A Wedding in Africa (The Africa Series) Read Online Free Page A

the dogs began to bark excitedly. Tate jumped out of the cab to let them out before opening the passenger door to help Lacey down.
    He supported her arm as she slid down to the ground. Once again, she felt that treacherous tingle run through her veins. She stumbled on the uneven ground as she landed and Tate tightened his grip to steady her.
‘You okay?’ he said, looking at her with concerned eyes.
    He was so handsome, so strong. For one fleeting moment, Lacey could imagine what it might be like to be completely engulfed in his arms, not just gripped above the elbow. It was a feeling quite unlike anything she’d ever experienced with Mortimer. And she felt a sudden, crippling sense of betrayal.
    Mortimer! Her fiancé.
Swallowing a surge of guilt that almost overwhelmed her, she nodded and moved away from Tate’s arms. ‘I’m fine, thanks. I’m just clumsy that’s all.’
‘So? What do you think?’ Tate stood beside her as she turned to view the development. ‘Stunning, huh?’
    Lacey smiled at his boyish enthusiasm. ‘They certainly are. I think this must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. I’d certainly want to come here for my holidays.’
    And it was beautiful. No doubt about that. A dozen thatched huts had been designed in the traditional rounded style of a rondavel . Some had been built into the side of the hill, complete with balconies on stilts that looked across the Sabie. The outdoor areas were huge with space for a dining table and chairs, luxurious sun-loungers and outside Jacuzzis. A network of highly-polished teak walkways led to the facilities, which included tennis courts and an oval-shaped swimming pool fringed with paw-paw and banana trees. Frangipani, in vivid oranges and reds, were in full flower, and Lacey’s favourite, yellow jasmine, grew wild. In the background, a larger building housed the main reception area and restaurant.
‘They’re going to bring in some serious money!’ Tate grinned, clearly delighted by her response.
     
Lacey’s heart sank. ‘So what do you plan to do with all that money?’
    Tate glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes. Did she really want to know? Would she understand? Would she care ? The silence hung between them like a lead weight. In his heart, Tate wanted to share his secret with someone who could appreciate his needs. His hopes.
    Was Lacey Van der Zyl that woman? Or was she just a journalist out to cover a money-making story for her father’s glossy magazine? Was she the kind of woman who would destroy people’s hearts and lives in pursuit of riches and glamour? The simple answer was that he just didn’t know. And he wasn’t prepared to risk anything on gut instinct alone.
He’d trusted people before. He’d be a damn fool to trust anyone again.
    ‘You want to know what I’m going to do with the money?’ he asked, his jaw rigid with tension. ‘I’m going to spend it! Blow the lot! Does that answer your question?’
    ‘I guess so,’ Lacey muttered, trying hard to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. ‘I guess that’s what it’s for after all. And we all know you can never have too much money!’
    Why, she asked herself, was this man so obsessed with money? Why did he measure the value of everything by its monetary worth? It was as though he hadn’t noticed the glorious location where the lodges were situated. Africa, with all its majesty and awesome beauty, was just some fancy backdrop as far as he was concerned.
    ‘Come on. I’ll show you inside, then I’m going to have to get back. I’ve got work to do.’ Tate had noticed the coolness in her voice, but he hadn’t read it as sarcasm. He’d heard the voice of a woman who lived and worked in a world where money counted for everything. Where making money was all that really mattered.
    He’d been able to hear the greed in her father’s voice, too, while Jasper pondered how many magazines Tate’s story might sell. And that guy, Mortimer Schutte – whoever he might