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!

if they cut their hair when

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

temper like

your business…” I

know. The point is that she looks scared, kind of like she has seen a

why did she agree to marry

do I

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

would like to think of myself

Her lips are trembling, and she

Is she serious?

obviously sleeping in the

“Oh.”

She looks relieved.

“With me,” I add.

“Oh…”

the forest at night to murder her. Like, what the fuck? Is the thought of sharing a bed with me that terrible?! My ex-wife cheated on me, and now this one looks at me like

blood is pumping. “Just

ordering her around. Instead, she grabs my hand, shocking me beyond belief. I turn around, losing my train of

“Why are you

releases my hand but doesn’t back down. Neither does my irritated tone

Irritated, yes.

sun. “Do you know what I do when I’m feeling like I’m under a heavy rain

cloud? Is that an idiom? Who the fuck uses expressions when they talk? A clown? A

do?” Tell me so

Hannah takes a dramatic deep breath filling her chest with air. “Count to three,” she is now slowly exhaling while keeping

them really, and that’s

continues the motion as she speaks. “I’m not crazy. This is 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, her whole body is. She looks like an excited Golden

that in front of the people at my office, I would be taken to

about that! I have friends

“Of course,

making fun of

or move a facial muscle, but I’m laughing on

“You’re being mean…”

nice person,” I meet her eyes in the dimly lit hallway. And just because I can, I take a step toward her with a growing smirk. “Does that

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

mumbles. “You’re… upsetting

a deep breath and shake your fingers,

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