Ch 13: So do I

Yet something told her there was more, "Yes, Alice, stability, companionship, a job, but what about children? What if I want children?" She thought saw a brush of color rise to his cheeks as she felt it rise to hers.

It was an intimate conversation, one she thought she'd never had with her cousin's best friend, but it had to be broached.

"Do you?" he said softly. Something in his gaze flickered, but before she could catch it, it was gone, "No….Yes, of course."

She admitted shyly. He swallowed, and agreed, "Of course you do. So do I." "So if I said yes to your proposal," she paused gathering the courage to continue feeling her heart beginning to thunder in her chest, "You and I would have to be intimate at some point." "I suppose."

Lord, he isn't making this easy. She felt as if every inch of her skin was on fire with embarrassment to bring up such a subject with her cousin's best friend.

She was doing all of the talking and he was letting her. Finally, he spoke after a moment of intense unnerving silence between them and seem to understand how awkward she was feeling.

He looked past her, over her head for a moment, "Discussing this in the foyer isn't appropriate." Without hesitation, he reached over and took her hand and led her to a large sitting room.

It didn't even occur to her to protest. Owen had never touched her without reason before. His hand was warm and practically engulfed hers.

She didn't miss the heated tingling sensation his touch gave her either. However, she was much too nervous to pay it any more heed than beyond noticing.

He led her to a taupe sofa and after she seated, he sat facing her with his arm across the back while propping his ankle on the knee of his other leg.

To Abigail, he looked as relaxed as if he was watching television when she was a bundle of nerves. So much for her thinking, he was just as uncomfortable.

However the pose he struck certainly made her uncomfortable. Could he possibly look any more handsome?

"First, you're right. I have done a great deal of thinking on all of this. More than a year's worth. You may not think so Abigail, but you'd be a perfect model wife for me. You are honest, easy to get along with…" As a puppy, she thought as he continued.

"…And I was serious when I said I need that in my life. I don't have time to court a woman or worry if I can trust her or not. I won't lie and say that this would be a whirlwind romance, because I don't have time for it. My work schedule doesn't allow for it.

As my Assistant, and my wife, I can spend time with you and I won't have to worry about not trusting you in both aspects." "The intimacy…" she cleared her throat.

The subject was more than uncomfortable, but she had to bring it up again. He titled his head at her ever so slightly and his eyes flashed something odd while he studied her as if looking for something in her expression. Abigail however, thought he was completely, utterly irresistible.

The man had an uncanny sense of how to look gorgeous without even trying. In a gesture that completely surprised her, his hand came up and brushed her jaw causing her eyelids to flutter. This wasn't a touch of comfort or compassion. It was a blatant caress.