BPOV

I had just finished up with the scheduling of next week's physical examinations. It took me twice as long as it should have because my mind kept wandering. Steph was going through so much lately and all of it had my mind in a whirl. Part of it was trying to figure out how to ease her suffering, the other part was coming to terms with what I was feeling for her. This is all so new to me. We had to talk about this thing brewing between us, that's all there was to it.

I startled a bit when I heard her soft voice from the doorway to my office and still I couldn't stop nor hide the grin forming on my face.

"Bobby? Are you done for the day or should I go find something to do or someone else to take me home." I heard her inquire.

"No, that won't be necessary. I just finished up for the day and I'm ready to head home if you are." I tell her.

"You get all the guys set up for their exams?" She asked.

"Yes, everyone is all set up to see me next week, including you." I inform her.

"Me?! What are you talking about?" She exclaims.

"It's just a yearly physical. Your employment will not be affected by the results one way or the other. You don't have anything to worry about." I try to soothe her mind.

"But then why do I have to do it? I'm not under the same restrictions as the guys." She actually whined.

"Steph," I chuckled. "You're not, and it's not that kind of exam. It's just a yearly physical. The same kind you would have your own doctor do. We're just going to make sure your healthy and have no medical problems to worry about. That's it." I give her a small hug then pull back to look down at her.

She smiles back up at me, sighs, and says "okay". I smiled back as I told her. "Ready to head home?"

"Sure, let's go." She says eagerly.

"Do you want to stop to get something for dinner on the way?" I suggest. She nods as we round the corner near the elevator. "What do you feel like eating? Where do you want to stop?"

"Chinese maybe?" She asks timidly while the elevator takes us down to the garage level.

"You got it." I reply as we exit the elevator and come up on the SUV. We both climb in, buckle up, and we are on our way. I stop at the Chinese food place a couple of blocks from my house. After waiting a few minutes for our food to be ready, we are on our way home again, food in hand.

The ride back to my house doesn't take long. The food hardly has time to cool off any, it's still quite warm. I pull into the drive way and park the car. I lead her through the front door after disarming and then rearming the alarm once again. I drop the food on the kitchen bar and turn to the cabinets for plates and glassware while Steph grabs the silverware and napkins. We sit down on a couple of the bar stools, side by side and dig in.

The meal is delicious and Steph tortures me the whole way through with the sounds coming from her throat. I have to shift in my seat several times to adjust the uncomfortable tightening of my cargos. While we are both eating I take the opportunity while she is distracted by the lo-mein she so enjoys to engage her in conversation.

"Steph, we need to talk." I say softly.

I can see the utter panic in her eyes. The words 'Crap, that sentence never ends well. I wonder if he is tired of me already. Does he want me to move out so soon? I don't think I'm ready to be on my own yet' quietly slips from her mouth. She obviously isn't aware that once again her thoughts are spoken aloud. I immediately calm her worries.

"Steph, honey, no. I don't want you to leave and I would never tire of you. I want you here with me. That's actually what I want to talk to you about. Will you listen?"

"Sorry. I'm still scared of being abandoned. It's not you I don't trust, it's me. Sure. Go ahead. I'm all ears." She smiles back.

"Steph, I don't want to scare you but, my feelings for you have changed and I think you should know that I would love to date you. There's no pressure. Just think about it and let me know if and when you feel ready. I promise that nothing will change between us. You won't get rid of me as your friend if you refuse me."

"Wow. That's not what I was expecting; at all. It's true, I am beginning to care for you an awful lot too. You're a great guy and any woman would be lucky to have you. Let me think about it for a while. Please." She responds.

"Anything you need, you know I'll give it to you. Why don't you go take a bubble bath while I clean up the kitchen?" I suggest.

"That sounds like a plan to me. Anything to get out of housework!" She jokes.

"Ha, ha, funny girl. Calgon is waiting to take you away." I tell her as I bend to place a kiss on her cheek.

"Okay, if you insist. I'll see you when I get done soaking." She replies. Then she is up and headed for the master bathroom. I sigh as I turn toward the sink and the pile of dishes waiting for me there.

SPOV

Once the water is set to the perfect temperature and the tub begins to fill, I add a handful of bath salts and watch as the foam starts to build up. As the water and froth rise, I strip down and climb in to the warm water.

There are so many jumbled thoughts running through my mind as I begin to relax. The most shocking to me is Bobby wants to date me. He really is a gentle, kind hearted, caring person. I have no doubt he would be a loving and wonderful boyfriend. But am I ready to take that step? Am I ready to start another relationship? My divorce will be final next week, so technically I would be a free agent; legally allowed to do as I please.

I know Bobby would never hurt me physically and more than likely not emotionally either. So why am I so scared then? Heart break is one of the risks in life. No, I'm not scared Bobby would hurt me like that. What am I truly afraid of then? The answer hits me like a bolt out of the blue.

Joe!

I'm scared of him finding out and his retribution. He would not be happy! I fear he would come after me, or worse, Bobby. Shit! Stop it Stephanie! I scream at myself. You can not live your life in fear of your ex-husband. I'm doing so much better lately. It's time to show Joe and the world that I'm stronger than that now.

My mind is made up. I will no longer live in the shadow of fear. Bobby wants to be with me and I want to take the chance on him. That's it, I'll prove it to Joe and most importantly to myself. I can do this. I'll talk to Bobby. I'll agree to go out on a date with him and see where this leads. Deep down I know it will take me where I want to be, healed and whole. It will take time, but with Bobby's help, I know I can do it.

I climb out of the tub, dry off, and pull on my sleeping clothes. I leave the bathroom and head down the hall in search of Bobby.

I find him in his home office working on paper work, most likely the physical evaluations he's been working on all this week. He looks up from the current file he's working on when he hears me enter the room and clear my throat.

"How was your bath?" He asks.

"Very relaxing, plenty of time to think too." I tell him.

"Oh. What were you thinking about?"

"You. And what you said at dinner." I say confidently.

"You've decided?" He inquires with a flash of panic in his eyes.

"Yes." I reply as I twist my hands nervously in front of me. "I want to try to move on with my life. This is the next step to my emotional freedom from Joe. And besides, I'm excited to see where our relationship could go. We care about each other, so we should be together."

A huge smile crosses his gorgeous features and his brown eyes dance with glee as he speaks. "Will you go out on a date with me tomorrow? We can do whatever you like. I want you to be comfortable so I'll let you decide where we go and what we do."

"I don't know if I'm ready to be out in public here in town just yet, especially anywhere in the 'Burg. As long as we're not here, I'll let you decide the rest. I trust you."

"Great. Leave it to me then." He says confidently.

"Okay. I'll leave you to finish up those evals. I'm just gonna go watch a movie since it's too early for bed." I tell him.

"We don't have to work tomorrow so I'll join you when I get done here." He responds.

I nod and smile in return, then leave his office to go to the living room; thinking about which movie I want to put in the Blue-ray player. He has a wide assortment to choose from. Everything under the sun, from action-adventure to comedy to horror and all genres in between.

I end up feeling like an action-packed super hero flick. I pop 'The Fantastic Four' into the machine and start it up. Half-way through the movie Bobby plops down beside me. He puts his arm up on the back of the couch around my shoulders, settles in, and we watch the rest of the film together.

When the end credits start to scroll up the screen I let a small yawn escape my lips. Of course Bobby notices.

"Tired?"

"Yeah, I guess the day finally caught up with me." I utter through another yawn.

"Well let's get you into bed then Tiger." He grins.

We turn everything off and he leads me down the hall with his hand resting on the small of my back to his bedroom, mine at the moment. He stops at the door way and kisses my temple. He then tells me, "good night sweetheart".

"Night Bobby. See you in the morning." I reply.

He then turns and goes back toward his office and that cot he's using that I know has to be uncomfortable as all get out. Maybe I should offer him one side of the bed. It's a king and huge after all. 'No,' I think to myself. 'Soon'. ##################