Page 561 of Summer Heat
At the end of the day there was nothing that would stop me from going to Daisy tonight.
Chapter Three
Lennon
I walked into The Pub and pulled my ball cap down a little lower. At least I had been smart enough to grab it before I left my room, and I wondered if it was even necessary. Would anybody even recognize me here, knowing they were drunk as fuck?
The music was blaring, the voices loud. It was good enough that everybody was probably getting good and plastered, so the fact that they would even know who I was in their inebriated state was pretty slim.
I made my way to the side, dodging people who were grinding up against each other, others who were acting rowdy as hell, and scanned the pub to see if I could spot Daisy.
Someone knocked into me and apologized, but I kept moving, kept scanning the interior trying to see Daisy. Maybe she decided not to come out tonight? That thought had the possessiveness in me dimming slightly. I’d want her at home and safe, not around a bunch of assholes.
But then I saw her, sitting at one of the tables with a girl. She had a beer in front of her, the glass only half full, her focus on it.
My heart stilled just a little bit but then doubled in speed. That need I had for her rose up, this vicious beast inside of me. I didn’t know what happened to me in the time since breakfast and now, but I was done waiting, done caring what anyone thought.
I had absolutely no plan on what I was going to say or do tonight. Maybe I would just stay in the background and watch over her, protect her? And then when she headed back to the palace, or to her apartment, I could be honest with her then.
I leaned against the wall and just watched her, my focus solely on her, my need for Daisy growing by the second. It was as if something broke inside of me, this damn crushing forward, my emotions spilling out.
It was as if when I finally realized, understood, that I wouldn't hold myself back from her any longer, that this vicious beast rose up in me. I hoped she felt the same when I did admit how I felt.
And then I saw her stand and head over to the back hallway. I assumed she was going to the restroom. I straightened, pushing off the wall and walking to where she was headed.
I really didn't want to talk to her about any of this in a pub, but I also didn't want to seem like an asshole for knowing where she and following her here just to talk to her.
But speaking with Daisy about my feelings while she was wearing the wait staff uniform and bringing me breakfast seemed grossly out of place. I wanted us on the same level, even though I already knew and felt like we were.
I positioned myself so I could still see the hallway where the bathroom was, and figured I talk to her when she was out. I’d explain that I needed to speak with her about something important. Not the way I wanted to go about this, but I was tired of waiting.
And when she finally came out my entire body stiffened, my heart raced, and every part of me wanted to go to her in that moment. She had her head down, glancing at her phone, and she never looked more beautiful.
I saw some asshole come up to her, all but blocking her way. She glanced up, seeming startled. She smiled but I could tell it was uncomfortable, maybe even a little nervous. Whatever he was saying she shook her head, the smile still in place, but looking more forced by the second. And when he reached out and start playing with the tendril of her hair I could see the discomfort in her face rising.
Something in the snapped, this beast being unleashed, tearing right through the cage that I apparently had it housed deep within me. I felt myself getting closer to her, my legs moving swiftly, my body propelling toward the thread I saw.
I gripped the assholes arm and yanked him away. I could smell the booze coming from him instantly, and his blood shot, glossed over gaze was locked with mine. I heard this low rumble and realized it came from me.
“Don't fucking touch her,” I said harshly. I saw the anger wash over his face only a second before he lifted his arm and started swinging at me. But I had plenty of training, knew how to handle myself. I blocked the move and took a step back. I wanted to fight him, to defend the woman I cared about. But now wasn’t the time.
I looked over at Daisy, and saw the confusion on her face but then realization washed across her expression when she recognized me. Her eyes widened and I felt a surge of possessiveness slam into me.
She took a step forward, and I could see by the expression on her face she wanted to protect me and not the other way around.
I took hold of her hand, and was about to steer her away from the crowd, and take her back to the palace, to my room, but the asshole clocked me right in the side of the face. I stumbled backwards, my anger rising. I turned and faced him, swung out, and hit him in the temple.
His head cocked to the side and he slammed into the wall. It was then that I realize my hat got knocked off, the room was quiet, and there were about a dozen cell phone cameras aimed right at me.
Fuck.
No doubt this incident would be on the front page of every paper in the country come morning. I had Daisy's hand in mine a second later and led her out of the pub. We didn't speak as I took her down some back roads, sneaking her into the palace
through a couple hidden passageways, and finally made it back into my room.
I shut my bedroom door, just now tasting a metallic flavor cover my tongue. I left my hand and touched my lips, the sensitivity letting me know that it was split.
I turned and faced Daisy, seeing her watching me, her expression guarded, confused.
