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)
And he was glad for it. She didn’t need such toxic people in her life.
They were headed to see his family in a couple of weeks. And he knew they would welcome her with open arms, even though she was nervous.
She didn’t have to be. He would never let anyone hurt her again. No matter who they were.
“Bebe! No skipping along the footpath,” he said. “You could slip.”
Turning, she rolled her eyes at him. “You’re such a worrywart, Daddy!”
“And you’re being very sassy, considering that I won’t hesitate to pop your butt right here, right now.”
“No! What if the sheriff saw you?” she asked, looking around.
“Then he’d probably congratulate me. Since I’m sure he pops his girl’s butt regularly.”
“Oh, all right, Daddy. But let’s go! You’re being a slowpoke.”
Corbin shook his head at her. He didn’t point out how she was calling him Daddy in public. He didn’t care and he didn’t want her to suddenly feel self-conscious.
He liked that she felt secure enough to let her Little out more often.
Opening the door to The Wishing Well, he let Bebe go in first. Several people waved at him as they made their way to the bar.
“People are so friendly here,” she said as he tucked her in front of him as he stood at the bar. He knew better than to let her get out of his sight.
“Yeah, I guess they are.”
“Hey, Corbin.”
“Noah,” he replied with a nod. “Meet my girl, Bebe. Noah owns The Wishing Well.”
“Hi, Bebe. What can I get you both?”
“Two beers, thanks,” Corbin said.
Noah got them the beers. While they enjoyed their drinks, several people stopped by to meet Bebe and say hi to him.
And then he saw her.
“Oh shit,” he muttered.
“What is it?” she asked.
He sighed. “We should probably leave.”
“Why? Is it snowing? Oh, I can’t wait for the snow.”
“No, it’s not snowing. It’s Mary-Anne.”
“Who?” She peered around him.
“The woman with the bright red hair over there. She, uh, she came on to me last time I was here and her on-again-off-again boyfriend took exception. He tried to jump me in the parking lot.”
“What? Is he in jail?”
“No, there was no proof it was him. But the next morning, she turned up at the Ranch to proposition me.”
Bebe’s eyes narrowed. “Well, I’d like to see her try that now.”
Mary-Anne spotted him at just that moment and a huge smile broke out on her face. “Corby-baby!”
“Corby-baby?” Bebe said grouchily. “What the heck kind of nickname is that?”
He grimaced. “A hideous one.”
“You got that right.”
“Where have you been? Anyone would think you’d been avoiding me.”
Bebe moved so she was standing between him and Mary-Anne.
Oh, nope.
That wasn’t working for him. But as he reached for her, she put her hand out to Mary-Anne.
“Hi, I’m Bebe, Corbin’s girlfriend. Nice to meet you.”
Mary-Anne stared at her hand, then up at Corbin as he gently tugged Bebe back against his chest.
“Girlfriend? How can she be your girlfriend? I don’t share.”
“Oh, neither do I,” Bebe said.
“Did you cheat on me?” Mary-Anne screeched as everyone grew silent, turning to stare at them.
“I didn’t cheat on you as we were never together,” Corbin said. “You got drunk one night and came on to me. That’s it.”
Mary-Anne gasped and stumbled back, her hand on her chest. “You wound me! After all we had together.”
“Wow, she’s delusional, huh?” Bebe said. “You seem to attract some interesting attention.”
“Me?” Corbin put his hand on his chest. “I didn’t do anything.”
“It’s the glasses,” she said with a sigh. “You’re just too darn cute.”
“The word you’re looking for is hot,” he grumbled just as a familiar larger man moved through the crowd.
“What’s going on here?” Roger thundered.
“Oh, Roger!” Mary-Anne cried, throwing herself at him. “Take me home with you! I want to be with you!”
That was unexpected.
Roger glared over at him. “What did this dick do?”
“He broke up with me,” she sobbed. “After I loved him!”
“We were never together!” Corbin said with annoyance.
“Shh,” Bebe said. “She has to work through her emotions over the break-up.”
“There is no break-up because we were never together,” he said with frustration.
“Daddy, there’s no need to be mean.”
“Wait!” Mary-Anne dried her tears and glanced over at him. “You’re one of them Daddy Doms?”
“Shoot, sorry,” Bebe said.
He squeezed her lightly to let her know that he wasn’t upset.
“I am,” he said.
“Oh. Ohhh. Things wouldn’t have worked between us, anyway. I like to be in charge in the bedroom. I thought you might be a sub like my Roger here. He likes to be tied up and spanked, don’t you, Rogey-baby?”
Roger stared down at Mary-Anne adoringly while they all gaped at him.
“I sure do.”
“Oh, Rogey, take me home?”
He picked her up, cradling her against his chest. “I will.” Then he glared around at everyone, this huge, scary-looking beast of a man. “What’re you all staring at!”
Everyone scattered out of his way as he carried Mary-Anne out.