Legally Bound (20 page)

Whitney narrowed her eyes and spun on her heels still holding her cheek. Marie wouldn’t even look at her. Minnie had moved to Marie’s side to comfort her.

Everyone in the room was stunned by the turn of events. No one was totally sure they knew what happened. Bobby started for the doors Paige left out of and Camille rushed to stop him again.

“Please Bobby, if you don’t want to lose her, give her space. No good will come from going after her now. Trust me, I knew her best and right now you look like everyone but Bobby to her. When she looks at you she will only see every boyfriend that hurt her. She won’t hear a word you say and she will cut you off faster than you blink,” Camille tried to explain.

“Then what do I do?” Bobby said sounding lost.

“Just wait, give her time. Nathan’s good with her, he’ll get her to see reason and she’ll come to you,” Camille shrugged.

“I can’t lose her, not like this. I love her so much, I can’t lose her like this,” Bobby almost sobbed.

His brothers surrounded him, each putting a hand on his shoulder. They both murmured soothing words to him coaxing him to follow them to the bar. They both knew this would be a long night, but they would be there for their brother.

Chapter Thirty One

“Y
ou know what I would love right now?” Paige sniffled as she sat curled under Nathan’s arm.

“What’s that short stuff,” Nathan said soothingly.

“A bottle of vodka,” Paige snorted. She giggled when she saw the concerned look in Nathan’s eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t be drinking anything. Drunken idiot is not going to be added to my growing list of downfalls.”

“Paige, I know you may have walked in on something back there, and I can’t say I know what but I know there is a lot more to it and you need to let Bobby explain what really happened,” Nathan sighed and squeezed her knee as she stiffened beside him.

“Paige there are some things you don’t know and Bobby wanted to be the one to tell you, but I think now is as good a time as any for you to hear them.”

“Nathan, I don’t know how much more I can take tonight.”

“Trust me, you will see why this is important.” Nathan turned to face her.

“Fine,” Paige grumbled as she turned to face Nathan as well.

“When your phone showed up in my room I really wasn’t sure how I ended up with it, but I was too tired to think about it at the time. When I woke up Bobby had sent me a text to forward me some pictures that were text to him from your phone. They were pictures of us on the beach the other night. They were innocent if you think about it but at first glance someone could think more,” Nathan frowned as he saw the look of panic on Paige face.

“You mean Bobby thought something was going on in the pictures between you and me. He was acting strange when I asked him to call my cell phone for me. Oh Nathan, did he cheat on me because he thought I cheated,” she sobbed.

“No, no, I’m not saying anything like that. Bobby did get the wrong idea at first but when his mind cleared things didn’t add up. So he had me have a friend check into the pictures and who could have originally sent them,” he explained.

“We both had our suspicions but we were putting the pieces together to make sure we weren’t just pointing fingers. When we looked into things further we found that there were other pictures taken as well.”

“Wait, other pictures of what?” Paige hissed and narrowed her eyes.

“Pictures of you and Bobby, nothing distasteful just a few pictures of you two embracing one and other or in close proximity,” Nathan sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “We weren’t able to intercept the pictures before they were sent out to the tabloids. Unfortunately, one was able to out maneuver us, so a couple of the pictures are circulating.

“Bobby wanted to be the one to tell you when you came back tonight. I was out confirming the source of the photos just before I heard the commotion up at the house. Chad took the photos of you and me for Whitney, but the other were taken by Whitney and sent to the papers by her as well. I’ll have to have a talk with Marie about her friends later.”

“I don’t understand what that is supposed to change,” Paige said with a frown, “Other than the fact that I’ll be totally humiliated publicly now because of a weeklong affair.”

“Paige, can you honestly say that what you have with Bobby is just an affair,” Nathan looked at her pointedly.

“I don’t know what I thought I had with him,” Paige pressed her lips then dropped eyes to her stomach. He was right this went way beyond an affair a long time ago.

“Come on Paige you’re upset right now and confused probably, but you know what your feelings are for Bobby. It’s as plain as day that you love him. And to answer your earlier question, it is obvious that Whitney has been up to no good since she arrived. I’ll put money on the scene back there being her way of causing some more trouble.” Nathan fixed her with a look that told her not to argue because what he was saying was right.

Paige sighed. “Being in love shouldn’t be this complicated.”

“It shouldn’t?” Nathan raised a brow and laughed.

“No, it shouldn’t and if I had sense I would have fallen for someone like you. Why couldn’t you be the one?” Paige turned and leaned into his shoulder.

“Because you would never be happy with me, I’m too safe for you. You like risks Paige, Bobby is a risk, a challenge, the unexpected. Think about it. You’d just get bored with me after a while because I would go along with everything you want. We are so much alike,” Paige looked up at him and laughed. Nathan smiled back down at her.

“Seriously, you always need to be in control, but with Bobby you run the risk of having to surrender. You don’t like letting men in, but with Bobby you know he is the one man that has the power to hurt you and yet you opened up to him. You and Bobby are so different but alike in so many ways that you both challenge each other, you both live off that feeling. You and I would never have that.”

“I know from our conversations that you had reservations about dating outside your race, but I see the way you look at Bobby. He could be purple with rainbow color hair and I don’t think that would make a difference to you. For some reason when I see you look at him I feel like I’m watching you look into his soul.

“It’s like watching something so forbidden but not being able to help myself. The way the two of you love each other is something I can only hope to find, but I’m happy my best friend found it first in you. Now I know what I’m looking for. I’m not going to settle for less,” Nathan said with a broad smile and kissed Paige on the forehead.

“That is so sweet Nate,” Paige smiled.

“I think that is the first time you have called me Nate,” he teased. “I like it, you really feel like my little sister now. So… does that mean I can cancel your flight home?”

Paige’s stomach growled and she started to giggle. “Well, I guess you can for now, this little sister is starving. Can we forget about Whitney, Bobby and the real world that is waiting back home for me and get lost in some good food and laughs?”

“I think I can handle that but no drinking to forget,” Nathan gave Paige a stern look.

“What is with you and Bobby with the drinking,” Paige sighed and shook her head.

“I thought we weren’t talking about Bobby,” Nathan teased trying to deflect. Bobby hadn’t confirmed whether Paige thought she was pregnant yet, but Nathan noticed something was definitely going on with her since they arrived on the island.

Paige frowned up at him as he stood and held out his hand to help her up. He was right she didn’t want to think about Bobby or hear his name for the rest of the night. Tonight she was going to pretend her world didn’t just collapse and enjoy being with a friend on this beautiful island.

Chapter Thirty Two

B
obby sat on the bed staring at the spot where Paige should have been sleeping in his arms. Today was supposed be the first step in one of the most major events in his life. Now he wasn’t sure if anything he did today would matter. He had waited up all night for Paige to come back to their room. Nathan had text him that he and Paige had gone to get something to eat and that she was doing a little better.

Still not ready to talk to him, but better than the crying, broken woman that had run to get away from him. He sat up all night replaying the moment he saw her face and the hurt written all over it. Never in his life did he want to be the one to put a look like that there. He rubbed at his chest trying to relieve the pain he was feeling in his own heart.

She hadn’t come back to him. He tried calling and texting her phone, but the only texts he received last night where the ones from Marie apologizing and Nathan telling him that Paige cut her phone off. And later there was another text that Paige was back safe at the house but still not ready to see him.

Sam and Marcus had tried to keep his mind off things and feed him drinks to get him through the night, but he wanted to be sober when she came to him. He wanted her to know he was sincere when he bleed his heart to her. So he sat through the pain for hours.

Blinking at the curtains blowing in the light morning breeze he realized that she’d spent the entire night away from him. He’d heard what Camille told him. He listened to her warning, but if he was going to get what he wanted he couldn’t just sit and wait. That wasn’t his style and he couldn’t force himself to do it now, not with so much on the line.

His gut told him that Nathan’s room would be the best place to look for her first. Camille didn’t look surprised that Paige hadn’t run to her after things got out of control. Bobby wanted to know what that was about, from what he knew they were best friends. He found it strange that Paige wouldn’t go to her, but chose Nathan instead. Panic laced his gut for a moment.

Had he sent the woman he loved into the arm of another man? He growled to himself.
He
hadn’t sent Paige anywhere, that nut Whitney had single handedly ruined his life and looked like she enjoyed it.

He chuckled under his breath as he remembered the sound of Marie slapping her across the face. He had wanted to do it himself but was happy someone had. Bobby blew out a breath as he stopped in front of Nathan’s door and tried to collect his thoughts. He wanted to explain everything, tell her what really happened and beg her to come back if he had to.

Raising his knuckles to the door he cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders then knocked. He could hear movement on the other side of the door but no one had answered it yet. He frowned and knocked again, still sound but no answer. Just before he knocked a third time the door swung open. Nathan was standing there with no shirt on in a pair of basketball shorts and a concerned look on his face.

Bobby’s heart sank into his stomach. He looked into the room and saw Paige’s shoes by the side of the bed and the rumpled sheets on it. Everything in his life went black. Nathan turned from the door quickly and rushed toward the bathroom, but Bobby storms in the room and grabbed his forearm turn him back to him.

Bobby’s face was clouded over and his fist was balled up at his side. He had trusted Nathan, he didn’t even think twice about Paige being with him all night. Sure, he had been angry at first that she ran into Nathan’s arms. The thought of him comforting her hurt more than anything, but he never thought that Nathan would let anything happen.

“Where is your shirt,” Bobby bit out.

Realization registered in Nathan’s face and he yanked his arm away from Bobby. “Dude, pull your shit together. I slept on the damn floor. Paige wake up while I was brushing my teeth, I guess she was still sleepy and didn’t realize what room she was in. She ran into me trying to get to the toilet and my shirt got catch in the crossfire,” Nathan said tightly.

“I took it off and throw in the sink while I made sure she was okay. I didn’t have time get a new one before getting to the door. It wasn’t on my mind.”

Just then the sound of Paige heaving floated into the room. Bobby’s face compressed in embarrassment then concern. He turned to head for the bathroom but Nathan put his hand on his chest to stop him. Bobby’s face harden again as he glared at his friend.

“Move,” he growled.

“No, you know I’m right this isn’t the right time. Let her come to you,” Nathan tried to reason.

“I need to see that she’s okay,” Bobby said brokenly.

“I understand, man. I’ll make sure she’s alright and then see if I can get her to come to you, if not I’ll text you.” Nathan gave him an understanding look but Bobby was just barley hold on.

When the sound of Paige’s muffled cries began to grow louder Bobby’s legs gave from underneath him and his head fell into his hands. Nathan looked at his friend with grave concern but he knew Paige needed him too. He stood for a moment trying to decide what to do. When he heard Paige go silent, he patted Bobby on the shoulders and rushed back toward the bathroom to help Paige.

Paige was on her hands and knees trying to clean up the floor when Nathan reached the bathroom. Nathan frowned down at her and threw some extra towels down to cover the mess before reaching to help her to her feet. Paige got to her legs shakily and followed him to the sink.

“I don’t want you to freak out but Bobby is here,” Nathan said softly as he wiped her face with a cool rag.

“I’m sorry,” Paige sobbed.

“For what short stuff,” Nathan gave her a brilliant smile as he finished cleaning her face.

“I got sick all over you and now I brought my drama to your room,” Paige sniffled.

“First of all, Bobby and his bad moods are nothing new to me. Second, I’m glad I can be here to help a friend. I won’t pry but I want you to know I’m here when you’re ready to talk. We all are. James will call in a doctor if you need,” Nathan offered then turned to grab the robe from the back of his door. “Here put this on and I’ll have your clothes cleaned.

Nathan walked out of the bathroom and closed the door once she took the robe from his hands. Stepping back into the room Nathan could see that Bobby was still rooted to the same spot.

His friend was hurting bad. Bobby never shows a weakness, not even when he is really hurt by something. He bottles things inside and finds a way to forget, Nathan knew that better than anyone.

Nathan had never seen Bobby care so much for a woman before. He knew he loved Paige before but this was really putting things into prospective for him. This was the second time Bobby was ready to fight him for Paige.

He walked over to Bobby and squeezed his shoulder. “Are you alright?” Nathan asked.

“No,” Bobby said brokenly. “I don’t know how to let her go. I don’t know how to lose her and live.”

“You’re not losing her, man. Not if I have anything to do with it. Come on, she’ll be out in a second. Don’t let her see you like this,” Nathan drew his brows when his friend show no sign of moving.

The door to the bathroom creaked open behind Nathan. He turned to see Paige swimming inside his too big robe. She was holding it together and biting her lip as she tried to peek around Nathan to Bobby. Nathan stepped aside not knowing what else to do.

Paige crossed the room to the spot where Bobby was slumped over on his knees. She ran a hand over his hair once, twice and Bobby slowly lifted his head to look up at her. Paige couldn’t hold back her tears as she looked into his red swollen eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept all night. Paige stroked his face and he reached for her waist pulling her to him and burying his face in her stomach. Paige closed her eyes as the guilt washed over her.

She was so angry with Bobby for being dishonest and cheating on her but she was the dishonest one. She was being dishonest to them both. Paige knew she was at least two and a half weeks late by now and she was getting sick religiously every morning. She even felt sick last night after dinner.

Her stomach had been churned the whole way back to the house. When they pulled up she was so relieved to be home and just wanted to climb the stairs and crawl into Bobby’s arms to feel comfortable and safe. Then it all came back to her. Him with another woman all over him, the red lip gloss all over his lips, it was enough to make her stomach start turning all over again.

She’d followed Nathan up the stair silently pleading with him to let her in his room. He was a total sweetheart giving her the bed and sleeping on the floor. He stayed up with her for as long as he could, talking and laughing with her. Not once did he force her to face her truths.

She could see the suspicion in his eyes this morning. She was not going to be able to lie to herself or anyone else for much longer. This was all getting so real and quickly making her the villain in this scenario. Seeing the pain in Bobby’s eyes was driving home that she was able to ruin everything. Even if he could explain away last night she was about to ruin it all.

How had she been so stupid? Bobby was the only man she had ever had unprotected sex with and she had been on the pill since Eric started to make her feel like she was supposed to have sex with him if she was a good girlfriend. She wasn’t sure if he was the one but she wanted to be ready if she decided he was. It never occurred to her that the stupid pill could fail on her.

She didn’t even know if Bobby wanted children. He was in the height of his career. They both were. This was what she wanted but now that it was happening and not in the way she planned, it scared her to death.

Paige had no idea what she wanted to do from here. She was always so responsible. This wasn’t something she ever thought would happen to her. She was afraid to even say the words in her head, let alone tell him what she knew. Because she knew without a doubt the truth and the truth could make her lose him.

It was in that moment as he cling to her that she realized she couldn’t live without this man. She’d somehow fallen in love with him to the point of no return. Thinking that she had lost him last night had left a void in her heart, but if Nathan was right. If Bobby could speak the words that would make this better, she would be the one to unravel it all and ruin them both in the process.

Bobby climbed to his feet and pulled her into his chest. A sob ripped through him and pierced her heart. Paige reached to pull his head to her neck as she combed her fingers through his hair. Her big strong man was already broken. She’d never seen him this vulnerable.

“Shh, I’m here, shh,” Paige said soothingly.

“Baby,” Bobby crooked.

“Shh, not now,” Paige cut him off as her body protested and demanded her soothing morning shower. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Anything,” Bobby rushed and pulled back to look into her face.

“Can you stay here with Nathan until I finish in the room? I just need to shower and get dress,” she held up her hand when he went to cut her off. “Wait Bobby, I just need a little more time to think. I’m not ready to talk and I just need some time alone to think. Please.”

Paige heart ached as she saw the hurt fill his eyes. He blinked a few times then nodded his head, not able to find his voice. Paige had never seen him this lost and out of control. It hurt to see her man so tortured but she had to figure out what she was going to do next.

Things were getting beyond her control and she needed to reign it all in. If he couldn’t give her the words to fix what she’d seen she would need to know what she was going to do for her and the person they were dragging into this mess. She gave him a small smile.

“Thank you,” she said and cupped his cheek.

Bobby turned his head to kiss her palm and then her wrist. Paige felt the flames swipe through her as desire consumed her from the simple touch of his lips. She couldn’t do this; she needed to think with a clear head.

Bobby leaned in to kiss her lips but she turned her head at the last minute giving him her cheek. She could see the hurt in his eyes when he released her and pulled away. Paige just wasn’t ready. She could still see the red staining his lips in her mind.

“Take your time. I have somewhere to be today,” Bobby said in a detached voice dropping his eyes to the floor. “I love you.”

He turned and left the room before she could respond.