She didn’t know how, just that it would.
Lex looked back to see that Cole was working on his laptop, giving her the time and space she needed. And she couldn’t ignore the fact that driving Cole to Rhodes would earn her more than she usually made in six weeks. It was an extraordinarily good deal and it was the opportunity to do what she most wanted: get on the road, drive and clear her head.
She frowned at Cole, wondering if he was taking the long trip for her. No, that was silly, why would he put himself out for her? Sure, he’d kissed her, but he wouldn’t change all his plans, take days out of his very busy schedule, to give her the road trip he’d heard she wanted. It was madness to think that way. No, it was just a coincidence. She liked to drive and he needed a driver because he was scared of small planes and helicopters. She squinted at Cole, thinking that such a big, powerful, rugged man didn’t look as though he’d be scared of anything.
They couldn’t be more different. He was a billionaire who lived in London and had houses and companies around the world, someone who socialised with celebrities, politicians, the pretty and the powerful. She was a twenty-eight-year-old woman who was all but broke, who was trying to give her sisters the stable childhood she’d never had and part-time student who couldn’t find enough time to finish her degree. Why was he even attracted to her and she to him?
It made no sense.
Sure, he was a great-looking guy, masculine and attractive rather than simply handsome, with a face and body that demanded a second or third look. And, for some strange reason, he found her, with her intensely freckled face and bright hair, attractive too. And, yes, she really wanted to spend the next few days with him.
But it was dangerous. With him, she felt there was a barrier between her and the world, and whoever wanted to take a piece out of her would have to go through him first, and that Cole would put up a huge fight. She felt protected and feeling that, liking it, was incredibly risky. She was the protector, not the protected.
Lex pushed her hand into her hair and bit down on her bottom lip. She hadn’t been looking for him, for any of this. She’d been content in her isolation, in being with the girls, in her woman-dominated world. Because Joelle hopped from one man to another, from one situation to another, she’d learned to protect herself by standing still, by not letting anything or anyone touch her, because she was terrified of letting someone in and having them walk away. She’d mentally distanced herself from anyone but her sisters, keeping her world ultra-small.
But Cole tempted her as no one had before, luring her to explore the world outside her bubble. She felt as if her eyes were opening, her fists were unclenching, her wings unfurling. She didn’t like it.
‘It’ll be okay, Lex, I promise.’
She turned to look at him and saw the almost tender expression on his face, the warmth in his eyes.
‘Are you in or out, Lex?’
‘I’m in.’
She’d all but agreed to the possibility of having an affair with a London-based billionaire boss. She hoped she’d made the right decision.
After what seemed like hours of travelling on a dirt road that hugged the curves of a series of mountains, they rolled into Rhodes, a tiny town comprised of a series of pretty Victorian cottages, with Lex behind the wheel. It was only four in the afternoon, but the day was already sliding into twilight, not helped by the massive mountain looming over the town and the low-hanging, dark clouds.
They’d left Cape Town yesterday afternoon and it had taken them for ever to get out of the city. They’d shared the driving and it had been after eleven when they’d rolled into Colesberg. They’d both been exhausted by the long drive in the driving rain and had been unable to do anything but murmur a quiet goodnight before retreating to their separate rooms.
They hadn’t kissed again, and Lex missed his lips and wanted his arms around hers. She was deeply conscious of every move Cole made, every breath he took. She looked at his hands, one holding his phone, the other resting on his thigh, eager to have them on her body, his mouth on hers.
Would they make love tonight?
She hoped so.
They had limited time together—she didn’t want to waste a minute of it.
On the main street, one of what seemed to be just a few streets in the town, cars were parked nose to nose and bumper to bumper. Down the street, an empty lot held a stage and they noticed a group of people swaying to the sounds of a band. Everyone was dressed for winter weather, except one old man who simply wore a jacket over his pair of shorts. He also wore flip flops on his feet.
Unbelievable.
Seeing a car coming up behind them, Lex indicated to turn left and braked to allow an elderly couple cross the road, both wearing matching yellow beanies. They passed the hood of Cole’s car and then, without discussion, turned to walk up to her window. Lex pushed the button to allow the window to drop and pulled up a smile.
‘Hi there,’ she said, resting her elbow on the windowsill. Damn, it was cold out there.
‘Hi, are you the people heading up to Rossdale?’
Lex greeted the couple and nodded, asking them how they knew. ‘It’s a very small town and all the residents were asked to look out for a fancy car due in around about now.’
‘Why?’ Cole asked. He leaned towards her window and his face was inches from hers, so close that she could see each long, individual eyelash, a scar on his upper lip and that his eyes held flecks of green. He smelled of the woods and the sea, as fresh and clean as the icy air. Talking about being cold, she wished they’d wrap up this conversation because she was freezing. And, damn, was that a splodge of mushy ice on her windscreen?
‘The couple who manage the place left earlier this morning on their way to a doctor. They think Bheki cracked his ankle.’ The woman pulled a bright sticky note from her jacket pocket and handed it to Lex. ‘They got to town and realised they left their work phone at the resort, so we’ve been on the lookout for you. Here’s the code to the front door. Lerato will try to be back some time mid-morning. You’re the only guests.’
Cole pulled back and looked at Lex. ‘We can look for a place to stay in town and take a drive up there in the morning.’
That sounded like a plan. She couldn’t wait for a hot bath, to get into something warm and to have a decent meal, maybe soup or stew, in front of a roaring fire. A glass of red wine would be her reward for getting them here safely.