"Excuse me." Daisy pushed back from the table and searched for Brett. She saw him at the bar and went to him. He was just turning away from the bartender with two glasses in his hands when she intercepted him. She took her drink and gulped it down, her teeth aching as the cubes of ice knocked against them. "Daisy." There was a soft note of chastisement in his voice. "I’m leaving," she said flatly, stepping around him to set her empty glass on the bar top. "That doesn't mean I'm running because I've told you in advance and I'm giving you the option of coming with me." He exhaled harshly and she saw that he understood her mood. He knew she knew. "I can’t leave," he said and Daisy turned away. He caught her arm. "You know I can’t stay if you go. You’re upset over nothing, Daisy." "Nothing." She stared at where his hand gripped her. "I warned you before we got here that I do get upset and jealous. And I have this shady business that causes me to battle non-stop with my ego and you sa
For the rest of the evening, Brett didn’t leave Daisy's side or allow her to leave him. He kept his right hand linked with her left all the way through dinner, choosing to eat one-handed rather than release his hold on her. Lana, who had taken a seat on the other side of him at their table, gave him a curious look. "I remember you being right handed." She frowned. "I still am," he said, lifting their joined hands from under the table and kissing Daisy's fingertips. Daisy swallowed hard and felt foolish and insecure, knowing that he was doing all that just to prove a point to her, to let her know that she is his priority. She lifted her eye and became conscious of Lana's scrutiny. She faced her meal once again. Unfortunately, the romantic gesture Brett displayed didn’t keep him from talking to Lana throughout the meal, leaving Daisy feeling fidgety and unhappy. She saw more of the back of Brett's head than his face. "Why can't they serve something more edible.." The st
"You can join us," one of the men shamelessly said. "Who is she?" the second guy asked. There was a brief flash of embarrassment and guilt on Ugo's face, and then he shot Daisy a cocky smile. "She's my friend, and this is her house." She announced. "You could join us, Daisy baby." "Don’t you dare push me, Ugo Chike." Daisy warned. "It’s really, really not a good night and this is not a year or two ago." The first guy started sauntering toward Daisy. As he got closer, Daisy tensed when she saw that his pupils were dilated and the pulse in his neck was throbbing viciously. "I can make your night memorable and I can please you all night for just a few hundreds." He offered with a leer. "Back the fuck up. Jesus, Ugo! Are you in drugs?" Daisy asked adjusting her stance while Ugo staggered toward the guy to pull him away from her friend. "Leave her alone, fool." Ugo called almost tripping. Scared, Daisy prepared herself to ward him off physically if necessary. "Leave her alon
Daisy struggled to break free from Brett's hold, but she was physically and emotionally exhausted. The tears she had been trying so hard to keep at bay came rushing down so much that she couldn't stop them. "Go away. Please." She said again. "I love you, Daisy. Of course I do, I love you so much. We wouldn't be here if I don't." "Oh my God." She breathed out, kicking and pushing him, anything to get away from the strong hold of the one person who had overtime become a massive source of pain and misery to her. "I don’t want your stupid pity. I just want you to go away." "I can’t. You know I can’t. Daisy. Please stop fighting. Listen to me." "Everything you’re saying hurts, Brett." "It doesn't feel right Sunshine," he pressed on stubbornly, his lips at her ear. "That’s why I haven’t said it. I've known that I'm in love with you for a very long time. But I felt it wasn't right. That I don't deserve love, that I'm a terrible person and it would be wrong to open up my heart to you
"I thought being unhappy for the rest of my life was the best type of punishment. So when she gave me the ring, I took it and started planning on the best day to propose." Daisy jerked back to look at him. She bought the ring herself?" "Don’t look so shocked," he said wryly. "You’re bruising my ego." Relief flooded Daisy in a rush that made her dizzy. She threw herself at him, hugging him as tight as she could. "Hey......" His returning embrace was just as fierce. "Are you okay?" "Yes. Yes, I’m getting better. I'm almost there." She pulled back and cupped his jaw in her hand. "Keep talking." "We had a terrible argument when she complained that I didn't love her as much as she loves me. I told her she had to either choose love or marriage. That I can't give her both. I made it clear that I could offer marriage but not love. She agreed that marriage was perfect. So, I proposed a week later. When I popped the question, she asked if I loved her, I said no. She asked if I feel l
Daisy got reminded of Lana's assertion that Brett had been as possessive over her as he was about Daisy and the thought of that pricked her in a terrible way. "Where are you going with this?" Brett asked, in a voice laced with warm amusement. "You don't get it, do you? Well, you drive the women you've been with nuts because somehow you turn to a sort of grand ultimate prize. That if they can’t have you, they feel like they're settling for less than the best. So they can’t think about not having you. They end up thinking of crazy ways to get you instead.""Except for the very woman I want," he retorted dryly, "who spends a lot of time running in the opposite direction."Daisy stared without hesitation, drinking him in as he stood naked in front of her. Answer one question for me, Brett. Why do you want me, why did you come back when you can have your pick of perfection instead. And I’m really not fishing for compliments or reassurances, just an honest answer, please. He caught her
Daisy slipped into a silk top and a slim pair of pressed slacks and adjusted her gold pop stud. Since she had no hairstyling talent, she pulled her long blond hair back in a simple ponytail, then made up her face. When she was presentable, she forwarded a voice note to Ugo, checking up on her before leaving the bedroom. Brett's voice was heard the moment she stepped into the hallway. A tiny shiver moved through her when she realized he was angry, his voice low and clipped. Brett was never one to rile easily unless he was ticked off with Daisy, the only human that could get him to raise his voice and curse, even shove his hands through his glorious inky black hair. For the most part, Brett was a testament to powerful control. There was no need for him to shout when he could get people to quake in their shoes with just a look. Daisy found him in his home office, with his back to the door and cellphone in place close to his ear. Leaning into the doorjamb, she drank him in. He’d
Daisy pulled in a slow and shaky breath, completely seduced by the smoldering look in Brett's eyes, the tone of his voice, the heat of his body, and the mouthwatering scent of his skin. "Brett" She breathed, drowsy with a feel of him. With a soft groan, he sealed his mouth over hers, stealing away thoughts of what time it was and the fact that they might get to the office late with just his lush, deep kiss...... a kiss that almost succeeded in distracting her from what he said earlier. She pushed her fingers into his hair to hold him still and kissed him back, her tongue slid along his, stroking. Just months ago, they had found a way back to each other and since then, they've been fighting to be together. Neither of them knew what it takes to be in a relationship like the one they were attempting to build, especially as two broken people. Brett's arms banded around Daisy and tightened possessively. "I had plans to spend the weekend with you, away from Fairview and it's rowd