Sidney Sheldon - Mistress of the Game

Max could wait. So could Kruger-Brent.

For now Lexi had to focus on the job at hand: annihilating Gabe McGregor.

The safari was Gabe’s idea. He cornered Lexi at a real-estate convention in Sun City, after Sol Kerzner’s closing address.

“I’ve got reservations for a week at the Shishangeni Lodge next week. Tara and the kids were supposed to be coming, but Jamie’s got some awful stomach bug. I wondered if you might be interested?”

Dressed formally in a dark gray suit that highlighted his tan and brought out the pale gray in his eyes-Lexi’s eyes-Gabe looked even more handsome than he had the last time Lexi saw him. Is that part of the reason I don’t like him? Because he’s so attractive? It was possible. Max had burned her badly. The very thought of desiring someone again filled her with dread.

“That’s kind of you, but I’m afraid I can’t. I’m traveling for the rest of the month.”

“What a shame.” Gabe shook his head. “It’s supposed to be the best safari experience in the country.”

“I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.” Lexi looked pointedly at her watch.

“It would have been the perfect opportunity for us to talk about the Elizabeth Center, too. But if your schedule’s too full…”

Damn him. He’s got me on a string and he knows it.

The Elizabeth Center was going to be the biggest shopping mall in the country, built on two hundred prime commercial acres in a wealthy suburb of Johannesburg. Every real-estate firm worth its salt was bidding for a piece of the action, including Templeton. Somehow, Gabe had managed to wrangle a private deal for Phoenix and now owned a 10 percent stake in the venture, making him the second-largest single shareholder. A word from Gabe could open the door for Templeton. Or close it.

“Next week, you say?”

Gabe grinned. Gotcha.

“I’ll have my assistant send the details to your office.”

Lexi nodded tightly. “Thanks.”

“You know, you might even enjoy it. Stranger things have happened.”

Lexi was by no means sure that they had.

The Shishangeni Private Lodge is the jewel of Kruger National Park’s crown. Made up of twenty-two thatched chalets, it boasts a swimming pool, library, conference facilities and a better wine cellar than most Michelin-starred restaurants. Every chalet has a private game-viewing deck as well as a bar, fireplace and outdoor shower-for those wishing to feel at one with nature without forgoing such necessities as deviled quail’s eggs for breakfast and parfait of foie gras for dinner.

“How’s your room?”

Gabe joined Lexi for dinner by the pool. It was their first night at Shishangeni. Above them, a livid African sun bled the last of its rays into the land, oozing burnt orange over the tapestry of rich greens. On the drive from Kruger Mpumalanga Airport, all Lexi’s resolutions not to be impressed had flown out the window. She’d been visiting South Africa since childhood, but the extraordinary beauty of this corner of the national park took her breath away.

“It’s fine, thank you.”

Lexi’s chalet had views of the Crocodile River in the south. To the east, she could almost see to the Mozambique border-mile upon mile of some of the most stunning country on earth.

“The water’s a little slow to heat up.”

Gabe frowned. “That’s unusual. I’ll have a word with the management.”

In fact, Lexi’s shower had been perfect, piping hot, powerful, its jets easing away every ounce of tension from her tired back and shoulders. She just didn’t want Gabe to think she was enjoying herself.

This isn’t a vacation. It’s a fact-finding mission. I’m here for the Elizabeth Center, not the frigging zebras.

“Are you looking forward to the safari tomorrow?”

“Sure. I guess.”

“Apparently we’ve a good chance of seeing all the big five: rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard.”

“Great.”

Gabe gritted his teeth. One more monosyllable and I’m going to strangle her.

Bringing Lexi to Shishangeni had been Tara’s suggestion. Gabe could hear his wife’s voice now:

“It’s been two years, and you still have no idea why this woman hates you. Personally, I don’t know why you give a shit. But seeing as you so obviously do , for God’s sake take her away somewhere and find out what her beef is.”

It seemed like a good plan at the time. Now, sitting opposite Lexi’s beautiful, truculent face as the waves of hostility washed over him, Gabe also wondered why he gave a shit.

Because they shared a common, distant ancestor?

Because Lexi was a business rival?

Because she was Robbie’s sister?

Or were his motives more selfish than that? Was the real reason he was sitting there that he couldn’t stand the idea of any sexy, intelligent woman dismissing him the way that Lexi did? The last woman who’d been immune to his charms was Tara, and he’d wound up married to her.

Am I being a fool? I love Tara. Whatever this thing is with Lexi, I mustn’t let it threaten that.

Lexi broke the silence: “So, the Elizabeth Center. I understand there are a number of interested parties?”

Gabe waved down the waiter.

“Let’s order, shall we? I’m a little too tired to discuss business tonight.”

“Sure.” Lexi forced a smile. “There’s plenty of time.”

She tried not to notice the way Gabe’s broad chest stretched the blue fabric of his shirt. Or how his big, rugby player’s hands tore the warm bread rolls in half as easily as if they’d been a piece of tissue paper.

I should never have come. I’ll leave in the morning. Tell him something came up in New York.

She didn’t leave in the morning. By six A.M., she was half asleep in the back of a jeep, bouncing off into the wilderness.

“We’ll be sleeping under canvas tonight.” Gabe looked rested and happy in an ancient pair of cargo pants and a khaki shirt. Indiana Jones without the bullwhip. Lexi, by contrast, looked like what she was: a sleep-deprived New Yorker longing to crawl back into bed, or at least into the nearest Starbucks for a triple-shot vanilla latte. “Are you excited?”

“Thrilled.”

The roar of the jeep’s engine as they clattered over the deeply rutted track made conversation difficult. For half an hour, silence reigned.

Then Gabe yelled out: “Look! Over there!”

A lioness emerged from the Delagoa thornbushes, yawning and stretching her long, gold limbs in the early-morning sun. Gabe took pictures.

“Did you see her? Incredible! This is going to be an amazing day.”

Lexi thought: He’s like a schoolboy. I wonder if business excites him this much?

They stopped at noon to eat lunch under the shade of a baobab tree. Lexi jumped out of her skin when two natives approached them. Both were barefoot, armed with spears and wore feathered loincloths around their waists.

“It’s all right,” said Gabe. “They’re San. Trackers. San have roamed these lands since the early Stone Age.”

“What do they want?”

“Food, probably.” Gabe held out his hand, offering the men some bread. They declined, pointing at Lexi and smiling. One of them pulled a pouch of dried leaves from beneath his feathers and offered it to Gabe.

“Ah. My mistake.” Gabe grinned. “It looks like you’re the big draw.” He shook his head at the San tribesmen. “Sorry. She’s not for sale.”

“They wanted you to trade me for a bunch of leaves?” said Lexi indignantly, once the men had gone. “Shouldn’t they at least offer, like, an ox or something?”

“The San don’t keep animals. But they’re expert botanists. They know every poison, medicine and narcotic to be found out here. To them, those leaves may have been priceless.”