Lisa Harris - Deadly Safari

He couldn’t worry about that now. He had other things to do. He needed to get the key to his room and check with the airport to see if they would deliver his suitcase tomorrow. Otherwise, the one extra set of clothes he’d packed in his carry-on was going to have to be supplemented by a few souvenir shirts and shorts in the gift shop.

“What’s her story?” he asked as they approached the front desk, hoping he might discover something beyond what Meghan had told him.

“Meghan’s? She grew up as an only child, divorced parents, boarding schools—she comes by her independence naturally.”

He might have just met Meghan, but something about her intrigued him. She was down-to-earth, witty and passionate, which made a refreshing change from most of the women his friends had tried to set him up with lately.

“What about you?” Kate leaned against the polished wooden counter. “We usually eat dinner together about this time in the restaurant. Care to join me and tell me a little more about yourself?”

Alex took his key from the receptionist and weighed his options. Hungry or not, he wasn’t here to socialize. His first priority was to keep an eye on Meghan, a task that was proving to be far from easy. Which meant for starters he needed to find out where she was staying. “I’d love to, but jet lag is starting to hit hard. I’ve got a granola bar and trail mix that will hold me over until tomorrow. Which way to my chalet?”

Kate looked at his key and pointed to her right. “You’re number five. The staff chalets are all located straight down that path a hundred yards or so. I’m number two if you need anything.”

“And Meghan?” He caught a hint of amusement in her eyes at the question and tried to cover his tracks. “Just in case I need something and can’t find you.”

“Of course. She’s in number seven.”

“Great. Thanks.”

On his way out, he paused at an aerial photo of the Chizoba Safari Lodge and its adjoining game reserve. Besides the two-dozen luxury chalets with thatched roofs for guests that overlooked the grassy veld, there was a restaurant, bar, day spa, activity center and swimming pool. It was all very impressive. But he wasn’t here to enjoy a vacation.

Alex headed in the direction of the chalet where he’d be staying. Somehow he was going to have to find a way to keep tabs on Meghan without her thinking he was stalking her. Because, in his eyes, everything that had happened today had only confirmed her father’s fears.

Halfway down the paved walkway, the power went out, throwing him into pitch darkness. Great. Alex stopped midstride, surprised at how dark it was. No lights meant there was no way he was going to find his cabin. He stood in the middle of the path and made a mental note to carry a flashlight with him if it turned out that power outages were the norm. Which they probably were.

Poachers, charging rhinos, failing brakes... It was as if he’d stepped into a different reality where, on top of everything else, beautiful women like Meghan had somehow managed to yank his heartstrings.

Alex heard the scream from where he stood.

Meghan?

He squinted, but his eyes still hadn’t adjusted to the darkness. Silence followed. He didn’t have a choice but to try to find her. A dozen yards later, he ran smack-dab into something—or somebody. He heard her scream again as he tripped and landed on the ground beside her.

He rolled onto his side and groaned. “Meghan?”

“Alex? What in the world are you doing here?” Funny. It was the same question he’d asked himself a dozen times the past twelve hours.

“I heard a scream,” he answered.

“It was me. Sorry. Just help me up. Please.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just...tripped.”

“I—”

“Don’t say anything.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Right.”

His arms were still around her as the moon came out from behind the clouds, giving him just enough light so he could see her expression. A mixture of pain and embarrassment filled her eyes.

“You okay? Anything else hurt?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

He pushed back a strand of hair from her forehead, his other arm still around her waist. “Whoa. You’ve got a goose egg here.”

She felt the spot on the edge of her scalp. “I must have hit my head when I fell.”

He found himself not wanting to let go of her as she took a step back.

“What happened?” he asked.

“The lights went out, and like I said, I tripped.”

“That’s it?”

The lights came back on, this time completely illuminating her face. Wide eyes, furrowed brow, a frown and yet somehow undeniably adorable. He reined in his train of thought.

“As much as I don’t want to admit it,” she began, “Kate was right. I’m a bit accident-prone.”

“So this was just an accident?” He wasn’t sure he believed her.

“The lights went out. I tried to make it to my cabin and tripped.”

Alex glanced around him. They were past the row of chalets. From what he could see, the path continued on toward the watering hole.

“You’re past your cabin.”

She started walking back up the path. “You’d think I was paranoid if I told you that I thought someone was following me.”

Alex felt a wave of alarm strike. “Meghan, what happened?”

“Nothing. I heard a noise and went to investigate. It was probably just a baboon or someone on their way to their chalet.”

“Tell me exactly what you heard.”

“I don’t know, just some rustling in the bushes. Like I said, it was probably nothing. It’s been a long day and I’m tired, which means I’m imagining things. Someone I know has put ideas of sabotage in my head.”

“I’m sorry, but it seems a bit coincidental. First the brakes on the Jeep give out, and now you think someone was following you? Not to mention the thing that Kate brought up.”

Meghan laughed. “Please, you sound just like my father. He’s convinced that there is an evil plot behind everything. The Jeep’s brakes failed because the vehicle is old and the mechanic somehow missed it. Nothing more, nothing less.”

For a moment he considered simply telling her the truth. It seemed ridiculous to hide things from her, but he had made a promise. He’d call the ambassador tonight, update him on the situation and advise him that Meghan be told what was going on.

She stopped in front of one of the chalets. Number seven.

“This is your place?”

“Home, sweet home.”

He moved closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist as she started up the stairs that looked as if they could use a bit of repair themselves.

“I can get up the stairs on my own.”

She pulled back, but he only tightened his grip. “And take the chance of falling again? I don’t think so.”

“Alex.”

“No arguing.” He helped her up the stairs and stopped at front of the door before giving her the space she wanted and he needed. “I want you to promise me one more thing.”

“What is that?”

“Lock your door tonight.”

“You’re being paranoid again.”

“I just want you to be smart—and safe. If there are poachers around, like you said, it’s worth being prudent.” He caught the doubt in her eyes. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Good.”

He took a step backward—physically and emotionally. He wasn’t going to let himself get too attached. Not this time. Not again. His only plan was to keep Meghan safe for the ambassador until the election was over in two weeks, and then he was going to leave.

Until then, maintaining distance would help him do his job effectively. It would make Meghan safer. And it would help him protect the heart he never wanted to put at risk again.