Page 176 of Daddy's Wild Girl

Four days had passed since her mother confessed to being her stalker. And to hiring someone to attack her, even if she swore that the attack was meant to happen after Corbin and Hayes had gone.

Which was a thousand times worse.

But she’d entered some weird kind of funk and couldn’t get out of it. The only time she managed to stop the voices in her head was when she was Little. However, she couldn’t be Little all the time.

Corbin had insisted that she keep coming to work with him, he was probably worried about leaving her alone.

However, she’d had enough.

“Right, baby. Let’s get you ready to go.” He reached into the coat closet for her jacket.

“Can I stay here?” she asked.

He drew back and stared at her.

“It’s just . . . there’s not much for me to do there. And there’s no longer a reason to go with you, right? It’s safe here and the stalker never existed.”

“That might be the case, but I’m not sure you’re in a good state of mind for me to leave you.” He crouched in front of her where she sat on the sofa.

Maybe not, but . . .

“I just want some time to think. I have a therapy session at ten. And I was also thinking of putting the house up for sale.”

“Hmm, we might need to get a contractor in first.”

She bit her lip. “I can’t really afford that, especially if . . .”

“Especially if what, darling?”

“If I go back to college. It’s just a thought at the moment . . . but I figured I could look into whether it’s possible to do it via distance. Maybe through a college close by, so if I needed to, I could go there in person sometimes. What do you think?”

He smiled widely. “I think that’s a perfect idea. I’m so proud of you, darling. I was actually going to ask you if you wanted to go back to college.”

“I’ll have to sell the house to hopefully pay some of the tuition. Or dip into my trust fund. I guess I could do that to pay the contractor.”

“You don’t have to worry now. I’m going to help you with your tuition.”

“Corbin, it’s expensive and?—”

“Baby, I don’t exactly spend a lot. I’ve worked for a long time and saved a lot of money. Plus, one of my sisters is an investment broker. I’ve got a healthy portfolio. And, more importantly, you’re mine. So I’m going to do this, understand?”

“All right,” she whispered. She’d learned that on some things, he just didn’t budge. “Thank you.”

“My good girl. Everything is going to be all right now.”

“Even though my mother is crazy and my father is only realizing that now?” And trying to make it up to her by calling her several times a day.

“Yep. Because we have each other. And that’s all we need. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone yet though.”

“I’ll be fine. I promise.”

“You’ll stay in the cabin?”

“Well, I thought I might go for a walk to see the horses later.”

“All right. But text me when you leave and get back. Not because I want to control you, but . . .”

“But you worry,” she finished. “I know. I’m all right.”

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