I felt nervous and twitchy, like my skin was on fire now that she was so near. “What the fuck is he saying to her?” I watched through the screen as Tony spoke a few words to her before she walked away.

I watched her on the monitor before growing annoyed with myself. I rested my head back against the chair and tried to clear my clouded mind. Now that I was here I was starting to feel like a damn fool.

I’d rushed back here for her, no sense in lying to myself any longer. I haven’t so much as held her hand, except that day when I was dragging her around. But already she has me tied up in knots in a way that I can’t understand.

I realized that since I first saw her I haven’t truly been myself. My mind, instead of being on my business as it usually is, has been filled with thoughts of her. No wonder Tony has so much to say. Speak of the devil.

He opened the door just then and came in, plopping his ass down in the guest chair like I’d invited him. What nonsense is he about to spit at my ass now?

“What is it?” He just sat there looking at me, not speaking, until I was forced to address him. What I really wanted to know is what he’d said to her.

“I like her.”

“What the fuck do you mean by that? Stay away from her.” He actually snorted.

“Why? I thought you weren’t interested?”

He laughed when I jumped up from my chair and came after him. “Chill bro, I don’t mean it like that. I mean I like her…for you.” He stepped back out of my reach.

“You my pimp now?” I walked back around the desk to my seat.

“She has the right qualities about her and I get the feeling she won’t put up with any of your shit. You need someone like that to keep you grounded.”

“You got all that from just a few words?” I didn’t appreciate his grin at my expense, or the fact that I’d given myself away. He didn’t say shit else until

I raised my brow at him. Asshole was fucking with me on purpose.

“Saw that did you?” The fool turned the iMac screen towards him and smirked. The security screen was still up.

“I had a feeling that’s what you were in here doing.” He looked up at me seriously and I got up and moved to the window to look out. He sees too much and I wasn’t ready for anyone to see how twisted up she had me. I don’t think I can laugh this shit off any longer.

“Why don’t you just…” I shook my head and took a deep breath and sighed, cutting him off before he went any farther. As my oldest and dearest friend I’ve shared everything with him over the years.

But this was the one thing I didn’t feel like I could. Maybe because I still had questions myself, or because I knew that once I opened that door there would be no turning back. “Max, I know you like to make things difficult for yourself, but this is a no brainer.”

“You don’t have to marry the girl for fuck sake, but don’t you owe it to yourself to see where this is going? I haven’t said anything in the last few days. I was giving you time to come to terms with it on your own, but you don’t seem to be.”

“I’d hate for you to deny yourself true happiness because of some fucked up belief. You’re not your old man.” The words sliced through me like a knife. I should’ve known that he would see through my shit.

I knew there was no use hiding anything from him but still I’d tried. If anyone would he’d know that one of the things holding me back was my fear. I knew she was the forever type, could feel that shit in my gut from the get. And that’s the main reason I’m fighting so hard to turn this into anything but love.

I’d promised myself a long time ago that I would never do to an innocent what my father had done to my mother. That’s the reason I kept my relationships to more experienced women. Women who knew the score. Women I had no interest in spending the rest of my life with.

“So I repeat, why don’t you just stop hiding your feelings and see where this thing goes? I’ve never seen you this tied up in knots over a female before. I don’t want you to…”

“I still don’t know what it is that I feel for her Tony. It’s all confusing as hell. If it was lust I could deal with it like I always do. But there’s something else at play here, only I don’t know what that something is.”

But the fact that she’s stayed on my mind this long, that she draws bittersweet memories of my childhood to the forefront, makes me wonder. And along with the wonder comes worry. Worry for her. I can see her getting into my bed but I can’t see her getting out. Scares the fuck outta me.

“That right there should tell you something. You’ve never given this much thought to any of your past entanglements. Besides, I saw the way you looked at her that day before she even came through the door.”

I should’ve known he would. He’s always watching, even here, to make sure I’m safe. I didn’t bother to ask him what he thought he saw, just left that statement hanging in the air.

How easy it would be to follow his advice. To just take until I had my fill and she was out of my system. Then I could go back to the uncaring man I’d trained myself to be.

I had no doubt that I could break down her barriers. That I could make her want me as much as I was coming to want her. But that fear of fucking up someone’s life plagued me.

Had she been more-worldly it would be a cake walk. But that’s just it. It was her innocence that had my ass in a dilemma. Her innocence and that look in her eyes that haunts me still.

After years of avoiding her type she’d fallen into my lap out of nowhere. From that first moment until now she’d barely left my thoughts for more than a few minutes at most. And the harder I fought this, the more I knew that I was only fighting the inevitable.

Coming onto the end there in Miami I could barely taste my damn food, that’s when I remembered to eat at all. She’d interrupted my eating, my sleep, even the way I did my business.

Was I only fooling myself? Had she already infiltrated my life to the point that I had no other choice but to give in? What if I’m wrong?

What if this wasn’t love, but something less life changing? I kept coming back full circle and my indecision must’ve shown on my face when I turned around, because Tony had a troubled look on his face. Was I that bad?

“You’ll figure it out, I have no doubt. Just don’t deny yourself something good if it comes to that. Not to get all mushy on you, but you deserve some good in your life just like everybody else.”

“Isn’t my life good? It’s a far sight better than what either of us grew up with.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and paced in front of the window.

“Yes, but a good woman makes everything even better.”

“Woman? She’s barely out of fucking childhood.” That was also something else that was bothering me, her age.

Someone that young would get clingy and start building dreams in her head or some shit. What if I take her to my bed and it doesn’t work out? Will she be able to move on like the others? Or will she hate me for not loving her enough?

My mother popped into my head and I remembered the nights I’d hear her crying in her room when she thought I was asleep in the next room. Fucked with my head as a kid.

Or when I’d found the old bent picture she kept at the bottom of a drawer of her and the man who’d broken her heart. I’d hate myself for fucking ever if I did that shit to a female.

My mother, as far as I know never had another relationship with a man after my dad left her pregnant and alone as a teen. That was a long damn time to be alone.

It only made me resent my father more, and doubt my own ability to love. I have some of him in me after all as is to be expected. I know I look like him, but do I have the same heart?

Could I destroy an innocent the way he had? Was I heartless enough to do such a thing? I saw Annabelle’s face in my mind and felt sick at the thought that I could leave her hurt and broken like that.

It was only Tony’s voice that broke into my thoughts and pulled me out of the dark place I was heading. He always seem to know my moods.

“I know you want to know since you saw us through the screen so I’ll tell you before the suspense kills you. I gave her one of my special hellos. She didn’t even answer me, just turned and looked at your door.”

Why that should make me feel good I have no idea. Tony’s a lady’s man. Tall, handsome and built. There aren’t many who come through these doors that he can’t charm with his shit.

“From the looks of it, I’m guessing she’s just as hardheaded as you are so this shit ought to be good.”

“Stay out of it.”

“Yeah, that’s gonna happen.”

Asshole! He got up and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts again. What the hell had he come in here for? I was just as confused now as before if not more so.

I sat back in my chair trying to prove a point to myself by turning my attention to the work that had piled up in my absence. It wasn’t long before I got the itch again.

I caved and went back to the security screen, searching each frame until I found her. I watched her through the monitor for the next few minutes before catching myself and turning it off.

I busied myself with paperwork for the next few hours and knew that I was only able to give it my all because she was only a door away, within my grasp.

I was feeling good until Tony came barging through the door. “You better get out here.”

“Why, what’s going on?” It wouldn’t be against the norm for some big shot to want to see me for an autograph or photo op.

I wasn’t in the mood for either and was about to tell him just that when his behavior registered. It was the look on his face more than anything that had me heading for the door where he stood holding it open.

I looked towards the restaurant where I could hear raised voices and see my security team holding someone by the arm and dragging them away.

As I made my way over I saw that the guy had something spilled all over him and the manager was leading Annabelle away in the opposite direction.

“Get your hands off her.” I moved towards them where he’d stopped in surprise and took her hand out of his. He stepped back from the look I gave him and stuttered out an explanation.

“Sorry sir, I was just…” I didn’t wait around to hear what he was just doing. I walked her a little ways away and stopped out of hearing of everyone else knowing full well that there were eyes on us.

“What happened?” I had a pretty good idea from the looks of things and the belligerence of the customer who my guys had led away towards the bar, away from the other diners.

“That creep put his hand up my skirt.” She said the words through gritted teeth.

“Say what now?” I was surprised when she grabbed my arm and held me back. I didn’t even realize I’d made a move to go after him.

I took her to my office, “Stay here!” I closed the door behind me and went to where security was still holding him. I’m going to tear him the fuck apart.

“Easy, easy, too many eyes.” Tony’s warning came just in time to stop me from punching the asshole in his face as he placed himself between me, and the guy who was about to get an ass beating.

It never entered my mind to question her version of events. That, in itself, was very telling. I never believe shit unless I see it with my own eyes. But there was no doubt in my mind that she was telling the truth.

I let Tony hold me back until I’d calmed down a little, before making my approach again. And even then I still wanted the man’s blood between my teeth.

He looked at me with righteous indignation and I knew he was going to lie before I even addressed him. I know his sort, that’s why my place is always teeming with security.

They’re usually needed more on the floor with the dance stage though, and hardly ever worked the restaurant floor. But tonight they were there. That was probably Tony’s doing.

Again he was looking out for my interest without having to be told to. I’ll have to remember to thank

him later, because it looks like it was the right call.