Daddy in Cowboy Boots (Montana Daddies #9) - Laylah Roberts Page 0,30
give him a heads up.
It wasn’t like any of them cared what some small-minded people thought. But none of them would allow the women on Sanctuary to be slighted or upset.
Maybe, for the foreseeable future, the women shouldn’t go into town without one of the men with them. It wasn’t like they often went in on their own so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
“Linc? I really didn’t believe it. I enjoyed going to Sanctuary and meeting everyone the other evening. And Eden is one of my best customers.”
Marisol looked worried as she stared up at him, chewing on her lip. Crap. He hadn’t reacted well. Of course she wouldn’t gossip, she wasn’t like those other women.
“Shh, it’s okay. Sorry if I was a bit harsh. I just don’t want any of the women on Sanctuary to be hurt by rumors.”
“That’s really sweet of you. I don’t want that either.”
“Mrs. Long and her friends can be kind of . . .”
“Judgmental? Mean?” she supplied.
“Yes.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve seen it. She’s narrow-minded about a lot of things.”
“Has she said something to you?” He frowned, not liking that.
She shrugged. “First time she came into the spa, she wanted to know if I had papers to work here legally.”
“That old bitch.” Anger flooded him. At least the women on Sanctuary had protection, but who did Marisol have? An aunt who frankly, seemed to be a complete bitch.
“It’s okay. I’ve met plenty of people like that.”
“That doesn’t make it all right. I don’t want you around that old bitch and her friends again.”
“Like I said, they’re Eileen’s customers. I don’t have to deal with them much.”
She shouldn’t have to deal with them at all. Linc glanced down at her, seeing her pale worried face. He needed to get her home. And talk to Kent.
“Come on. Let’s get you home so you can sit with that foot up.”
10
She wished she’d never brought up that old bat, Mrs. Long. Linc had been quiet ever since. Did he now regret telling her that he was attracted to her? And how crazy was that? Why had he asked about whether her books had BDSM in them? And whether she liked any aspects?
Was it because he was a Dom? She could totally see it. But if that was what he’d been about to confess, he’d obviously changed his mind because he hadn’t said a word about it since.
“You moved into the Stanford place, right?” he asked as he drove through town.
Oh shit.
She couldn’t have him drop her off at home. Not when her aunt was likely to be around.
“Um, yes, but just drop me back at the diner.”
He gave her an incredulous look. “I can’t drop you at the diner. You can’t walk on your foot. You can’t even get your sandal back on it.”
She looked down at her swollen foot
“Maybe I should take you to Doc. I don’t like how swollen it is.”
A doctor? No way was she going to a doctor for a bee sting. Besides, she’d already been away from the house long enough. Rosalind would be starting to wonder where she was.
“It will be fine. No need for a doctor. You can just drop me off at the end of the driveway.”
He gave her a strange look. “Not want to be seen with me, Mari-girl?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Uh, no! That’s not the issue at all. Sheesh, how could you think that? Look at you. Then look at me. You could go into a competition for the Worlds Sexiest Cowboy and win. While I—”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Mari-girl,” he said in a deep, commanding voice as he pulled onto her street. “Because I am pretty certain I am not going to like what was about to come out of your mouth.”
She pressed her lips together as he turned into her driveway. Well, her aunt’s driveway. This wasn’t her home. She was given room and board and she should be grateful.
Except she deserved more. She didn’t owe her aunt her life.
“Mari-girl? Marisol? Are you all right?”
She glanced over to find Linc had already stopped the truck and was reaching for her. He undid his seatbelt then reached over to grab her hand. He placed his fingers over her wrist. What was he doing?
Taking your pulse.
“Your pulse is fast. Damn it. I knew I should have taken you to get checked over. We’re driving to the clinic.” He reached for the key to his truck.