“No way. From here we’re closer to Joburg. Better to keep going.” He laughed again. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head. I’ll get you there safe and sound.”
Indie rolled her eyes again. “I give up,” she said and flopped back down into the seat. Now that Stone had found his way he was all macho man again. She didn’t have the heart to remind him that she was the one who had taken them back to their route. “Wake me when we get there,” she said in a grumpy growl as she tried to block out Stone’s whoops of relief.
Surprisingly, within fifteen minutes of their finding the trail they flew onto an asphalted road and then five minutes later they hit the highway to the city.
“Yeah!” Stone did not hide his exultation as they cruised toward their salvation. Indie swore silently that she would never let Stone drive her across the South African plains again. If there wasn’t a driver to take her to the city, she wasn’t going anywhere.
CHAPTER NINE
Stone was in love. He stood in the middle of his hotel room, as na**d as the day he was born, and he was grinning from ear to ear.
Earlier this evening he’d seen his life flash before his eyes, the possibility of being devoured by wild animals a stark reality, and then, like a true warrior princess, Indiana Lane had come to the rescue.
He couldn’t believe he was here celebrating being rescued by a woman. Hell, he should be ashamed of himself, getting lost like that. But in the end maybe it had been a good thing because it was that nerve-racking situation that had shown him what a rock Indie really was. He’d never met a woman like her in his life.
She’d shocked him with her calm composure in the face of probable death. And death by lion was not a pretty way to go. Instead of his having to calm a hysterical woman it was she who had kept a level head and kept him going.
To say he admired her was an understatement. And to say he loved her was the truth.
He’d felt it before tonight, of course. That first touch had been the start, and then that first kiss, and then that night when he’d almost gone a whole lot farther than just kissing. But tonight…
Tonight he’d seen a side of her that touched his core. She was honest, she was true and she was brave. And he wanted her in his life. But the big question was, would she have him? They’d known each other less than a month. If he told her how he felt would she really take him seriously? Questions, questions, questions. He shook his head. He would sleep on it and tomorrow he’d decide what to do. They planned to be up early next morning to visit Jenna and her new baby. And then he’d see what the day would hold.
******
“Isn’t she adorable?” Indie cooed as she held little Jessica Diamond Pringle in her arms. She shifted the baby to the crook of her arm and angled her so Stone could get a good look.
“She’s beautiful,” he said, and reached out to pat the tightly swaddled baby on its tiny pink hospital cap. He looked almost afraid to touch her. "And so tiny.”
Jenna laughed as Kirk helped her sit up in the hospital bed. “The way she eats she won’t be tiny for much longer. She gets that from her father.”
“Hey.” Kirk tried to sound hurt but the wide smile on his face spoiled it.
“Congratulations, Kirk.” Stone reached out and shook his hand. “Great work.”
“Great work?” Jenna looked indignant. “What part of the work did he do? I’m the one who looked like a cow for nine months and then had to be cut open. Sheesh!”
They all laughed at that and Indie leaned over to place Jessica in her mother’s arm.
She and Stone had arrived at the hospital as soon as visiting hours began at ten o’clock and had been with the happy family almost two hours. She looked at Stone and caught his eye. He got the message.
“We’re going to leave you now so mommy and baby can get some rest.” He reached over and took Indie’s hand. She almost pulled it away. What must Kirk and Jenna be thinking, seeing something like that? But when she looked at them they were so engrossed in the baby it seemed they hadn’t noticed a thing.
Then she looked back at Stone. Boy, he was acting strange today. He’d been smiling a whole lot more than usual. Maybe he just loved babies. But then he’d captured her hand in his – in front of Jenna and Kirk – and when she tried to slip from his grasp he’d held on tight.
Could it be…no, it couldn’t. There was no way. But – it was the weirdest thing – Stone was acting like a man in love.
She had no time to dwell on that, though, because he was pulling her toward the door.
“Bye, guys,” Jenna called out. “Thanks for coming and thanks for the presents.”
After the visit they had lunch in the exclusive Palais Royale Restaurant and then spent the afternoon together in the National Botanical Park. Then that evening as the sun was setting and they entered the hotel lobby Stone rested his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him.
“Indie,” he said, looking down at her with a half smile on his lips, “I had a wonderful day. I don’t want it to end.”
She looked up into his face and smiled back. “Me, too,” she whispered.
“Will you have dinner with me tonight? There’s…something I’d like to say to you.”
Oh my God. Was the dream coming true? Indie had to fight to keep her face serene when what she really wanted to do just then was hop up and down in delight. “I would love to,” she said, her voice calm, her smile just a little bit wider, but not too much.
She hadn’t forgotten Tessa’s lecture – you’re a princess. Let him prove himself worthy of you. Act too eager and he’ll take off running. Let him come to you.
“Great. Seven o’clock, then?”
“Let’s make it seven-thirty,” she replied. If she was guessing right tonight was going to be a special night and she needed to be ready.
“Seven-thirty it is.”
Back in her hotel room Indie showered and slipped on the one dress she’d packed for the trip. It was a simple dress, but elegant – a ‘little black dress’ with a difference. Tessa had helped her pick this one out – spaghetti straps that showed off her shoulders, a V neckline that dipped deliciously low to show off just a hint of cle**age, a skirt that hugged her h*ps and tapered to her knees, and that one touch that never failed to draw male eyes to her legs – the slit at the side that went high enough to be alluring while maintaining that ever important air of decorum.