Chapter Five

Author’s POV

Hayden felt the need to pull her into a hug when he had seen her burst into tears, he knew and could understand what it meant to feel empty and alone. He was once there and it was just a few months back, he still felt empty and alone but seeing her filled him with a rush of positive energy.

A sad smile flashed on his face and an unspoken memory filled his subconscious…for some reason helping the beautiful lady seemed to lift the heavy burden he had carried for a while.

It was obvious that she had her guard kept up and he didn't blame her, he knew he was acting a little bit too friendly and nice…almost like a stalker.

He laughed at the joke he knew wouldn't have sounded funny if she had heard him say it. She was beautiful no doubt and the urge to keep her filled him up.

He removed the microwaved food and placed it on a tray.

Hayden knew how toxic it looked but he couldn't stop himself from imagining her clothed in his shirts while making breakfast with the kids keeping him busy.

It was too soon to sport thoughts like that but after his late fiance's death, he still blamed himself and now being in a room with a woman so identical brought back those feelings.

Maybe it was because it all seemed too perfect to be a coincidence. As he got to her room, he knocked softly before entering to see her in a deep sleep that brought a smile to his face.

Damn did she awaken memories he had wanted to be long forgotten? 

“Hey sleeping beauty” he whispered and the memory of waking up with Alicia flashed and immediately the lady on the bed stirred before her eyes fluttered open in a way that held his heart at a standstill.

He knew how obsessive and dangerous the stirred emotions could get so he placed the food on the bed before flashing her a smile.

“Eat and then you can rest, I'll check in later” he whispered and she smiled softly while strung up at him.

There was something in his eyes that she just couldn't understand how it made her feel. It sent her mixed signals but she pushed those feelings aside before hungrily digging into the food, caring less if he was still in the room.

He shook his head while chuckling softly and then excused her before promising to check up on her once more, as he turned around this time around…he left.

After eating, she placed the tray on the bed stand before laying back down and letting sleep do its thing.

The night was still young and it was funny how it had quickly gone from her execution night to her escape from death night and now she was sleeping in a human stranger's house which she forgot to note was beautiful.

Hayden could feel his heart wrestle to take control of his decisions but he knew how weird it would be to watch her sleep. He had watched her do so from the moment he had helped her almost lifeless body afloat.

As he lay in bed, my subconscious flew back to the scene.

Without warning he had dived into the raging water and held onto her dearly…almost as though he was scared of losing something delicate. He had lost what fate had given him once in the same manner she was about to leave the world.

Hayden had placed her on land, and just as he leaned in to perform mouth-to-mouth recuperation on her, he couldn't help but note that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. And to make things worse for his already raging emotions, he noted that she had a striking resemblance to Alicia, his late fiance.

He turned to her side of the bed and closed his eyes as the memory of what had happened earlier kept on flashing. He had performed the recuperation on her soft and pink lips and had held in the desire to kiss her badly.

Not caring if she was going to be a problem, he had decided right there that he was going to take her home so he could tend to her wounds rather than send her to the hospital. His eyes had traced down her body, carefully noting her bloody body, and down to her feet where he had realized that she had bruises on her feet maybe due to running.

His curiosity spiked as he stared at her intently wondering where she was running, where she was coming from, and possibly running away from.  Sleep soon slipped in and he made a promise not to let the past repeat itself, even if it meant doing all it would take to hold her back.

The next morning dawned on them and just like he had promised himself, he was up and going making sure to attend to her. He made note of the fact that whenever he asked questions that hit too close to home she would back out and ask for her alone time before avoiding him like a plague.

Seeing as whatever trauma she went through in the past still has a hold on her despite the memory loss, he avoided asking similar questions. He didn't want to continuously remind her of whatever she was running away from…

A day turned into days and soon she fell for his constant reassurance…seeing as she had no one and anywhere to go she pleaded to stay with him which he had no complaints about.

During this period he cared for her. Sometimes he will touch her sensually to make her feel comfortable.

His feelings for her grew tremendously and he just couldn’t help but be with her all the time and protect her from any danger.

“You can't always do everything for me!” She squealed as he pulled her in his arms. “I still have to go to classes” she added, as he picked her slightly against her lips.

“It's almost as though school is dragging with me for your attention” he scowled, causing her to shake her head.

He had asked her out a month after she started staying with her, almost the same time she had requested that he help her become a better woman by going through school.

She later found out that he was managing his own company and made it her dream to work hard to work beside him.

“I made dinner” Hayden whispered before pulling her towards the kitchen, and upon entering she immediately ran to the sink and barfed.

“What's wrong?” He asked as he rushed towards her.

“The food…the food is …” she managed to say before running out.

Hayden found himself staring after her petite figure, he knew what he had feared was already a reality.

The signs had been there but he chose not to see it. Fatigue, tiredness, a raging appetite, and no this…he needed no one to tell him, Aubrey, like she had asked to be called, was pregnant and she didn't know the father.

No one did.