HOPE

 

"WHAT IS IT,” HE asked.

It wasn't the right time to have this conversation. I could still feel the tingles inside me from where he'd so recently been but I knew if I didn't say it soon, I might never be able to. It was already going to be difficult.

"You've been so kind to me but I think I should go."

The words were out. I couldn't take them back. Seeing him had brought them to the front of my mind. If I stayed any longer, two things would happen. I could see it clearly. I'd fall for him, completely fall for him. That was, if I hadn't already. And I'd put him in danger.

I couldn't imagine him getting hurt because of me, the thought was too upsetting. He didn't deserve it. He'd been nothing but nice to me and if they found me here, they'd hurt him. I couldn't let that happen. I had to go.

"I've imposed on you long enough."

"Stop."

It was a single word but it was said with such force that my little speech fell out of my head.

"I know why you're doing this," he continued. "And it's not going to work."

"What's not?"

"Pushing me away like this."

"I'm not pushing you away. I just think it's better for both of us if I go."

"No you don't, you're just afraid."

"I..." My voice faded into silence. I couldn't disagree with him, he was right.

"You're afraid of the same thing as me and that's feeling something real. Well, I'm glad I feel it and I think you are too, you're just scared of what it means."

I went to speak but he waved me into silence.

"Let me have my say. You're the first woman I've ever met who doesn't want to stay, do you know that? Everyone who's ever come here before has had to be forced to leave. They wanted to cling to my money for as long as they could but you, you're different."

"Money isn't everything."

"I agree. But neither is fear. Don't let it swallow you, Hope. You have nothing to be afraid of while you're here. I promised I'd look after you and I meant it."

"But you've done so much for me already."

"I wanted to." He sounded almost angry as he leaned forwards in the chair. "I want you to stay. I want to look after you."

"But why?"

"Because..." He paused. "I want to keep you safe."

"But you can't. They'll find me."

"Don't worry about that. That's being taken care of as we speak."

"Taken care of? What do you mean taken care of?"

"I've got someone dealing with the problem, let's just leave it at that."

I froze, feeling terror rising in the pit of my stomach, threatening to overwhelm me. "Call him back."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Whoever you've sent after them, call him back."

"Why?"

"Because it's too dangerous."

"Don't worry, Hope. He knows what he's doing."

I couldn't believe he was running around spying behind my back. "I told you I'd tell you what happened when I was ready and now I find out you're digging up all my secrets. I thought you trusted me, Rob."

"I do but I want you to be safe. I need to know what's going on."

"Why?"

"Because I want you to stay in my life, all right?"

"But why? I'm not clever, I'm not rich, I don't fit into your world."

"You think that matters to me?" he said, getting to his feet and crossing to the window. He stopped to look out for a moment before turning back. "I don't care about how rich you are, I don't care what happened in your past. I care about you. I like the person you are, Hope, not the person you were. You're funny, you're clever, you're good company and you've got an incredible body."

"Well, I'm glad you said that part last."

"I know, you'd hate to think I was a shallow guy."

"Oh no, I know you're a shallow guy."

"Ouch. Look, you're trying to protect yourself and me from getting hurt by those two but it's okay, I'm an adult, I can handle myself. You're an adult too and I'm not going to force you to stay here so I'm only going to say this once. I would like you to stay here. I would like to look after you and I hope you want to stay. As to what else is happening in the world, we'll deal with it when it happens. What do you say?"

"I say that I don't understand why you're doing this but I get that you want to do it so yes, I'll stay."

The conversation hadn't gone the way I'd planned. But then, had I really wanted it to? I didn't really want to leave, I'd just assumed he wanted me gone, that he was being too polite to say so. And that he would end up hurt because of me.

He was so confident too. He acted certain that his guy would be fine, tracing the two who'd been after me. Maybe he would be fine. It was possible. But I knew who he was after. I knew just how dangerous they were.

We hugged by the window, ending up staring outside at the lawn together. I felt exhausted, drained by the conversation we'd just had. "Was that our first fight?" Rob asked, turning to look at me.

"I didn't like it," I replied.

"Me neither. Let's not do that again."

"Just don't do things behind my back."

"Deal."

"So who is he? Your guy?"

"Harry Foster. He's an ex-cop."

"And what have you asked him to do?"

"Track down the two men chasing after you. Find out who they are."

"And nothing else?"

"Nothing else."

"Why not wait until I was ready to talk?"

"Because you might be in danger and it's my job to keep you safe."

"Your job?"

He nodded, turning to kiss me. "My job."