Page 8 of How to Undo the Proud Billionaire

And, frankly, Radd’s impending marriage was a relief. She didn’t believe in coloring outside the lines, hers or anyone else’s, and his engagement meant she could, shewould, stop thinking about whether his bottom lip was as soft as it looked, whether he had a six-or eight-pack, and whether he sported hip muscles sexy enough to make a girl weep.

Brin placed her chin on her hands and tried to make sense of her raging attraction to Radd Tempest-Vane. He was gorgeous, ripped, sexy…

Any normal woman with a pulse would be attracted to him. But he belonged to someone else and Brin Riddell didn’t poach.

Besides, Brin wasn’t looking to become involved with anyone, anywhere. She was just starting to reconnect with herself, to work out who she was away from her dominating sister and mother, and any type of relationship would jeopardize any progress she’d made.

Kerry’s light had always shone so much brighter than hers, and competing was impossible. Brin always felt like she stood on the outside of her family circle, knew her longing to be accepted had always beenher driving force.

But it was like trying to shove a square peg in a round hole and she’d twisted herself up into complicated knots asking for something they’d never be able to give her, so she had to look to herself for what she needed.

Now, after months of being away from them, she was feeling less anxious, a lot braver—she would never have jumped on an offer like Radd’s six months ago!—and a tad more resilient.

Best of all, her heart, battered and bruised, was starting to heal. And she’d never risk it again. Any type of involvement—physical or emotional or a combination of both—with a man like Radd, who was tough, hard and alpha to the tips of his toes, would be the equivalent of asking someone to use her heart as a bowling ball.

Not happening.

Brin rolled her shoulders and twisted her head from side to side. She’d veered off into thinking about her past and that annoyed her, Brin didn’t live there anymore. She needed to concentrate on the fact that Radd Tempest-Vane was offering her the opportunity to be completely free of her family. She’d be a fool to allow him to see her attraction or allow it to derail this amazing opportunity.

She just needed to calm down and think rationally, drink some water and rehydrate. Maybe she needed some food.

Her stomach rumbled in agreement and Brin smiled. No, shedefinitelyneeded some food.

And—she eyed her suitcase—she needed to dress. Then she would walk back to Radd and ask him what he and his bride wanted her to do with the flowers waiting for her at Kagiso Lodge.

And maybe, if she asked nicely, the lovely steward with the gorgeous brown eyes would bring her something to eat.

Radd looked up at the sound of the door to the master suite opening and watched Brinley walk into the lounge area of the jet, dressed in an ivory-and-pink sleeveless dress printed with huge flowers. Her makeup was light but expertly applied and she’d pulled her hair back into a tail, making her cheekbones look more defined than they already were.

Radd squirmed as the jet lurched and bounced. He gripped the arm of his chair, irritated his captain hadn’t warned him about turbulence. Then, he realized Brinley hadn’t reacted to the dip and sway of the plane. He glanced out of the window and saw the clear blue sky and reluctantly admitted it was the woman in front of him making his stomach dive. It had nothing to do with the weather, the plane or the pilot.

Radd leaned sideways to take another look out the window, struck by the dry beauty of the Karoo landscape miles below. He’d done this trip a hundred times, more, but he’d never noticed the beautiful, arid landscape was touched by patches of green and purple. His country, Radd admitted, had its problems, but God, it was so beautiful.

He couldn’t wait to get to Kagiso, though this trip would be less relaxing than usual thanks to his sexy companion and the wedding party due to descend on Monday.

But at least he had a day and two nights to enjoy Kagiso, the favorite of all his properties. He loved the bush and the animals, but he was honest enough to admit that he also adored Kagiso because there were no memories of his parents associated with the ranch.

No fights, no strange people in wrong beds, no loud music, fights and screaming accusations. The cops had never arrived at Kagiso, no divorces had been demanded or hospital visits required.

Unlike their family home, the two-hundred-year-old farmhouse set among ancient vines, Kagiso was never mentioned in the newspapers or the tabloids.

Digby didn’t care so much but he loathed being talked about, hated gossip. The only news coverage he was prepared to tolerate was related to business or his role as co-CEO of Tempest-Vane holdings.

Radd shifted in his chair, uncomfortable. He tried not to think of the past but, occasionally, he did find himself wishing for the moon: that Jack was still alive, that his parents had loved their sons more than they loved money, the attention of the press, and their constant pursuit of pleasure, that his father hadn’t plundered, stripped and sold their heritage…

But the past couldn’t be changed, so looking back was futile. It was far better to think of nothing at all, it was easier not to remember, to stay numb. And the best way to do that was to concentrate on work.

And that was why he was on a plane flying north, forwork.

And Brinley was just another person who’d dropped into his life for twenty-four hours. The day after next she’d be a memory, a week from now she’d be forgotten. He had a mine to buy, a PR and rebranding exercise to plan, and a company to expand.

He wouldn’t countenance any distractions.

No matter how sexy they were.

Radd, sitting on the far end of the four-seater couch, gestured for Brinley to take the chair to the right of him, thinking it was better to keep the source of temptation at a safe distance. Brinley sat down, crossed her long, lovely legs and Skye, his steward, hurried forward to ask her if she required more Prosecco.

Brinley refused alcohol and asked for sparkling water. Then she gestured to the fruit bowl on the table in front of them. “Do you mind? I missed lunch and I’m starving.”

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