The Player. Akhona Bota

time keeping clients who called with queries happy. She was clicking away on her calculator when her friend Nonhlanhla came in with a bunch of roses.

      “These were just delivered for you . . . Anything you want to share?” she asked, curious.

      Hlobo took off her glasses, frowning at the beautiful roses.

      “Who are they from?” she asked.

      Nonhlanhla handed over the card.

      “Oh, my God!” Hlobo called out. It read:

      Guess what? I know where you work! You still owe me a coffee for changing your tyre.

      Sizwe

      “I can’t believe this guy,” Hlobo said, throwing her hands in the air. He must have followed her to see where she worked.

      “What guy?” Nonhlanhla asked, raising her eyebrows.

      “Oh, this rugby player. At least that’s what he said he was. He helped me, changed my tyre.”

      “What’s his name?”

      “Sizwe Bala.”

      “Sizwe Bala! Oh, wow! He changed your tyre? Really?” Nonhlanhla gasped dramatically. “The guy’s been voted South Africa’s sexiest man alive by Exposure magazine.” She snatched the card from Hlobo’s hand and read it.

      “Oh, my word! He wants to go out with you!”

      “And he’s clearly determined,” said Hlobo, sounding quite pleased.

      “Well then, say yes!” urged Nonhlanhla. “Oh, what I would do to go on a date with such a gorgeous man,” she said dreamily.

      “I have to work, Nonhlanhla. Please excuse yourself, friend.”

      Mmmh, thought Hlobo once she was alone, now reconsidering. Sizwe Bala was indeed gorgeous. Plus he was a successful sportsman. And a gentleman. One cup of coffee with him couldn’t hurt. After all, she was single.

      1

      Three months later Hlobo and Sizwe were driving along a rocky dirt road.

      “Wow, it’s beautiful here,” Hlobo gasped. “I wish you’d told me we were coming here.” She’d had absolutely no idea that he was bringing her to a game reserve. The road they were on was barely more than a track. They were surrounded by nothing but wilderness.

      So far, Hlobo had spotted a lion and an elephant, and she was thrilled at the prospect of seeing many more wild animals.

      “Well, that would have spoiled the surprise, wouldn’t it?” Sizwe pointed out. He parked the car outside the magnificent lodge they were going to stay in for the weekend.

      At the door they were greeted by the friendly manager. “Welcome to Ekhaya Lodge, your home away from home. I trust you will enjoy your stay here.” She was a big-boned woman in her fifties, wearing a black skirt and colourful top. “Come, I’ll show you to your room.”

      The lodge had an authentic African feel to it, though the furnishings were contemporary, creating an exciting eclectic look. As they passed the lounge, Hlobo noticed sculptures and paintings, all inspired by this continent. The area was spacious, with comfortable-looking couches. The couple followed the manager up the mahogany staircase to their room.

      “I’ll have your luggage brought up in a few minutes,” said the manager, stopping at their door.

      “Thanks. We’ll call if we need anything,” replied Sizwe, taking the key from the lady, who went back downstairs. “Are you ready?” he asked Hlobo. His small, wicked eyes were gleaming with excitement.

      She nodded her head and he unlocked the door. They stepped inside.

      “No work, no calls. Nothing at all that will distract us while we’re on our getaway,” he declared, closing the door firmly.

      “I couldn’t agree with you more,” said Hlobo, admiring the suite.

      She was taken off guard when Sizwe came up from be­hind and locked her in his arms. Her back leant tenderly against his chest while her jeans-clad body pressed more and more urgently against his crotch. She did not bother to fight off Sizwe as he showered hot kisses of burning desire on her neck. She closed her eyes, feeling the heat of his mouth. Then she turned to look at him.

      “You bad, bad boy,” she said with a smile. “Is that why you brought me here – to seduce me?”

      “Yeah, partly anyway,” he replied, and their mouths met in a gently delicious kiss. Although Hlobo had kissed Sizwe before, it still felt as if she was floating when his lips touched hers. Up, up into the air in a bubble of heady happiness.

      She tasted and felt his lips against her mouth.They were a fountain of pleasure. Sizwe picked her up and she immediately twined her legs around his strong waist. Her arms curled around his neck.

      Their kiss became increasingly passionate. But all good things come to an end. A knock at the door disturbed them.

      “That must be our stuff,” she guessed, getting off him.

      Sizwe went to answer the door and found a young man there with the luggage. He gave the porter a big tip before closing the door.

      “What made you decide to bring me here?” Hlobo asked. She was sitting on the bed, taking off her shoes.

      “Babes, we’ve been going steady for more than a month now. Do I need a reason for treating you? I just wanted to be with you,” he responded. “I want to make our time here memorable. Look . . .”

      He went through one of the bags and took out an expensive 12.3 megapixel camera. It was the first time Hlo­bo had seen it. Clearly Sizwe had thought of everything.

      But somehow she suspected he was hiding something from her. There was something he didn’t want her to find out yet. She knew Sizwe well enough now to see right through him.

      She had learnt so much about him during the past three months since they had met. How he had started to play rugby at high school and never looked back since his SA Under-20 debut against New Zealand. For the first time in her life Hlobo enjoyed a conversation about rugby. Perhaps because it was such a huge part of Sizwe’s life. What was more impressive about his accomplishments was that he had managed to achieve all of these successes at just thirty years. He was just two years ahead of Hlobo.

      “I’ll go and get us something to eat, okay?” he said, interrupting her thoughts and heading for the door.

      Hlobo was left alone to admire the enchanting room. She went to look out through the open window. Her lungs opened up to the natural and uncontaminated air of the surroundings. The atmosphere of this place was something she had been truly needing. She had never been to a game lodge before, because she had not known a place like this could be so calming.

      The fresh air almost made her dizzy and she decided to have a bath. The bathroom was dominated by the colour white, with touches of gold, like the mirror frame. The big tub was snowy white, with golden taps.

      Hlobo put in some bubble bath and filled the tub with water, and within minutes it was full of foam – the perfect bath. She took off her clothes and relaxed her body in the warm water. If someone had told her a few months ago that she would date a rugby player and spend a weekend with him at a game lodge, she would have laughed.

      Sizwe was amazing!

      Everything about him conjured up that word: amazing. His personality, his sense of humour, and his amazing body! She must have done something really good to deserve him. No man had ever treated her as he did, as if she was a princess. Her heart glowed and she couldn’t stop smiling. She hadn’t made love with him yet and the thought of how their first time would be filled her tummy with excitement, as if butterflies were fluttering inside her. But she didn’t want to rush things with this hunky rugby player. Everything was turning out to be so good that she did not want to spoil everything by rushing things, despite her curiosity.

      If