“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 me. Do you want that?”
“No.” She threw herself into his arms. He hugged her tight.
“You’re mine. My girl. Understand?”
She nodded.
“Right, let’s get Aunty Marie back and pay for this.”
“I didn’t even notice that she left,” she admitted. She wiped at the stray tears sliding down her cheeks. Reaching over, he grabbed a tissue and helped clean her up.
“I’m going to take care of you. All you have to do is let me.”
“I’ll take care of you too.”
“I know you will, my girl.”
She was nearly skipping as they walked out to his truck. She couldn’t wait to get home and put on her long socks and light-up shoes.
“I wish I’d brought Squawkers with me.”
“Next time, Georgie-girl,” Ed promised as he put all the bags in the back of his truck. She’d gotten her bottom slapped inside for trying to grab some of them. It hadn’t even made Aunty Marie look up. She really was used to this.
“Can I have the steering wheel?” she asked.
“What do you say?” Ed asked.
Say? He gave her a look. Ooh. Right.
“Please, Big Daddy?”
“That’s my good girl.” As he rustled around in the bags, she had this strange feeling of being watched. But as she discreetly looked around, she couldn’t see anyone. She shook it off. Probably just weird paranoia.
“Right, let’s get home.” He handed her the toy and she squealed in excitement.
Ed led her to the passenger side of the truck. He had the booster seat he’d bought in one hand. She scowled at it. She really didn’t think she needed it. But he opened the door and set it on the seat.
“What if someone sees it?” she asked.
“Just tell them you get a sore butt sitting in my truck.”
Well, it was a well-padded seat with a soft cushion on top.
“Don’t worry, they’ll probably think it’s because I’ve just spanked your ass.” He winked at her.
“Daddy!”
He lifted her in with a chuckle and buckled the seatbelt. Then he kissed the top of her nose. “You’re so cute. Now behave, no tantrums or Daddy might just have to make that red bottom a reality.”
“Fine. Let’s go, though, Daddy. I want to race you home. See who gets there first.”
When he climbed in and started up the truck, she turned the key on her steering wheel. It made a noise similar to a V8 engine.
Not really. But this was pretend play. It didn’t have to be real.
She turned a corner really sharply.
“Whoa, Georgie-girl, watch out there. Going a bit fast around that corner.”
“Daddy, I’m a race car driver. I can’t go slow around the corners.”
“Well, I’m the Daddy of a race car driver, and I say she needs to be careful.”
“It’s not real, Daddy.” Silly Daddy.
“Just as well. You drove like that in real life and I’d take my belt off.”
Her mouth dropped open. He wouldn’t? She glanced over at him.
She was betting he would.
She didn’t own a car. No need for one when she used public transport. But when she did drive, she liked to drive fast and hard, pushing the speed limit. She’d received tactical driving lessons when she was training to be an agent. And she’d loved those classes.
But he never needed to know that.
“Hey, slowpoke, get out of the way!” she yelled at an imaginary driver.
Ed let out a laugh. “Just as well this is pretend. You’re a terrible driver.”
“Daddy, I am not. It’s everyone else who is terrible. I’m perfect.”
His face softened. “That you are, my girl.”
They’d just pulled into his garage and he was lifting her down when his phone rang.
“Go inside, Georgie-girl. Take off your boots and jacket. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said cheerfully.
She was just putting her coat away when he walked out of the garage, carrying her packages. There was a frown on his face.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. Sort of. You know those break-ins that have been happening around town?”
“Yep. Something happened?”
“Seems like they caught the guy. He was trying to break into Melanie Simmonds’ home. Got caught attempting to climb up the balcony to get to the second floor.”
“Really? But didn’t all those other robberies happen at night?” she asked
“Hmm.”
“And why climb up to the second floor?” she asked. “Wouldn’t you just go through the downstairs window?”
“Unless he thought the second floor wasn’t alarmed.”
“She had an alarm?”
“Any woman living alone is required to have an alarm in Wishingbone.”
“They are?” She’d never heard of a town making that a requirement.
“Yeah, we passed that law last year sometime. I want the women in my town to be protected.”
Wow. That was insane. And also something she should have expected from Ed. He was a man who fiercely protected those he cared about. Which included the entire town of Wishingbone.
“That’s how he was caught. The alarm went off, and Mel’s neighbor called the cops then went over with her shotgun to hold him until the cops arrived. Unfortunately, he was already trying to get out. Had his leg over the balustrade of the balcony.”
“Why is that unfortunate?”
“He was stark naked at the time. And Matilda, the woman with the gun, wouldn’t let him move.”
“So he just stayed there, cradling the balustrade of the upstairs balcony with his . . . penis on display?”
“Yep.”
“Ouch. That would have been cold.”
“Hmm. Sounds like they drew quite the crowd from the neighborhood too. Kiesha said he’s being br
ought in now.”
“What about the house owner?”
“Mel works in Russell,” he said. “I have to go in. If this is the person behind all the robberies, then I need to question him.”
“Of course.” She waved her hand at him. “Go. I’ll be fine here.”
“Do you want to come?” he said. “Kiesha’s been bugging me about seeing you. I think she’s worried I’ve got you cuffed to my bed and am only feeding you bread and water.”
“And cock,” she muttered. Then she slammed her hand over her mouth.
He grinned at her. “Only every chance I get.”
“She texted me that this morning. Told me to send her an SOS if you had me cuffed to the bed and was feeding me on a diet of bread and cock.” She shook her head. “Maybe I will come in with you.”
She didn’t much want to leave the bubble of protection and happiness she had here. But would it be the same without him here anyway?
After sliding her feet back into her boots and grabbing her coat, she followed him out to the truck. As they were on their way into Wishingbone, she turned to him.
“Does it feel right to you? This guy being your thief?”
“No, it doesn’t. Like you said, all those other robberies happened at night. They were done with more stealth. Homes were chosen without alarms. Ones on the outskirts of town. Jewelry and money were taken. Figured it was someone with experience.”
“Not someone who would set off an alarm and get caught out naked on an upstairs balcony,” she murmured.
“Exactly. Hopefully, this won’t take long. I had some plans for tonight.”
“You did? What?”
“Hmm, how does a romantic dinner complete with candles and wine, sound?”
“Ooh. That sounds amazing.”
“All part of me wooing and romancing you.” He winked at her and she giggled.
They pulled into the back of Wishingbone Sheriff’s Department fifteen minutes later. She stared down at her black pants, white shirt, and black cardigan. She sighed. She’d much rather wear some of the clothes they’d bought today, but they weren’t for anyone else’s eyes but Ed’s. However, maybe she’d have time to buy some comfy and not-boring ‘adult Georgie’ clothes.
Ed lifted her down and grabbed hold of her hand, walking with her into the back of the building. He’d grabbed his badge and gun before they’d left the house.
When they walked into the main part of the sheriff’s department there was a tall woman with bright pink hair tied up into a high ponytail. She had her hands on her hips as she glared up at one of Ed’s deputies.
“Now, you listen to me, Jace Michaels,” she stated, waggling her finger in his nose. “I was making a citizen’s arrest. You telling me I can’t use my shotgun to defend myself?”
Jace, rather than looking intimidated, put his hands on his hips and leaned down to glare at her. “I’m telling you that you should have called us and stayed inside your house, where it was safe, Matilda.”
Oh, this was the woman who’d held her gun on the man breaking into her neighbor’s house.
“Pfft. He would have been long gone by then. Who knows what he was up to? He was probably going in there to jack off over Mel’s panties.”
“Not with that small pee-pee,” Kiesha called out.
Georgie glanced over to find the other woman had her feet up on the corner of the desk and was painting her nails.
That was horribly unprofessional.
Georgie couldn’t help but smile.
“I think he’d have to use a pair of tweezers, poor guy,” Kiesha continued. “What reason could he have for deciding to rob Mel’s place while naked? Why not put clothes on? Then at least he could’ve stuck a pair of socks down there or something.”
Jace groaned and looked over at Kiesha. “It’s cold out. Of course it was going to turtle.”
She had to put her hand over her mouth to stop from laughing. Ed rubbed his hand over his face.
“Yeah, but surely he knew how cold it was going to be, right?” Kiesha countered. “So save the naked shit until summer. That’s all I’m saying.”
From previous experience, she knew that wouldn’t be the last thing that Kiesha had to say on the matter.
“It doesn’t really matter if his penis was small or not,” Matilda said.
Okay, it surprised her that the pink-haired woman was going to be the voice of reason, and turn this conversation around.
“Because it’s all about what he does with his tongue that matters.”
“Ooh, amen to that.” Kiesha looked to her and they both nodded.
Jace groaned. “You’re both crazy. Kiesha, you’re being unprofessional. Matilda, you put yourself in danger today. Just wait until Ed gets here . . .”
Her eyebrows rose. Did he really just threaten them with Ed? She glanced up at Ed and he just shook his head, looking resigned. His arms went over his chest as he watched the three of them.
“Pfft, I’m not scared of the boss man,” Kiesha said, continuing to paint her nails.
Matilda looked more worried. “You just make sure he knows that my gun wasn’t loaded.”
“Matilda, that almost makes it worse! What if that guy decided to jump you?”
“Well, he didn’t. And everything worked out. I’m going to head out now. I have things to do.”
Ed took that moment to step forward, tugging her with him. “Matilda, freeze. Kiesha, stop painting your nails and at least try to look like you take this job seriously.”
“I do, boss man,” she said as she stared down at her nails.
“Jace, please tell me that you at least covered this guy up before you brought him in.”
“Course I did. But he’s a total klutz, he tripped on his way in and the blanket that was wrapped around him slipped and yeah . . . “
Jace’s cheeks were red and she couldn’t help but giggle. All eyes suddenly went to her. Whoops.
Kiesha stood up. “Ed, why didn’t you say you had my bestie with you? Bestie, I’ve missed you.”
Suddenly, she was engulfed in a huge hug. The scent of cinnamon and sugar surrounded her. The old Georgina would have frozen up and tried to step back.
But this Georgie just wrapped her arms around her and squeezed her back.
“I totally missed you, bestie.”
“You saw me two days ago.”
“Has Ed had you tied to his bed while feeding you green beans and tomatoes? You can tell us. This is a safe zone.”
“Green beans and tomatoes.”
“The two worst vegetables in the world,” Kiesha said dramatically.
“Um, technically a tomato is a fruit.”
“No fruit tastes that foul.”
“Don’t argue,” Ed told her calmly. “It’s not worth it. Jace, can you brief me then we’ll question the suspect. Matilda, has someone taken your statement?”
“I got it, boss,” Jace told him.
“I’ll get someone to take you home, Matilda. Although we will have a chat later about confronting strange men,” he warned her.
Georgie’s eyebrows rose. Although she wasn’t entirely surprised at his protectiveness.
Before Matilda could reply, the front door opened and a red-haired woman barreled into the room. She was older, probably in her early fifties. Gorgeous, with creamy white skin.
“Where is that asshole! I’m going to kill him.” She stormed forward.
“Mel, calm down.” Ed stepped in front of her, grabbing her gently by the arms. “How about we go talk in my office?”
“I’m going to take my lunch now, boss man,” Kiesha called out, grabbing her handbag. “Me and my bestie need some girl time.”
Ed nodded distractedly, but looked back at her. “Keep your phone on you at all times. Call me if you need anything, okay? Be back here in an hour.”
“Nah, we’ll be longer than that,” Kiesha said, threading her arm around Georgie’s.
“An hour is all you have for lunch,” Ed said firm
ly to Kiesha.
“Make it up to you, boss man. Besides, I’m your girl’s bestie and I’m practically your sister. That gets me special privileges.”
She hustled Georgie out the door just as Ed’s growl filled the room.
“You’re so bad,” Georgie told her.
“I know.” Kiesha winked at her. “But someone’s got to keep the overbearing men in this town on their toes.”
“And that person is you.”
“Exactly.”
34
“Oh God. I feel sick.” Georgie looked down at the huge ice cream sundae that she and Kiesha had attempted to polish off by themselves.
“It’s even too much for me. And I once trained for the sugar Olympics.”
“Is that a real thing?” Georgie asked. They’d performed a whirlwind shopping trip and there were bags of clothes sitting at her feet. Kiesha hadn’t bought anything, but she’d been happy to help Georgie shop.
Then she’d insisted that all those calories burned shopping needed replacing. With an enormous ice cream sundae. Probably not a great idea when she hadn’t had actual lunch.
Her phone buzzed. She checked the text.
Ed: All okay?
He’d texted her that several times, even though he had to be busy.
Georgie: All good. Back soon.
Ed: Good. Miss you.
Aww. That was so sweet.
“We best head back,” she said to Kiesha.
“What? Ed getting antsy without his Georgie-fix? Tell him you’re mine for the afternoon.”
“You still do have a job to do.”
“Eh, what’s he going to do, fire me?”
But she didn’t protest as Georgie paid, grabbing several of her bags for her.
“Wish I’d brought my car,” Kiesha groaned. “Come on, we’ll cut through the parking lot. It’s quicker.”
They walked out the back. It was already getting dark. A woman walked towards a truck, a shopping bag in her hand. She looked familiar. Someone called out to her.
“Mari, I’ve got to go to the bathroom before we head to the ranch.”
Mari turned and waved back at the slightly built woman with caramel-colored hair. “I’ll wait for you in the truck.”
Sheriff Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 10) Page 30
