Page 117 of Daddy's Wild Girl

“S-sorry,” she said. “I d-don’t know what’s wrong with m-me.”

“You’ve just been hit with everything that you were obviously trying to hold back. And it’s normal. I’d be more worried about you if you didn’t let it all out, all right?”

“I’ve just cried all over you. Probably got your T-shirt all wet.”

“Screw the T-shirt. I just want you to be all right.” He set her on the counter, then brushed the hair back off her face. Her eyes were swollen, cheeks wet with tears. Reaching over, he grabbed some tissues.

She held out her hand for the tissues, but he shook his head. “Let me.”

A blush filled her pale cheeks. “You want to do that?”

“Yeah. I do.” Corbin gently wiped her cheeks, then held the tissues to her nose. “Blow.”

“Corbin,” she complained.

“Blow, Bebe. Be a good girl for me.”

He might have been mistaken, but it seemed like her shoulders relaxed slightly. She blew and he wiped her nose.

“That’s my good Bebe,” he whispered.

Yeah. Her cheeks flushed again, but this time in pleasure. She liked being called good. He ran his thumbs over her cheeks. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been run over by a truck, munched on by a bear, and trampled by a herd of elephants.”

“That good, huh?” he asked with a smile.

“Pretty good, considering. I could really use that shower, though.”

“Do you want me to stay and help you?” he asked.

She shook her head, blushing slightly. “Honestly, I could use a moment to myself.” Then she gave him a worried look. “If that’s okay?”

“Of course it is, baby,” he said. Although the last thing he wanted to do was leave her alone. “I’m going to stay right in the bedroom and leave the door open slightly in case you need me. All right?”

“Um, yeah. I just didn’t want to sound like I was trying to tell you to go.”

“Hey. You weren’t. And you can always tell me what you want.”

“Really? I can? Because I seem to recall telling you that you were fired and to leave.”

“Ahh, but I didn’t say that I would do it.” He winked at her, and she groaned as he lifted her off the counter and set her on her feet.

“You’re terrible.”

“Terribly handsome, I know. It’s a curse, I tell you.” He sighed dramatically.

She rolled her eyes at him, but there was a smile on her face. And that’s what he was aiming for.

Relief filled him.

She was coming home with him . . . this precious, beautiful, fragile girl was going to be his.

He would make sure of it.

29

Bebe wasn’t sure that she’d ever been this tired.

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