Page 15 of Daddy's Wild Girl

Hayes stepped up next to him. “Get yourself together, man!”

Right. Yes. Uh-huh.

“Yes, I’m McIntyre Corbin. I mean . . . Corbin McIntyre.”

What he was . . . was a giant idiot.

“Dear Lord,” Hayes muttered.

He could feel himself turning red. This was horrifying. But instead of making him feel more like a dick, she just held out her hand.

Her nails were almost painfully short. Did she bite them? He took hold of her hand, trying to remember how to breathe and not to squeeze too tightly as he shook it.

Her hand was slightly rough, as though it had calluses. Not at all what he’d expected. Especially given that her mother said she didn’t work.

“Hello, McIntyre, Corbin,” she said with a grin.

He squeezed her hand slightly as she went to move it away. Then, horrified, he let her go as she winced.

“Shit. Sorry! Did I hurt you?”

“What? No. I’m fine.”

He could tell she was lying, though, especially as she shook out her hand slightly.

What was wrong with her?

Concern filled him and he had to stop himself from demanding answers.

She’s your charge, but she’s not yours.

“Right then, come on. We’re going to be late.” She waved her hand toward the Audi SUV that her father had given them to use.

Corbin had never driven in such an expensive car. It was a dream to drive, even in the city. However, give him an old pickup truck on a country road any day.

“Late? How can we be late when we’re not due anywhere?” Hayes asked.

“Because our booking is for four o’clock and it’s gonna take an hour to get there. Now, you want me to drive or will that insult your sensitive masculinity?”

Hayes instantly scowled. “I don’t have a sensitive masculinity.”

“Cool, hand the keys over then, boss. I’ll drive.” She grinned as she held out her hand. There was a slight tremor to it, though, which made Corbin frown. Was she all right?

“No, you won’t,” Hayes said. “He’s driving.”

Corbin held up the keys with a smile. “Sorry, but your dad trusts us with his car.”

She shrugged, looking unperturbed. “No worries. Now, hop to it. Let’s go.”

Hayes started moving toward the SUV, then obviously realized what he was doing. “Nope. You still haven’t explained where we’re going.”

“Didn’t I? Well, hope you’re not afraid of heights. Because we’re going flying.”

6

“Flying?” Corbin asked. “You didn’t say that we would actually be jumping out of a plane.”

“What did you think I would be jumping out of or off?” she asked. “A cliff? Well, we could, but I haven’t found anywhere nearby that does that. It’s on the list, though.”

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