Page 67 of Daddy’s Hunted Bride

“Yay! Thank you Da—Dane,” she corrects herself, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

I wonder what she’d think if she knew that the sheriff already knows all about our lifestyle. But since Poppy is here as well, I decide to hold off on letting her know she’s free to call me Daddy if she wants to.

Besides, it’ll be more fun to tease my babygirl the next time we run into the sheriff if she doesn’t know. I can already see her, blushing furiously and glaring at me as I ask her if she needs her diaper changed in the middle of town.

Unless, of course, Sheriff Donnelly is just playing along until she decides to arrest me and my entire family. That might put a damper on any future outings.

“Persephone, you do not need all those chips.”

From where she’s climbed up onto the bed beside my babygirl, Poppy scowls. “You’re not the boss of me, Reese Donnelly.”

Judging by the way Reese’s eyes narrow, she does not agree with Poppy’s assessment.

Interesting.

“Owie.” Nessie presses a hand to her forehead and squeezes her eyes shut. “All this arguing is hurting my poor little head.”

I try to hold back my laughter, I really do. But when I snort, Reese turns her glare on me and I lose the battle. And once I lose it, so do Nessie and Poppy. Soon, the ER is filled with such loud laughter a nurse has to come by to shush us.

“On that note,” Reese says dryly, pushing up out of her chair, “I need a moment alone with Dane, and then Persephone and I should get going.”

“Awww.” Poppy’s bottom lip puffs out into a pout. “But we’re having so much fun!”

“I’m sure once Vanessa is feeling better, her… Dane will bring her into town to visit. For now, finish your snack and then we need to go.” Turning, Reese cocks an eyebrow and jerks her head to the side.

My heart leaps into my throat as we step outside the curtain. “Everything okay, Sheriff?”

“You tell me.” Any trace of softness or amusement has fled her eyes, leaving them flat in a way that turns my blood to ice in my veins. “I got Vanessa’s side of the story, but I’d like to hear yours, as well.”

“She was running and playing, and she took a tumble down a big hill.” That was the story I gave the EMTs on the way to the hospital and Nessie went along with it. Hopefully she gave the sheriff the same story and I haven’t just landed myself in a lot of hot water.

Reese nods slowly, and some of the knots in my stomach loosen. “Yeah, that’s what she said too. But see, the thing is… I’ve been to your property, Dane. There’s a bit of a grade, yeah, but nothing like what she describes. Lots of branches and rocks and stuff. So I’m thinking she wasn’t just playing in your backyard when this happened.”

Fucking Reese Donnelly, with her nose for bullshit. Like a goddamned bloodhound. “I don’t know what to tell you, sheriff. That’s how it went down.”

“Dane. I’m going to ask you this once, and if I get even a hint you’re lying to me, I will drag your ass down to the station and throw every charge at you I can think of until something sticks. Did you hurt that Little girl?”

That, at least, is something I can answer honestly. “Sheriff, I would rather cut off my own arm than ever put my babygirl in harm’s way.”

Silence stretches between us, so heavy it seems to fill the entire room. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Reese nods. “All right. But I’m watching you. All of you.”

“We wouldn’t have it any other way, Sheriff.”

With a grunt of what might begrudgingly be called approval, she turns back toward the curtain, but I can’t resist the urge to poke at her a bit. “So… you and Poppy, huh?”

Reese’s eyes narrow dangerously. “It’s not what you’re thinking. I just happened to be at the bookstore when I got the call.”

“Uh-huh. Well, I’ll be sure to let Gray know you were here. With Poppy.”

“Go right ahead. There’s nothing between me and your sister. Or me and anyone else, for that matter.” Jerking back around, she yanks the curtain aside. “All right, Persephone. Time to go.”

“Fine.” Poppy drags the word out, sounding so much like one of our own Little girls I have to swallow a laugh. “Bye, Dane! Be sure to bring Vanessa into town with you the next time you all come down. Josie and I still have some work to do to get ready for her signing.”

“I’ll promise to do that if you promise to get the stick out of Sheriff Donnelly’s butt for her.”

While Poppy erupts into giggles, Reese shoots me a glare that leaves me checking myself for open wounds. The pair say their goodbyes and head down the hall to the front door.

Stepping back around the curtain, I narrow my eyes at the naughty girl in the hospital bed as she shoves what looks like her fifth candy bar into her mouth.