Intimate Strangers Read Online Free Page A

comfortable to him, nor did the happy family thing. He didn’t know what that was like, so when he was around it, he became restless and uncomfortable.
    Unsure of how to act.
    If he’d been given an example, Tiaan might have had an idea. Unfortunately, his parent’s marriage was tumultuous, if he had to choose a word to describe it. And that was at the best of times.
    Others? It was a damned wonder they hadn’t bloody well killed each other. He was still convinced that the pair of them had been arguing when they had the accident that took their lives, six days shy of his eighteenth birthday. They always argued and his mother had a penchant for grabbing his dad’s arm when she tried to make him see her point.
    He could still picture it in his mind, the scrambled mess of twisted metal. Thick, crimson blood marking the light grey seats, splattered on the windows, crusted to the dash and steering wheel. The moment that police officer obliged him and allowed Tiaan to collect the last remnants of his family from the car, he promised himself he’d never get married.
    The flight announced over the loud speakers, he rose from his chair and simultaneously switched off his phone, trudging over to show his ticket and board. Luckily, he slept during the flight and woke up when they landed. Sleep had eluded him lately and when he did drop off, he never seemed to get enough. Perhaps now that Reynolds was no longer in a position of power, he could rest a little easier knowing no one else would have to suffer like he did at the hands of that…well, even thinking the series of cruel words sounded harsh to him.
    Once he collected his luggage, Tiaan switched on his phone and saw a text from Mac, telling him that he’d sent Hannah’s friend to pick him up as Erik needed a bath and Hannah was at her foundation. He had to laugh at his old friend’s newfound parenthood. If anyone asked him, he’d never have thought Mackenzie would get married and have kids. At least he’d found himself someone like Hannah. Someone who damned well understood.
    “Alright,” Tiaan sighed, heading out towards the exit. He had no idea what this friend’s name was or what he or she looked like. Scanning the idlers who were looking in his direction, Tiaan spotted a woman holding a piece of paper with his surname written on it and he chuckled.
    Good old Mac.
    Always prepared.
    Always reliable.

    ~~~

    Using her hand as a visor from the sun, Chelsea Reid continued searching for a man who matched the description Mackenzie gave her. A tall guy was approaching her and for a moment, panic filled her. No, it couldn’t be. That man looked an awful lot like–
    “I take it you are here to pick me up?”
    Son of a…
    She gulped, forcing back the foul taste.
    Gun.
    Swallowing down the urge to heave up her lunch, Chelsea gripped the fabric of her floral tunic, clutching it to her stomach. Of all the people she could have been picking up from the airport today, it had to be him . ‘South African elevator guy’, as she had come to call him. At least now he had a name.
    “Erm, I haven’t gotten it wrong, have I? Or, are you waiting for someone else with the name Carstens?” His dark eyes searched hers through her sunglasses.
    He doesn’t even recognize me . Her heart began freefalling, dropping into her stomach. Of course he wouldn’t, why would he? She was probably just another girl he had a one-time thing with. A long list of countless sexual partners. The very thought of it curdled the contents of her stomach. Everything that happened that night, everything he said, it was all a lie.
    “Hello?”
    Sweet Mother. She’d just been standing there while he asked her questions. “Uh, n-no, you’re um, Christiaan, right?”
    The corners of his mouth pulled back, a mouth that had been on parts of her body that were covered with clothing at the moment. “I am, but I go by Tiaan. Looks like we’ve settled that mystery. Now, where are you parked?”
    She couldn’t