Page 27 of Daddy's Wild Girl

“Why would you apologize for that?”

“Hmm, perhaps because I’m your bodyguard. I’m employed by your father. There is a degree of professionalism expected. From him and from me. I would never want to take advantage of you.”

She dipped her head back, staring up at him with a look of such utter surprise on her face that it shocked him.

Why was she so shocked by that?

“You’re a good man, aren’t you?”

“You say that like you haven’t encountered many.” And that infuriated him. Had someone hurt this girl?

She’s not a girl, though.

She’s a woman.

“I haven’t. You could be very bad for me, Corbin McIntyre.”

“Because I’m supposed to be your bodyguard?” he asked.

“Because I’ve vowed off men. I intend to live a life of celibacy, with no connections so no one can hurt me. Which is why I really shouldn’t be sitting on your lap.”

She tried to get off his thighs, and for a moment, he held her still. Until he noticed the fear creeping into her face.

Fuck!

What was he doing? This wasn’t him.

He practically dumped her on the bed as he stood and ran a hand down his face.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hold onto you. I don’t want you to ever fear me.”

“It’s all right, and I don’t. I just . . . the nightmare is still creeping around my mind, you know? Like an insidious black cloud, just waiting to coat me in its doom.”

He just stared down at her as she hugged her legs to her chest. It was then that he took the time to really study her.

She had her hair in the most adorable braids and wore a pair of long pajamas with images of squirrels all over them.

Her toenails were painted in a variety of neon colors that made him smile. She was just so unexpected.

And surprisingly vulnerable.

“That sounds really scary,” he told her quietly.

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked hesitantly.

She instantly shook her head. And although a part of him longed to press her, he knew he couldn’t.

Shouldn’t.

But fuck, holding back was harder than it should be.

“Are you going to be able to go back to sleep?” Concern filled him as he also took in how pale she was with dark marks under her eyes.

She hadn’t had those earlier, had she?

Corbin fought the urge to tuck her into bed.

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