An Unexpected Proposal

Chapter 7 Part 1

A knock at her door the next morning had Abigail jumping out of bed. She had to take a few seconds to remember where she was. Looking down at the clock next to the bed she realised it was already eleven o'clock. How could she have slept in so long?

"Just a minute!" she called out grabbing a robe that was hanging on a chair near the window. She cinched it tight and padded barefoot towards the door.

Looking through the peep hole she could see Andreas in the corridor. Tall, dark, with a white t-shirt and dark pair of jeans, he took her breath away. She was feeling things for this man she shouldn't be feeling. She worked for him after all. Anything that could happen between them could mean losing her new job. The job she loved.

It could also mean losing her heart. And that was perhaps the scariest thing of all.

Opening the door she remembered she hadn't had a chance to freshen up and consciously pushed her hair back with her hands trying to look semi-presentable. A sexy smile played upon his lips as he saw her. Damn, he was gorgeous.

"Andreas," she said almost breathless. "I wasn't expecting you."

His smile widened. "Clearly," he said, his smile now playfully teasing her, his eyes roaming up and down her body.

She felt as though he was singeing her from the inside out.

"I've been calling and sent a text message to check on you. When you didn't respond to any of them, I thought I'd come up and see if you're ok," he said.

Abi inhaled. "Oh," she exclaimed, "I...I slept in much longer than I intended." She looked up at him. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, of course, not," he replied. "Just wondering if you have thought anymore about my offer the other day."

Abigail furrowed her brow. Which offer was he talking about? Did she miss something?

When she didn't answer, and obviously reading her face, Andreas clarified. "You said you wanted to stay longer and see Greece. I offered to show it to you."

Dawning washed over her. "Oh, yes. That offer," she said. Her mind began ticking quickly trying to work out whether to take up this generous and desirable offer, both the pros and the cons.

"I thought we'd fly straight to the islands," he said, "and start there. They are after all, the most splendid in the region."

When she didn't answer immediately, he added, "Abigail, there are no expectations."

Abigail stopped her mind chatter. But she knew deep down that she wouldn't be able to resist this man for long. And he was here, standing right before her, asking her to come with him.

"Let me shower and get ready," she said, the decision leaving her mouth before she allowed herself to think about it anymore.

He gave a satisfied smile and a nod. "I'll wait for you in the lobby. No need to pack; I'll have my people do that for you and send it. My plane is ready," he said.

Abi closed the door. A ride in a private plane. That was when it had all gone wrong with Thomas and he had shown his true colours. The worst part was Abi had nowhere to run. If it hasn't been for one of the staff on board, he might have done a lot worse.

She couldn't go back to that time. Andreas wasn't Thomas. Still, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

An hour later, Abi was ready in a smart lilac-coloured blouse and dark purple linen pants. The colour always suited her complexion and accentuated her eyes. She walked down to the lobby where it was easy to spot Andreas, his aura permeating the entire space. As she approached Andreas , two large men walked towards her. She stopped short. Who were they? Then she saw Andreas wave them away and stand up. Bodyguards. They were bodyguards, she realised. And all of a sudden, Abi could feel a little anxiety rise within her. She hadn't noticed them before. But then again, she had only been in his office or the gala with him so she probably wouldn't have.

A short ride later and they were at the airport aboard Andreas' jet. It was so different to commercial flights. No lines, no luggage to deal with, no tickets, just herself and her purse.

"I thought we'd start with the island of Andros, my namesake," said Andreas with a smile.

"I haven't heard of this island," she said, "but sounds good."

"It is, believe me. The lesser known islands are more private and don't have the crowds. We can enjoy the landmarks and the sunsets without being surrounded by thousands of people," he said. But there was something about the way he said it and the glint in his eye that made Abi suspect he was not so much worried about the landmarks and scenery, but about privacy. And suddenly, her stomach was fluttering, her breathing increased, and she could feel the familiar tug of heat pool at her core.

Abigail settled in to her seat and looked out the window at the amazing landscape. There was something about Greece she couldn't quite pinpoint, but it was something she could sense deep in her soul. She sat back and enjoyed the flight.