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)
It wasn’t like she’d done it on purpose. She hadn’t been able to think . . . all she’d known was that she needed to get out of there.
“No, likely not. But let’s worry about Hayes later. And I won’t allow your mother to punish you.”
Bebe wasn’t sure what he could do to stop her.
“When I was younger, my favorite toys would go m-missing. I don’t know h-how she knew which ones were my f-favorites. I’m guessing someone on her s-staff told her.”
“That bitch.”
Oh, she could feel her toes again. Good.
“I know. Mostly, she’d want to p-parade me around, so she wanted me to behave and if I d-didn’t . . . Well, one time she got r-rid of my best friend. Her father got transferred after I r-refused to go to a mother-daughter event with my mother. Afterward, she t-told me she arranged it.”
“Fucking hell. I’m so sorry, baby.”
“It’s not y-your fault she’s a psychopath. Like I said, though, I think that’s why t-the two of you are here.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mother knows I wouldn’t like s-someone in the house with me. She knows that I v-value my privacy. She wanted me to g-go on tour with them. To do The Benner Life On Tour or something. But I wouldn’t do it. And then s-suddenly I have my father begging me to take on t-two bodyguards.”
“Fuck. You really do think she made up those threats, don’t you?”
“I do.” And now she was wondering if the threats had something to do with her announcement that Bebe was going to be on the revamped The Benner Life.
But how would potential threats force her into being on the show? It didn’t make much sense.
They reached her house, and she sighed as she thought of having to climb the stairs to get up to her bedroom. Bebe realized that the light above the front door was on just as the door opened and a large man filled the doorway.
Oh, crap.
She tensed as he walked toward them.
“He’s been worried about you,” Corbin told her. “Been blowing up my phone when he hates text messaging. Remember, his bark is worse than his bite.”
Corbin got out of the car, abandoning her to the full wrath of Hayes as he opened her door, looming over her.
“H-hi,” she croaked out.
To her shock, he crouched next to her. Then he reached out and placed the back of his hand over her forehead.
“Hand,” he barked.
She slid her hand out, nearly flashing him some bra-covered boob. She didn’t know why she wasn’t worried about Corbin seeing her breasts.
Don’t you?
No. Nope.
Not happening.
He put his fingers over her pulse, hushing her when she went to speak.
Sheesh.
These men sure did like to shh her.
“Her pulse is racing and she feels clammy and cold. We need to get her inside. Quick.”
“Yep, that’s what I was planning to do,” Corbin calmly replied.
They shared a look and a silent conversation. Then Hayes stepped away and Corbin was there again.
“Come on, darling. Let’s get you inside and warm.”
Corbin’s voice was so soft and kind. It made her melt, tears filling her eyes. She didn’t know if she could handle too much kindness right now.
She was too close to breaking, which might just send her over.
And yet, did she protest as he undid her seatbelt? As he lifted her into his arms, pressing her against his chest? Did she tell him that she could walk and to put her down?
No.
No, she did not.
Because she liked being held by him. She enjoyed being coddled. She might even need it right now.
He carried her into the house and then toward the stairs.
“Wait, I need to talk to Hayes first,” she said. “I need to apologize.”
“You need to get warm, girl,” Hayes said from behind them as he shut the front door. “I’m going to go up and run you a bath.”
He slid past them and headed toward the stairs.
“Wait! Please let me say this. Because I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to run out like that. I know it was against the rules and put myself in danger, and the two of you could have gotten into trouble if something happened. I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t.”
Corbin tightened his hold on her and Hayes turned, gazing down at her intently.
“Whether you believe in the threat or not, it should be taken seriously, girl,” Hayes growled.
“I know.”
Lord, she felt so terrible it was starting to eat her up inside. She hated disappointing them. She’d really grown to like them both in the last two weeks.
Now her head was pounding from the stress of tonight and her stomach was nauseous, wondering if they were going to tell her how disappointed they were.
How she needed to do better.
“Hey,” Corbin said carefully. “Bebe, it’s all right. We’re not mad at you.”
“Nope.” Hayes grew closer. “You ain’t the one we’re mad at. That would be your mother. Don’t know what she was thinking or what she hoped to gain. But, girl, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Understand me?”