Forbidden Heir (The Heirs 8)

“Already?” Danny asks as she glances at her watch.

“Yes, or you won’t get shit out of me today. I need food unlike you,” I grumble as I get up.

“I eat,” she mutters.

“Put on your shoes,” I order as I walk to my room to get my own.

Danny doesn’t argue, which I’m thankful for. After only having breakfast on the plane and the sandwich for dinner yesterday, I could eat half a cow.

I grab my wallet, the keycard, and car keys, then walk back into the living room.

Danny comes out of her room, asking, “You’re paying, right? Then I don’t have to take my bag.”

“Sure.”

“Are we eating in the hotel or taking a walk?” Danny asks.

I let out a chuckle. “We won’t be taking any walks while we’re here.”

Her eyes dart to mine. “Why not?”

“Because it’s dangerous, Danny. Cape Town is, after all, ranked as the most murderous city in the world.” My lips curve up. “Which means you go nowhere without me.”

Luckily, she doesn’t argue with me. “So, are we eating here or going out?”

“There’s a mall nearby. Let’s see if we can find a breakfast place there.” Instantly she smiles, and it has me adding, “Let me know if there’s a place you want to visit.”

“I was really hoping we could take a wine tour before we go home.”

“I’ll check. Maybe we can go on one this weekend.” Not that I drink alcohol, but if it’s something Danny wants to do, I’ll make it happen.

“That will be great.”

We walk to the front door, and as we leave, I place my hand on Danny’s lower back. She doesn’t scowl at me or comment about it.

It’s a short drive to the mall, but damn, there are minibuses, which are used as cabs, everywhere. It feels as if I’m doing an advanced driving course as I maneuver the car between them.

“Ryker!” Danny gasps, and she grabs hold of my thigh when one of the minibuses suddenly swerves in front of us, coming to a stop in the middle of the road.

I slam on the breaks, and then we have to wait for them to offload passengers before we’re moving again.

“Welcome to Africa,” I mutter, highly conscious of Danny’s hand on my thigh. Every couple of seconds, her grip on me tightens when a car passes close by us.

We make it to the mall in one piece, and as I park the car, Danny lets out a breath of relief.

I lower my hand to hers and give her a squeeze. “You okay?”

“Yeah, but… damn… don’t these people know how to drive?”

“Apparently not.” I give her hand another squeeze. “Let’s find a place to eat.”

I get out of the car and walk around to the passenger side. Opening the door, I take hold of Danny’s hand as she climbs out.

We’re approached by a man, and it has Danny ducking behind me.

“Can I wash your car?”

“No, thanks,” I mutter as I pull Danny to my right side. She sticks close to me, and her hand tightens on mine. It has me linking our fingers as we walk toward an entrance.

We find a restaurant called Mugg & Bean that looks decent, and reaching the table, I let go of Danny’s hand as I pull her chair out.

“Thank God,” she mumbles under her breath.

Taking a seat next to her, I ask, “When’s the last time you traveled?”

She glances around. “With my parents for my twenty-first birthday. We went to Croatia, and it was nothing like this.”

Raising my eyebrow, I ask, “Seriously? Didn’t you go on a business trip…” I have to think when it was, “four years ago?”

“That was to Canada.”

Shaking my head, my eyes lock on hers. “You don’t take vacations, do you?”

Danny grins at me. “Work keeps me busy.”

“Too busy,” I mutter as a waiter brings our menus. We both settle for cappuccinos then the waiter leaves us to look over the selection of meals.

Danny lets out a chuckle. “They have California omelet, which reminds me nothing of home.”

After discussing the menu, Danny decides on a classic breakfast while I choose the South African farm one. I hope that plate is loaded.

Once we have our cappuccinos, Danny gives me an apologetic look. “Sorry for clinging to you.”

My lips instantly curve up. “I don’t mind.”

Our eyes lock for a moment too long, and it has Danny shifting on her chair as she glances around us again.

While we wait for our food to come, we listen to the different languages being spoken. It’s fascinating, but my attention soon drifts back to Danny.

Seeing her out of her comfort zone shows me a whole new side to her. She’s always calm and collected. The businesswoman who can make any man bend to her will.

But right now, she looks vulnerable, and it makes my protective side rear to life.

Danny begins to frown, and then she says, “Maybe we should get a security team.”