Daddy’s Wild Girl (Montana Daddies #16)

Chapter 24

24

B ebe ignored the knocking on her bedroom door. She shoved herself farther under the covers.

She was feeling too vulnerable and tired to get up today. After her bath last night, she’d actually managed to fall asleep right away.

And she’d slept until after ten. Which was unheard of for her. But after getting up to use the bathroom quickly, she’d jumped back into bed.

She simply wasn’t ready to face the day and everything that had happened last night.

God. Her mother. The show. The bridge.

Corbin.

He’d called her baby. She loved that. No one had ever called her baby. Or ripped off their shirt to give it to her because she was cold. Or carried her just because they could.

No one had ever chased after her when she was upset . . . of course, it was his job to keep her safe.

But it wasn’t his job to actually care.

“Bebe, let me in, darling.”

Baby and darling?

Had she died and gone to heaven?

Don’t give in. You cannot give in to your feelings for him. In less than two weeks, he’s leaving. You just have to hold on for that long.

Have some willpower, woman!

“I just want to check you’re all right. Then I’ll leave you alone.”

Hmm. He would?

“It’s nearly four and you haven’t eaten all day, I’m starting to get really worried about you.”

Oh. It was that late?

Her stomach growled on cue. Fine. Perhaps she was a bit hungry, but that still wasn’t enough to entice her out of her cocoon. She was safe here. In here, she could pretend that the world didn’t exist.

Fort! Fort! We could build a fort!

No!

She shut those thoughts down quickly. It would be all too easy to let her Little slip free.

It was bad enough that she was having to fight herself from going into the closet and pulling out that box . . .

“I have some of your favorite food here.”

Beer and pie?

She sat up slightly, pushing her head out of the covers. “What is it?”

There was a pause. “Sorry. Wasn’t expecting you to answer. I’ve got some grapes, cheese, crackers, and a protein drink that Hayes mixed up for you.”

The cheese was tempting. Bebe loved cheese.

But there was no pie or beer. Disappointing.

Sooo . . . pass.

“And if you eat some of this, I have some pie for dessert.”

Hmm.

Okay, maybe he was learning.

“What kind?” she asked.

She swore . . . if he said blackberry, then she would not be happy. She might even throw something . . .

At him.

Are you trying to get punished?

Her hand pulsed at the thought.

Corbin wasn’t like that. He wasn’t like him .

“Cherry.”

Suitable response. More than acceptable, really.

“Vanilla ice cream with it?” she asked.

“Of course.” He sounded almost offended. “Is there any other way to eat pie?”

Good.

Acceptable.

“Leave it outside my door and I’ll get it soon. Thanks,” she added with a wince.

Manners, Bebe.

Why must I always need to remind you? You’re not a baby.

Fuck off, asshole.

There was silence from the other side of the door.

“Fuck off, asshole?” Corbin said.

Oh shit.

Had she said that out loud? Crap.

“Bebe, I’m just trying to look after you. If you think that makes me an ass?—”

“I didn’t mean you,” she quickly said, sitting up and pushing her blankets back. “Sorry! I was thinking about something and it just slipped out.”

“Who were you thinking about?” he growled the words through the door.

She could almost feel his anger.

But she knew it wasn’t aimed at her and she swallowed heavily around the lump in her throat.

“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered even though he probably couldn’t hear.

“Bebe, let me in, darling.”

Closing her eyes, she looked longingly at the door. A big part of her did want to open the door, but she felt raw today. Open and vulnerable in a way she hadn’t felt since . . . well, since the months following him .

Was cherry pie worth the risk of him seeing her like this?

Likely not.

“I won’t bother you again. Just let me make sure you eat and that you’re not going to . . .”

Oh. Oh! He was worried she might do something to harm herself?

“I’m really okay, Corbin.”

“Well, I’d like to see that for myself. Open, Bebe.”

This time, he injected more command into his voice. And she found herself getting out of bed and walking toward the door. The room kind of swam. Shoot. She should probably drink some water and eat something. She was feeling woozy and light-headed.

Before she could second-guess her decision, she opened the door. Corbin stood there with a tray of food and a soft smile on his face.

The only thing that could have made this better was if he was shirtless.

Yikes.

She hoped she didn’t say that out loud.

But his expression didn’t change as he watched her. She cleared her throat. “You didn’t have to worry, I’m all good.”

Her stomach chose that exact moment to growl again.

Flipping heck.

His eyebrows rose. “You’re all good? Your stomach just rumbled so loudly that the neighbors probably thought it was an earthquake.”

“It wasn’t that loud,” she countered.

Well. It kind of had been.

Oops.

“Are you going to let me in?”

She sighed. “Will you leave without coming in?”

He smiled. “Nope.”

Damn. It seemed her body wasn’t so tired that it didn’t react to him. She stepped back and he walked in. As she moved, she caught sight of herself in the free-standing mirror in the corner. It was the only piece of furniture that had been in the house that she’d liked.

Bebe let out a small scream. “Oh my God!”

“What? What is it?” Corbin asked, setting the tray on the nightstand before turning around.

His gaze moved around as he made his way back over to her.

“My hair! I’m a disaster!”

“You are not a disaster; you could never be a disaster.”

Well, it was nice of him to say so, but it simply wasn’t true. Because right now, she was a complete disaster.

She rushed into her bathroom and picked up her hairbrush.

Oh Lord.

She didn’t think a hairbrush was going to fix this. She wasn’t sure anything other than hacking off all her hair was going to fix this.

And was that mascara around her eyes? Shit! Hadn’t she washed off her makeup properly? She looked like a raccoon.

God, this got worse and worse.

“Bebe? Are you all right?”

The knock on the door startled her and she glanced over at it.

“Um, yes. I just . . . need a shower.”

“Your food is waiting. The ice cream will melt. Why don’t you shower after you eat? I don’t want you getting light-headed in the shower.”

That wouldn’t happen.

Although, a wave of wooziness did have her leaning against the bathroom counter.

“Okay, just give me a moment.”

Even though she’d barely drunk anything, she still desperately had to pee. She sat on the toilet but couldn’t go.

Darn it.

Sometimes this happened. And there was nothing else she could do except . . . sing the pee song.

“Could you, um, wait in the hallway?” she called out to him.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” he asked.

Nothing except for the fact that she needed to sing a song to make her bladder release.

This was ridiculous!

Why couldn’t she just be like a normal person and pee when she wanted to?

“Nothing’s wrong. I just need to pee.”

“Then pee, darling.”

She could hear the amused tenderness in his voice and it made her melt.

“I have a shy bladder.”

“Do you want me to put some music on?”

“Yeah, okay,” she grumbled. Couldn’t the man just drop the food and leave?

But she heard some music turn on and sighed in relief.

Now she could sing her song.

“Do you have to pee?

When you’re sitting in a tree?

Or when you’re on the bus

In a big rush?

Do you have to pee while drinking tea?

Or watching a buzzing honey bee?

Pee, pee, pee,

Do you have to pee?”

Finally, she started to go.

Oh, thank God.

Sometimes, she panicked when she couldn’t go, worried that she wouldn’t be able to let go at all.

After flushing and washing her hands, she attempted to brush her hair and pull it up into a ponytail. Then she grabbed her bathrobe and drew it on. It was a bit old and threadbare, but it was also soft and cozy.

Stepping out into the bedroom, she eyed Corbin. He was standing between her and the bed.

“Um, thanks for the food,” she said, stepping farther into the room.

Why did he seem so intent?

He crooked a finger at her.

Uh-oh.

He wasn’t headed to level five, was he? What reason did he have to be upset at her?

“Come here, Bebe.”

“What did I do?” she asked.

His eyes widened, then he shook his head and uncrossed his arms. “Hey, nothing. I’m not upset with you. I just wanted to give you a hug.”

A hug?

He wanted to hug her?

Ohh. She really wanted that hug.

“Sorry. It’s just you looked like you were upset about something.”

“Maybe the fact I haven’t gotten my hug yet?”

This wasn’t smart. And yet, when was she known for being smart? She found herself walking toward him and letting him bring her into his chest to hold her tight.

Ohhh.

That was so nice.

For the first time today, she really relaxed. Sounded crazy when she’d basically spent the whole day in bed. His hand moved firmly up and down her back, massaging sore spots she hadn’t realized she had. She melted into him when he rubbed the back of her neck.

“You worry me.”

She tensed slightly and he shushed her, continuing his one-handed massage. “Don’t get upset. Just telling you the truth. I’ve been worried about you all day.”

“I wasn’t going to jump off the bridge, Corbin.”

“It’s not about that. Well, not just about that. If you say you weren’t, I believe you.”

The last of the tension left her. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear that.

“I do wish you’d talk to someone. It doesn’t have to be about that, just in general. With everything your mother has done . . . is still doing… to manipulate you. You should talk that through so it doesn’t bottle up inside you and eat you up.”

He wasn’t wrong.

But she didn’t want to spend money on a therapist. And she didn’t have anyone else to talk to.

What about Corbin? Hmm. She’d told him most of the crap with her mother. But he didn’t know the rest of it. Was she brave enough to disclose it all to him?

Not yet.

“I’ll consider it,” she said instead.

He kissed the top of her head. “That’s my good girl. Come and sit down. Eat your food.”

This was so dangerous.

Every day in his presence, she fell more under his spell. Wanted more of him. Craved his attention and his praise.

His touch.

What she should do was pull back . . . but she just wasn’t confident that she was strong enough to do it.