If The World Was Ending

Chapter 8

Shane opens his eyes as he feels the warmth of the sun peering through the thin curtains fall onto his face. He was on his right side lying behind Elizabeth’s back, his left arm thrown over her with her hand in his. To deny that last night had been the best sleep he has had for months would make him a liar. Despite the strange occurrence of the scream last night, he has not felt this peaceful in a very long time.

Elizabeth was making him feel things he has not felt in a long time. She was his assignment and he cannot allow himself to get involved with her. Shane closes his eyes again, relishing the feel of her body against his. More than anything he wants to pull her closer, place his lips on her shoulder. Shane groans as he feels his groin stir and inadvertently wakes Elizabeth up.

He takes the opportunity to pull his arm away and roll off the bed making his way to the bathroom, grabbing his bag.

“Good morning, Thabo will be here soon” he says over his shoulder as he disappears into the bathroom.

Elizabeth rolls onto her back, immediately missing the warmth and safety of Shane. She had loved being close to him last night with his arm around her, the strength of his hand holding hers. This man was evoking feelings in her she did not really know what to do with. This was starting to feel more than just attraction, which of course was ridiculous as she does not know Shane at all.  And if dinner last night was any indication, she doubts she will learn anything more about him, since it is apparent he does not want to share.

The knocking on the door brings Elizabeth out of her thoughts and she jumps up.

“Miss Van Rooyen? Mr Stone?” she hears the familiar voice of Thabo calling through the door.

Elizabeth rushes to unlock the door and finds Thabo grinning with two steaming coffee foam cups in his hands.

“Good morning, Thabo” Elizabeth greets him with a smile.

“Good morning, Miss Van Rooyen” and Thabo holds out a cup to her.

Elizabeth takes it motioning for Thabo to come inside, which he does only too happily.

“Am I too early?” Thabo asks as he looks at Elizabeth, who suddenly realizes she was still in her night shirt.

“No, no, we overslept. Something weird happened last night” Elizabeth answers, not quite sure how to explain the screaming they had heard, “we heard a scream, thought that it might be an animal.”

Thabo blinks and then frowns, “scream? Like a goat?”

“No, I don’t think we heard a goat” Elizabeth shrugs and then shivers. She doubts it could have been an animal at all, and if it wasn’t she does not want to know what it was. Elizabeth sighs with relief as Shane comes out of the bathroom.

Shane nods at Thabo in greeting accepting the offered cup of coffee watching Elizabeth as she grabs her suitcase to go to the bathroom. He was like yesterday dressed in his commando gear, but with a short sleeve shirt and without his vest. He could feel the day was starting to heat up.

Shane listens to Thabo chatter about their driving schedule as he makes up the bed. He has already checked his phone several times for confirmation about his meeting in Prince Albert. He has texted but has had no response which was unusual. He was starting to feel on edge again, just like last night when they had heard the scream.

Shane turns his head at the sound of the bathroom door opening. His eyes drifting over Elizabeth as she steps out dressed in the rayon pants and white camisole top she had on yesterday. Her hair was braided and pinned to the top of her head, a few loose strands framing her face. He wanted to go over and loosen her hair, threading his fingers through the copper strands. Shane shakes his head and looks away.

Elizabeth frowns as she sees Shane shaking his head, the slight disgusted expression on his face.  She allows Thabo to take her suitcase and she walks over to get her travelling bag. She quickly glances over the cottage. Shane has already made sure everything was neat and clean and he was standing at the door looking outside.

Elizabeth straightens her shoulders and with a smile she heads for the door. With a nod to Shane she steps outside and walks to the truck. She moves to grab the handle to pull herself up into her seat and gasps when she feels Shane hands on her waist. He lifts her up and she shifts into her seat.

“Thank you” she smiles breathlessly. Shane nods and walks over to Thabo who was locking up the cottage. Elizabeth watches as they have a brief exchange and then looks away as they both head for the truck.

Elizabeth had felt the tension in Shane’s hands he was most definitely on edge. She wanted to ask what was going on, but once the truck started she leaned back in her seat to stare out the window.

Once back on the N1 highway the truck fell into silence, with Thabo concentrating on driving and both Shane and Elizabeth deep in their own thoughts. The highway was busier then yesterday. But they made good time reaching Prince Albert in just under two hours.

Thabo stopped outside the Prince Albert Cure Cybertech’s Medical Facility.

Elizabeth checked her phone it was just after 11 am, she and Dr Kramer was supposed to meet up with Dr Preston, the head of this facility. Shane climbs out to open her door and help her out, this time releasing her almost immediately, pushing her away from him. Elizabeth averts her eyes to not stare at him as he starts towards the huge building, not waiting for her.

Elizabeth reaches for her bag still inside the truck and her phone rings.

“Hello?” she asks not recognizing the caller.

“Hello? Who is this?” she repeats when no one answers, but she could hear them breathing.

“Listen, I don’t know who” she starts to say but then the phone goes dead and Elizabeth stares at the screen.

“Are you okay?” Thabo asks as he comes around the truck.

“What? Yes, yes…just a wrong number” Elizabeth answers tucking her phone back into her bag.

She hurries to catch up to Shane who was already standing at the entrance glass doors.

As she nears he pushes open the door for her, and with a nod and small smile Elizabeth enters the building with Shane close behind her.