by Allen, Jewel
“The Mokoro,” Phillip said. “Made of the traditional Mokoro tree, but nowadays we use fiberglass. Once we dock, please step out carefully. Your Mokoro pilots, Tenzi and Bernard, will help you out. Please hang tight.”
Once docked, Michael got out first and turned to help the children. Lara took his hand too, his touch doing crazy things to her, though this time she knew better than to look into his eyes. Once on land, she ignored her racing pulse and let go.
Their pilots helped them into their canoes. Michael took Lizzie in his Mokoro while Lara took Mick. The ride was peaceful and calm, a bit on the hot side with the sun bearing down on them and without the breeze from a speedy boat. The water was a glassy dark-green, with colorful lily pads and buzzing insects. A frog blinked as it clung to a tall blade of water grass, and then it hopped back onto the bank.
Lara turned her face to the sun, loving the relaxing pace, and soon they were abreast of the boys. Mick dipped his hand in the water and splashed Michael, who laughed and splashed him back.
Michael’s eyes met Lara’s, that wall coming down for one minuscule moment, reminiscent of their budding friendship, and then she forced it back up.
Best to not get familiar again.
The waterway narrowed further until it was just a tiny ribbon wide enough for one Mokoro. Lara and Mick’s pilot, Tenzi, poled the Mokoro onto the flattened bank of reeds and helped them out. The second canoe followed, and Lizzie squealed as Michael swung her out of their canoe.
Tenzi took them around the island while Bernard, the other pilot, stayed behind with the boats. Tenzi wore flip flops and a pair of jeans, topped with a faded T-shirt. On his behalf, Lara worried about thorns on his vulnerable feet, but he seemed to have no trouble navigating the wild terrain. He pointed out piles of elephant dung in a clearing and cocked his head, listening intently.
“Sometimes, they are still here. Keep your eyes peeled.”
“Or your nose unblocked,” Michael quipped.
Lara tried to not laugh but failed. Their glances locked and skittered away.
Playing with a braid, Lara willed her breath to calm.
For several minutes, they hiked around the perimeter of the island until they came into a huge clearing.
Lizzie tugged on Lara’s hand. “Yes, sweetheart?” Lara asked.
Lizzie pointed. “‘lephants!”
There, in the far corner, was a herd of elephants. Three of them—two grown ones and a young one. Truly magnificent.
Michael shot several pictures while the rest of them watched in awed silence. And then, just as dramatically as they appeared, the elephants slipped back into the jungle.
“Wow,” Lara said, releasing her breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
Tenzi had a picnic lunch for them at the end of the island tour—huge ham and cheese sandwiches and an apple. Simple but filling.
The docking area was in the shade of towering trees which had a strange circular fruit. “Breadfruit,” Tenzi explained.
He took a lily pad that had been sticking out of his pocket and formed it into a hat, accented with a lily flower.
“For the gentleman,” Tenzi said, handing it to Michael.
“Thank you.” Michael held it like a bouquet.
Tenzi shook his head. “No, you put it on your head. Like a hat.”
“Ah.” Michael put it on dutifully.
“And for you, miss,” Tenzi said, handing Lara a flower. “You hold this.” He glanced from one to the other. “You two are married, yes?”
Lara’s cheeks warmed. “No.”
Michael’s eyes flickered toward her, filled with an expression she couldn’t read, and then he glanced at the ground.
“But you want to be, yes?” Tenzi waggled his brows. “We will marry you, Botswana-style.”
Lara backed up a step. “Oh, but—”
“It will be fun,” Tenzi said, looking from one to another. “Nothing official. Do not worry.”
“All right.” Lara still felt uneasy anyway.
“Great,” Tenzi said, standing between them. “The children can be our audience. Come, children, circle around them.”
Lizzie and Mick came up with their stuffed animals, watching them with curiosity.
Tenzi turned to Michael. “What animal did you hunt? The lion or the leopard?”
Michael frowned. “What animal?”
Tenzi leaned forward and whispered, “Just pretend you hunted.”
“Oh.” Michael thought for a minute. “Leopard.”
“You are brave. The leopard is tough. That proves you are a real man.” He handed Michael a necklace made of lily flowers and stems.
“Now it is time to exchange gifts,” Tenzi said. He gestured for Lara to give Michael the flower, while Michael put the garland around Lara’s neck.
Michael’s fingers brushed against the sides of her neck, making her shiver with pleasure.
Tenzi sang in a beautiful strong baritone, “Humela, humela, chiki chiki chamba... Repeat after me while dancing.”
Lara and Michael followed, awkwardly at first. Soon, their steps quickened and became loose, bigger. Lara held the children’s hands and swayed with them. They giggled.
“And now you are married.” Tenzi grinned at Michael and then Lara. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Their eyes met over the children’s heads. There was no way Michael could kiss her without having to lean in.
Something sparked in Michael’s eyes. Mischief, that was what it was. Lara wanted to run off, back to the Mokoro and back to safety, but he snagged her hand. Stepping between the children, he reached for Lara.
His head dipped, and she puckered up automatically.
She wasn’t prepared for the kiss that came.
An honest-to-goodness, weak-kneed kind of kiss. The kind that happened between people passionately in love. Her heart pounded with exhilaration as he brought her to a faraway shore, where he coaxed that she fling away the oars and trust him.
As he pulled her close, sensations as wild as the African savanna swirled around her. A drumbeat pulsed in her veins as his kiss deepened and explored.
She melted against him and clung for dear life until he released her, his gray eyes turbulent like a stormy sky.
Wow.
What. Was. That?
Tenzi’s grin had widened even more.
The children—
Oh, the children! In the heat of the kiss, Lara had forgotten about them. She gathered them together, as a mother hen would gather her chicks.
If nothing else, to hide her flaming face.
Chapter 18
Michael was sure Lara was going to throw a fit. Something. But she simply staggered back. Just like he felt, no doubt.
What a kiss.
He could have kept kissing her. She was pliant and willing enough. But when he surfaced for air, she was already turning to the children.
Oh dear. He had kissed his nanny.
And he didn’t feel the least bit guilty.
Well, maybe a little.
To her, it probably didn’t mean anything, but to him...
Man, he wanted another one. And another. Until the end of time.
He could really dig marrying her. But first, if they could even date...
He hurried to help Lara into her Mokoro. Even though she wouldn’t look at him, he was sure she was affected by his nearness, as she drove him crazy with hers. Her nostrils flared, and her lovely cheeks bloomed.
Tonight, he would tell her over dinner—
Then he groaned silently. Yeah, the dinner with Esther to talk about his service project in Zambia.
A guy just couldn’t get a break.
They got back in the motorboat in their original seating positions. On their way to the resort, Michael reveled in her nearness. He willed her to look over her shoulder, but she refused to do so.
He couldn’t really blame her. He had pushed the issue, kissing her, and now he was in hot water.
At the resort
, she got out in a hurry, taking the children with her.
“Lara,” Michael called out.
She froze and then turned her sun-kissed face toward him.
“Can we talk later, please?” he asked.
Another blush crept on her cheeks. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
He could have pushed the issue, but he didn’t want to make a scene with the children. “What are you doing now?”
“The children want to swim,” she said.
“I’ll join you later.”
She nodded and kept going.
Michael changed into his swim shorts and went to the pool. Lara was in the water with the children, who wore inflatable arm floatation devices. Her glance flicked toward him and then shuttered.
Michael got in the water and played games with Mick. Lizzie just wanted Lara to hold her while she paddled around. When the children had enough swimming, Michael got out as well.
He dried off, wondering how to bridge the awkwardness that had developed between him and Lara.
“I changed my mind,” Lara said. “Let’s take the children back to my room and then talk.”
Surprised, Michael followed them, wondering what she was going to say. When the children were inside happily playing their toys, Lara whirled to face him.
“That kiss,” she said. “That was the lowest of lows.”
Lowest of lows. Oh dear.
“Sorry,” he said, stepping back as she breezed past him so she could stand by the pillar of the porch. “I didn’t realize...”
“I don’t even know you.”
“We’ve known each other for four days.”
“Three.” Her eyes glittered hot.
“Four if you count Isa’s wedding reception.”
She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, you took advantage of me being in front of everyone...”
“You kissed me back.”
“What was I supposed to do? Beat you?”
Michael set his jaw. “So I was the only one enjoying the kiss?”
“That’s not the point.”
“What’s the point?”
She looked away and then back. “I read a book once, How Not to Fall in Love with a Jerk.”
“Ouch.” He winced. “So I’m a jerk?”
“No, listen.”
He listened.
“First, you trust,” she said, “and then you touch.”
Michael chewed on this for a long moment. “I’ve never heard of that before. What happens if you do it the other way?”
“Then your relationship is doomed to be shallow and unfulfilling.” She paused. “Okay, I’m paraphrasing.”
“Really?”
She searched his face. “I don’t know anything about you, and yet there we were, kissing.”
“I do want to get to know you...” And truth be told, he wanted to kiss her again, badly.
“Not with the children around. I’m doing a job for you, Michael. For their sakes, you and I can’t use this safari as an excuse to date.”
“But it is what it is. I will be seeing you every day for the next week and a half.” He swallowed, his glance falling to her mouth and skittering away. “I enjoy your company.” His voice deepened. “I won’t deny that I find you attractive.”
Her gaze drifted to his mouth before she yanked it away. “Regardless of how we feel toward each other, the children are at a fragile place. They won’t be able to stand more losses. Last night, Mick woke up, crying for his mom. When I’m done with the babysitting job and this little fling cools off, they would lose me too.”
“Is that what it is to you,” Michael said, his eyes narrowing. “A fling?”
“It sure feels like it. You and I will go our separate ways. You will travel the world again.” She hesitated. “Isa told me about your punishing schedule. I don’t see how a couple could build a relationship on that.”
Michael’s chest tightened. He was right about Lara. They had no future. Not if she’d already written him off.
“You’re right. No girl has a future with me. I knew that already, but you just confirmed it. Thank you for giving me a piece of your mind. I will leave you alone; rest assured.”
“Wait,” she said, touching his arm.
He glanced at her hand. “But I am only human, so maybe if you mean what you said about not wanting to get involved with me, you shouldn’t tempt me so much. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a dinner appointment with Esther.”
He had the satisfaction of seeing her flinch before he turned on his heel to live up to his blasted promise.
Chapter 19
Late that night, Lara couldn’t sleep. She lay wide awake in her king-size bed. The children breathed softly in their sleep. She was glad they weren’t plagued by nightmares as she thought they might.
She turned into her pillow and silently groaned, thinking of the very botched conversation she had with Michael. She had meant to suggest they should wait to date until after the safari. Maybe they could have the children tended and just have fun.
And kiss?
A yearning filled her body as she imagined him holding her in his arms, his mouth capturing hers in that searing kiss. That “jerk” book was right. Now she couldn’t think of Michael without imagining the physical. It was really rather distracting.
She looked at the clock on her nightstand. Nearly midnight. She hadn’t heard him go into his cabin. Maybe he already had and she just hadn’t heard him. Not that she cared—
There were footsteps next door. A man and a woman talking.
Lara was sure it was Michael and Esther. She could get up and take a peek out the window, but she didn’t want to get caught. Besides, Michael wasn’t obligated to not date others. Lara had told him she wasn’t interested. Why should she begrudge him dating other women?
Esther emitted a low, sultry laugh.
Lara lay on her side and put a pillow over her ear. Closing her eyes, she willed herself to sleep.
After a while, she took the pillow off. It was quiet outside. Maybe Esther went back to her room. Maybe she went into Michael’s room.
A pain Lara didn’t expect clenched her chest.
Chapter 20
The next morning, Lara woke up exhausted to the children making a racket. Mick was chasing Lizzie around and over Lara’s bed. Lara watched them for a moment, marveling at their energy. After the Mokoro ride and swimming, she was wiped out. She caught Mick the next time he came by and tickled him.
“No,” Mick said, wriggling out of her arms.
There was a knock on the door.
Lara got out of bed and opened it to Michael. She schooled her expression even as her traitorous heart leaped at the sight of his lean frame in snug-fitting jeans, a light windbreaker, and a gray shirt that matched his eyes.
Their eyes met and veered apart.
“I take it the kids are up?” he said.
“Yeah.” She opened the door wider. “Come on in.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “I can wait until you’re dressed.”
She glanced at her “jammies” of shorts and a ratty shirt. Certainly nothing pretty nor revealing. “You’re good.”
She sat back in bed and drew the pillow over her bare legs. Michael sat on the edge of her bed and let the kids pile on him. Like some happy domestic scene in a TV commercial.
A lump formed in her throat. She had turned down this future. She couldn’t whine about not having it now.
“I’ll jump in the shower real quick,” she said.
“Sure.” He wouldn’t look at her. “I’ll watch them.”
“Thanks.”
In the mirror, she gazed at her braids, feeling stupid. She looked like a wannabe seductress. With determination, she undid all of them. And then in the shower, she washed her hair and ran her finger through all the braids, washing her hair at least twice so the curls would hopefully relax. She took a few minutes to blow-dry her hair until it shone, and she felt more like herself again.
Today, she c
hose to wear a light sweater over an olive sundress. Putting on a bit of makeup, she stared at her reflection and decided she would do. Not that she cared what Michael thought.
She stepped out of the bathroom to the scene of Michael on her bed, leaning against the headboard as he read a book to the children. He had a child on either side. At her entrance, he lifted his eyes, gazed at her with undisguised longing, and then lowered his eyes once again.
Her chest constricted with an ache too.
“Come, Lara,” Lizzie said. “Read with us.”
Gingerly, Lara sat on the edge of the bed.
“No,” Lizzie said, crawling over and tugging at her hand. “Come snuggle with us.”
Snuggle.
Michael and Lara exchanged glances. He challenged her with a cool stare. As if he had the right to judge her when he was out late with Esther last night.
“It’s okay,” Lara said. “Just keep reading with your uncle.”
“Please?” Lizzie said, her huge eyes blinking.
Without looking at Michael, Lara scooted backward until she sat right next to him. He put his arm around her, and Lizzie transferred to her lap.
Lara held on to Lizzie, trying to pay attention to the book which was about the African safari, but all she could think about was Michael’s arm around her and the comfort of his body against her arm. She was glad for the hair that fell like a curtain between him and her. He wouldn’t be able to see her cheeks which she was sure had turned pink from embarrassment.
After that book, Lizzie wanted another one while Mick wandered off to play with his toys. Lara couldn’t leave her spot, not without Lizzie putting up a complaint, so she continued in that position against Michael.
It was heaven.
It was torture.
She didn’t even dare wonder what Michael thought of the whole thing.
Chapter 21
Michael had already steeled his heart against Lara. Last night, he had flirted shamelessly with Esther, stopping short of kissing her. Lara’s words still rang in his head.
First trust, then touch.
He stayed up with Esther to exorcize Lara from his heart and mind.