Chapter 35 I'm Ready
Courtney's P.O.V.
My heart is racing like crazy, not because I'm scared that Gregory or someone else may be watching us leave. It's because of the man holding my hand. His hands are huge. He's holding the handles of all three suitcases with one hand and mine with the other while Tyler sits happily on his shoulders. I hate to admit it, but to anyone from the outside looking in, we look like a family.
A part of me feels like I'm betraying Danny, but in my heart, I know he wouldn't want me to be alone forever. However, the man who's supposed to be keeping us safe shouldn't be making my head go to places I'm sure he's not even thinking about.
When we get outside, the SUV that brought me home is waiting for us. Bobby puts our suitcases in the back. Where did they get car seats so quickly? We put the kids in the middle row, and I get into the back seat. I expect Bobby to ride in the front with the driver like he did when we left the hospital, but instead, he gets in the back with me. The seat is small, and he's big, so he's sitting against me with his arm over the back. This feels a little too intimate.
"Do I scare you?" Bobby asks so softly, I know I'm the only one who can hear him. Should I tell him the truth?
"You make me uncomfortable. Not because I'm scared. It's just that no man has been in our lives, even platonically, since my husband died a little over two years ago." I can't meet his eyes as I skirt around the truth without lying.
"You haven't been with anyone since?" He whispers.
"No," I whisper back.
"Do you feel like you're ready to be with someone?" Why is he asking this? I wouldn't think a security person would care about my personal life so much. What should I say?
"I honestly never thought about it. However, now I think that maybe I could without feeling guilty." I reply slowly. Bobby drops his arm from the back of the seat to put it over my shoulders and pulls me so my head is resting against him. I should move away, but I don't.
"I won't push you, but if you decide you're ready to try being with a man again, will you let me know first?" This must be protocol in case I have a strange man coming around all of a sudden. I look into his eyes and see that maybe this isn't protocol.
"Why?" Bobby leans down to whisper in my ear.
"I want first dibs at being with one of the strongest, most beautiful women I have ever met." My heart is beating so hard I can barely hear anything else. I keep my eyes on his. Am I really ready to be with a man? When the SUV comes to a stop, I nod.
"Okay." The smile that lights up his face from that simple word makes my heart stop. I swear I'm not in the movie Bodyguard right now, but it damn sure feels like it. My bodyguard is way hotter than Kevin Costner, at least in my opinion.
We get out and get the kids out. The driver carries our suitcases inside the hotel while Bobby puts Tyler on his shoulders. Sarah is my other little traitor because she reaches for Bobby to hold her. She hasn't spoken since he got here because she is painfully shy, but now, suddenly, she wants him to hold her, too. He takes her out of my arms, and I feel like an outcast until he uses his other hand to hold mine, linking our fingers together.
"I think you're more ready than you think you are. If not, you wouldn't be so nervous around me," he says.
"Bobby," Sarah says with a little smile. My mouth falls open. What has gotten into everyone? She never speaks. Even to the babysitters that come over, she stays quiet, but she's been around Bobby for less than an hour, and she's talking.
"You're beautiful, just like your mommy," he says as we get on the elevator. Sarah puts her head on his shoulder and pats his back.
"Bobby," he chuckles, and I feel like groaning. The driver, who hasn't said a word, looks at Bobby and my two little traitors, shaking his head.
"I swear this man is like a magnet for kids. They love him." He tells me. I wonder if all the kids have mothers who are like magnets, too. Is this what he does? Come into an unsuspecting single mom's life, charm her kids, get what he wants, and leave? I don't want my kids and me to get attached if all he's going to do is break our hearts. When the elevator door opens, I try to pull my hand from his, but he holds it tighter. When we get off, I realize we're in the penthouse.
"We can't stay here. This is too much," I say as he puts the kids down but retakes my hand.
"Jordan insisted." After the driver leaves, Bobby turns to me, still holding my hand, while Tyler and Sarah explore our temporary home.
"What were you thinking on the elevator? It felt like you were pulling away from me." I bite my lip and look away. Damn it, why do I feel like crying? He puts his finger under my chin and turns me to face him.
"I was wondering if you do this with a lot of women. If I were to say yes to anything, I don't want to be hurt or have my kids hurt." I stumble over the words. Bobby doesn't realize how hard it is for me to admit this. He suddenly pulls me into his arms and strokes my head.
"I've never been in a long-term relationship, but I also don't sleep around. I like you, Courtney. I like your kids, and when you're ready, I would like you to give me a chance. It's okay to lean on someone and ask for help. You don't have to do everything on your own." My tears start falling before I can stop them. We don't say anything for a few minutes while I cry. Tyler and Sarah come back out and wrap their arms around my legs..
"I don't know about you guys, but I think we need to order pizza and watch a movie. Later, we can go to the game room. How does that sound?" Bobby asks. Why does this feel so normal?
"Yay, can we really, Mommy?" Tyler asks. I pull away from Bobby and wipe my eyes.
"Yes, we can." Tyler takes Sarah's hand and pulls her into the living room. Bobby and I stay where we are.
"I'm ready." I thought it would hurt when I said those words to a man, but it doesn't. I feel free. He smiles and strokes my face.
"We'll go slow," he says. Maybe something good can come from this.
"Thank you. Not just for saying that but for being so good with Tyler and Sarah. I've never met anyone like you." We walk into the living room and sit on the couch. Tyler gets on Bobby's lap and Sarah on mine. Yes, something very good could come from this. I think it's time to move on.
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Gregory's P.O.V.
I knew I couldn't trust that bitch. I watch Courtney get into the SUV with a man who is clearly some sort of security. I know she can't afford him, so she most likely told Jordan and Anushka what I was paying her to do. That's fine. I'll take care of things myself. Not only will I kill Anushka and her daughter while Jordan watches. I'll kill Courtney's two kids and show her the error of her ways. I've killed many times before, and I'm not afraid to do it again. It's time I get everything I deserve.