A Sheltering Heart. Terri Reed
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of good for the people of Moswani. They are the ones to remember.”
Derek gave her a “what’s your problem” look. “Good to know.”
“Don’t mind her. She’s all work and no play,” Joyce said with a teasing lilt to her voice.
A good dose of irritation shot through Gwen’s veins. Just because she took life seriously didn’t mean she didn’t know how to relax and have fun. She’d enjoyed swimming in the ocean the few times she had gone to the coast along the Oregon and Washington border.
She liked to go to concerts and hear jazz or Christian artists. She’d gone to every one of her friend Tyler’s basketball games. Though she had to have the game explained to her. But still, she’d had fun.
Only, looking into Derek’s amused eyes, she realized their concept of relaxing fun would be vastly different. He’d be off running himself to the max. Or out partying. She’d heard from the nurses that he did the nightclub scene in Seattle.
So what did it matter if they didn’t share mutual downtime pursuits? What mattered was the work they’d be doing in Africa. Not filling his adventure scrapbook.
One more hurdle to cross to fulfilling her promise.
Chapter Two
Gwen picked up her pace, wanting a breather from her companions. The concourse seemed a mile long and lined with more shops that any airport she’d ever been in. The typical tourist-type stores with hats and T-shirts blazing with the red, white and blue flag of Britain. Stores selling designer clothes, which no doubt cost more than Gwen made in a year.
Coming into the main terminal, she headed for the Tube station, since their baggage was checked all the way through to Uganda and would be there when they arrived. Unlike the subway of New York, the station was shiny silver with the longest escalator she’d ever seen.
They boarded the Tube. The eclectic assortment of passengers showed little interest in the Americans boarding.
Joyce, Craig and Ned took a row of seats beside a sullen teenage boy dressed in black. Gwen chose to stand and Derek halted next to her, his big hand wrapping around the overhead bar just millimeters from her own.
The Tube shot forward. Gwen braced her feet apart to keep her balance. Outside the window the dimly lit walls of the tunnels whooshed by in a blur. Gwen turned her gaze away because she’d learned the last time she rode on the Tube that watching out the window made her motion sickness kick in.
Derek captured her gaze and smiled. “So is that true?”
“What?” Gwen tried not to let his nearness and the killer smile have an effect on her. She told herself it was the excitement of the trip that sent her pulse pounding.
“That you’re all work and no play?”
She lifted a corner of her mouth in a self-effacing smile. Now that she’d calmed down after Joyce’s announcement, she decided she’d rather be a hard worker than a flake. “I suppose.”
“What do you like to do for fun?” he asked, his green eyes alight with interest.
She shrugged. “Stuff.”
“Like what?”
She thought about the question for a moment. “I like to walk on the beach. I read. I bike. Normal stuff.”
“That’s good. Are you a road bike or mountain bike person?”
She thought of the shiny blue metallic bike that Claire and Nick had given her when she’d moved to Seattle. “I have a road bike. To be honest, I haven’t ridden in a long time. I tried to bike to work but it didn’t work out. You know Seattle. Too many hills.”
“Very true. What kind of books?”
“For fun?”
He nodded.
“I’m fascinated with historical fiction.”
“I’m an action-adventure reader myself.”
She laughed. “Why am I not surprised?”
The Tube slowed. A voice over the loudspeaker announced their arrival at Paddington Station.
“This is us,” Gwen said.
Craig, Ned and Joyce rose from the bench and crowded toward the door. Gwen turned her back to Derek just as the car came to a jerking stop. The force of the train’s abrupt halt caused several people to stumble. Someone bumped into Gwen, knocking her off balance. Derek’s arm coiled around her, steadying her.
Her already parched mouth went impossibly drier at the contact. She gathered her bearings and stepped away from him with a slight shiver. “Thank you, again.”
He grinned and winked. “Anytime.”
The doors opened and they stepped out into the brisk evening air. The tree-lined streets bustled with activity. There were black cabs, double-decker red buses and cars going by with nobody in the driver’s seat.
The facades of the buildings retained their time-gone-by feel that made Gwen smile. She loved the grand feel of London and the history represented in the architecture. The arched doorways and colorful doors of the tall slim houses that were built together as if sharing the walls, called to her. Someday she’d like to live in London.
Their hostel was two blocks down on the right. The two-story yellow brick building sat in the middle of the block. An archway over a red door welcomed them. Arched windows with wrought iron balconies gave the building charm.
The proprietor, who introduced himself as Damon, greeted them warmly and showed them to their accommodations. They passed a room with comfy-looking couches that served as the common area, then up a narrow staircase with an ornately carved banister.
The wood floors of the hallway were covered with worn blue runners. Gwen was thankful they each had separate rooms with a single bathroom just down the hall.
The rooms weren’t fancy, but they were clean and functional with a single bed, scratched-up dresser and small closet with empty hangers. Gwen’s room shared a wall with Joyce’s while the men’s rooms were across the way.
Derek and the others were making plans for a late dinner. Gwen listened for a moment before stepping into her room and closing the door. Her plan was to relax and prepare for the rest of the journey; the long flight in the morning from the UK to Africa, then the drive from Entebbe Airport to the Moswani province.
To that end, she grabbed a few toiletries and stepped back into the hall which was thankfully empty. She wasn’t big on small talk.
Between the long flight and the eight-hour time difference, she felt ready to grab a bite to eat at the little pub next door and then sleep. Refreshed, she opened the bathroom door and found Derek leaning against the wall.
She blinked. “Uh, it’s all yours.”
“Is there any hot water left?” he asked.
She bit her lip. “I think so. I wasn’t in there that long.”
His mouth quirked. “I’m teasing.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know him well enough to recognize when he was teasing or not. “I hope you’re not too uncomfortable with the accommodations here.”
He waved off her concern. “I lived in a dorm in college.”
“Well, Joyce wasn’t kidding when she said this is luxurious compared to where we’ll be staying next.”
He lightly tweaked her braid. “Don’t worry about me. I’m adaptable.”
She stepped away from him. “That’s good. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Hey, wait,” he said. “We’re all going to dinner in an hour. You’re coming, too.”
She cocked