Seducing the Professor (20 page)

Alexandra watched Paul and Samuel gallop away.  They were going to herd the last of the wild Stallions and bring them to the coral to be worked with.  The past two weeks have been blissful.  He was attentive and made her happy.  Neither one of them spoke about the scene in his study, but it was something that kept flashing through Alexandra’s mind.  She could not forget seeing Gloria in his arms and him kissing her.

She ran upstairs and finished packing her bags.  Within thirty minutes she was done and carried everything to the front door.  The cab she had called earlier arrived at the same time and the cab driver loaded her luggage immediately.  Alexandra stood looking back at the house and the stables and swallowed hard against the tears.
Her heart quivered with pain inside her chest. She got into the cab and within two hours was on a plane to Australia.

She made all the arrangements with Wade three days ago.  At first he was against it, but in the end gave in.  She sen
t all the results to the ADC drop box and the team has already started working on the antidote.  Wade would ensure that it was delivered to the Ranch within two weeks.  Alexandra needed time away from everyone and spending a month on Kangaroo Island in Australia was exactly what she needed.

She phone
d Wade as soon as she landed in Australia.

“Please tell me where you are going, Alexa.  We need to be able to get hold of you if something happens.”

“You can leave a message with my parents.  They know how to get hold of me.  Please Wade, I need this time on my own.  I need to clear my mind and think.”

“Very well.  What do you want me to tell Paul?”

“Exactly that.  Thank you for allowing me the time off.  I will talk to you in a month’s time.”

She took the ferry
to Kangaroo Island and there was a local cab service that took her to Vivonne Bay where she rented a just built beach house.  The landlady was waiting for her when she arrived and offered her the use of the beach buggy that was parked in the driveway.  She was delighted.  It would offer her the opportunity to explore further than just the near areas the small motorbike they advertised as part of the rental of the cottage would have offered.

She unpacked and explored the cottage and was delighted that
the house was separated from the beach by a sand road and the sea view was breathtaking.  She drove to the local store to buy groceries. As soon as she packed it away, she changed into her bikini and thongs and jogged to the beach.  The beach was absolutely mind-blowing, with its prestige white sand and blue, blue sea.  She swam for a bit and then went back to the cottage.

She
felt relaxed and more human after she took a shower and dressed in a short sundress.  She has deliberately filled her mind with nature and the history of the island to keep her mind from wandering to her heart she left behind in Richmond, Kentucky.

Paul was bone tired when he walked into the house just after sunset.  It took them longer than he anticipated to h
erd those stubborn Stallions.  He was relieved it was over.  Now he could concentrate on setting the new breeding program in place.  The one he started on before all his trouble with Brown.

His footsteps faltered and he stopped in the middle of the entryway.  His heart shattered.  He
knew she was gone.  Her essence that always filled the house was gone.  He sunk down on the bottom stair and hung his head between his knees. He felt totally defeated.

“
Paulie?  I’m sorry, my boy.”

“Where did she go?”  His voice was hoarse and so soft, Ellie could hardly hear.

“I have no idea.  She left without any of us knowing.  I went looking for her for lunch and that is when I noticed all her things were missing from the dressing table.  All her clothes … she left nothing behind.”

“Did she leave a note?”

“I have not seen any.  Shall I dish up for you?”

“Just leave something in the microwave.  I am not hungry.  I am going to clean up.”

He rose and walked up the stairs like an old man.

“Ellie … please move my clothes to one of the other rooms in the morning.”

“But …”

Ellie swallowed the rest of her words, realizing he was hurting.

He went to his study directly after his shower and got roaring drunk for the first time in his adult life.

Slade arrived around noon the next day and
Ellie directed him to the study.

“Alexa left yesterday without telling any of us.  She just left.  He is devastated.  He did not eat anything and he got drunk in his study.  He is still passed out on the couch.”

“Bring us some very strong coffee, Ellie.  Lots of it and some sandwiches.”

Slade walked into the study and stood looking at his cousin.  He wore only a pair of shorts and was sprawled on his stomach on the couch in his study.  Ellie must have opened all the windows, so at least there was fresh air flowing into the room.  He walked closer and kicked a bottle in the process.  He bent and picked it up a
nd cursed when he found another empty bottle of whiskey below the couch.

“
Jeezu, Cuz.  You are going to sit with a monster of a hangover!”

He went to his bar and mixed two Bloody Mary’s and carried it to the study.  He put them down on a side table.  Ellie walked in with the coffee and sandwiches and he took it from her. She disappeared quickly.

He shook Paul and tried to roll him over, but he was a dead weight.  He poured some water in a glass from the carafe on his desk and threw it on his face.  Paul cursed and pushed back on his knees, groaning and holding his head between his hands.

“Morning,
Cuz.  You’re sleeping a mite late this morning?”

“Fuck off, Slade.”

“Jeez, you really are indisposed aren’t you?  C’mon Cuz, it is time to get up.”

“I
said  fu …”

“Yeah, I heard you the first time and it’s not
gonna happen.  Come on.  Get your ass up and drink this.”

It took twenty minutes of cursing and back and forth shoveling before Paul pushed himself into sitting position.  Slade pushed the Bloody Mary in his hands and ordered him to drink it all.  He did, just to get him to shut up.  He nearly threw him with the second glass, but dutifully drank the second one
as well.

The next moment he stormed out of the study and Slade hear
d him hurling in the guest toilet.  He leaned against the doorframe, waiting for him to return.  When he walked back he was grey and stumbled, rather than walked, holding his head.

He fell down on the couch and groaned in agony.  His head felt as if it split in two.

“One would think that a thirty four year old man has more sense than to down two bottles of whiskey.  Especially one that only drinks socially.”

“What do you want, Slade?

“Where did she go?”

Paul startled, as if only now
remembering what made him drink in the first place.  He dragged his arm over his eyes.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?  Did you not phone her or Wade?  Her parents?”

“She left without saying a word.  She took all her things.  She did not even leave a hairband behind, Slade!  She is gone!”

“And you are just going to roll over and accept it? I thought you loved her?”

“I do love her!  But she left me!  What about that don’t you understand?”

“Maybe it is because her assignment here is over.  Have you ever discussed whereto from there?  You knew she was going to leave once it was done, except if you asked her to stay.”

Paul lifted his head and stared at Slade.  He realized the truth in what he said.  He never brought the subject up because he assumed she was going to stay.

“No, I just assumed …”

“Just as I imagine you assumed she knows that you love her?  Especially after she saw you kissing Gloria.”

Paul went from grey to white and he cursed. He grabbed his phoned and pressed the call button on her number.  It went directly to voicemail. He phoned Wade next.

“Paul, my friend.  I expected your call last night already.”

“Where is she?”

“She took a month’s leave.”

“Where did she go?  Wade I have to know!”

“All I know is that she is in Australia.  Where I’ve got no idea. She said she needed time alone.  Maybe you should give it to her.”

He ended the call and leaned his head on the back of the couch.

“All he knows is that she is somewhere in Australia.  She took a month’s leave.”

“What about her parents?”

Paul searched for Wayne Simpson’s number and hesitated only a second before making the call.

“Paul, how are you, son?”

“Uncle Wayne, where is Alexandra?  Please I have to find her.”

Wayne heard the despair in Paul’s voice and glanced at his wife that made wide eyes at him.

“She is in Australia for a holiday, Paul.  She needs some time alone.”

“No, we need to talk!  She has not … we have not spoken … Goddammit … I have not opened my damn mouth!  Please! Tell me where she is.”

“I’ll make you a deal.  Let’s give her at least a week.  If she still has not contacted you, then phone me again.”

Paul sighed, but agreed and ended the call.

“What did he say?”

“To call him in a week if I have not heard from her by then.”

“I think maybe that is a good idea.  At least it gives her some time and you have time to think about what you need to say to her.”

Slade handed him a mug of strong coffee and a plate laden with sandwiches.  He shook his head.

“I can’t eat.”

“Yes, you can.  Take it!”

Paul grabbed it from him and scowled at him, but started to eat.

The week dragged by.  Paul spent most of it out on the Ranch.  He worked from dark to dark that he was so tired by the time he got home, he fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillows. 

He phoned Alexandra’s Dad a week later
as discussed, not really expecting him to give him any information.

“Paul, I’m sorry, but Rosa feels we should honor her wishes to be left alone for the month.”

Paul sighed and sank down on the couch.

“I understand.”

“I will tell you this.  She flew into Adelaide and from there took a ferry to where she is staying.”

Paul frowned and then snapped.

“Kangaroo Island!  She is on Kangaroo Island!”

“I’m not at liberty to say.  Good luck, Paul.”

“Thank you, Uncle Wayne.”

There was a commotion outside.  Paul sighed and went to see what was going on.  Samuel was flat on his back in one of the training pens and David battled to bring the vicious white stallion under control.  Paul ran towards him and shouted at him to let the horse go.  He did not hear him and Paul lengthened his strides.  He cleared the fence in one smooth jump and grabbed the reins from David.  He released it immediately and shouted at the White, chasing him away.  He sprinted in a circle and Paul shouted at him again
, He started galloping and cleared the fence.  He watched him gallop over the crest.

He turned towards Samuel.  His face was grey and his left leg was twisted at an angle.  He cursed and told David to go and fetch his car.  He kneeled at Samuel’s side and frowned at him.

“I told you to leave that damn devil to me.  I am going to help you up, but it is going to hurt a damn lot.  Are you ready?”

Samuel nodded and ground on his teeth.  He
screamed when Paul lifted him and supported him with his hand around his back.  Sweat broke out on his forehead.  David came to help and they carried Samuel to his car. 

“
David, phone Samuel’s wife.  We’ll go and pick her up first and then go to the hospital.”

“Hell no!  I will never hear the end of it, Boss!”

“Nor will I if I don’t fetch her.  You just relax, it looks like a clean break.  You’ll be running around in no time.”

The X-rays confirmed it was a clean
break.  They set his leg in the usual plaster wrap and armed with pain tablets, Paul dropped them off at their cottage.

“Doctors’ orders, Samuel. Keep the leg still for at least a week, then only may you start moving around.”

“I can’t stay off work for so long, Boss!  We’ve just started with the breeding program!”

“Stop worrying, Samuel.  I already phoned my Dad.  They are probably already at the house.  I will need his help for this week and
by next week, hopefully you’d be able to spend a few hours in the office to keep the paperwork up to date.  I need to go to Australia, but I will have to postpone it for a week.”

“Did you find her?”

“No, but I at least know where to go and look for her.”

Paul was slightly frustrated, but accidents happen and there was no help for it.  He would not be able to leave for another week.