Page 156 of Daddy's Wild Girl

“Well? Sanitize, then get inside. Stop wasting time. I’ve got other things to do.”

And then again, maybe he didn’t.

She startledas the door to the small waiting area opened and Doc walked in. He stared down at her for a moment. “You look guilty. Done something wrong?”

“Uh, no. I don’t think so. At least not recently. Maybe in the past. Why?”

Corbin lightly squeezed her neck with his hand as Doc’s lips twitched. Was he about to smile?

“Come on. Come inside.”

Corbin had to pull her up out of the chair and prod her forward. “It will be fine.”

“Course it will,” Doc boomed as they entered his exam room. It was fairly simple, with a desk, chairs, and an examination table. Along with a filing cabinet and some storage cupboards.

It looked like every other doctor’s office.

Well, except for the mural on the ceiling. It was an image of bumblebees flying between flowers with butterflies on them. And there was a castle with a blonde-haired princess petting a unicorn.

She gasped as she stared up at it.

“Got it painted by a girl that’s just moved into Wishingbone,” Doc said. “She’s a shy thing. Doesn’t know many people. But she’s a big fan of Caley’s and met her at a book signing at the library. Next thing I know, she’s here, painting this on my ceiling.” He shook his head as though put out.

She recalled Corbin telling her that Caley was an author. She was going to have to read her books. Although she wasn’t much of a reader, she didn’t like to stay still for too long.

“I like it.”

“Course you do, all the Littles do.”

Corbin sighed. “Doc has little tact or filter.”

“What? What did I say?” he asked as he pulled out some gloves. “Now, we doing a full exam? She looks a bit pale to me.”

“What? No, I don’t!”

“She isn’t comfortable letting out her Little, Doc,” Corbin warned. “But, yeah, I think an examination is a good idea. She hasn’t been sleeping well.”

“Ahh, shy.” Doc nodded. “I get it. I’ll be gentle. And if you need something to help with sleep, I can give you something. Although, also, warm milk or chamomile tea can help. So can a good bedtime routine.”

Could he be gentle? She somehow had her doubts. However, to her surprise, he was. And he didn’t even suggest trying to stick something up her butt.

Thank God.

Because that was a definite no.

However, when he suggested taking some blood . . . that’s when things went too far. She moved so fast that she even shocked herself.

One moment, she was sitting up on the exam table and the next, she was in Corbin’s arms. She’d climbed up him and was hanging onto him like a baby monkey clinging to her mama.

“So, someone doesn’t like having their blood taken,” Doc said gruffly.

“Who would like that?” she asked incredulously.

Corbin patted her back. “Nobody likes it, but it’s one of those things that needs to be done.”

“Nuh-uh.”

Oops. Her Little was slipping through. And she didn’t even really care.

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