Page 28 of Daddy's Wild Girl

To order her to stay there until the marks were gone.

Instead, he took a breath and clawed those urges back.

“I’ll be fine,” she replied with a smile as fake as his grandma’s homemade apple pie.

Which was most definitely store-bought. However, no one ever told her they knew. It would break her heart.

So, while he wanted to call her out for lying . . .

He didn’t.

“I’m on night watch,” he told her. “If you need anyone to talk to,”to hug you,“I’m here.”

“Night watch?” She frowned. “Is that really necessary?”

“It is until we get the security system up and running.”

“I really think everyone is overreacting and I’m not really in any danger.”

“Nevertheless, this is my job and I take it very seriously. I’d also appreciate it if you didn’t open any windows at night. It’s getting pretty cold for that anyway.”

“I like a cool breeze when I’m sleeping,” she murmured. “But I guess I can do that.”

“Thank you. Good night. Sleep tight.”

He winced as he shut the door. Sleep tight? Really?

Thankfully, he hadn’t told her to not let the bedbugs bite. Shaking his head at himself, he walked back through the house, checking the windows.

Just to be sure.

Bebe huggedherself tighter and glanced around the room.

Grabbing her phone, she put on the playlist that she used to try and help her sleep. Most of the playlist consisted of kids’ stories and meditation designed to help them sleep.

But they worked on her too.

Although she had the feeling there was no going back to sleep for her tonight.

Normally, when this happened, she’d work on the house. Well, she wouldn’t use power tools. Her neighbors wouldn’t like that. But there were other things she could do.

However, she couldn’t leave her bedroom if Corbin was wandering around.

He might want her to talk to him.

Bebe grimaced. Talking about her fears, her feelings, and her memories was not something she wanted to do.

So how was she going to get back to sleep?

Glancing around, she stared at the closet doors. She could get out her . . . no!

She’d promised herself that she wasn’t going back there. She wasn’t that girl anymore.

Pulling the covers over her head, she figured she’d just lie here and wait for the sun to come up.

9

“Morning!” she called out with forced cheer as Corbin appeared in the doorway to the living room.

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