Page 13 of Abigail's King
“I wasn’t. I thought that as we wouldn’t be coming back for a while, we could take this to my place. Saves it from going bad. Also, I don’t tend to drink coconut milk, so I knew I would need to bring that with me.”
I passed her coffee over to her as she sat down at the island in the middle of the kitchen, watching me as I packed everything away.
“Are you sure you don’t have a woman waiting at home for you? You seem to be very tidy and domesticated for a bachelor.”
I laughed thinking how I had been brought up by my mum.
“What’s so funny?”
“I was just thinking about my mum. Even though as a Portuguese woman she was expected to be the homemaker and look after my father and children, she brought us up to be respectful of women and to understand they are more than just carers, that they deserve to be pampered as well. My father wasn’t a tyrant like some of his friends. He did help with the house and look after us, but he was still from that old mindset. I guess my mum wanted us to be different. Wanted us to realise how important the women in our lives were. I know my dad loves my mum, but he wasn’t the best at caring for her.”
“So you are from Portugal, then?”
“Yes. Well, the island of Madeira, actually. But it’s been a long time since I was last there. Things weren’t good between me and my family when I left.”
I paused for a second, thinking how I had walked out of the door with my bags the same evening Mateus had announced his engagement to Sofia. The pain was still there. I didn’t hate my family. I hated myself for what I both had and hadn’t done.
I felt a hand rest on top of mine, and the sparks were there again. I shot my head around and I found her eyes gazing into mine again, a sad look in them. I couldn’t help but allow my gaze to fall down to her luscious lips. I was desperate to taste them. But I had to get a grip on myself. No matter how much I wanted her, I couldn’t have her. She was a job, one that I couldn’t mess up with emotions and feelings. I had to keep telling myself that. Along with the fact that she would only leave me for another man like the rest of them.
She pulled away her hand from mine and smiled at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bring up bad memories. Let’s finish our coffee and we can head over to your place. I’m intrigued to see it. I have a feeling it is going to be far superior to this place.”
I was so grateful that she had removed her hand. Much longer, and I would have been taking her into the bedroom and acting out all the fantasies I’d had in my dreams the past two weeks since first seeing her.
This was going to be a tough assignment. But come what may, I was going to get through it.
