The Professor (Forbidden Encounters 1)

Chuckling, I tell her, “I know what you mean. You don’t have to be nervous. You’re safe with me.” Hope she fully understands what I mean. She doesn’t have to worry about her family’s reputation with me. I’d never hold that against her. “Relax.”

“Okay.”

Resisting the urge to kiss her again, I drop my hand and smile. “Let’s get inside.”

Abigale Knight is one hell of a woman and I have my work cut out for me to show her, to prove that I don’t care about what her father did.

I care about her and who she is.

But damn it, she isn’t making it easy.

Chapter Seven

Abby

I hope I don’t look like a fool gawking at everything in Bryce’s house... mansion. The inside is doubly more impressive than the outside. I feel out of place and so out of his league but I’m trying to play it cool. I believed him when he said he didn’t care about my name. The sincerity was there in his eyes. The more I get to know him, the more I realize he’s genuinely a nice guy. Peeking at his profile through my lashes, I decide that I want to get to know him better.

I eye the expensive furniture and paintings as we make our way to wherever we’re going. My hand is resting on the arm that he’s offered again. He’s so thoughtful, such a gentleman. They don’t make many of those on my side of town.

“Your place is nice.” I’m feeling incredibly timid in his domain.

“Thanks. My mother loved the seclusion it offered. I didn’t know she left the place to me until she died.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I come here at least once a month for a weekend away from everything.”

“And everyone?”

He glances at me with a smile. “Precisely.”

That sounds nice. Having the luxury of getting away so often. I’d love to run away from Oak Valley at least one weekend every month.

“Maybe you can join me sometime.”

His offer catches me off guard and my steps falter. He’s talking as if he already knows we’re going to be all that serious. “You said one date to see how things go.”

“I’m an optimistic guy.”

He shrugs, and I can’t help laughing. I don’t respond to his offer, but I consider it. A weekend alone with Bryce in his mansion. It sounds nice, but I’m not going to get my hopes up. For all I know, dinner will be a disaster and he won’t want to see me again. Just like he’s an optimistic guy, I’m a skeptic when it comes to romance.

We enter a dining room and I gulp. It’s no longer just the two of us. There’s a woman dressed in black and white, waiting by a beautifully

set dining table. She looks about middle-aged. Her smile is warm and welcoming as she addresses Bryce. “Mr. Marshall, welcome back.”

“Thanks Greta.”

“Everything is in order as you requested. Dinner is ready.” She turns her smile on me. “Hello, welcome. I hope you enjoy your evening.”

I nod and smile shyly. Good grief, he has staff. Of course, he does. The woman disappears, and I can’t help accusing, “You said we’d have privacy.”

Bryce’s brows elevate. “We do. Greta and everyone else?”

“There’s more?”

“Sure. The chef, the?”

“I thought we’d be alone.” My anxiety is on the rise, and I start to fidget with my clutch purse. “Won’t they...talk?”