chapter 4

The inconsideration for his sleeping daughter caused her to wake suddenly.

Good job she was only a baby, I couldn't cope if she saw me like this.

Ever since I've sworn to protect her little body, heart, and mind. She needs sunshine and rainbows, not dark sky's and thunderstorms. Which is how I would describe the life endured by Robert.

Maybe I looked a little strange running out like that. It was quicker than a switch flicking on or off; I pegged it out the doors as quick as possible. But I needed to keep us safe. Hope needed to be safe.

We'd been walking for almost five minutes, and I was looking around to see if he followed us like a wanted criminal on the run. I looked completely, utterly, terrified, and I didn't even have to look at my face to know it. I could see Hopes as I held her in my arms while we walked.

Ironically, she was terrified of me trying to protect her from ever having to feel the way she was looking at me now. My heart sunk, and I could feel the tears burning my eyelids, clouding my vision as they were about to spill. I blinked rapidly to stop them falling, and gave her a tight hug.

"I'm sorry baby."

Too late, the tears were now falling, and I couldn't stop them.

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NATE

I had been stood staring at the huge glass doors for the past few minutes. The gorgeous woman, with all those secrets behind her eyes, had ran quicker than I could say stop.

I don't know what I did, and I was sure she was not from round here.

When she ran I saw the terrified, desperate look on her face. It's what stopped me from running after her. Maybe I wanted to know why she ran, but something tells me it has little to do with what I did, and more to do with the fear behind those sapphire irises.

I don't think I'll ever get those eyes out my head. I was already envisioning how beautiful they would look after I've kissed her senseless.

I'm already longing to see them looking back at me while standing in my embrace; my arms tightly around her hips. Protecting her, and claiming her.

The aggravating thought of reality hit me. I couldn't do that because she ran away from me, and all I know is her first name. I didn't even get to ask if she was in a relationship.

Fuck

I wanted to convince myself that it was for the best as I couldn't trust another woman, but she might not know who I am. Meaning she doesn't have a clue how much money I possess, or my line of work.

Maybe I'm being hopeful - which if it's not true, will make my heart sink - but I've not felt this way about a woman since Sheila.

I want to own her. Possess every inch of her.

I don't even know the woman, and I'm getting obsessive.

Sighing, I slowly strolled out the shop, and glanced around to see if I could see her. See if she was sitting in a car, walking back, maybe she didn't walk all the way to the park? But I was unlucky. She was completely out of sight, and it made me feel even worse about my day.

That reminded me that I needed to make a huge business decision - and fast.

I hopped into my car, and drove off to the office. Hopefully, I'd forget about the woman who's already consuming my thoughts, but something tells me I won't.

Back at the office the tension was thick in the building. They all knew what I had a decision on, and they were all trying not to watch me as I stalked through the place.

I think stalked might be the wrong term - stomped? Raged?

Meeting Daisy, and facing my business decision had made me feel like shit. I wished I had ran after her. Chased her till she stopped. But deep down I know there's a reason she ran, and I could see it etched deep under her features.

The thought made me nervous, why would she be so scared of me. Maybe she did have a boyfriend or partner? Or She's been hurt before?

The latter opened up many more questions, and my stomach sickened. I wasn't about to let those thoughts consume my mind, and worry about a woman I didn't know. Yet the fear I saw is building my own fear on her, and I wanted to make sure she was okay. I slumped down on my fancy spinning chair, and interlocked my fingers on my lap. I was envisioning all the perfect images of Daisy, as I stared off into space.

"Did you get your coffee boss"

Harriet entered my office, and her usual bright, airy smile had been turned into a concerned scowl.

"What happened?"

She knew better than anyone that the deal with the investors was no longer why I looked so gloomy, and depressed.

I let out an exasperated breath, and looked at her as I began to speak.

"My morning went from bad to worse"

"Okaaayyyy, and how is that?"

Did I want to confess to Harriet that I was obsessing over Daisy? A woman I spoke to for all of five minutes, and whom ran away from me?

"Nothing it doesn't matter. I'm going to sit and think over this proposal"

Being my assistant for ten years also meant that she knew not to pry into my personal life. Not in an offensive way, but I don't want to talk about it to her. I don't to anyone, and she respects this understandingly.

"Okay, but you know where I am Nate"

She squeezed my shoulder, gave a small smile, and walked back to her desk.

Maybe I just needed to forget about her?

I was just lonely, and I haven't had a woman under me for a few days that's probably all it is.

I don't do relationships, commitment, and love. She isn't anything special

I tried to tell myself that, and push her captivating sapphires to the back of my brain.

By the end of the day I still hadn't made a decision on the deal, but I'd carved a few copies of Daisy's gorgeous appearance into my brain, stored them in a special place, and left one out at the front of my brain.

I was driving myself insane. I raked my hands through my dark tousled hair, and sighed. I know what I needed to do.

Me: J, meet me at the rocks in an hour

Jack: what's got your knickers in a twist?

Idiot

Jacks my best friend, and probably the one person I talk about shit to. He knows everything there is to know about Sheila, and if he finds out about Daisy he'll laugh at me, so instead I opt for a simple reply.

Me: just need a drink, bro. Got a deal with an investor to sort out before 6

It was four now, so that meant I'd have less than an hour to decide once I got to the bar. I just hoped I made the right decision.