Daddy's Sweet Girl (Montana Daddies 3)

“I’ll note that,” Ed said dryly.

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” she whispered.

“I just took responsibility for you,” he told her in a firm voice.

“Umm, you what?”

“If you get into trouble, get a speeding fine, get into an accident, something like this happens again then Ed knows to call me immediately. Although, if you’re able to I’d expect that call to come from you.”

“You can’t just accept responsibility for me,” she whispered.

“She doesn’t know it’s like that, huh?” Ed asked, sounding amused.

“We were taking things slow.” He looked around. “Timeline just got pushed forward.”

“It did?” she asked shakily.

Sympathy stirred. Poor baby, she seemed like she’d reached her limit. He moved slowly closer, not wanting to make any sudden moves and scare her. Thankfully, she didn’t shy away from him. He cupped the side of her face with the palm of his hand. “It’s okay, baby. You’ve had a bad scare. You’re in shock. Just let me help you, okay?”

“I don’t understand what happened.” She took in the living room with horror-filled eyes.

He grasped hold of her chin, raising her face up so she was staring at him. Just him. “Just focus on me, baby. I’m going to take care of everything else. All right? Just me.”

Her eyes were still too wide. Her pulse was racing. But she kept her eyes on his. He ran his thumb over the smooth skin of her cheek. “That’s my sweet girl.”

Ed cleared his throat. “Now that that’s settled, maybe you can shed some light on the bruises she’s got on her wrist?”

Chapter Thirteen

You’re not scared of Kent. Kent isn’t scary.

But right at that moment, as he stared down at her bruised wrist, the one she’d forgotten to hide from the sheriff in her shock over the state of her house, she had to work really hard to remember that she had nothing to fear from him.

She swallowed heavily. She couldn’t believe this. Any of it. Who had done this to her house? Why? They hadn’t taken anything, it just seemed like they’d done their best to destroy everything they could. There wasn’t anything left. Nothing.

She had nothing.

And where the hell was Max?

A sob worked its way up her throat and Kent raised his eyes from her bruised wrist to study her face. He still held her hand gently in his large one. His skin was warm, his touch surprisingly gentle, the look in his eyes was banked fury.

“How old is this bruise?” he asked.

Tears swam in her eyes. She shook her head.

“You don’t know?” he asked incredulously.

She did. She just didn’t want to answer him. Once he knew it all, he’d be so disappointed in her. Disgusted by her life.

And what is the alternative? Keeping this all a secret?

“Abby, if someone is threatening you, we can help,” Ed offered.

She sobbed out a breath. “You can’t. Nobody can.”

Kent shook his head. “Abby. You know who I am. What I do. The teams of men I have who work for me. There isn’t much I can’t do. And I can most certainly protect you. I will take you to Sanctuary with me, and I will make damn sure that nothing happens to you.”

“But you won’t want to take me with you once you know,” she whispered.