An Unexpected Proposal

Chapter 8 Part 2

Andreas watched as Abi flew out of the car the second they arrived. He came in a little while after her. As he entered the main living area, he saw Abigail on the terrace, her back to him. He hated now how much this woman had got under his skin in the short time he had known her. Hated the punch in the gut he felt now as he watched her standing there, the tension in her form obvious.

He stood behind her but not close. "Talk to me, Abigail," he said seriously.

He watched as her shoulders rose and fell as she inhaled and exhaled deeply. He wanted to grab her by the shoulders and turn her to face him. But she turned on her own; the look in her eyes telling him this wasn't going to be good.

"I can't do this, Andreas," she whispered, her eyes shining with tears that she was barely holding back.

He searched her face, wanting more information. "You can't do what?" he asked, his voice now harsher. He was confused about the complete turnaround.

She looked up into his face, her intense blue eyes that had fired his blood from the first moment he'd seen her were filled now with...fear? Surely she couldn't be afraid of him?

"I'm going back to New York. Tomorrow. I'll organise my own transport."

The clenching of his heart was unmistakable. Never had any woman called time on a relationship with him. Ever. This was a woman who had defied all expectations he'd had. Andreas was now treading in unchartered territory. "Tell me why," he growled. "What happened in the last few hours that has made you go from ecstasy in my bed to wanting to go back to New York?"

Abigail lowered her eyes. Then she brought her gaze back up to his. She swallowed hard and he watched the muscles of her neck working as she did so. "I received a message from my agent," she lied. "I've been waiting for word on a big contract and it's just come through."

Every cell in Andreas' body rejected this lie. But if that's what Abigail needed to do to get out of this relationship, then he wouldn't push it. "I see," he said. "And what about your work on the board?" he asked her referring to the charity they were both passionate about.

"It won't clash," she said quickly. "I can work them both."

Andreas stood, regarding her. He lifted his hand and rubbed his chin. There was no way he was going to beg any woman to stay with him. "Very well then," he said. "I'll make arrangements for us to leave in the morning."

"It's ok, like I said, I can - "

He raised his hand in a stop motion. "I said I'll make arrangements. At least to get you back to Athens."

"I can make my own way from there," she said, like she didn't want to be near him anymore.

"As you wish," he said after a short pause. "I will go on to my office in London then," he replied and watched as a hint of pain flickered through her eyes.

He couldn't work her out. She was a lot more complex than he thought. But one thing was for sure, something was going on with her and she clearly didn't want him to be a part of it or to offer a solution to it. He knew better than to push.

"I've learnt to let people go when I need to," he said.

Her lips trembled slightly but she held herself back.

But Andreas knew from experience, if she wouldn't let him in, he couldn't help her.