There was something about the whole thing that puzzled him, though. She didn’t strike him as the fearful, dependent type. In fact, it was her air of independence and decisiveness that had drawn him to her. Why, then, did she insist that he go with her? It just did not add up.
And then there was the fact that she’d been so available. Immediately. Not that he minded. Like Jenna had said, he needed her like yesterday. But didn’t she have a family or obligations? He hadn't seen a ring so he guessed she wasn’t married and probably didn’t have kids but she had to have parents. She would certainly want to see them before leaving for a country so far away. And what about…a boyfriend?
“Now it’s my turn to ask you a question,” he said, and although he was dreading the answer he plunged right in. “Aren’t there people you need to say goodbye to? Your parents or…anyone else?”
“Nope,” she said, her voice firm in its finality. "Don’t have any parents, don’t have any pets, and don’t have a boyfriend.”
Well, that answered that. The boyfriend part at least. But no parents? "Forgive me for asking but...did your parents pass away?"
“My mom died,” she said, her face gone thoughtful and her voice quiet. “And my dad, well, let’s just say he’s been missing in action since I was three. That’s when my parents got divorced. I haven’t seen or heard from him since the day he moved out.”
Stone frowned. A deadbeat dad. No wonder Indie seemed so strong and self-sufficient. She’d had to be, surviving without a father. She’d probably had to fight her own battles all her life.
“Sorry to hear that.” What he was saying was inadequate but he couldn’t think of anything else that would show her that, to the extent that he could understand her life, he felt her pain.
She shrugged. “That’s okay. It was the best thing he ever did for us, walking out like that. At least I didn’t have to watch my mom crouching by the wall with blows raining down on her. Damned alcoholics.” She spat the words out in disgust.
Stone was feeling disgust, too – at himself. He’d gone and stirred up all sorts of bad memories with his stupid questions. The cross examination would end right here. He’d done enough damage for one night.
“Be ready to fly out day after tomorrow,” he said. As she opened her mouth to speak he put up a hand, stopping her. “I know you’re available as early as tomorrow but I need a day to tie up some loose ends before I move again. And besides,” he said, “you need the day to get your police record and drop into the clinic to get your shots.”
“Oh.” Her face fell. “Forgot about that.”
“There’s no great rush,” he said, trying to reassure her. “The day after tomorrow will be good enough for me. A lot earlier than I expected, actually. I thought you would tell me you’d need at least a few weeks to get ready for such a move. To tell the truth,” he shook his head, “I’m in shock. Your being ready to move right away seems almost too good to be true.”
For some reason that made her look flustered. “Oh, it’s just lucky timing, I guess.” She shrugged. “Maybe it’s fate.”
Stone chuckled. He could believe that. Everything was falling into place so easily for him, the stars must be lined up just right. And he wasn’t complaining.
Around a half hour later, after they’d gone through the details of the job, Stone walked Indie to her vehicle. As she turned toward him he looked down at her, at the lips that looked so soft and inviting. He kept that thought to himself. This had been a business meeting and he’d best remember that.
He put out his hand to her. “Thank you for agreeing to work with me on such short notice,” he said. “I really appreciate it.”
She looked down then slid her hand into his. Her fingers were warm, her handshake firm, and again that comfortable feeling flowed through him. This was a woman he could trust.
She jumped into the Land Rover and just like last time she gave him a wave. “See you in a couple of days.” Then she was off.
As she drove out of the parking lot he stood there staring after her. If Indie’s chameleon act was anything to go by, this trip to South Africa promised to be an interesting one. He was looking forward to what this mystery woman would do next.
CHAPTER FIVE
“You have to find lots of opportunities to catch him alone.” Tessa’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “If you can’t find opportunities, create them. Just do anything you can to get him alone with you.”
Skeptical, Indie shook her head. “I’ll do my best but there’s just so much you can do in four weeks. No, three and a half.”
“Just use the strategies I gave you,” Tessa pressed her.
“Yeah, like last time?” Indie grimaced. “I almost broke my behind walking in those high heels you put me in. It was darned embarrassing, too.”
“This is different, Indie. This time I’m not going to try to make you into something you’re not. No more makeup or high heels, I promise. You just have to remember these three little things.” She went and sat on the bed next to Indie, her face earnest. “If a girl wants to snag a man in the shortest possible time she has to use frequent proximity, inviting body language and attitude.”
Indie leaned back against the headboard and stared at her friend. “I get the frequent proximity and the body language part,” she said as she folded her arms across her chest, “but give me that attitude part again. I thought I had more than enough of that.”
“You’re not listening, Indie.” Tessa punched the bed with her fist. “I’m going to explain this one more time and you’d better listen because I’m not going through it again.” She scowled at Indie. “I swear, whenever I speak you have a filter in your head that holds on to some of the stuff and the rest, it just leaves by the wayside.”