Chapter 4
Tobias

How do you trust a person after the one who was your everything betrayed you by sleeping with your best friend?

You don’t.

At least not me.

“I don’t need a bodyguard!” Hannah exclaims as we take off our shoes inside my hallway, which now is hers too.

“You do need one,” I say without facing her. All I want right now is a shower and some much-needed rest.

“No one would try to assassinate me!”

I arch an eyebrow while hanging up my coat, watching her over my shoulder as I do. “No, but… Someone might try to press me for money by kidnapping you.”

Hannah looks shocked by my words. Fear enters those ice-blue eyes, and then something weird happens: I, Tobias Ford, feel guilt for pulling this woman into my crazy life and schemes.

The guilt trip lasts for about three seconds. Then I remind myself that Hannah needs this. She is a broke college student, and I’m the answer to her problems.

I shouldn’t feel guilty.

Still, I sigh. “Look, how about we talk about this tomorrow? It’s late, and I have an early day tomorrow.”

Noticing my tiredness, Hannah relents. Her expression softens, and she stops pressing her agenda. How interesting. It seems former Mrs. Darling cares more about other’s people well-being than her own. I admire that.

“I suppose I can wait until tomorrow,” Hannah looks around and takes in the space around her. Her eyes widen like I knew they would, and shock crosses her features. “So this is your house…”

“Yes.”

She laughs, and I stare her down.

“Did I say something funny?” I ask.

“No, it’s just that…” a smile tugs on her lips, and she looks up at me with glittering eyes. So naive. So innocent and young. “If this is your house, why were you staying at the hotel?”

My mood darkens. “Because I was with my ex-wife when I bought this house. It’s filled with our old memories.”

“Oh, I’m sorry… I didn’t know that… But I suppose I should have…” Hannah stares down at the ground, embarrassed. “Is it hard for you to be here?”

Is she serious?

The answer is yes, and Hannah should know that!

being here?! It’s like asking someone if they cut their hair when

my heart is broken, and I don’t want to show myself as

temper like

your

at my words, tone—I don’t know. The point is that she looks scared, kind of like she

her so much, why did she agree to marry

importantly, do I

but then again, I rarely ask what other people think of me. Neither do I care. I suppose I’m tall.

would like to think

are trembling, and she

Is she serious?

in the

“Oh.”

She looks relieved.

“With me,” I add.

“Oh…”

Like, what the fuck? Is the thought of sharing

blood is pumping. “Just follow

around. Instead, she grabs my hand, shocking me beyond belief. I turn around, losing my train of thought for a moment,

narrow. “Why

my irritated tone

not angry.” Irritated, yes. Angry?

and beams brighter than the goddamn sun. “Do you know what I do when I’m feeling like I’m under a heavy rain

Who the fuck uses expressions when they

“No, what do you do?” Tell me so that I

air. “Count to three,” she is now slowly exhaling while keeping her smile. “And then I let it out

them really, and that’s when it hits me, “Did

a proven method of letting go of your inner anger and moving on. I promise you this will help you deal with your pent-up stress and anger.” Her fingers are still moving. Actually,

that in front of the people at my office,

fingers. “Don’t joke about that! I have friends there, and some of them are really

my eyes. “Of course, you have

you making fun

muscle, but

“You’re being mean…”

And just because I can, I take a

the wall, pressing her hands against it. Her eyes are wide with fear, and her bottom lip is trembling. She looks as if I might punch her. Why? I already said I wouldn’t

Hannah mumbles. “You’re… upsetting me right

you should take a deep breath and shake your fingers, you

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