Love Struck (The Taylor Brothers Book 4)

Annalise's heart started beating too fast at his words. "It's none of your concern who I choose to marry," she flashed angry eyes at him. "Let me go, Nelson. "

"No, never," swore Nelson. He didn't know what madness possessed his soul and made all rational thoughts disappear from his head but he knew he had to stop this. He couldn't let her get married to another. She was his. "You are mine and it is my concern. I won't let you marry anyone else," he swore, his eyes portraying the fire burning inside him.

"I will never marry you, " said Annalise, trying to push him, but he didn't budge, his muscular body caging her in. His one hand shot up and caught both her soft hands into his own.

"I will sell my soul if that's what it takes to marry you, " threatened Nelson, his eyes burning a hole on her face. Annalise had never seen this side of Nelson, she was baffled by the ferocity of his words, the depth of emotions in his eyes.

"You will rejoin my restaurant from tomorrow. I need to see you everyday," he ordered, challenging her to defy him.

"What if I don't?" She answered. She wouldn't bow down to his threats. It was her wish whether she would rejoin the restaurant or not.

"You leave me no choice Alise. If you don't rejoin, your best friend Susan will lose her job. I mean what I say, the choice is yours. I will sack her for no fault of hers," threatened Nelson in a tone which caused a tremor of apprehension down her spine. The endearment that he used made her want to slap him. How dare he threaten her this way? Annalise stared at him, with a mad fury. All the softness she felt around him, the wish to see him everyday suddenly evaporated and she seethed with anger and frustration.

"You would never do that to Susan?" she asked with dread.

Nelson lowered his face towards hers, stopping inches from her own. "Try me, I'll do anything for you. I give you just twenty-four hours time. This isn't an idle threat, mind you, " he said, the intensity in his eyes burning a hole in her.

"I hate you Nelson, " said Annalise.

"We'll see about that Alise," he whispered and then released her slowly. Annalise ran to her car. She had to get away to catch her erratic breathing. The endearment he used again had her clutch onto her rapidly beating heart. It sounded so sensual.

Nelson closed his eyes to steady himself. He had no idea what this strange obsession was. He didn't know that he had such a side to his fun-loving nature. Annalise brought out this strange side of him and he didn't know how to handle it. He was the quietest amongst all the Taylor brothers but the intense jealousy and the extreme passion he felt with Annalise had him thinking whether he'd gone crazy for her. He reluctantly went back to work knowing in his mind that it was quite low of him to use Susan as a pawn in his plans but she left him no choice. He wanted to be able to see her everyday. Maybe she would realize how much he loved her! Nelson sighed at the realization. Yes, he had fallen in love with her.

The first thing he did upon reaching the restaurant was to mail her about the non-acceptance of her resignation letter. She had twenty-four hours to reconsider and rejoin. He had consulted his uncle Henry and he agreed to reconsider Annalise seeing the soup chef Garner was in. However, Nelson didn't get his peace even after threatening her. He sulked the next twenty-four hours making the lives unbearable of those around him. He could neither eat nor sleep  out of apprehension. Would she rejoin? Would he get to see her everyday? Would he be able to talk to her? Maybe she would hate her more for threatening her into this.

The next day he didn't go to her college. He waited patiently for her to turn up at the restaurant but she didn't. Nelson fumed all the more. He wanted to go and find out why she hadn't taken his threat seriously. However, it was around 4 o'clock when Susan peeped into his office.

"Anna's back. She met Henry sir and restarted her internship," said a beaming Susan. Nelson's heartbeats increased when he heard this news. "Chef Garner's relieved and wanted her to start right away," said Susan.

"Thanks, I owe you, Susan, " he said, showering her with a dazzling smile. "Did she ask you anything about the threat?" Asked Nelson, scratching his head.

"Yes. She told me. I put up an act of being shocked. Don't worry," said Susan with a grin, leaving and closing the door after her. Nelson smiled as an odd feeling of happiness filled his head. She was back this time he would surely win her over.

Annalise was so busy helping chef Garner that she hadn't noticed the presence of Nelson, standing opposite her, watching her. She suddenly looked up and her eyes clashed with his hot gaze, fixed upon her. She looked around to see if chef Garner was watching her. Thankfully he was too busy to notice. Annalise tried to keep herself busy but Nelson didn't budge from his place and neither did he look anywhere else. She felt like a prey under his intense scrutiny. She had to get away from him. Excusing herself, she went to the staff washroom but to her utter horror, he followed her there.

She whirled around and faced him. "Why are you following me, Nelson?"  asked Annalise when she couldn't take in any more.

Nelson slowly walked up to her and stared at her with a brooding expression, "Thank you for coming back. You won't regret this decision," he said softly. Annalise stared at him with surprise.

"It was a very mean thing to do, Nelson, forcing me to come back, " said Annalise, shaking her head.

"I know but you left me no choice," he said, scanning her face to see if her soul still felt something for him.

"I've got to go," she said, suddenly leaving him and going into the washroom. Nelson stood there looking at her retreating back and then slowly returned to his office. Greg didn't make any move towards Annalise as Susan already informed him about Nelson's feelings for her. Annalise was glad that all the staff of the restaurant welcomed her back without judging her. So she continued from where she had left off.

After duty, Nelson offered to take Susan, Trent and Annalise out for a treat. Annalise declined. "I have assignments to complete for tomorrow. You'll go ahead, " she said but Susan wasn't taking no for an answer. She kept insisting and finally convinced her to go along with her.

"It's just dinner. He won't eat you up. C'mon, don't be a spoilsport, " said Susan. Annalise sighed and agreed. She knew she couldn't win against her best friend. Nelson smiled inwardly with relief but didn't show his feelings on his face. He led Annalise to his car.

"What about my car?" She asked with worry.

"I've asked Sammy to drive it over to your house," said Nelson with a shrug. Sammy was their head waiter and a nice guy who helped whoever asked him for it.

"I'll give you the keys, then, " she said, looking into her handbag for her car keys.

"Susan has already given it to him," announced Nelson, opening the passenger door and helping her inside. Annalise's eyes went wide with disbelief. What the hell was going on? It seemed that these two were planning and plotting against her and she hadn't a clue to what they were up to.

"Oh," she said and looked out of the window as he pulled out of the parking area with Trent and Susan following them in Trent's car. "Why are we going out to dinner?" She asked suspiciously. Nelson glanced at her with an amused expression on his face.

"It's just dinner, Alise. I haven't asked you for a date yet," he said, the corners of his mouth lifting into a small smile. Annalise felt her heart skip a beat at the endearment as well as the mention of a date. A deep red blush crept up her neck to her cheeks.

"I'm not interested in a date with you," said Annalise. Nelson chuckled instead of getting angry.

"It will happen, very soon," he promised her.

"In your dreams," she said rolling her eyes. After the stunt that he pulled lately, she would never agree to going out on a date with him. Nelson didn't answer. He silently drove towards the restaurant where he had booked a table for all of them. Annalise ignored him wanting the dinner to be over as soon as possible.

They reached the upscale restaurant and parked his car. Trent too parked alongside. They all climbed out and went inside the restaurant. "This is a new place. I've never come here before," said Susan.

"Yeah, it was just inaugurated last month abd the reviews are very good," said Nelson. Trent too admired the place. Annalise was quiet. She didn't want to go all gaga with praise to encourage Nelson more.

He led her to a corner table, allowing her to go in first. Then dragging a chair closer to her, sat down with his arms brushing her bare arms, sending goosebumps to erupt in her skin.