Dudu and Alex

By Thabi Majabula

Dudu is at a wedding when a man looks at her as if he sees her. They have a short conversation, where he gives her his card, and leaves. She returns to the wedding and leaves soon afterwards, as a result of a disagreement with the bride.

She phones the man to ask for a lift, and he sends her his driver. Her attempt to escape the wrath of her family is unsuccessful, until the man driving her offers her a place of refuge.

When she wakes, the man from the wedding is watching her. She is disconcerted by her response to him, and leaves the room as soon as she can.

She agrees to dine with him, but that ends oddly, as he becomes upset with his driver. He and his friend take her home, where he shocks her by giving her family instructions, which they follow.

When it is time for him to return to his home, she goes with him, and they marry as soon as they arrive. She discovers that he is the leader of his group, and that as his wife, she has certain responsibilities.

In a few weeks, she finds herself back in her birth home, against her will. She and her husband are able to communicate, and he fetches her home.

She is upset to discover that he knows something about her Ma, that he did not tell her. Will they resolve that issue?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thabi Majabula
• Release date: Jan 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301328284

Thabi Majabula

Good romance stories are mood enhancers. I am thankful to all the romance writers who improved my mood many times. I am also thankful to be among romance writers, and I am thankful to all entities, physical and spiritual, who make it possible for me to write. I am thankful to you, reader, and I am thankful for every single person who has read any of my stories. I hope reading the stories gave you as much pleasure as writing gave me. Best of all things, Thabi

Book preview

DUDU AND ALEX

By

Thabi Majabula

Published by Thabi Majabula at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Thabi Majabula

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER ONE

Dudu smiled at the strange woman, and sat beside her, wishing that she had not come. She knew better than to go to family gatherings, she invariably got upset, but she could never say no when Ma talked in that particular tone, or gave her the particular look guaranteed to touch the tiniest cockles of her heart, and make her say yes.

She had tired of sitting at the bridal table, and left to get some fresh air. On returning to the tent, she had decided to sit away from the bridal table.

She was a bridesmaid, again. Being a bridesmaid had stopped being her dream years ago, when she had realised that unlike most women, it did not bring her male attention. Her partners invariably found other people attractive, and the guests never took notice of her. She was invisible to the male population.

She looked about, everyone seemed to be happy to be there. If I wasn’t the chief bridesmaid, I’d leave, she thought. She looked down at her dress, it was a pretty creation in orange, complementing her complexion and just right for her voluptuous build. She patted her head. Her hair had been plaited the day before, and unused to it, she felt discomfort every now and then.

The other bridesmaids gathered on the dance floor, and Dudu went to join them.

Where were you? asked her partner James, curtly.

I’m here now, she replied just as curtly. She decided not to wonder again why they had been cursed by being partnered. They danced several numbers, then, thankfully, it was time to sit down again at the bridal table. She made a fuss of the bride, Clea, but she was having too good a time with her groom to need Dudu.

Dudu sat back, lowered her head, and took several deep breaths. It’s not long to go now, I can see this through and go home, she told herself. She raised her head, and looked straight into a pair of green eyes. The colour was not the shock, the guests consisted of several races, what was a shock was the intensity of the look. The eyes seemed to look right into her, not through her as most people tended to do with her.

Clea called her attention, and she turned to her, finding that she could breathe again. She found water for her, then Clea lost interest in her. She looked up, the green eyes were still watching her. She felt her heart pound with fear or excitement or both, she was not sure which it was.

She looked at the face attached to the eyes. It was handsome, with long lashes, full lips, just like she liked, and a longish nose. She looked back into the eyes. They were still watching her, the man attached to them was talking to another man. He looked at his companion. Dudu noticed that the green eyed man had black hair that fell just under his collar, and he stood at six foot two. He was built big, with broad shoulders, and a flat stomach. She looked into his face, he was watching her again. She smiled slightly, he did not smile back. She looked away. What did I expect, she asked herself. She stood, and started helping the caterers to clear up.

You don’t have to do that, said Clea.

I need to do something. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon, said Dudu. She took some glasses to the kitchen and returned with a tray. She was able to put more things on there and turned to go to the kitchen. She bumped into someone, and gasped, afraid that she would drop the glasses and have to pay for them. The person that she had bumped into took the tray from her, and passed it to someone else. She opened her mouth to say something, and looked up into the green eyes that had watched her before. Her words died unspoken.

Do you have a minute? asked the gorgeous, green-eyed man. She felt the vibrations of his voice low in her belly and gasped, never having had that experience before.

Come with me, he said, then he led the way out of the tent, and she followed. Why am I following him? I don’t even know who he is, she said to herself. He stopped a short distance from the tent. She realised that her five foot ten height was not as intimidating as she had been led to believe, because she felt delicate beside him.

My name’s Alex King. I need to see you again. When can I see you? asked the green eyed god. Dudu put a hand on her belly, trying to quell the sexual excitement that his voice triggered. His accent was American, but which part of the Americas was he from?

When can I see you? he repeated.

Why? Do you need information? I can give it to you here, she said.

Information?

About a woman you want.

I want you.

You want me to do what?

To meet me. Dudu leaned closer to hear what he had said. He smells fabulous, she thought, then she drew back, realising that she was invading his space. She looked into his eyes when she thought that he had drawn a deep breath, as if he was sniffing her.

Name the date and time, and I’ll be there, he said. She gave him a long look.

I don’t understand why you want to meet me. What do you need from me? she asked. He looked behind her, then back at her.

I can’t talk right now. Here’s my card, call me, anytime, and I’ll come to you. I go back home this time next week. Call me, he said emphatically, as he took her hand and put the card in it. Dudu drew in a breath as electricity seemed to spark between them. His eyes widened, he must have felt it too. He put the card in her hand, kissed the inside of her wrist and hurried away. Dudu watched as he joined the man that he had been talking to before, who was on the phone. They both looked at her, then they went into the tent.

Dudu looked at the card in her hand, and caressed her wrist. She did not remember ever having that part of her anatomy kissed. The card had the man’s name, Alexander Byron King, and a phone number, and nothing else. It did not say what he did, or have any other details.

Duduzile! Duduzile! called Ma. Dudu looked up, Ma was at the tent opening, beckoning her. She pocketed the card, and hurried to her.

Where were you? she asked.

I needed fresh air, replied Dudu.

Come inside, your cousin needs you, said Ma, as she hurried Dudu to the bridal table.

Where were you? You’re chief bridesmaid so you can look after me, Clea said irritably, then she asked Dudu to help her to the bathroom. Dudu picked up her train and followed her. Clea complained about the food, all the bridesmaids, and about the DJ. Dudu normally listened to her rantings, but today, she could not stomach them.

Stop it! she said. Clea looked at her as if she was insane.

You’re young, beautiful, getting married, and everyone thinks you’re wonderful. Would you for once just see how lucky you are, instead of seeing all that’s missing in your life? Would you like to be me, forty eight, unmarried, with no hope of getting married?

No!

Then start giving thanks! The two women glared at each other, then Clea looked away.

Help me with my makeup, she said.

Please, prompted Dudu.

What?

Help me with my makeup, please.

Just get on with it.

No, I won’t get on with it. I may be the pathetic loser cousin, but I’m not your slave. Ask me, or I’m leaving.

You wouldn’t dare. Your Ma’d never let you live it down. Dudu left the bathroom and the tent, and started walking. Realising that she had no money on her, she stamped her foot, something that she had never done. She remembered the green-eyed man saying to call him, and took his card and her phone from her pocket and phoned him.

King, he said. She drew a breath, surprised by the effect his voice had on her, even over the phone.

You gave me your card earlier and said I should call you. Are you ready to leave the wedding venue? she asked.

Where are you? Dudu told him.

I can’t leave yet, but if you want, I can have my driver take you where you want to go, he said.

That would be great, thank you. The man told her what car to expect, and that his driver’s name was Hawk. In seconds, the car was beside her. She opened the back door, and climbed in. Her phone rang, it was Clea. Dudu switched off the phone.

I was about to come and open the door for you, ma’am, said the driver.

Don’t worry, Mr Hawk, let’s just get out of here, said Dudu. She gave him directions to her home, then she changed her mind, and asked him to take her someplace else. She sat wondering what race Hawk was, he wasn’t Indian, or mixed race, but he had long black hair and an almost Indian look.

Thank you, Mr Hawk, she said, as the car stopped.

Is this where you live, ma’am?

No, this is my friend’s place. I can’t go home, my mother would look for me there and give me hell.

Is there anything I can do?

You’ve brought me here, that’ll give me time to hide for a few hours before I have to face the music. Please thank Mr King for me.

What time should I fetch you?

There’s no need for that, I can see myself home. Hawk frowned, not liking her answer. Dudu wanted to console him, but she did not know how.

I must go in now, she said.

I’ll get the door, said Hawk. Dudu smiled, no one had ever gotten the car door for her, she decided to let Hawk go for it. He opened the door, she stepped out of the car and thanked him again. He closed the door and looked at her out of troubled eyes. She nodded and approached the front door. She was surprised to hear Hawk behind her. She rang the doorbell several times, but nothing happened.

No one’s home, she thought, dispirited. She put her forehead on the door, wishing she had a key, then she remembered Hawk and straightened.

You can go now, I’ll wait for my friend, she said.

When is she returning? Dudu wondered if he was guessing that her friend was a woman.

Soon.

Does she know you’re coming?

No.

May I suggest, ma’am, that you phone her and find out when she’ll be back. She may not return any time soon. Dudu opened her mouth to argue and realised that he had a point. She phoned Jackie, she would only be back in a month. Dudu leaned against the door, ready to cry.

I know where you can stay until you can go home, said Hawk.

You do?

Yes. I can take you there now.

That would be great, said Dudu, as she followed him to the car.

He took her to a house. From outside, it was big, beautiful and spacious.

Who lives here? she asked.

"Mr