To have and to Hold

Meeting ther maxwells pt 1

As Adam's car pulled into the steep winding driveway that led to Adam's father's house, Rachel's annoyance completely vanished, being replaced fluttering nerves in her stomach. It didn't do anything to ease it, as she got her first glimpse of the grand imposing red bricked house which represented a modern mansion

"God! I only see places like this on television shows, or in those magazines about the rich and famous people," Rachel exclaimed in awe as Adam brought the car to a halt at the end of the driveway in front of the house

"Don't let the surroundings intimidate you," Adam, replied as he glanced round at her, seeing her expression.

"That's easy for you to say," she dragged her eyes from the house in front of her to look at him, "I mean you were brought up in these kind of surroundings and you are used to them, I'm not. You have seen the area where I live, it's on the outskirts of a grotty council estate: that's the kind of surroundings I am used to"

"Well, 'Cinderella,' now you are going to have to get used to this," Adam motioned with a casual wave of his hand towards the house.

"I don't think I can," Rachel confessed with a worried frown. She reluctantly undid her seatbelt, and turned to him again, "Really Adam, I don't think I can do this!"

"Of course you can," Adam replied, at first he decided to dismiss her anxiety, but then noticed the open panic in her hazel eyes as she stared out the windscreen at the house; she seemed frozen in fear.

He reached out with his hand, now grasping her chin with his thumb and forefinger, then with gentle firmness, he forced her to look round into his brown eyes, "It is going to be alright, don't worry... just let me do most of the talking You don't have to do or say much, just smile and look pretty; ok?" He told her in a slow deliberate manner as if he was talking to a small child

Rachel swallowed hard, and managed a small nod

"Good girl, now all you have to remember is that we are madly in love," he then reminded her

"Right; we are madly in love," Rachel echoed as if to commit it to her memory, so she could concentrate on it.

She was so occupied trying to keep it on the forefront of her mind, that it took her completely off guard when she felt Adam's mouth clamp over hers in a rather demanding kiss, that left her lips warm and tingling when he finally released her..

She just stared at him dazedly

"I decided we should put in some practice, thought it might help" Adam told her straight faced, but she could see a devilish twinkle in his brown eyes

"I see," Rachel replied her voice sounding fainter than usual, but she discovered it seemed to have worked, because it had distracted her temporarily from her nerves as they got out of the car.

Rachel wasn't overly surprised to find door was opened by an elderly housekeeper, a plump woman, with permed grey hair, who beamed warmly at Adam as soon as her grey blue eyes caught sight of him, and whom Adam referred to as Ellie.

Those same grey blue eyes turned on Rachel and looked her up and down with open curiosity, as she let them enter into the long hallway.

Rachel found herself having to resist the urge to grab Adam's hand as he led her up the unfamiliar surroundings of the long hallway, then he finally opened one of the many doors leading of from it

Her first impression of the room as she stepped into it, was its great size and light stylish décor. The floor below her feet was polished oak floorboards, with beige patterned rugs covering certain area's. Across the room there was a huge fireplace with a log fire burning brightly in the grate giving it a sense of extra  warmth