Page 105 of Daddy's Wild Girl

The word was broken. So garbled that she wasn’t sure that he’d be able to understand her. But he gently maneuvered her onto the sofa, then crouched in front of her. His face was filled with nothing but concern.

Surely, he had to be feeling some anger. Right?

Here she was acting nuts when he’d just been stabbed. There had to be a hundred other things he wanted to do rather than take care of her.

“What do you need?” he asked her.

She took in one breath. Then another.

Focus. Stay calm.

Get it together.

“Your arm. It needs to be cleaned and bandaged.”

“You’re right. It does. As soon as Hayes is back, I’m going to go do that, okay?”

She let out a shaky breath, nodding.

“You’re safe now, baby. I’m sorry. I know that was really scary. You must have been so panicked. But we’re back in the house. Hayes is with us. The security alarm is on. You’re safe.”

Was she safe?

She didn’t feel safe. Her stomach was bubbling with nausea. She was trembling. And all she wanted was to crawl into his lap and bawl like a baby.

Get it together.

“Are you feeling better now?” Corbin asked.

“Yes.”

Hopefully, that came out with more conviction than she felt. Because she felt like she was falling apart at the seams.

He eyed her for a long moment.

“Everything is secure,” Hayes said, striding back in. “You need to go take care of that wound. Who knows what that knife had on it. Your tetanus is up-to-date?”

Tetanus? Oh God.

A whimper escaped her and both men zeroed in on her. Corbin stood and shot Hayes a look.

“I’m up-to-date with everything. Besides, I’m fine. I’ll go clean up and be right back. Okay, Bebe?”

She nodded numbly.

“Stay right here with Hayes. Understand me?” There was a sterner note in his voice now. He pulled the blanket up and tucked it around her shoulders as he spoke. Then, with one finger, he tilted her face back. His finger felt like it was burning against her cold skin. “Understand?”

“Yes. I’ll stay here.”

26

Bebe paced back and forth in the living room.

Hayes moved through the living room and into the kitchen, checking the windows and doors yet again, his phone to his ear as he spoke to someone.

Maybe their boss.

Perhaps he was telling their boss that Corbin had been injured and they needed to quit this job and return home.

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