Taj raised an eyebrow. “Like father,
like daughter perhaps?”
Georgina started at him thinking that
was a bit presumptuous. “There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious,” she said
curtly.
Taj raised an eyebrow, probably
at her sudden defensiveness. “No, there isn’t. But there is something wrong
with not ever having any fun, or any time for your family.”
Were they talking about her or her
father now? She wasn’t sure, but she didn’t like the direction this
conversation was taking.
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk
about it.”
“Too personal for you?” he asked, his
eyes searching hers.
For a moment she stared back. Did this
man not have any boundaries? They’d only just met. She didn’t talk about her
relationship with her parents with anyone. Not even Charles.
“Yes, actually,” she replied.
He turned away and broke eye contact.
“Sorry, I tend to be a little direct
sometimes. It often gets me into trouble. I think it’s because so often people
pretend to be something they’re not. You know what I mean? I like to try and
cut through all that.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” she said
softly. After all, it was why she became a writer.
The plane reached its cruising altitude
and levelled out. The seatbelt lights went off and Taj unbuckled and pushed his
chair back into a reclining position.
Georgina reopened her laptop, pulled the blind down again and settled in
to work, trying to ignore the man beside her. When she did risk a glance, she
saw he’d closed his eyes, and was breathing evenly. She tried to read his
biography, but concentration evaded her. She found it impossible to study her
subject when he was slumped so casually in the seat next to her, his powerful
thigh inches away from hers, his long muscular legs extended into the aisle.
She studied his face. How could a man possibly have eyelashes that long? They
were almost stroking his bronzed cheekbones. She sighed. He was just too
distracting. She had to admit, the February issue would be a sell out with him
on the cover.
A few hours later Georgina was desperate
for the ladies. In order to get there she had to climb over Taj Andrews’
sleeping frame. Although still asleep he was taking up every inch of space.
Georgina sighed and shifted in her chair. She hailed a passing air hostess.
“Excuse me, is there another vacant seat
anywhere, I tend to walk about a lot on planes and…” she nodded at Taj Andrew’s
sleeping form.
The airhostess smiled knowingly. “I’ll
just see what’s available,” she promised and sashayed down the aisle. Georgina
sighed again. What were the chances? She wriggled out of her seat and tried to
climb over the sleeping photographer.
She had managed to get one leg over and
was straddling him when he suddenly woke up. Georgina stared, horrified, as he
opened his long lashes and focused on her. She wobbled and balanced herself by
putting a hand on his thigh. It was rock solid.
“Sorry,” she said a little breathlessly.
If she removed her hand she’d fall forwards onto him, so she had no choice but
to keep gripping his leg. She flushed with embarrassment.
“Don’t be,” he murmured disconcertingly
his eyes lowered to her skirt which was stretched to breaking point across his
knees. “I’m quite enjoying this.”
Georgina sighed. The man was
incorrigible. “If you hadn’t noticed, I’m trying desperately to get past you.
Now that you’re awake, would you mind leaning back a bit?”
“Sure,” he did as she asked, but he
didn’t let it go. “If you’re having this much difficulty getting out of your
seat in that outfit, can you image how much fun you’re going to have climbing
on and off the research vessel and the landing boat?”
She paused for a moment. Landing boat?
Yeah right. She wasn’t leaving the ship.
“Well unless I’m going to have to climb
over you in the process, I should manage just fine,” she replied haughtily.
He shrugged and looked irritated, but
didn’t retort.
Georgina went to the toilet and
freshened up. She was about to ask Taj Andrews to move so she could get passed
when the air hostess stopped her.
“Miss, I asked the head steward and
there’s a vacant seat in the first class compartment if you’d prefer?” she told
Georgina. “We don’t usually do this, but it is a little crowded in here and I’m
sure Mr Andrews could do with the extra space,” she looked flirtatiously at
Taj. He didn’t seem to notice.
“Why thank you, that would be
marvellous,” Georgina gushed, reaching across Taj for her bag and laptop. She
knew she was probably giving him an eyeful of cleavage, but she didn’t care.
“You actually asked to be moved to first
class?” he asked her incredulously.
“Yeah, you got a problem with that?” she
asked sweetly. He stared at her. She shrugged. “If you don’t ask, you don’t
get.”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh man. This is
going to be one fun trip.”
Georgina decided to ignore that last
comment and swished through the dividing curtains into first class. Much
better. At least now she could read about Taj in private, and later maybe even
get some sleep.
CHAPTER TWO
Taj
had
been getting ready in his hotel room for the welcome party in Santiago, when
his publicity agent phoned.
“Phil, you’re just the guy I wanted to speak
to.”
“Your journalist turned up then, I
suppose?” Phil said without preamble.
“How’d you know?” Taj joked. “But
seriously man, I don’t know about this one. The girl’s going to take serious
strain out there.”
“She’s a journalist, Taj, she can stay
on board and write articles. That’s her job.”
Taj sighed. “I hear you Phil, but she
doesn’t know a penguin from a sea lion. It’s going to be hell.”
Phil sounded amused. “That’s not your
problem. You just do your thing and give her a couple of interviews. That was
the deal. Oh, and try to be nice, won’t you? I don’t want to read a scathing
review. It’s not quite the image we were going for.”
“I’ll try,” he sighed.
“That’s my boy.”
Taj made one last ditch attempt. “Are
you sure she can’t interview me here before we leave? Does she really have to
come along for the whole trip?”
Philip’s voice lost some of its humour.
“It was your idea, remember? You were the one who said you didn’t have time
before or after the trip. This was the only alternative.”
“Great, now you’re saying it’s my
fault?”
Phil tried to pacify him. “Remember the
long term goal. You need the international exposure. They’re doing us a favour.
Verve is the fastest growing women’s magazine in England. We need to focus on
the European market. Think financing for your next project.”
“I hear you,” Taj sighed. “It’s just so
inconvenient.”
“Listen, all she needs is enough
information for one article. She’s not writing a book on you. A couple of
facts, a few personal experiences and it’s a wrap. Tell her about Kenya, that’s
always a good story.”
“Kenya, yeah. Okay. Listen, I
gotta
go. Presentation is in twenty minutes.”
“Okay, but remember, be nice!”
They said goodbye and he hung up. Well,
that was it then. He was stuck with her for the duration of the voyage. Ten
whole days! He’d take Phil’s advice. Give her a couple of stories and ignore
her for the rest of the trip. The thought made him feel marginally better.
Taj
entered the plush hotel bar where the expedition welcome meeting was taking
place. He’d spent the afternoon wondering around the city. He loved Santiago at
this time of year. February was late summer in the southern hemisphere and this
afternoon he’d spent many pleasant hours admiring the mix of European, Spanish,
colonial and modern architecture, with sun-mellowed facades, lush palms and the
Andes as a backdrop. It was a photographer’s paradise.
“I heard you were lurking around
somewhere.” Taj turned to see his old college friend Don
Mackley
standing behind him, a wide grin on his handsome, freckled face.
“Don! I didn’t know you were heading up
this trip? What happened to Colombia?”
“Ah, yes. Change of plans. Some kind of
guerrilla skirmish, they’re not letting anyone in right now.”
“Bad luck.”
Don shrugged. “It happens. Maria is
relieved, she was convinced I was going to get kidnapped.”
“Nah, they wouldn’t get much for you,
old buddy.” They slipped easily back into their old camaraderie.
Don laughed. “That’s what I told her,
she seems to think I’m worth more.”
“How is Maria?” Last time Taj had seen
Don’s beautiful wife they’d just discovered she was pregnant.
“Two months to go,” Don growled, “and
still sexy as hell.”
“Not long now,” Taj laughed. It was
funny to see his friend so settled.
Don leant forward and said, “Interesting
group on this expedition.” Taj did not miss the wicked grin in his friend’s
eye.
“I’ve just met the producer, Max
Copeland. He’s the big, bald guy over there. He wants to scout the peninsular
for a nature documentary.”
“I think I’ve heard of him,” Taj
mumbled. “Didn’t he do that Great White Shark documentary somewhere off the
South African coast last year?”
“Yup, that’s the one,” Don nodded.
“I’d like to meet him.”
“Well, now you can. We also have a small
team of marine biologists, Amy and Claude Flores, who want to collect samples
from the geothermals at Deception Island, so you’ll have some company diving
Neptune’s Bellows this time.”
“Great, why are marine biologists the
only breed crazy enough to dive in water temperatures of 34’F and below?”
“Apart from photographers you mean?” Don
commented dryly.
“Point taken…” Taj murmured.
“And…” Don paused significantly, “We
have an extremely attractive young journalist who’s doing research for an
article she’s writing for her magazine. But then I’m sure you already knew
that?”
How did Taj know that was coming? His
old friend never missed an opportunity to set him up. Ever since Don had fallen
for the lovely Maria, he’d been true love’s biggest advocate. Don’s womanising
ways were now firmly buried in his all too colourful past.
Don was waiting expectantly, the
conspiratorial grin still on his face.
“Very observant, as always,” Taj
commended his friend.
“Just looking out for your best
interests, old buddy.”
“Forget it Don, she’s not my type.”
“How do you know? You haven’t even met
her yet.”
“Actually, we met on the plane.” He
smiled as he recalled Georgina’s surprise when she’d found out who he was.
“She’s very… English,” he said, searching for a better word but not finding
one.
“She’s also gorgeous,” Don pushed his
point. “I saw her check in. And she’s going to be working with you for two
whole weeks.”
“Unfortunately.” Taj muttered.
Don shook his head. “You need to get
your priorities straight, my friend. I’ll tell you a little secret, if I was
single…”