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‘Where are we going anyway?’ She chose to change the subject.
‘Straight ahead for now.’ He gave her a sideways look that was full of a charming smile. ‘Are you okay driving on the hills?’
‘Stop trying to get into the driver’s seat. I’m fine with hills.’ She bit the inside of her cheek. Okay, so she wasn’t that fine with them, but damned if she was going to let him know that.
‘There are a few hairpin corners. I can take over if you want.’
In response she trod harder on the accelerator. In only a few minutes they were heading up the hill out of town towards the peninsula that curved out from the mainland. The hills were barren and brown—no trees or scrub covering them, just tussock that leaned away from the wind. Against the bright blue sky the hills were majestic. She liked their stark smoothness and the contrast against the clear sky and blue water. But then came one of those hairpin turns.
‘You want the air conditioning on?’
So he’d noticed she was sweating. ‘It doesn’t work.’
One of the many idiosyncrasies of the car that one day she’d get fixed.
‘You should walk in town anyway.’
She sent him a look.
‘Carbon footprint,’ he said mock piously.
‘My heels don’t leave much of a footprint anyway.’
He laughed and didn’t talk more, didn’t need to direct as there was only the one road to follow. And she needed to concentrate and not be further distracted by the giant hunk of man making her car feel like a matchbox toy. But after the worst hill bit she began to relax into it, able to take in the expansive view of bronze earth and blue sky and sparkling water. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was nice—as if they were leaving all the clutter and noise of city life behind them.
‘So why do your batteries need recharging, Kelsi? What do you do that’s made you so worn out?’
‘Computers,’ she said. ‘Website design.’
‘You sit in front of a screen all day?’
‘And you want to know the shocking thing?’ She grinned and touched the accelerator with a heavier tread. ‘I like it.’
He shook his head. ‘Crazy.’
He told her to take the left when the road forked. The gravel road dipped, leading down to sea level. And then it ended. She pulled in, parking beneath one of the few trees around. She stepped out of the car, uncomfortably hobbling on the one shoe. He got the bag off the back seat and pulled something from it.
‘What is that?’ She stared at it.
He twirled it on his finger and grinned outrageously, it isn’t obvious?’
‘And you think I’m going to wear it?’
‘The store didn’t stock sunscreen. And I’m betting you don’t have any in that uselessly small bag of yours.’
No, she didn’t. Because she always, always, always stayed in the shade. Resigned, she took the wide-brimmed monstrosity of a hat from him and slapped it on her head.
‘I have a wrap for your shoulders, too.’
She took the long stretch of cloth and reminded herself to avoid looking in his eyes. They made her want to smile too much. And they were filled with a fire she longed to feel on her flesh. Crazy—she definitely needed a day to recharge.
‘I had the feeling you’d like the colour.’
It was jet black. Like every item of clothing she already had on.
‘How astute of you.’ She wrapped it around her shoulders and walked a few paces. Then she stopped. ‘How am I supposed to walk on this?’
‘Maybe you should take your other shoe off. Get your feet wet.’
