Chapter 34 Bobby
Courtney's P.O.V.
I can barely breathe as Bobby takes me home to get the kids and pack our things. How did I get into this mess? I thought being a nurse would be enough to pay the bills, but in New York, it's barely enough to keep food on the table. That's the only reason I even took Gregory's call.
I didn't want to leave the city, but I may not have a choice. All of my memories with Danny are here, and I hate to let them slip away. I pay the babysitter and send her home as soon as we walk in. Tyler and Sarah look at the large man with me and hide behind my legs.
"Mommy, who is that?" Tyler asks softly. Bobby doesn't seem mean or intimidating, but he's a giant compared to my two little ones. Before I can reply, the man himself squats down next to us. He's definitely ex-military with his super short brown hair and muscular physique. I'll admit I feel a lot safer with him around.
"My name is Bobby. I'm here to take you and your mommy to a really nice hotel with lots of things for kids to do. Does that sound like fun?" He talks to them in a soft, gentle voice. No wonder Dakota said he was her friend. He's a kid charmer.
"Can we really do that?" Tyler asks, stepping out from behind me slowly while Sarah stays hidden.
"They don't need to send us somewhere nice. I feel bad enough already." I tell Bobby. He looks up at me with his gorgeous green eyes and smiles.
"Jordan was clear he wanted this place for you and your kids because it has things for you to do without leaving, and they have decent security. I'll be there too, of course." He slowly stands, and I have to look up at him. I'm five foot five, and he is at least a foot taller than me.
"Okay. I'll start packing." I lift Sarah and carry her with me as I head to my bedroom.
I've been alone since Danny died a little over two years ago. I've never even looked at a man since then, but suddenly, having Bobby so close and him talking to Tyler like he did makes me feel things I haven't felt in a long time. I know it's wrong when he's here to protect us from some crazy man who wants me to kill Anushka. I just have to stay focused on the kids and not let my mind get the better of me.
I quickly pack a suitcase of everything I'll need for a week. If it's not enough, I can always wash our clothes at the hotel. Sarah's things are in my bedroom, too, so I pack a small suitcase for her and a backpack with some of her favorite toys. I change from my uniform into jeans and a sweater and put my long black hair into a ponytail. When Sarah and I leave to go to Tyler's room, I freeze. Bobby is sitting on the floor with Tyler on his lap, reading a book. Tyler is extremely shy and never allows himself to get close to others, especially men. Bobby looks up at me with concern.
"Is this okay? He asked me to read to him." How do I answer that? Of course, it's okay. I don't think for a second that Bobby is going to hurt Tyler, but it makes my head go crazy with ideas of things that aren't possible. That's my problem, not his or Tyler's.
"Uh, yeah, it's fine. I was just surprised. He's not usually like this with men or even women." Damn, why does he keep smiling like that? It's making my heart beat faster. Shouldn't he be standing by the door, barely acknowledging us?
"I like Bobby; he's big and strong," Tyler says, smiling up at Bobby like he's the best thing in the world.
"I like you, too, kid. Now, if we can get your mommy and sister to like me, we'll all get along just fine." He raises his eyebrows, and Tyler looks at me, too.
"Mommy, do you like Bobby?" Now I finally understand that whole deer-in-the-headlights feeling. I'm having it right now, and it doesn't help that the man is smirking at me.
"I don't know him well, but he seems nice." Bobby chuckles lightly, and it makes me feel warm inside. I need to stop this now. What is wrong with me?
"We'll be spending a lot of time together. Maybe then you can get to know me better." He needs to stop looking at me like that. I can't speak, so I turn around and go to Tyler's room. I just need to pack and pretend there's not a big, handsome man in my living room winning over my children and messing with my brain. Yes, that's what I need to do. I can do this. I can be strong. When I hear Tyler laughing, I groan. Yeah, I'm screwed.
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Bobby's P.O.V.
I watch Courtney turn and run away, her long black ponytail swaying. I know it's wrong to flirt with the woman I'm supposed to protect, and I usually don't, but she's different. I've watched her work at the hospital the last couple of days and saw the exhaustion and sadness in her eyes, yet she always had a smile on her pretty face.
When Jordan asked me to go with her and keep her and her kids safe, I should have said no, but I couldn't. I just wanted to be near her. I thought maybe if I was around her more, I could shake this crush I have, but then I met her two kids.
I grew up in foster care and always had a soft spot for the smaller kids. I've always been big and felt like a protector. I already love little Dakota and her sassy attitude. Now I meet Tyler and Sarah. The little girl looks just like her mom, with black hair and pale blue eyes. I assume Tyler looks like his dad because he has brown hair and brown eyes.
When Sarah walks out this time, she avoids my eyes. I wonder if I'm having some kind of effect on her. I've never been in a long-term relationship with a woman because I never found one that I would be willing to commit to. A single mom with two kids wouldn't be looking for a fling, and with Courtney, neither would I.
"Are you ready to go?" I ask her as I stand up. Tyler takes my hand, and I smile down at him. Courtney looks at us and then looks away.
"Yeah." She answers while putting Sarah's coat and shoes on. Tyler grabs his coat and brings it over for me to help him. When I'm done, I catch Courtney staring at us again. I have a plan; let's see what she does.
"We don't know who may be watching us, so when we leave, let's pretend we're a family. Is that okay?" She looks at me and bites her lip while putting her coat on.
"How exactly will you make us look like a family?" She asks nervously. Oh, I'll show you. I set their bags by the door and put Tyler's backpack on his back. I then lift him to sit on my shoulders. He squeals with excitement. I pick up the suitcases with one hand and take Courtney's hand with the other.
"How's this?" I ask her. She swallows a few times, but she doesn't release my hand.
"It's okay." I think it's more than okay. I think it's the beginning of something. I'm falling for the woman and her two kids, who I'm supposed to be protecting. Man, I'm in trouble. Oh well, this kind of trouble will be worth it.