Daddy’s Wild Girl (Montana Daddies #16)

Chapter 30

30

C offee.

She desperately needed coffee.

Bebe was pretty sure she hadn’t slept at all last night and now she was feeling the consequences.

As she stepped out of her bedroom, she breathed a sigh of relief at finding Corbin gone. There was the sound of a shower running.

All right.

Walking downstairs, she moved into the kitchen to find a pot already brewing. And a large man sitting at the table, watching her contemplatively.

Uh-oh. She didn’t like that look on his face.

“It’s too early to be thinking that hard,” she told him, making her coffee with lots of hazelnut creamer and a dash of coffee.

“Did you get any sleep?” he asked.

Crap. She’d put some makeup on before coming down to hide the marks under her eyes. Maybe she hadn’t done as good a job as she’d thought.

“Did you?” she countered instead of answering.

“I was on duty.”

On duty?

“You stayed up all night? Do you really think he knows where I live?”

“Didn’t see any sign of anyone watching the house last night. But yeah, it’s a strong possibility.”

Great. What was she going to do?

“Were you heading to your thinking spot?”

She glanced outside at the rising sun. “I thought about it.”

“Then thought better of it?” he drawled.

A shiver ran engulfed her as the events from yesterday flashed through her mind. “I didn’t think the threat was real, Hayes. And then Corbin . . . he . . . he could have been badly hurt because of me.”

She sat opposite him at the table.

“That’s his job, girl.”

“I don’t want it to be. I told him he was fired. Both of you.”

Hayes snorted. “You should know by now that he doesn’t protect you because he’s paid to. In fact, he’d prefer not to get paid. Makes things simpler.”

“I don’t want him to get hurt whether he’s paid or not.”

“I know.” His face softened. “That’s how I know you care about him.”

“I care about you too.”

Hayes gave her a nod, his lips twitching. That was the closest he got to a smile. “I know you do. Because you’ve got a heart the size of Texas, even if you like to pretend you’re tough and ornery.”

“I never pretended to be ornery,” she muttered. But pretending to be tough? Yeah, that was something she did every day.

“That big heart can get you into trouble sometimes. You gotta remember that if you give away too much of yourself, then there’s nothing left for you.”

It certainly felt that way at times. Like she was running on empty. But she couldn’t let him think that about her.

She breathed out a deep sigh. “I don’t know where you get the idea that I’m some sort of saint, always giving to people.”

He snorted. “Didn’t say saint. You’re also a pain in the ass, stubborn, and far too cavalier with your own safety. You’re reckless, girly. You were mine, that’s the first thing I’d change.”

“And how would you do that?” she challenged.

“You don’t want to know. Lucky for you, Corbin isn’t as strict as me. You wouldn’t even be let out of my sight if you were mine.”

“While there’s a threat?” she asked.

“At any time.”

“Jeez, Hayes, how is that even possible?”

“I’d find a way. Probably tie you to me. Put a collar on you and a leash.”

She started laughing.

Only, she wasn’t entirely sure that he was joking.

“You would not.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I wouldn’t go that far. But the leash would be there. Just more metaphorical. Not that I’m ever gonna have a girl again. But if I did, there would be nothing more important to me than making sure she was safe. And that’s the way he feels right now.”

“Hayes, I don’t want to talk about this.” Now she had a headache thumping in her temples.

“See, I had this feeling that’s exactly what you’d do. Told myself to stay away because I’m not one for talking. Especially about feelings. But Corbin is a good man. He’s decent. And he’s exactly what you need. And deserve. You deserve to be happy, to have a good life.”

“Most people don’t think that about me.” She took a sip of her coffee to try and hide her tears.

“Most people are idiots.”

She huffed out a small laugh. “You would think that, Mr. Antisocial.”

He grunted. “You coming with us?”

“I can’t,” she whispered.

Hayes sighed. “Why? You must believe there’s a threat now.”

“I do.” And that terrified her. Especially as she was about to send away the two men who could best protect her from the threat.

“Then why? Because of this house? Why would this house keep you here? Your friends? Family? Where have they been? What have they done for you?”

“Ouch,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, it’s not that. Those aren’t the reasons that I can’t go.”

“Then it’s me,” Corbin said suddenly. “You don’t want to come because of me.”

She shot Hayes a look of betrayal. He couldn’t have given her a heads-up? Hayes just stood and grabbed his coffee. “The two of you need to talk. We have five hours until our flight.”

Part of her wished that Hayes would stay so she could try to delay this conversation.

Her hands were shaking, her body coiled tight with stress and tension. Her head was pounding relentlessly.

She’d spent most of the night tossing and turning, wondering if she should have asked him to stay in her room so she could have had one night of him in her bed.

A memory to keep her warm on those long, lonely nights.

“I thought we decided this last night, Bluebelle.”

She winced at him using her full name.

Not a good sign.

“I don’t want to hurt you?—”

“Then don’t,” he interrupted. “And you’re not just hurting me with this, you’re hurting yourself.”

She closed her eyes for a long moment. How was she supposed to do this? Without breaking apart?

“Bebe, is this because you’re worried about me getting hurt? We’ll all be safer back on the Ranch.”

“That’s not it. Well, not only that. You . . . you called me Little one last night,” she whispered.

He approached her, turning a chair so it faced her before sitting. Then he grabbed the base of her chair and spun her around so she had no choice but to look at him.

“Right. And you didn’t like that? It hardly seems a reason to refuse to come with me to the Ranch. To not want to be with me.”

“It’s not . . . it’s not the term of endearment. Urgh. It’s everything. You gave me Nutters and didn’t even blink. You seem easygoing and as though you like taking care of me. But then you have this stern side, especially when you think I’m in danger. You get bossy and commanding. You threaten to spank me. Actually, you did spank me.”

“Baby, where is this going?” he asked, sounding confused. She knew she was making a mess of this.

“Did you find my box?”

He blinked. “What?”

“In my closet, did you find my box, with the . . . with the baby items?”

Understanding filled his face. He leaned forward to take her hand in his. “Bebe, it’s all right. I understand. I’m not judging you. Or upset with you.”

She shook her head, trying to keep her voice from wobbling. “You don’t understand.”

“I do. See, I’m a Daddy Dom.”

“Yes. I know. And that’s the problem. That’s why I can’t be with you. Why I can’t go to the Ranch. I’m sorry. I wish things were different. I really do. But I can’t be with you, not now or ever.” Getting up, she stared down at him through blurry eyes. “I hope you find someone who’s worthy of you. You deserve the v-very best.”

Then she forced herself to leave and head up the stairs. Only once she got to her bedroom did she let go. She fell on the bed, sobbing.

It was for the best.

Even if doing this broke her heart.