What? Why? Oh. Was he trying to shield her from whatever he’d done to Trenton?
“You don’t need to shield me, I was an FBI agent. I’m sure I’ve seen worse.”
Right. Like when? Other than being shot, you barely saw more than a paper cut. Although, darn did those hurt.
“Don’t care. Eyes closed.”
“You’re very bossy.”
He just grunted.
But she kept her face against his chest as he carried her through the woods.
“I can walk.”
Another grunt.
“Really. You don’t need to carry me. Aren’t I getting heavy?”
Snort then grunt.
“I wish I spoke caveman,” she muttered then slammed her hand to her mouth as he let out a low bark of laughter. “I’m so sorry, that was very rude. I appreciate you helping me. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, just let me know.”
Another grunt.
Then she started hearing voices and as they stepped out of the forest, there was a shout. Finally, Jed set her down, only for her to be picked up and held against a wide chest.
A familiar scent hit her. As safety surrounded her.
Ed.
Home. Love. Safety.
And that was when she lost it.
Ed held her against him, felt her shudder with sobs. She soon wet his shirt through with her tears, but he didn’t give a shit. All he cared about was that she was safe. Relief made him feel dizzy. He had to force his legs not to collapse. He looked to Jed.
“Thank you, man. I owe you big.”
Jed nodded. “She’s good. Was hidden up a tree. Asshole was trying to drag her down.”
“Where is he?”
“Got to go back to get him.” He nodded over at some of the other JSI guys who had come out to search for Georgina. They’d let Jed go off on his own, he was the best tracker they had and he liked to work alone. Ed didn’t know how he’d managed it in the dark, but he wouldn’t waste time with questions. His girl needed him.
“Take care of her. We got this.”
“Jace, go with them.” He wanted this guy properly arrested.
Jace nodded and followed Jed and two other guys. Ed slipped his arm under Georgina’s legs and carried her to his truck. He tried to put her in the truck. But she wouldn’t let go of him.
“Baby, you’ve got to let me buckle you in. I need to get you to the hospital.” He looked her over using the internal truck light. She was wearing some light-weight running clothes which were ripped and dirty. She looked exhausted and bruised. God knows what that fucker had done to her. His blood boiled at the thought and he wished he could be the one to arrest him.
But his girl needed him more than he needed revenge.
Shivers racked her body. “No hospital.”
“Yes, the hospital.”
“Ed, no, please. I want to go home.”
He managed to sit her down on the seat and then grabbed a blanket from the back, wrapping it around her. Then he belted her in before grasping hold of her chin. “Yes, to the hospital. Xavier knows we’re coming in. If he says you can come home then you can. But you’re getting checked over. That’s non-negotiable.”
He ran his thumbs over her cheeks. “Fuck, you scared me, baby. You realize that you’re grounded until you’re fifty and even then, I don’t intend to let you out of my sight.”
“I’m s-sorry. I didn’t mean . . . “
“Hush. Hush. We can talk about that later. Right now, all that matters is making sure you’re all right. I’m here now, Georgie-girl. Just let go and let me take care of you.”
She let out another shuddering breath but nodded.
“Good girl. That’s my girl.”
44
Ed sat and watched her sleep.
Against her protests, she’d been admitted for the night. Xavier had wanted to monitor her overnight since it wasn’t long since she’d been released from the hospital. She was hooked up to an IV because she’d been dehydrated and was back on a heart monitor.
It was the early hours of the morning and he hadn’t slept all night. Just sat beside her, holding onto her hand and watching her breathe.
He’d nearly lost her.
Again.
This had to stop. Or she’d give him a heart attack. He didn’t know what the hell he could do to keep her any safer. Other than grounding her for forever.
The idea definitely had merit.
The door to her room opened and he looked over tiredly, expecting it to be a nurse. His eyebrows rose as Marcus and Evan James walked through the door.
Their gazes immediately went to their sister then to him. He raised a finger to his lips then he placed her hand down and stood. Leaning over her, he kissed her forehead gently before leaving the room. They were standing out in the corridor.
“How is she?” Marcus asked.
“She’s all right. Just bruised. Exhausted. Bit dehydrated. She should be fine to be released in a few hours. But she’s going to need some rest for a while.”
Evan’s jaw clenched. “Bastard’s in jail?”
“He’s being monitored in the hospital for the night as well since he was unconscious when he was brought in.” Jed had clearly gotten more than a few knocks in. Fucker could rot in hell for all he cared. Which is why he knew that he shouldn’t go near him. Because if he did, he was likely to wrap his hands around that bastard’s neck and not let up until the light went out of his eyes.
Ed had always been a protector. He’d always upheld the law. But all that went out the window when his woman was threatened.
“He’s been watching her for a while by the sounds of it,” Ed told them. He was furious with himself. How had he not known? He should have protected her better. “Leaving dead roses around. His little spin on his father using daisies when he stalked her.”
“Mother-fucker,” Marcus muttered.
“Bastard blamed her for his father’s death. Found some old diaries of his after his mother died and it flipped some sort of switch.”
Evan glowered. “What I wouldn’t give for a few minutes alone with him.”
“Get into line,” Ed muttered.
“Ahh, but you’re hindered by the law,” Marcus said with a grim smile. “We’re not.”
Ed shook his head with a sigh. “Stay away from him. Last thing she needs is you lot ending up in jail. She’s had enough stress.”
Both of them nodded in agreement.
“She’s really okay?” Evan asked quietly.
“Physically, yes. Emotionally, I’m not sure.”
After she’d been checked over by Xavier, Ed had cleaned her up, waving away the nurse who’d offered to help. And she’d told him everything that happened. From the nightmare, going for a run, to that asshole turning up in his truck. How he’d hunted her through the woods, trying to pull her from the tree. He could only imagine how terrified she’d been.
“Can’t believe he had another fucking son and I didn’t know,” Marcus said.
“Wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known she was pregnant,” Ed told him. “Besides, no one could know he was a psycho like his father.”
Marcus ran his hand over his face. “Still feels like I fucked up. Won’t do that again. I’ll be keeping a close eye on the older son.”
“Might need someone to pay him a visit,” Evan said in his harsh, broken voice.
“Don’t do anything you’ll regret,” Ed warned them.
Marcus and Evan shared a look. He didn’t want to know what they were going to do.
“She needs closer watching,” Marcus said. “You gonna take care of that?”
“Don’t worry, she won’t be leaving my eyesight for a long time.”
They both nodded.
“We’re staying a few nights. Don’t worry though, we’ll take a room at the motel in town.” Marcus clapped a hand on his back. “Don’t need to listen to you defiling my baby sister.”
When he walked back into the room, h
e saw that she was awake. Immediately, he moved over towards her. He leaned down, brushing her hair back from her face.
“I want to cut it,” she croaked.
“What?”
“My hair. I’m sick of the length. I’m cutting it.”
“Whatever you want, my girl.”
“Can I have a drink?” she asked.
He grabbed the jug on the bedside drawers and poured her a cup. Then he placed a hand behind her to help her sit while she sipped.
“Be easier with your sippy cup.”
“I don’t like it here,” she said, almost tearfully. “Can I go home? I want our cabin, and Squawkers and Hugabug and you.”
“I know you do.” He helped her lie down. “We’ll go home as soon as Xavier gives you the all-clear, all right?”
She huffed out a breath.
He placed his forehead against hers. “Don’t argue, baby. You’re not going to win. You scared the hell out of me. That’s twice in two weeks. I’m not messing around with your health. Or with your safety. You are officially forbidden from running on your own from now on.”
He drew back.
Her eyes were wide as she stared up at him. “You’re serious?”
“Very.”
“But . . . but Ed, this was just a freak thing. It won’t happen again.”
“I thought that after Saber took you. That it was a freak thing that wouldn’t happen again. And look what happened.”
“Shoot. You have a point. But what are the odds that I’ll get kidnapped again? That rarely happens, right? Three kidnappings?”
“One kidnapping is rare! There’s no point in arguing. My mind is made up. You are not running alone. At the moment, I’m seriously considering not letting you go anywhere alone, so I wouldn’t push me.”
“But running is my stress relief.”
“Then you can do it with me or on the treadmill in the gym. Besides, you have other ways of relieving stress now.”
She seemed to think that over. “I’m in trouble, huh?”
“Oh yes. Not only did you leave the house, but you went for a run without telling me. And you didn’t take your phone. When you’re feeling better, you won’t be sitting for a week.”
“I didn’t mean to get kidnapped. I mean, I didn’t even know there was a threat. I mean, I can remember feeling like someone was watching me a few times, but I put it down to being stressed and having so much going on. And I didn’t connect the dead roses to anything.” She shuddered.
He gently massaged her jaw, easing the tension. “I know, baby. Don’t worry, I’m having cameras installed around the house, throughout the yard and beyond. I was too complacent. I never had anything precious to protect before. This won’t happen again.” Then he gave her the ‘Ed look’. “Even if you had known there was a threat, would you still have gone running? Were you thinking clearly?”
She shook her head, looking concerned. “No. I wasn’t thinking at all. After that nightmare, I just wanted to get out of my head. To run until I forgot.”
“And you didn’t pay attention to your surroundings, did you? You didn’t notice how far you had run or in what direction. And you didn’t notice how exhausted you were. Oh, I forgot to add something else. You didn’t eat all your food.”
“Hey, that one isn’t fair. I was being kidnapped by a psycho who chased me up a tree.”
He gave her a thunderous look.
“Too soon to joke, huh?”
“Enough time will never pass for me to joke about this, my girl.”
Georgina watched as Ed paced back and forth across the hospital room. She kind of felt bad for trying to lighten things, but right now she didn’t want to think of everything that had gone bad.
She didn’t like feeling weak. But that’s how she felt right now. As though all her shields were down and it would take just one hit for her to crack.
“You could have died. That bastard could have done anything to you. If it hadn’t been for that necklace you were wearing, I might never have found you again. You could be dead.”
Fuck. He was making everything worse. She knew he didn’t mean to. Knew he wasn’t angry at her. That he was scared. She got it. But she really just needed him to hold her right now.
“I f-fought him off.” She tried to keep her voice steady. But he didn’t seem to notice the slip-up.
“Jed said when he found you that he was pulling you from that damn tree. If he’d gotten you down,” his voice cracked and that was all that was needed for her to lose it.
A sob escaped, tears tracked down her cheeks. Ed froze then spun around. “Baby. Oh God, baby. Don’t cry. Please. Fuck. Don’t cry. I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you. I’m not mad at you.” He gathered her against him and then slid her over so he could lie on the bed beside her.
Screw that. She knew where she had to be.
Moving carefully so she didn’t dislodge the electrodes from the heart monitor or her IV, she climbed over him, laying on him chest to chest, her legs on either side of his hips. He moved his hand up to the nape of her neck, massaging the tension free. She started to relax, as much at the feel of him against her, the touch of his hand on her neck, as anything else.
Sobs still escaped but he whispered to her quietly. She couldn’t understand what he was saying, but the even cadence of his voice was all that was needed. Reassurance flooded her. Her cracks started to mend. She was all right.
She had Ed.
She’d always be good with Ed.
He rubbed her bottom. “I love you, my girl. So much. I’m only upset because the thought of losing you . . . it’s more than I can handle.”
“I’m sorry. I just wasn’t thinking.”
He kissed her forehead. “I know. We’ve got to do something about that.”
She nodded. “I was thinking maybe it’s time I saw a therapist. A good one.”
“I think that’s a good idea. There’s actually a therapist who lives at Sanctuary ranch. And he’s a Daddy himself.”
“Really?”
“Yep. But if you don’t want to see him, we can find someone else. Whatever you need, I will be here to help you. No matter what.”
“I know you will.” She lay on him for a long time, both of them quiet then she started squirming.
“What’s wrong? Uncomfortable?”
“Um, not exactly.” Crap. Crap. Oh, just say it, Georgina. “I have to pee. Could you call for a nurse?” she asked as he slid her off him.
He stood. “Why would you need a nurse for that? Unless you’d rather a stranger helped you?”
“You’re going to help me?”
“The doubt in your voice is rather insulting,” he told her dryly.
She flushed. “Sorry. I just didn’t think you’d want to . . .”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Thank you?” she said hesitantly.
“That’s better. Although I do need someone to turn off the heart monitor machine.” He buzzed for a nurse. They arrived quickly, and to her surprise didn’t even argue when Ed said he would help her to the bathroom.
She noticed she was dressed in a pair of lightweight pajamas with smiling sunshines all over them. She didn’t even remember putting these on.
“Where did the pajamas come from?”
“Kiesha brought them in for you. All of your friends were in the waiting room when we came in. Xavier didn’t want them coming through, though. I convinced them all to go home once you were safely asleep, but Kiesha ducked out to get these. Apparently, they’re ones she bought but she decided they weren’t for her.”
“That was so kind of her. I have the best friends here. I don’t know how I got so lucky. I’ve never had friends before.”
“They’re good to you because you’re good to them. They’ll be friends for life, if you let them in.”
She nodded. She got it. She’d been closed off all her life, but she had to learn how to let people in now. She had a feeling if she didn’t, they’d just come at her until she
broke. In the nicest way possible.
“You can just set me down and wait outside.”
He snorted. “Yeah, that’s not happening.” He moved her around so she was standing in front of the toilet. He kept one arm around her upper back, anchoring her. Then with his other hand, he started pulling down her bottoms.
“Ed!” She slapped at his hands. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you go potty.”
Oh Lord, did he have to say potty?
“Let Daddy help you, my girl. You’re too shaky to go on your own and I don’t want you to fall and hit your head.”
“Again with the obsession with me hitting my head.”
But she let him get her pants down and put her on the toilet.
“You have to leave while I pee.”
“Not happening, my girl. But I will face the other way if that helps.” He turned on the tap and gave her his back.
Oh, stuff it. She was beyond caring about this. Who cared if he wanted to listen to her pee. She did her business then tidied herself up. Just as she was standing, he turned back.
He crouched down, uncaring that he was kneeling on a bathroom floor.
“Hands on my shoulders,” he commanded as he pulled up her pants.
Tears filled her eyes. Maybe this wasn’t the relationship she thought she would have. This wasn’t the life she thought she would live.
But she had friends who cared about her. A crazy town, where she felt at home. And a man who would pull up her pants when she was feeling weak.
Oh, and he also loved, accepted, and adored her.
A perfectly imperfect life.
And she thought she was the luckiest person in the world.
Epilogue
“Aaaarrrrghhhh, First Mate Daddy, are you ready to plunder the seven seas?”
“Aye-aye, Captain Georgie,” Ed replied, grabbing a cloth and soaping it up.
Georgie was sitting in the bath. She had her hair up in a pirate shower cap that Ed had ordered online for her.
“As soon as I make sure that Captain Georgie is nice and clean.”
“Pirates aren’t clean, Daddy,” she explained to him. “Pirates don’t care about baths. Pirates just want treasure!” She grabbed the pirate boat that Aunt Marie had given to her as a gift after she’d been kidnapped.
Sheriff Daddy (Montana Daddies Book 10) Page 37
