She gave him a suspicious look. She was so freaking cute. “There’s a catch, right?”
“So suspicious.” He bopped her nose. “No catch.”
She studied him thoughtfully.
“You coming in with me?” he asked, even though it cost him. He wanted to just take charge, sweep her up in his arms and look after her.
“Yes.”
Thank fuck.
15
You’re important to me.
Georgina didn’t know what was in the Kool-Aid he’d been drinking, but she wanted to buy cases of it and keep feeding it to him.
She really hadn’t been expecting to see him again. She figured she’d burned her bridges by running after that first kiss. Then sending him away from the hospital.
Yet, he’d come back fighting.
For her. He wanted her. It was going to take a while for that to sink in.
As he opened the truck door, she reached down to fumble with the seatbelt. “My hands aren’t working.”
“You’re trembling,” he said with a frown. “Are you cold? We need to get you inside and in front of the fire.”
She didn’t think it was the cold making her tremble. More like anticipation and nerves. And likely low blood sugar, since she hadn’t eaten much breakfast.
Reaching over her, he undid her belt. His scent surrounded her, instantly making her feel safe. He smelled woodsy. Manly.
His arm brushed against her breasts and her nipples hardened. She sucked in a breath. Did he do that on purpose?
She had no idea, but she kind of wished he’d do it again. Then he picked her up again, bridal style.
“I can walk,” she said dryly. “My legs aren’t injured.”
“I know. But I haven’t had my workout today. So you’d really be helping me out if you let me carry you everywhere.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “That was terrible.”
“Didn’t believe me? Well, you’re so light it wouldn’t be much of a workout anyway. We need to have a chat about that because I can tell you’ve lost weight.”
She tensed. “Not right now.”
He stared down at her for a moment then his face softened. “All right. Not right now. We’ll settle you in first.”
“Wait, my flowers!”
“I’ll get them and your discharge stuff soon,” he reassured her. “You need to get warm.”
He got to the door and then as if she really didn’t weigh a thing, he slid her around until she sat on one hip while he reached into his pocket for a key to unlock the door. He was holding her up by just one arm under her ass.
She felt tiny. And cherished. He stepped in, still carrying her like that. She wrapped her legs around his waist, to help keep her weight off his arm.
“You smell nice,” he told her.
She wrinkled her nose. “I smell like a hospital. I really need to wash my hair.”
He carried her down a hall, into a surprisingly large living room. The cabin had looked small from the front but she now saw that it became much bigger at the back.
The living area had double-high ceilings with big wooden beams and white walls. There was an enormous stone fireplace with a hearth that was just made for Christmas stockings to be hung from it. She’d never done that before. Or decorated a tree. Her mother always got someone in to decorate and she was pretty sure only did that to keep up appearances with her friends. They’d never hung stockings or drunk eggnog or hot chocolate and sung Christmas carols.
“Georgie-girl? You okay?” he asked as he settled her on a leather sectional in front of the fire. He added a log to the fire. There were two bookcases on either side of the fireplace. But her eyes moved towards the wall at the end of the room where huge glass doors showcased the gorgeous lake and beyond. A kitchen was tucked in around the corner.
“Yes, I’m fine. This place is amazing.” It was like nothing she would have imagined he’d live in. She’d kind of expected something like where she lived. A barren, lonely apartment.
This was a house for a family. There was a lot of stuff, but it looked lived in.
“Thanks, I bought the cabin years ago then added on this extension when I had the money.”
“You did a great job. Do you not have any neighbors?”
“No, not for miles. I own several acres. I like my privacy.”
“You’ve got that.” She’d always lived in the city, so it was a bit daunting. But she couldn’t deny how peaceful and beautiful it was.
“While you’re here, I don’t want you to go beyond the yard, okay? You could easily get lost out here.”
She nodded. That was something she could agree to.
He smiled at her, crouching down, and squeezing her hand. He frowned. “You’re cold. I’ll get a blanket.”
“I’ll be fine in front of the fire.”
But he stood, and soon returned with a blanket. Kneeling, he reached for her sneakers and undid the laces.
“I can do that,” she protested, trying to pull her feet away.
“I assumed that you could, but I want to do it.”
“Why?”
He stared up at her. “Because I enjoy taking care of you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. Not used to someone looking after you, are you?”
She shook her head. “I can’t remember the last time anyone took care of me. Bossed me around, interfered in my life, yes. But looked after me, no.”
“What about when you were sick? Your parents must have taken care of you.”
“My dad worked a lot and my mother was a germaphobe. If I was sick, usually a nanny took care of me.” But she’d been doing it herself since she was twelve. All of her brothers had been gone by then. And the nannies.
And her father.
Ed had her shoes off by now. He raised her feet, placing them on the sofa. Then he tucked the blanket around her. It was overkill. But she wasn’t going to tell him to stop.
Honestly, she was lapping this up like a dry sponge in a downpour.
Why couldn’t she let him take care of her? Especially right now, when she really wasn’t sure that she had the energy to do things for herself. She had no idea how she’d thought she was going to pack up and drive home.
To her surprise, he lifted her legs and settled himself under them, so her feet were in his lap. Then he started rubbing them. Holy hell. Her eyes closed.
She actually thought she came a little. Just from him touching her feet. But that would be super weird, right?
Yep. Super. Weird.
“Enjoying that?”
“Oh yes. God. I never knew that would feel so good . . . “
He froze and she groaned. Please don’t stop. Thankfully, he started up again immediately. “No one has ever massaged your feet?”
“Nooo.”
“You’ve never had a pedicure before?”
She opened her eyes, staring over at him. “Is that strange?”
“What? No. I just thought all women did that shit. Kiesha talks about them like they’re the necessity of life and without them she’d die a sad, lonely death. She actually told me that once when she was begging for a longer lunch break to go get one.”
She giggled. Whoa. What was that? She slammed her hand over her mouth.
His eyes twinkled as he stared down at her. “You’re cute when you do that.”
“What? Make weird giggling noises?”
“They’re not weird. And yeah, the giggling was cute. So is the way you slam your hand over your mouth when you think you’ve said something you shouldn’t. Now, let’s get you settled.”
“I’m settled,” she said, confused.
“You’re still stiff and looking at the door like you’re contemplating running.”
Shoot. She hadn’t even realized.
“Sorry.”
“I know this is a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re out of the hospital and probably feeling a bit weak.”
More than a bit.
“B
ut 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 to do it all ourselves then we’d never need anyone. And that would be a sad way to live, don’t you think? Lonely.”
Lonely is exactly the way she’d describe herself.
“I came back to Wishingbone because of that kiss, and because I was feeling . . . lost, lonely, scared. The last time I remembered feeling safe was with you, with your arms around me, kissing me. I’ve had nightmares since I was sixteen, but lately, they’ve been every night. I’ve let myself get rundown. The job, it’s been wearing on me. I guess the more tired and stressed I became, the worse the nightmares got.”
“So you collapsing the other day, that was because you’re rundown and pushed yourself too hard?”
“Ahh, yeah. Running is the one way I know of escaping my thoughts. I tend to run until I’m too exhausted to think.”
“I don’t like that,” he rumbled. “You could hurt yourself. Do you even watch your surroundings?”
His voice was deep and commanding. Her insides quivered in response. Funny, she never thought she’d go for an alpha male. Her brothers were all domineering and bossy and she didn’t want someone like them.
Or so she’d thought.
“I usually run the same tracks, so there’s no issue of me getting lost or anything.”
“I’m not just talking about you getting lost, young lady.”
Young lady? Ooh, she was in trouble.
“I’m talking about the fact that if you’re not watching your surroundings then someone could sneak up on you.”
She brushed her hand at that. “I always run with pepper spray, I’ll be fine. I’m trained to fight.”
“And if you froze or panicked?”
She sucked in a brea
th.
“I don’t say that to upset you or disparage you. Just thinking worst-case scenario. If you don’t notice them then they could easily get the upper hand on you. What if you hurt yourself? Collapsed?”
“It’s only been lately where I’ve had heart issues that have made me dizzy and light-headed.”
“Heart issues? What heart issues? I thought you said there was nothing big wrong!” He stood with her in his arms. “That’s it, you’re going back to the hospital until these heart issues have been sorted. What the hell was Xavier thinking, discharging you? I’m going to kick his fucking ass.”
“Ed, no! I’m fine. Put me down.”
“No way, I’m not putting you down until I get answers. We’re going back to the hospital. I’m going to teach Xavier how to do his damn job properly.”
“Ed! I don’t have heart problems.”
“You just said you did.” He paused at the front door, glaring down at her.
“I don’t have any issues with my heart. I have palpitations and my heart tends to race. But it’s caused by stress and anxiety and likely too much caffeine. Although there’s no way I’m giving up my caffeine. I need it to live.”
He studied her. “That the truth?”
“Promise.”
“So if I rang Xavier and asked him? That’s what he’d tell me?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you believe me?”
He moved his gaze over her face. “I believe you. But I’m still worried. I don’t like the sound of heart palpitations. Especially not when you collapsed.”
“Believe me, they’re no fun to experience. They make me feel ill and nauseous.”
“I’m guessing running wouldn’t help that, would it?”
She shrugged as he turned and headed back down the hallway, but this time he moved into a large bedroom. It was filled with light due to the floor-to-ceiling windows that meant you could look out onto the lake. A huge bed faced the big windows. Wow, she thought it would be amazing to wake up to that view. Behind the bed was a false wall that housed the walk-in closet. He placed her next to the bed and then pulled down the plain, dark blue duvet cover, revealing black sheets. She’d never seen black sheets before. On each side of the big bed were bedside drawers but other than that the room was pretty bare.
“What are you doing?”
Sheriff Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 10) Page 12