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)
Which could be very dangerous.
He leaned in closer, eyes blazing, face stern.
And. Yikes.
Her whole body tightened in desire. The man was like her own personal catnip.
“Nope, I’m going to—”
Hayes very loudly cleared his throat. She wasn’t sure if it was on purpose or if he had a giant fur ball in his throat.
“Do you need a drink of water?” she asked Hayes.
“What I need is for the two of you to get down from there before I have a fucking heart attack,” he replied. “Down. Now.”
Yikes.
Hayes had that stern voice thing going on too.
“Not until Corbin tells me what he’s going to do if I don’t obey these rules.”
There were other rules they’d given her. Things like she wasn’t to leave the house without them. She had to do whatever they said in dangerous situations.
Rules that she had agreed to because she knew they were part of their job.
But this was not part of their job.
“I’m going to lecture you until your ears fall off,” Corbin told her.
They stared at each other. She tried to figure out if he was lying. Bebe was convinced that wasn’t what he’d intended to say.
However, she could tell from that stubborn look on his face that he wouldn’t tell her.
And perhaps she didn’t actually want to know.
“Come on, girl. Get down.” Hayes gestured at her while Corbin watched her carefully, hovering over her as she slid to the edge of the roof.
Grabbing her blanket, she tucked it around herself.
“Here, I’ll just throw that down so it doesn’t get in your way,” Corbin said.
“I’m used to it,” she replied. “Although I managed to step on it as I was climbing up and nearly fell backward. Won’t do that again.”
He tensed and she risked a glance up at his face.
Yeah, that was the wrong thing to say.
“I’m just going to get down off the roof now,” she said hastily.
“That would be for the best,” Hayes said.
15
Bebe walked out of the restaurant, smiling up at Corbin, who had his hand on the small of her back. She felt light. Happy
As though anything was possible.
The world was brighter . . . everything seemed so colorful and fun after so long being weighed down in the dark . . .
Suddenly, people surrounded her, screaming at her.
Lights went off in her face.
“Trust fund baby!”
“So talentless! She couldn’t get a real job.”
“Must be nice to live off Daddy’s money.”
“Reckless. Dumb. Selfish.”
“Too fat.”
“Too thin.”
Her breathing came in sharp pants. She couldn’t handle it; the fear was riding her hard. She turned toward Corbin, but he was glaring down at her as well.
“It’s not . . . that’s not me!” she cried.
“Of course it is, Belle,” a pompous voice said from behind her. “That’s always been you. You need a firm hand to keep you under control or you turn into a self-absorbed, entitled brat.”
She stared at the asshole. “This isn’t real! You’re not here!”
Spinning, she saw Ericc.
“I never loved you, Bebe. Why would I love you? You’re so stupid, believing that it was ever real.”
No, no, no!
He couldn’t be here too.
Moving away from him, she bumped into Corbin.
“Get away from me, Bebe! You’re just going to infect me too. And I deserve better than you.”
No! No, no, no.
How could Corbin believe them all? How could he be just like them?
Sobs broke free as everyone crowded around her. They were all pushing in on her. She couldn’t breathe!
She couldn’t breathe!
“Wake up!”
Why couldn’t she catch her breath?
“Wake up, Bebe! Breathe!”
She woke up, gasping for breath, looking around her frantically.
Where was she? Where were the cameras? The screaming reporters? The lights?
“Bebe? It’s me! It’s Corbin. Hey, you’re all right. You’re in your house with me and Hayes.”
She stared up at him for a long moment, trying to get her brain to work.
Corbin. This was Corbin. But not the Corbin from her dreams. He wasn’t staring down at her like his world revolved around her, his arm wasn’t wrapped protectively around her . . . and he . . . hadn’t turned on her when the reporters had appeared.
God, what did all of that mean?
You know what it means. You’re interested in him. You like him.
And you’re worried that he’s going to betray and hurt you like everyone else in your life has.
That he’ll turn out to be a jerk like the asshole.
“Jesus, you’re trembling.” Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around her and she knew that she shouldn’t give in. Shouldn’t let herself settle into his arms and hug him back.
But she couldn’t help it.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she clung to him. He ran his hand up and down her back.
“It’s all right, Bebe. I’m here. No one is going to hurt you. You’re safe.”
As her heartbeat began to settle and her fear started to ease, she realized just how much she liked being held by him.