Page 7 of Unpermitted Love

"It's not that ... I mean it's fine. I just have to think about it.”

"Not a problem. Let me know. I’m just next door," he smiles.

“Thank you.”

I watch him walk back to his condo and then I shut the door behind me. I look at the stunning flowers sat on the breakfast bar then run to my bedroom. I have a sudden urge to scream into my pillow.

What are you doing Annalise Wilson? Seriously? Are you actually going to go out with Hal Torres?

Why the hell not? He seems like a great guy and he's so freaking hot! What have I got to lose?

Erm … your sister?!

Voices argue in my head and I use a pillow to stifle my screams.

Hal Torres is forbidden. He is a territory I’m unable to cross. But yet, that only makes the thought even more thrilling. I want to know what lies beneath the quiet and mysterious young billionaire.

And what would your sister say, Anna? What would Tasha say?

What she doesn’t know won’t hurt.

I have no plans to tell my sister. Not for now at least. Perhaps Hal just wants us to bond as in-laws or something. Maybe he was just being nice and only wants to get to know me. Maybe that's all there is to it. Telling Tasha would only make things worse and I had agreed to put the family feud behind us. There was no point carrying it on. I just had to find a way to force a reconciliation. Hal seemed open to it so why not Tasha? Especially since her reason for hating him is baseless. Perhaps she was still hurt about the things Hal did and said to her. But she had to let it go. It's perfectly normal for a young teenager who lost his mom to be closed off to any other woman attempting to take her place.

I take off my clothes and lie in the tub. I close my eyes and think of Hal's voice. It was like a hot knife cutting into butter, so smooth and deep.

That night, as I lay in bed, I dreamt I was in a ballroom with a whole room full of people. I was dancing with the most beautiful man in the world. It's the same dream I have always had except that for the first time, his face was clear. We were dancing and everyone was clapping and smiling. The face of the man was Hal Torres.

Chapter Five

Hal

I take a last look at myself in the mirror before heading next door to begin my date with Anna. I smile as I recalled her hesitation. I understand why. She’s forbidden for me just as much as I am for her.

But I don’t care about any of that.

Over the past week, we've talked every day. I called her after hours and we talked about everything from our childhood to our careers. It intrigued me that she had such a keen interest in psychology and wanted to pursue that path.

“You have guts, Anna. I'll give you that,” I’d said during one of our many nocturnal phone calls.

“Guts for following my dreams?”

“Yeah. Especially because of your background.”

“I know. Everyone expected me to be a lawyer or go to Harvard and take over the family business but I have never been interested in any of those things. I have always been a bookworm. Always been fascinated with learning and how the mind works.”

“You could be a detective. Work for CSI,” I said, teasing her.

“I have thought of that. But I prefer to teach. I love talking about psychology. So I figured I'd pursue a career that would pay me so I can never shut my mouth about it.”

I laughed my heart out. “That's amazing. Though I'm not sure I have seen any professor of psychology that's as hot as you. You would be setting a new record.”

She was silent for a few seconds and I could tell she was blushing. She looked even more beautiful when she blushed.

“You're blushing.”

“No, I'm not!”

“Yes, you are Miss Wilson. Right now, I bet you're smiling and your cheeks are all red.”

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