Daddy's Sweet Girl (Montana Daddies 3)

No answer.

Where was she? Her car was in the driveway. Had she gone for a walk? In this neighborhood? Okay, so it was the middle of the afternoon and probably safe but he still didn’t like the idea.

Overprotective much?

He knew he shouldn’t feel this protective of someone he wasn’t involved with. And he definitely had not intended to find himself here today.

But he couldn’t ignore the urge to check on her. Especially after Macca had told him how slowly she’d been moving this morning. He’d also made Kent aware of the state of her car’s tires and that it needed at least a tune-up. He’d be talking to her about that as well. Didn’t she know how dangerous it was to drive around on bald tires?

Images of her skidding off the road, crashing, injured or dead filled his mind. Anger pounded through him at the thought and he banged his fist down on the door again.

“Abby! You okay? You in there?”

Still no answer. What if she was ill? What if she’d fallen and hurt herself? Worry mixed with the anger.

She could just be asleep. Or have gone for a walk. He knew he should walk away.

But he wasn’t going to.

He eyed the door. She wouldn’t appreciate him breaking it down. He grabbed the handle, turning it. As the door opened, fury once again flooded through him. What the hell? Worried now that something really had happened to her, he rushed inside.

“Abby! Abby, where are you?” He ran through the house searching for her. Not in the living room, kitchen, bathroom. His gaze jumped to the shut bedroom door. He strode towards it and knocked.

No answer.

“Abby!”

There was a murmur of noise on the other side. He opened the door and walked in. The room had twin single beds and a dresser against the wall between them. It was painted a pale green that had probably once been pretty but had faded to a murky yellow-green that made him feel nauseous. One bed had a lump under the covers and he could spot some chestnut-colored hair poking out of the top of the covers.

“Abby?” Her face was covered and he became worried about her breathing. At least that’s what he told himself as he pulled the covers down. She was wearing the same pajamas as last night. Her skin was still too pale. And she was clutching something in her arms.

Something that looked like a stuffed rabbit.

“Abby!”

Chapter Five

Abby thrashed around. “No! No!”

Shoot. Was she having a nightmare? He reached for her just as she opened her eyes and screamed. Her fist shot out and caught him right in the nose. He fell back on his ass with a groan as pain engulfed his face.

Shit.

“Oh God. What’s happening? Kent! Did I hurt you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Her voice was frantic, nearing hysterical. “Why did I do that? Oh God, I didn’t know it was you. Crap.”

“Stop swearing,” he said firmly then he gentled his voice, “I’m fine, baby.” Well his nose was throbbing and he had to take a moment to breathe through the pain but he was fine. He’d live. He’d had a lot worse.

“I broke your nose, didn’t I?” she wailed. “I’m such a stupid klutz.”

He frowned, not liking that.

“Abby,” he said in a low warning voice. He glanced up to find her climbing from the bed, her hair a tousled mess. And the throbbing in his nose took a back seat to the rush of arousal that filled him.

“Do you need some frozen peas? I’ll get some peas.”