Page 49 of Rescuing Tobias

“Yeah. I want … it’s terrifying because my back is only going to get worse, but I want to see if we could be together.”

Hearing him admit it smoothed out the last sharp edges of her pain, and she offered a tentative smile. “I want that, too, but, Tobias, you're not the only one with issues. I have some pretty major ones myself. I'm trying to work on them, but between that, and growing a baby, and being upset over you, it’s … a struggle.” That was as hard for her to admit as she was sure it had been for Tobias to acknowledge his fear of being a burden.

“I would love to hold you right now, if you're okay with it.” Tobias was clenching his fingers in and out of fists, his entire body looking tense.

The second she gave a small nod, he was moving.

Shoving off the couch, he reached over to scoop her up and then took her seat and settled her in his lap. It was crazy, but curling into him felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Tucking her head under his chin, she let the warm whoosh of air across her forehead soothe her, the steady rise and fall of his chest reassure her, and softly uttered the words she hadn't spoken to anyone else, even if they knew it without her needing to say it. “I’m scared. Scared I won't be able to recover from what they did to me. Scared I won't be able to be a good mom to this baby because of it. Scared those people will succeed in snatching me or killing me next time. Scared that despite us sleeping together already, that them holding me down and forcing me will be too much and I won't be able to give you the physical relationship you’ll want.”

At her words, his arms tightened around her until they felt like steel bands. His body was stiff, and it felt like he was holding his breath. He was, and when he let it out, she felt him relax a little.

“I am going to find every person who hurt you and kill them.” His tone was mild, even though she could feel the anger pulsing inside him, and it surprised a chuckle out of her.

“My hero,” she said, snuggling closer. “But I was serious.”

“So was I. Isabella, I can't pretend to fully grasp what you went through, but I do understand that it took a toll and changed you in ways that will never completely go back to how they were before. One thing I know for certain, though, is that you are going to be the best mom this little one could ever hope for. And if we were to get together, it wouldn't be because I was aftersomeone to have sex with. It would be because I can't get enough of you. Let’s not borrow trouble, okay?”

“Isn't that what you’ve been doing all along? You don’t know that your back injury is going to wind up making you become a burden to your partner.”

Tobias huffed a chuckle. “You're a smart one, little firecracker. You're right. We’re both borrowing trouble. Why don’t we just try to trust each other. You trust that standing beside you and helping you in every way you need as you work through your trauma isn’t too big of an ask for me, and I’ll trust that you could handle it if my back deteriorates. Do we have a deal?”

He held out his hand before her, and although hers trembled slightly, Isabella lifted it and placed it in his, and they shook on it.

They’d just taken one pretty major step, and now she just had to hope they were both strong enough not to let their fears worm their way in between them and whatever this was that they were building.

CHAPTER 15

April 24th

9:41 A.M.

“Umm,is it safe to come down yet?”

Tobias looked over at the stairs to see Becca and Connor standing on them, looking at him in the armchair, Isabella curled up on his lap. They’d finished their talk, well, at least for now. There was still a whole lot they needed to work through, but he’d offered his apology, and she’d accepted, and honestly, that was more than he had thought he’d get when he stepped onto that plane.

After talking, neither of them had been ready to move yet so they were still sitting there, her hand still in his after they shook on their deal. He was finding that he could sit there forever with Isabella’s small hand in his. Tobias kept finding himself staring first at her pretty face, and then at her smooth stomach. It was the craziest thing in the world to know that a baby was growing in there.

His baby.

Theirbaby.

Whatever wound up happening between him and Isabella, he knew one thing for certain. These two were always going to be part of his life. He was jumping all in to raising this baby with Isabella, so at the least the two of them were going to be good friends.

Although he hoped for more.

“Yep, it’s safe to come down,” Isabella replied, lifting her head from where it had been tucked under his chin.

“And do I need to throw anyone out?” Connor asked, a hint of amusement dancing in his blue eyes.

“Nope. We talked it through,” Isabella answered.

“And …?” Becca prompted as the couple descended the remaining steps.

“And we made a deal that we’re not going to let our issues get in the way. We’re going to spend this pregnancy getting to know each other and see where things go,” Isabella explained.

“You're happy with this? He didn't pressure you into it or anything?” Becca asked, shooting him a somewhat suspicious glance.

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