in a more relaxed fashion. It was almost three a.m. before Nicole finally fell asleep.
They’d slept late, missing breakfast entirely. It was almost lunch time when they finally got up, groggy from too little sleep and stiff from too much sex.
Vincent had left a message outside their door for Ryan to contact him when he got up.
“Maybe he wants to discuss the project with you?” suggested Nicole, padding around in her underwear.
Ryan looked hopeful. “You never know.”
He showered and dressed quickly, eager to hear what Vincent had to say.
“Wish me luck,” he smiled, as he kissed her goodbye. Then he left with his laptop firmly planted under his arm.
Nicole was happy for him. She liked Vincent and thought Ryan could do with having his mentor back in his life. She could see Vincent was fond of Ryan too, just a little cautious about letting him back into his life in such a prominent way. Perhaps Ryan wasn’t the only one who’d lost out when he’d left Melanie.
The African sun was relentless and Nicole pushed up the beach umbrella to get a little shade. She was a lovely golden-brown now, but she didn’t want to burn. After reading for a while, Nicole put her book down and closed her eyes.
She must have dozed off because it was substantially cooler when she woke up. Dark clouds were sweeping in off the sea, heavy with moisture. The umbrella was buffeting precariously, so she hurriedly put it down before it took off across the deck.
What time was it anyway?
Strolling inside, Nicole was amazed to find it was almost five o’clock. She’d been asleep for the better part of three hours. Ryan still wasn’t back so she made a cup of tea and slipped into a casual summer dress and flip flops. Half an hour later, Nicole decided to go and see what was keeping Ryan.
Leaving the chalet she made her way towards the Mahlers beach house further down the beach. It was easily the biggest chalet in the private resort. A double storey, it was also more than double the length of theirs.
The wind had picked up and it looked like the heavens might open at any minute. What a sudden change. Three hours ago it had been a perfect summer’s day.
Nicole knocked on the door.
Sylvia opened it, smiling in welcome. “Come in. Those two have been holed up in the office all afternoon. I’ve hardly seen them.”
“That’s a good thing, I suppose,” Nicole said, following Sylvia into the lounge. She looked around her. “Wow, you have a gorgeous place here.”
“Yes, we bought it a couple of years ago. It made sense since we come here so often and for long periods of time. It was easier than dragging our stuff back and forth twice a year.”
Nicole gazed at the fine furnishings, including locally made rugs, ornately carved cabinets and expensive-looking leather lounge suites decorated with animal-print scatter cushions.
There were a few very impressive African paintings on the walls, too. The total effect was like a relaxed safari lodge on the beach.
Nicole thought of her property in Pretoria. She was by no means poor, but her furniture was more practical than decorative, and everything in her house had a function. With a toddler running around it was impossible to keep anything in a decent condition. But she wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Come in and say hi,” called Sylvia. “I’m taking them in a beer.” She was carrying a tray with two glasses and a pottery bowl of mixed nuts.
Nicole followed her into the office. Both men were seated at a dining-room table pouring over Ryan’s laptop. Vincent had a notepad next to him with a multitude of scribbles on it. A calculator lay nearby. Nicole recognised all the signs of a productive meeting.
“Hi,” she said, softly from the doorway.
On hearing her voice Ryan’s head snapped up and he smiled at her. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” he said, rubbing his own. “I’ve been staring at spreadsheets all afternoon.”
He looked tired, but then he
They’d slept late, missing breakfast entirely. It was almost lunch time when they finally got up, groggy from too little sleep and stiff from too much sex.
Vincent had left a message outside their door for Ryan to contact him when he got up.
“Maybe he wants to discuss the project with you?” suggested Nicole, padding around in her underwear.
Ryan looked hopeful. “You never know.”
He showered and dressed quickly, eager to hear what Vincent had to say.
“Wish me luck,” he smiled, as he kissed her goodbye. Then he left with his laptop firmly planted under his arm.
Nicole was happy for him. She liked Vincent and thought Ryan could do with having his mentor back in his life. She could see Vincent was fond of Ryan too, just a little cautious about letting him back into his life in such a prominent way. Perhaps Ryan wasn’t the only one who’d lost out when he’d left Melanie.
The African sun was relentless and Nicole pushed up the beach umbrella to get a little shade. She was a lovely golden-brown now, but she didn’t want to burn. After reading for a while, Nicole put her book down and closed her eyes.
She must have dozed off because it was substantially cooler when she woke up. Dark clouds were sweeping in off the sea, heavy with moisture. The umbrella was buffeting precariously, so she hurriedly put it down before it took off across the deck.
What time was it anyway?
Strolling inside, Nicole was amazed to find it was almost five o’clock. She’d been asleep for the better part of three hours. Ryan still wasn’t back so she made a cup of tea and slipped into a casual summer dress and flip flops. Half an hour later, Nicole decided to go and see what was keeping Ryan.
Leaving the chalet she made her way towards the Mahlers beach house further down the beach. It was easily the biggest chalet in the private resort. A double storey, it was also more than double the length of theirs.
The wind had picked up and it looked like the heavens might open at any minute. What a sudden change. Three hours ago it had been a perfect summer’s day.
Nicole knocked on the door.
Sylvia opened it, smiling in welcome. “Come in. Those two have been holed up in the office all afternoon. I’ve hardly seen them.”
“That’s a good thing, I suppose,” Nicole said, following Sylvia into the lounge. She looked around her. “Wow, you have a gorgeous place here.”
“Yes, we bought it a couple of years ago. It made sense since we come here so often and for long periods of time. It was easier than dragging our stuff back and forth twice a year.”
Nicole gazed at the fine furnishings, including locally made rugs, ornately carved cabinets and expensive-looking leather lounge suites decorated with animal-print scatter cushions.
There were a few very impressive African paintings on the walls, too. The total effect was like a relaxed safari lodge on the beach.
Nicole thought of her property in Pretoria. She was by no means poor, but her furniture was more practical than decorative, and everything in her house had a function. With a toddler running around it was impossible to keep anything in a decent condition. But she wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Come in and say hi,” called Sylvia. “I’m taking them in a beer.” She was carrying a tray with two glasses and a pottery bowl of mixed nuts.
Nicole followed her into the office. Both men were seated at a dining-room table pouring over Ryan’s laptop. Vincent had a notepad next to him with a multitude of scribbles on it. A calculator lay nearby. Nicole recognised all the signs of a productive meeting.
“Hi,” she said, softly from the doorway.
On hearing her voice Ryan’s head snapped up and he smiled at her. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” he said, rubbing his own. “I’ve been staring at spreadsheets all afternoon.”
He looked tired, but then he
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