Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 16

"I'm so sorry," she murmured nervously. Would he tell her to leave? Would she have to go wake up her daughter and find her way back to the hotel now?

He finally opened his eyes and looked at her, the heat in his gaze subdued somewhat. Reaching up, his fingers caressed her cheek, and she leant into the warmth, hoping he'd understand. "Do you want to leave?" he asked.

"Yes, no... I don't know," she confessed. "But maybe I should?"

He shook his head slightly. "You don't have to. Stay and have breakfast with me. You can stay in the other spare room."

"I think I'd like that," she smiled, a wave of relief washing over her at his seeming acceptance of her decision. He wasn't pushing her into it, nor was he angry like she'd expected him to be. He wasn't like any man she'd met before and the fact he'd respected her decision like that made her fall for him just a little bit more. A dangerous move, she knew, but she couldn't help it.

His hand moved to the back of her head and drew her to him to kiss her again. This time softly and with no pressure for more.

He linked his hand with hers as he broke the kiss. "Come and I'll get you settled in the spare room. Then I'm going for a seriously long swim."

She giggled against his lips. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," his lips brushed hers between words. "I'm not going to pressure you into anything, Soph."

She pulled back slightly to look into his honest grey eyes. "You don't know what that means to me."

He gave her a quick reassuring smile and brushed his lips on hers once more before he stood up, tossing her underwear at her. "I think these belong to you," he murmured playfully, his voice still strained.

"You're up early," Tom whispered, bending down to kiss her.

"The downside of being a parent," Sophie shrugged as she indicated to Jasmine sitting on the ground in front of her, happily playing with her toys. She'd been up for an hour already, sitting out on the patio looking out over Tom's pool and the quiet beach below as she sipped her coffee. It was still very early, but the walkers were already going up and down the beach.

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair before fixing her with an intense look that had her stomach tighten in anticipation. "I know this is crazy, we've only known each other a week, but I've never felt like this."

"What?" she spluttered. As much as she'd love more, and dreamt of more. She'd known it was just a holiday fling all along. Wasn't it?

"I don't want you go, Soph," he took her hands and leant in towards her. "Not without me. I don't want this to end."

She stared at him, completely stunned and not entirely sure she wasn't dreaming. Or at least not hearing correctly. He couldn't have just said what he had.

"Marry me?"

Was Tom really suggesting they get married? Sophie stared at him, unable to move. Unable to process the words. Getting married wasn't part of her plans. She'd given up on that childish dream long ago.