And itwasunwanted, because Radd was who and what she didn’t need. Having just rid herself of two bossy people, she did not want another super confident, autocratic, overbearing person in her life.
No matter how gorgeous, sexy, hot and rich he was….
And man, he was stupidly rich.
Brin sighed. While she’d been exposed to her sister’s rich-ish existence, it was nothing compared to Radd’s billionaire lifestyle, and she didn’t know how to operate in such a rarified world. Few, she imagined, would. Nor did she want to, money wasn’t what drove her. Being accepted, feeling like she belonged, did. Radd’s universe—rich, opulent and excessive—wasn’t what she was looking for.
It wasn’t where she belonged. It would gobble her up and spit her, and her battered and bruised heart, out. It was a scenario she’d prefer to avoid, thank you very much.
Oh, and she was kind of…sort of…keeping a secret from him. But, since it wouldn’t impact their deal, she could live not telling him about Kerry’s and Naledi’s stupid feud.
Hands off him, Brinley Riddell, no matter how much you want to touch. Just do your job, get paid and slide out of his life.Brin glanced at her watch, squinting at the dial in the ultra-low light.You have to be here for another twenty or so hours, surely you can control your heart and your mind and your hands for that long?
And her mouth! For someone who’d always had a problem talking back, her mouth was working at supersonic speed. What was up with that?
Brin caught the glimpse of lights between the trees and, as Radd steered the vehicle up a steep hill, the lights became brighter and bolder. He turned to the left and there, on the edge of a cliff, sat an impressive building that looked like part of the landscape. Brin looked beyond the building to the plain, stretching out for many miles below. Her breath caught and, taking in the exceptional view, all thoughts of seeing Radd naked faded away.
Radd stopped the car and they took in the vista as the blood-red sun dipped below the horizon. She could see animals moving slowly across the plain but, because they were too far away, couldn’t identify the creatures.
This was Africa: wild, vast and incomprehensively beautiful.
Far too soon, Radd accelerated away and parked the vehicle closer to the entrance of the lodge. He half turned in his seat to face her. “My manager, Mari, will meet you inside and, after getting you settled into your room, she’ll show you what you have to do and where you can work. The lodge is empty at the moment, you will be the only guest tonight. The chef has prepared supper for you and Mari will be on hand to bring you anything you require—food, snacks, tools, wire, whatever you need.”
“Oh, um… I thought you’d be staying here, too,” Brin said. Not sure whether to be pleased or disappointed, Brin nibbled the inside of her cheek. Being alone would give her some time to shore up her defenses, to get her head on straight.
But being alone would mean not being with Radd. Her body very much wanted to be near Radd, stupid thing.
“There are guest rooms within the lodge and a handful of suites. My personal suite, we call them villas, is at the far end of the property.” Radd ran his hands through his hair in an impatient gesture. “Let’s clear the air, Brin,”
Brin wrinkled her nose.Ack, a conversation starting with those words rarely went well.
Radd rested his forearms on the steering wheel and stared past the hood of the vehicle to the dark shadows beyond. Brin followed his gaze and saw him looking at an expansive deck. Brin saw dark water and realized the entertainment area ended in a large infinity pool, its water seeming to tumble off the side of the cliff.
Oh, wow, she couldn’t wait to see Kagiso Lodge in daylight. It would, she was sure, live up to all her expectations.
“For some strange, inexplicable reason, you seem to be forgetting you are here to work, Miss Riddell. I am paying you an extraordinary amount of money to arrange flowers. You are here to do a job.”
Brin’s eyes slammed into his and the deep navy, almost black, eyes were harder than she’d ever seen them. His lips were now thin slashes in his face and a deep frown pulled her attention to his hard-as-granite eyes.
He was acting as if she were the only one who’d enjoyed their kiss, like she’d thrown herself at him, like she was at fault.Seriously?
“Are you reminding yourself or me?” Brin demanded, once again surprised at her fast response and lack of deference. She really didn’t recognize this mouthy person!
Radd just stared at her, his expression inscrutable. She’d known him for just a few hours, but she didn’t like him hiding behind that enigmatic expression.
Don’t rock the boat, Brin, just swallow the hot words in your throat. Just exit the vehicle and walk away.
But that was what she always did, and this time she wanted a reaction. She refused to slink into the shadows, happy to accept the blame for something that wasn’t her fault. Maybe she’d grown a spine since leaving Johannesburg.
“Might I remind you that you kissed me, that your hands were on my butt, your fingers slid under the band of my panties? I was not alone in the madness. I know why I am here,Mr. Tempest-Vane. I haven’t forgotten, not for a minute. But don’t you dare pretend, oh-so-suddenly, that the attraction is all on my side.”
Radd released an irritated sigh, his broad shoulders lifting and falling. “Fine, our kiss got out of hand, I’ll admit you are right, Iamattracted to you. But I’m damned if I’m going to do anything about it.” Radd muttered. “You’re not my type, you’re too…”
Oh, this should be good. “I’m too… What?”
She heard the whoosh of his breath, what might have been a hot curse followed by the word “dangerous.” He thought she was dangerous? That couldn’t be right. What threat could she pose to Radd Tempest-Vane?
“Go on in, Brinley,” Radd said. “Mari is inside, she’ll sort you out.”