Chapter 26

Tobias

The former Mrs. Darling has surprised me yet again. I took her to a nice Italian restaurant, thinking she would be grateful. And while Hannah seems happy, she is studying the pizza menu.

I chuckle in my seat, and Hannah snaps her head, looking at me like a deer caught in headlights. “What? Have I done something wrong?” She looks around as if she is nervous. I’ve done something wrong, haven’t I? This is an incredibly fancy place, and I don’t fit in…” Oh… Hannah thinks she doesn’t fit in?

My heart grows soft, and I offer her a smile. Hannah is precious. When I’m with her, I’m afraid the wind, the earth… life will take her away from me. And I don’t want that. I want to keep her safe from it all.

“You’ve done nothing wrong,” I tell her, hoping to remove that worried look from her face.” Is any dish catching your eye?”

“The pizzas, especially the one named Milano.”

I bite back a smile and flip to the pizzas myself. Since Hannah is honest about what she wants, I should follow in her footsteps. This will be fun. She is a refreshing breath of air. Anyone else would order the expensive food, especially since I’m paying, but not this woman.

“I might take the Milano myself…” I eye the minced meat pizza and my mouth waters. “Yeah, I think I will take the same as you.”

“That’s not how it works!”

My lips curve into a confused smile. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me!” Hannah’s eyes are vast, and she looks wild and crazy when she meets my gaze. Her sunglasses are perched on her head, and her face is shiny with sunscreen. “You have to order a different pizza from me so we can trade slices with each other! Hasn’t anyone ever taught you that?! It’s common sense!”

My amusement grows. “Is it?”

“Yes! And you’re old-you should know this!”

“Old?!” I snort. “Thank you for that.”

“Fuck!” Hannah is panicking now. It’s hilarious to watch her face go from crazy to pale and then bright red when she sees me smiling. “That’s not what I… shit… I didn’t mean it like that! Wait. Why are you laughing?!”

Seriously? How can she not know? It’s impossible not to smile when she is such a weirdo.” Because you’re so silly.”

Hannah’s face is back to being red, and she squirms in her chair. “I’m not silly…”

our small circular table. My smile is

looks like she has run a marathon by now, and I watch her

order the salami pizza…” she

the subject, is she?

we trade slices,” I beam at

my surprise, Hannah beams back. “That

to be so lovely? I watch her with a fond feeling in my heart, and when she

“Like

moment when my heart thread with hers. Every time she smiles, it’s as if someone is reaching down with a sewing needle and putting another stitch

Truth?

her out with what I want, and… I also want children, and I wonder if she is ready. for that. She is in college, and I don’t want to wait,

I will ever fall this hard for another

and smiles so much that the cold, workaholic Tobias Ford is changing to someone less heartless. I’m adjusting

Hannah makes me happy.

but… shit. What if she doesn’t want me? Fuck. I haven’t thought that far yet. How can I be so fucking self-centered that I

Hannah hates

doesn’t like older men and just acts friendly because I’m a billionaire

in my train of thought that I order my food on auto-pilot. When the pizzas come out, Hannah chews on her bottom lip. Her eyes are studying my

it?”

you

angry.” I’m not, but my head is spinning with thoughts of the future, making it hard to

at her pizza, and I notice her hand clutches her fork so hard her fingers are turning white. “Tobias, can

walls rise-nothing good comes from a woman saying those words to you. Nothing. Sarah was the last person to speak those words; the rest is

I decide to hear her out. “Of course,

Sarah. She will not hurt me-I must repeat that

around her mouth, but I say nothing about it and remain

the end makes me realize that whatever is on Hannah’s mind is hard for her to be open about. So even if she will hurt me, it isn’t easy for her-that tells me exactly what I need

Hannah is precious.

tone is calm. “It’s easier that way, and I promise I won’t get mad at you, whatever it

tongue darts out, wetting her

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