you would make you feel. Would make him feel. Ed’s a dominant guy. But he doesn’t push it on people. Sure, he can make mistakes. We all do. None of us are perfect. I don’t know anything about your relationship, but I’ve known him since he was a boy. He’s protective, selfless, caring, and a good man. You’ve got a good man wanting to do good things for you.”

She was right. She was so right.

“It just feels like I’m taking without giving. Everything you do for me, I feel like I’m just a burden sucking you dry.”

“Fuck, Georgina. No, how can you think that?”

“I have so many issues. What can I even do for you that someone else couldn’t do, and do it better?”

“You listen to me, Georgina Catherine, I don’t want anyone else. I want you. So what if you have some issues? You don’t think everyone does? And you do not suck me dry. You think that just anyone could put up with me? I’m demanding, controlling. I have to be needed. You could be with a man who was a hell of a lot easier than