Page 121 of Daddy's Wild Girl

A shiver ran engulfed her as the events from yesterday flashed through her mind. “I didn’t think the threat was real, Hayes. And then Corbin . . . he . . . he could have been badly hurt because of me.”

She sat opposite him at the table.

“That’s his job, girl.”

“I don’t want it to be. I told him he was fired. Both of you.”

Hayes snorted. “You should know by now that he doesn’t protect you because he’s paid to. In fact, he’d prefer not to get paid. Makes things simpler.”

“I don’t want him to get hurt whether he’s paid or not.”

“I know.” His face softened. “That’s how I know you care about him.”

“I care about you too.”

Hayes gave her a nod, his lips twitching. That was the closest he got to a smile. “I know you do. Because you’ve got a heart the size of Texas, even if you like to pretend you’re tough and ornery.”

“I never pretended to be ornery,” she muttered. But pretending to be tough? Yeah, that was something she did every day.

“That big heart can get you into trouble sometimes. You gotta remember that if you give away too much of yourself, then there’s nothing left for you.”

It certainly felt that way at times. Like she was running on empty. But she couldn’t let him think that about her.

She breathed out a deep sigh. “I don’t know where you get the idea that I’m some sort of saint, always giving to people.”

He snorted. “Didn’t say saint. You’re also a pain in the ass, stubborn, and far too cavalier with your own safety. You’re reckless, girly. You were mine, that’s the first thing I’d change.”

“And how would you do that?” she challenged.

“You don’t want to know. Lucky for you, Corbin isn’t as strict as me. You wouldn’t even be let out of my sight if you were mine.”

“While there’s a threat?” she asked.

“At any time.”

“Jeez, Hayes, how is that even possible?”

“I’d find a way. Probably tie you to me. Put a collar on you and a leash.”

She started laughing.

Only, she wasn’t entirely sure that he was joking.

“You would not.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I wouldn’t go that far. But the leash would be there. Just more metaphorical. Not that I’m ever gonna have a girl again. But if I did, there would be nothing more important to me than making sure she was safe. And that’s the way he feels right now.”

“Hayes, I don’t want to talk about this.” Now she had a headache thumping in her temples.

“See, I had this feeling that’s exactly what you’d do. Told myself to stay away because I’m not one for talking. Especially about feelings. But Corbin is a good man. He’s decent. And he’s exactly what you need. And deserve. You deserve to be happy, to have a good life.”

“Most people don’t think that about me.” She took a sip of her coffee to try and hide her tears.

“Most people are idiots.”

She huffed out a small laugh. “You would think that, Mr. Antisocial.”

He grunted. “You coming with us?”

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