Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
No, he couldn’t.
“Anyway, I later realized that what I felt for Ericc was just . . . the stuff of first crushes. It had no depth to it. No layers. And sadly for him, his relationship with me did nothing to help his career. I heard that he’s working at a gas station in Ohio, has packed on forty pounds, and has two kids with another on the way. All to different women.”
Still. He didn’t sound miserable enough to Corbin.
He’d have to see if he could change that. Perhaps Ericc needed a visit from the IRS or to suddenly receive hundreds of parking tickets.
Corbin could make that happen. And more.
It would be his pleasure.
Bebe yawned. “Sorry.”
“Did you sleep at all? Did your headache keep you awake?” he asked in concern.
“I think I got a few hours. I don’t sleep that well on a good day.”
“You’ll need to take a nap later,” he told her firmly.
The words were out of his mouth before he could pull them back. Christ. What was wrong with him?
“Yes, Daddy.” She knocked herself into him.
She’s just teasing.
She doesn’t mean anything by it.
But damn if his Dominant side didn’t sit up and pay attention.
Turning his head, he looked down at her.
At the same time that she glanced up at him.
His gaze was drawn to those full, plump lips. She was the most intriguing, mesmerizing creature he’d ever encountered, and without thought, he found himself leaning in.
Just one touch.
Just one kiss.
And she leaned in close to him. Until a bird’s squawk filled the air and broke the moment. They pulled away from each other so fast that it might have been comical under different circumstances.
“I . . . I . . .B-bebe . . .” Fuck. He stumbled over his words, unsure of what to say under the circumstances.
‘Sorry I nearly kissed you’ didn’t sound quite right.
Because he wasn’t exactly sorry.
“Do you think the same as Hayes?” she suddenly asked.
“What?” What did she mean by that? What did Hayes think? The change of topic had him struggling to keep up.
“That I’m a spoiled little rich girl with mommy issues,” she told him. “It’s all right if you do. I understand why people think that. I just . . . well, I don’t know why I asked you that. I think I’m going to go back to my bedroom and not come out for another three weeks.”
He hated the embarrassment in her voice.
Almost as much as he detested the note of sadness.
Reaching out, he placed his arm over her to stop her from moving. “Stay right there. We need to talk about this.”
“We really don’t,” she said hastily.
“Bebe,” he warned.
She sighed. “What was I thinking? I should have just pretended I didn’t hear what you were saying.”
“Were you eavesdropping on purpose?” he asked.
Bebe stiffened.
Oh, she had been.
And he was pretty confident she was about to lie about it.
“No, I just happened to overhear.”
“Really?” he asked.
She let out a noise with frustration. “Fine. I accidentally overheard my name and decided to listen in to see what was happening. And that’s when I heard Hayes say that he thought I was a spoiled little rich girl with mommy issues.”
“And did you hear what came after that?”
14
What had she started?
She was a complete idiot. It was official. Only an idiot would have begun this conversation.
Sometimes, it felt like she was a glutton for punishment.
Why couldn’t she just leave it alone?
Because you don’t like the idea of Corbin thinking badly of you.
“Um, no,” she said. “I didn’t stick around after that.”
No, she’d hightailed it out of there to nurse her hurt feelings.
“Right, so you only heard a segment of what was said and jumped to a conclusion,” he told her.
“Jumped to a conclusion?”
“That wasn’t Hayes’ opinion of you,” he told her.
“I heard him say it.” She straightened up, turning toward him.
Lord, he was good-looking. It kind of took her breath away sometimes. Especially when he smiled. He went from a ten to out-of-this-stratosphere.
Had he nearly kissed her?
She had to have imagined that, right? She was manifesting or something because that’s what she really wanted.
Him to want her the way she wanted him.
“What do you mean it wasn’t his opinion?”
“He was saying something we’d read about you online. If you’d stuck around, you would have heard me ask him if that’s what he thought of you.”
“And what did he say?” she asked after he went quiet. Was he just going to leave her in suspense?
“He said no! Do you think I would be telling you this if he said that was what he thought of you?”
“I don’t know. I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion.”
“Not when they use those opinions to hurt others. Then that’s just being cruel.”
She hadn’t thought about it like that. “But he didn’t know I was listening in.”
“He doesn’t think that about you, Bebe,” he replied firmly. “And I certainly don’t.”