Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies 7)

“Doesn’t matter if they are. Make you feel better, then take’em,” he told her gruffly.

She studied him for a moment then half-turned away to swallow them. As though she was ashamed? Why the fuck would she be ashamed? Huh, he was beginning to see Dominic might have been right. He had pre-judged her. And maybe, just maybe, he’d fucked up.

“Don’t tell Larry,” she pleaded, turning back. “I would have taken them earlier but he’s always around.”

Was that frustration in her voice?

“What’s it got to do with him?” And why the fuck did she think he’d tell Larry anything?

She licked her lips nervously. “He didn’t tell you?”

He folded his arms over his chest. He was aware they had a limited time before Larry was back with the first interviewer.

“Tell me what?”

She gave him a cautious look. “I thought he’d said something. I, uh, I have a prescription for anti-anxiety pills I’m meant to take. He wouldn’t be happy if he knew I had replaced it with herbal pills. I just don’t like the way those other pills make me feel. Like I’m numb.”

He frowned. He knew little about all of this. And he sure as shit wasn’t going to tell her what to do when it came to her health. Wasn’t his job. There was one question he had to know the answer to, though.

“Why do this if you don’t enjoy it, Ms. Silvers?”

“Please call me Arianna,” she said.

He’d insisted on calling her Ms. Silvers in an attempt to keep space between them. And at the same time, he’d been complaining that she kept running away from him.

You’re an idiot.

“Fine,” he said impatiently. “Answer the question.”

“I can see why Dominic does most of the talking,” she muttered.

He nearly grinned at her words. Her eyes instantly widened, and she looked mortified.

“Sorry,” she apologized.

“Don’t be. I like the truth. Better than that icy polite thing you do the rest of the time.”

“Icy polite thing?”

“Answer?” he asked, growing impatient. Well, more impatient.

“Oh. Um. I do it because I don’t have a choice.”

He opened his mouth to ask her what the hell that meant, but the door opened, interrupting them.

Probably just as well. None of this was his business. As soon as her friend found her permanent bodyguards, he was out of here.

And he could not wait to get back to the peace and quiet of Sanctuary Ranch.

4

Unable to sleep, he walked into the kitchen. Best thing about this place was Estelle’s cooking. Thank God the ice princess had a decent gym, or he’d be at risk of putting on some pounds.

He opened the fridge and pulled out some leftovers to make himself a sandwich. It was two in the morning, but he couldn’t sleep.

He’d just made the sandwich and sat at the counter to eat it when he spotted movement from the corner of his eye. Arianna appeared, dressed in what looked to be an old, worn cotton T-shirt and some leggings. Her hair was in disarray. And there was a pair of huge slippers on her feet.

Were those ducks?