Page 50 of Rescuing Tobias

He didn't care that Isabella’s best friend was still a little mistrustful of him and his motives, the opposite in fact. He was glad that Isabella had someone in her corner. Multiple someones. She deserved to have the whole world, and he was going to do his best to fight through his fears and give it to her.

“I wasn't pressured into anything,” Isabella assured her friend. “Tobias explained where he was coming from, and since he’s not the only one with issues, it would be pretty hypocritical of me to hold it against him.”

“Then I'm glad.” Becca relaxed and shot them both a genuine smile.

Because Prey was indeed the rumor mill that Isabella had accused it of being, he knew most of Becca’s past, and it was nice to see that she’d finally gotten her happy ending, even if it hadtaken over a decade for her to get it. He also knew that Isabella was the one to stand by Becca’s side while she rebuilt her life, and he knew that in doing so she’d forever earned a spot in Connor Charleston’s life.

It made him feel good to know that even if things didn't work out romantically between them, she was never going to want for support. Isabella had also been through so much, and he wanted her to get the same happy ending her best friend had, whatever that turned out to be for her.

Becca’s stomach chose that moment to growl loudly making them all laugh, and Becca’s cheeks to pinken.

“I’m also hungry,” Becca announced.

“None of us has eaten breakfast yet,” Isabella said, tilting her head to look at him. “Do you have somewhere to be or would you like to join us?”

It felt natural to lean in and press his lips to her forehead, so he didn't fight against it. “I’ll check in with work later to see what’s going on and if I can help, but I took time off to be here with you.”

“You can't take time off when there’s an organ trafficking ring to take down,” Isabella protested.

“I can and I did, I can still help run searches, but, Isabella, you're important too,” he reminded her.

“Can't argue with that, Izzy,” Becca called out cheerfully, and Isabella rolled her eyes.

“Not as important as bringing down a trafficking ring.”

“You're right. You're more important,” he told her, and she rolled her eyes again even as her cheeks pinked and a soft smile curled the corners of her mouth up.

“Who knew Tobias Ashford could be so sweet and cheesy?” she teased, but she leaned forward to drop a quick kiss to his lips before climbing off his lap.

The thing was, he wasn't sweet and cheesy. Or at least he hadn't been. But Isabella brought out every one of his protective instincts, and the addition of the baby sent them into overdrive. Nothing was more important to him than keeping Isabella and their unborn child safe, and with the ring possibly snatching their former captives, he wasn't moving from her side until he knew the threat had been eliminated.

And even then he didn't want to stray far.

As they all headed through the house to the kitchen, Tobias couldn’t help but wonder what Isabella’s plans were for the future. They hadn't gotten to that point in their discussion yet, but he wondered if she planned on going back out to work in the field. She’d been raised by her parents in impoverished villages throughout the world, so it wouldn't seem like a crazy idea to her to raise their baby the same way.

If she did, he’d find a way to make it work with Prey so he could follow them.

“What does everyone want to eat?” Connor asked.

“Oatmeal,” Isabella answered immediately. “With honey and cinnamon. And maybe a little brown sugar sprinkled on top if there is any.”

“There is,” Connor informed her a moment later after he checked the pantry. “Becca?”

“I could go the same,” Becca replied as she reached around her fiancé to grab a container filled with oats.

“Tobias?” Isabella asked.

“Oatmeal is fine.” Really, he didn't care what he was eating. He was just glad he was having breakfast with Isabella at his side.

Grabbing a large pot, Connor got to work making oatmeal, while Becca grabbed the honey, cinnamon, and sugar, and Isabella got out bowls, spoons, glasses, and mugs. The cozy little domestic scene warmed him, and Tobias realized that whilepain was still pulsing through his back, it had faded into the background the moment he held Isabella in his arms.

Maybe having something else to focus on was helping to get him out of his head so he didn't obsess over his injury and its implications. Especially when he’d taken his perceived implications off the table as part of his deal with Isabella.

“Is it okay for me to ask what you guys are planning on doing with your aid agency?” he asked, a little hesitantly. He didn't want to push his luck. He was glad Isabella had forgiven him, but he wanted to be able to start making plans for their future, and a big part of that hinged on Isabella’s plans.

“Of course it is,” Isabella told him. “I'm having your baby, it’s natural and totally fine for you to want to know where it’s going to be growing up.”

“Actually, I want to know wherebothof you are going to be,” he corrected. They were going to not put pressure on themselves and see where this went, but that didn't mean he didn't already know where he wanted it to go.

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