New Encounters (7 page)

‘Ok’ nodding away like a nodding dog.

I feel him let go of me and the warmth of his body leave me as he gets out of the car. It can’t have been long, but in that time I felt lost and alone. Even a little bit frightened. Ridiculous, I could take this off at any moment. My car door opens and I feel the breeze, and then the warmth of his touch again.

‘Bella, it’s just me.’ With that he guides me safely out of the car. Then he explains we are walking up some stairs. Oh I wish I could see where I was going. Maybe he has booked out another restaurant. I hope he has booked out wherever we are. I really don’t want a load of people staring at me wandering about with a blindfold on. They will think Robert has kidnapped me.

Robert guides me into a seat. It’s cold and feels like leather. Then he fastens something around my waste. He tells me he will not be a minute. Again, that minute feels like eternity. I don’t want him to leave me. I am not far of ripping this blindfold off, but then I can feel his presence. I can feel him coming towards me. How bizarre. He speaks

‘Bella, its me. I hope your going to love this.’

He puts his hand in mine.

‘It’s not a roller coaster is it Robert? I’m not going to love that.’

He breaks out into laughter and says

‘Oh you do make me laugh. Its definitely not a roller coaster. You can rest easy. I am going to put some ear muffs on you now. It will only be for 10 minutes. I will not let go of your hand. Just trust me’

‘Earmuffs?! Robert, you are starting to use up your trust tokens here.’

‘I will not let go of you. Remember at any time you can rip them off.’

I take another deep breath and say.
‘Fine. But not a minute more Robert’

‘I promise, not a minute more. I will even set the alarm on my watch to be sure its not a minute more’

‘You set that alarm! I won’t be able to hear it though will I? So keep your ears peeled.’

He laughed

‘Here we go’

Then the ear muffs were planted on my ears, and there was some music playing. Soft classical music which started to calm me down. He kept his hand on mine and stroked my knuckles. I can not believe I have let him do this. The usual me would never have allowed this. But I am just so captivated by Robert. I really do trust him. Is that possible? Trust in such a short space of time? Well it must be, because I do. I feel like we are magnets, totally drawn to each other. I feel some movement in my chair. But I decide not to focus on it and just keep calm and listen to the music. I wonder where we are going? Robert did as he said and he never left my side. The time flew by and before I knew it, he was taking the earmuffs off my head.

‘Hey sexy’

‘Robert, you are.... well I don’t know. But this definitely has never happened to me before. You get 10 out of 10 for being different.’

‘I hope I get 10 out of 10 on every level.’

So do I Robert.
My inner goddess was fist pumping the air. My ears are trying to pinpoint the continuing noise that is surrounding me.

CHAPTER 9

‘Are you ready for me to remove your blindfold?’

‘Ready as I will ever be’.

He took the blindfold off, and the light was so bright I had to blink many times over to adjust my eye sight. As I look around, I can feel my jaw involuntarily dropping to the floor.
‘Robert, are we on a plane?’

Stupid me has to point out the obvious.

‘We are indeed’ He is looking rather pleased with himself. I turn and look out of the window and I could see tiny lights below.

‘Oh my god, we are flying’

He laughs and says
‘We are Bella.’

Ok, he clearly thinks this is normal. What the hell. We are flying in the air in a small plane. He can see me quickly trying to come to terms with my surroundings.

‘We are going for dinner’

‘Was there something wrong with the car??’

Again he giggles at my sarcasm

‘The car is fine sweetheart. I thought it would be nice to have dinner somewhere different.’

‘I give in, where are we going?’

‘I thought it would be nice to have dinner in Paris’

I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, scream like a school kid or take my belt off and jump up and down like a 4 year old that finds herself in Willy wonka’s chocolate factory.

‘Robert, are you kidding me?’

‘Nope’ Oh wow, he looks so smug.

‘For me?’

‘Of course for you. I have brought you. Nothing less than what you deserve.’

My inner goddess is currently on her hands and knees thanking god.

‘Robert, I ... I don’t know what to say’

‘Well a kiss would be nice’

I smile and undo my belt and climb onto his lap. I kiss him.... and now its my turn to kiss him like its going to be my last. Then a hostess appears. A very blond and pretty hostess armed with champagne. She smiles at me and gazes at Robert. She can keep her dirty little mit’s off. Robert must have noticed my expression, and giggles.
‘What?’

‘Stop it, I can see the look on your face. In case you haven’t noticed, I only have eyes for one lady.’

‘Who might that be then?’

‘As if you didn’t know, its the lady that’s just been blindfolded. You should be careful, next time I might take advantage’

‘You should be careful Robert..... I might want you to take advantage’

He looks at me with pure lust. I can feel myself getting excited at the thought. I look at him from underneath my eyelashes.

‘Don’t look at me that way Bella.... or else I may just drag you to the bathroom and enrol you into the mile high club’.

‘I doubt I would complain Robert’

With that he leaned back and laughed

‘Tempted as I am Missy..... not yet.’

NOT YET?
Better not be too long, I’m not sure how long I can last without pouncing on him. I thought its supposed to be the woman’s job to prolong the agony, not the mans.

‘Bella.... soon enough. You will be all mine.’

‘Hmmm’
Two can play at that game Mister!

We arrive into Paris after the short flight and a chauffeur is waiting for us. Robert has picked a quaint but fantastic little restaurant. The wine is flowing, a different wine for each of the 7 courses. Robert wants to know so much, I barely get a chance to ask him anything.

‘Robert, enough of me. What is your family like?’

‘I have a small immediate family. I have a brother, my father and mother both passed away.’

‘Oh Robert I am so sorry’.

‘Ah Bella, it’s nothing for you to be sorry about. I have a very large extended family with many cousins.’ I really don’t want to press him on his family any more. So I decide to opt for the safe work option.

‘So you said you were in banking?’

He nearly choked and giggled at the same time.

‘Did I?’

‘Well you mentioned shares’

‘I am more of a broker. A middle man, who helps businesses come together. A bit of buying and a bit of selling. It’s very boring and too dull to talk about.’

‘Must pay very well Robert’

‘I work hard. I like to spend money.’ Clearly he does. I feel like I am dreaming. Am I really sat in Paris? Have I honestly come to Paris for tea? I really can’t digest all this. Not yet.

After dinner we are driven to the Eiffel tower. It looks truly breathtaking. I have never been to Paris before. Always dreamed of coming, and my dreams have come true and are even better. We walk along to the Eiffel tower, and why am I not surprised that Robert has arranged for us to go up the Eiffel tower. He has arranged a private viewing. We get up to the top and I can’t hide my excitement anymore and squeal like a child. He grabs hold of my waist and pulls me into him. Tight and secure. He gently rubs his nose against mine, before kissing me and announcing loudly with delight.

‘Perfect’

‘What’s perfect’ his delight is infectious and makes me grin.

‘You, this, tonight, everything. Just perfect. A perfect evening with my perfect woman.’

I take a deep intake of breath. Could it be that he is as smitten as I am? Could this really be the moment where I meet the man of my dreams and can safely take myself off that dreaded single list? ‘Thank you Robert’

He looks at me, with confusion in his eyes. ‘Thank me? No no no.... Bella ... thank you’

I pull out my phone and take a picture of us both awkwardly with one arm. We look at the photo and kiss once more. When we get down from the Eiffel tower I ask Robert to take a photo of me in front of the Eiffel tower which he does. I giggle and send it to Ash with a note on top saying.

*Going to be a little bit late tonight*

Robert shakes his head in amusement at my playful mood. We hold hands and walk back to the car. To my disappointment, my time in Paris is up.

‘What are you thinking of?’

‘I have really enjoyed tonight. So much so I don’t want it to end Robert. I was just thinking goodbye Paris’

‘Ah Bella..... this is just the beginning. We will be back again. So it’s not goodbye Paris, its see you soon Paris.’

That makes me smile. As we climb into the car my phone beeps.

*No friggin way. You are using a computer image aren’t you??*

*That’s for me to know and you to find out. See you later or tomorrow ;-)*

The ride back to the airstrip was quick. Before I knew it we were flying over England. Robert clinging onto my hand. We are sitting in the car on the way to my house and I can’t help but ask him ‘Why is it that when we were in Monaco and we had that first drink together, you pushed me away.’

He looked at me and tilted his head in a way that made me divulge more.

‘Well, you said Bella, you don’t want this.’

He took a deep breath and looked sad.

‘Oh Bella. The last thing I will ever do is push you away. I was torn thats all. ‘

‘Robert, you need to give me more than that.’

‘I was instantly attracted to you. In a way I had not felt before. My life can be somewhat complex. With business and money, the last thing I need is a relationship. Relationships are what I avoid. But with you, I find it.... how can I say this? Impossible. Yes, that’s the word. I find it impossible to stay away from you’

‘Oh’

I don’t know how I feel about this response. He avoids relationships? Well what is this about? But then I am relieved when I replay in my head that he finds it impossible to stay away from me.

‘So when did you last have a relationship? Why do you avoid them?’

‘I was seeing someone last year very briefly. But she wasn’t what I wanted, which I knew from the start. With you, I know I want you. I knew it from the first time I laid eyes on you. I have stayed away from relationships as I am particular in what I want in a woman. I don’t have time to waste as I am a very busy man. Sometimes women are attracted to me for money which is one of the reasons I need to be very careful.’

He is full of revelations. I don’t know what to think, but it sounds a reasonable enough explanation. He knows that he wants me. He means it as well, his eyes are burning into mine. So I just smile and lean my head on his shoulder. He is quick to put his arm around me and pulls me in close. He smells heavenly, and feels divine. The journey home is too quick, I could stay like this all night. I want to be in his arms all night. As we pull up outside my house, we get out of the car. My automatic reaction is to open the door and get out and he is quick to shake his head in disapproval.

‘Next time you wait for me to do that.’

‘Sorry’ But I can’t help but smile as I say it. I like the fact that he wants to look after me and treats me like a lady. I have never had a man do any of this for me before. He takes the keys out of my hand and puts them in the keyhole.

‘Are you coming in?’ Please say yes.... please please please

‘Not tonight Bella’

He can see the disappointment in my face and is quick to react. He places cups my face in his hands and strokes my cheeks gently with his thumbs. So gently I can barely feel his touch.