Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies 7)

Something surged inside Bain. Was he jealous of a dog? What the fuck was wrong with him? He didn’t want to put his head in her lap and have her make soft noises at him. Nope. That was stupid.

“Guess I’ll get the drinks,” he snapped, turning around and stomping back into the kitchen.

Arianna wasn’t sure what she’d done to annoy Bain. She guessed maybe it was the situation. Everything that had happened tonight had probably put him on edge. After handing her the best hot chocolate she’d tasted in her life, with whip and sprinkles, he’d turned on the T.V. to watch the news reports and completely ignored her.

He’d spoken a few times to Tom. But on the most part he’d sat with a glower on his face. Eventually, Tom had offered to show her up to her room. Bain had come up with them, checking her room over while Tom had grabbed her some of his wife’s clothes to get dressed into in the morning. She’d had a shower and dressed in the big T-shirt he’d also provided, which he’d told her was brand new.

It still felt a little weird wearing his shirt, but she didn’t have much choice and she didn’t want to be rude. Like Bain seemed to be expecting her to be.

Tom had made Rugger leave her bedroom, but she couldn’t help but crack the bedroom door open, hoping that he might sneak in.

She could use the company. She didn’t much feel like being alone tonight.

He couldn’t sleep. He tried to tell himself it was because he was still on-duty. Or that he was still coming down from an adrenaline rush.

But he knew it wasn’t either of those reasons. It was because he was a prick.

He sighed. Then he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes. He knew that Tom was right. He was looking at Arianna and seeing Jill. He was tainting her with his old hang-ups.

It wasn’t fucking fair. She was the first woman he’d been this attracted to since Jill. His ex would have loved this life. Wealth. People at her beck and call. Adoring her. Fawning over her.

But while Arianna was rich, with legions of fans, it was obvious that she didn’t much like the notoriety. He didn’t know why he’d warned her not to speak of Tom’s relationship. She’d never once indicated that she was someone to look down on other people. To judge others.

No. That was all on him. He was the one being the judgmental prick.

Time to pull your shit together, man.

He couldn’t act on his desire to have her. But he could work on his attitude.

How often had she had people over since he’d been living in her apartment? How often had she gone out? How often had she fucking smiled?

She was sad. And lonely.

Yeah, he needed a big attitude adjustment. He was fucked if he knew what to do, though. Apologize? Be a good start. Work on his professionalism? Also a good idea. He should tell her about her sleepwalking.

He’d called and spoken to Dominic who had managed to find Joe. Apparently, the older man had acted kind of cagey, which worried him. Arianna loved him and Estelle like family, it would hurt her if Joe was up to something. Dominic was working on getting rid of the crowd outside the apartment. He’d also spoken to Larry, the asshole, who was gonna go back to the concert venue early in the morning to get everything Arianna had left.

He’d be having a chat with Larry himself tomorrow.

Rugger barked and he jumped from the bed, grabbing his gun off the nightstand.

Fuck!

He moved out of the door, sticking to the shadows. Rugger let out another quiet bark. He saw movement to his side and turned as he saw Tom walk down the passage.

“Rugger, what is it? Arianna? You okay?” Tom asked.

Bain moved forward and saw Arianna standing at the top of the stairs. Rugger was next to her. She was wearing a large T-shirt. One he guessed belonged to Tom since it was swimming on her. And didn’t that just rile his protective, possessive instincts?

Fuck.

Then he noticed that Rugger had the bottom of the T-shirt in his mouth. He tugged on it with a soft growl.

“Ari?” Bain called out quietly, having guessed what was going on. Although how the hell Rugger knew was beyond him.

“Is she okay?” Tom asked.

“She’s sleepwalking. She’s done it before.” He moved carefully forward. Fuck. How had she gotten past his door? He thought he’d been on alert for her.