Boundless Love (A Limitless Love Series.): (Christian Romance)

CHAPTER 12

Ryan meandered through the small clusters of patients littered around the compound. Pushing through the chapel doors, he paused at the entrance to scan the diminutive room. A few hunched bodies occupied the debilitated pews but none resembled her. One more careful sweep, he sighed in frustration and ran his fingers through his ebony hair.

She wasn't here either. She hadn't been at the roof, the wards or the nurse's station. The chapel was his last option now that the hospital had run out of potential hiding places. Letting out a defeated groan, he ambled back to the office opting to take the longer route which cut through the car park. This route helped him avoid the multitudes of people during the visiting hour.

The parking lot was quiet as usual except for the faint booming of music. He almost dismissed it when he heard a familiar modulated voice singing slightly above the soft beat. Ryan craned his neck in the direction of the voice. He sauntered past a line of ambulances and MSF trucks to the furthest corner of the open-air parking lot. Right under a broad acacia tree, sat a glimmering white Jeep Wrangler JL. The top was down revealing a head of messy, curly ebony locks, swaying in the midday breeze. Halima sat behind the wheel, eyes closed. She was clearly lost in the song. He had never seen her hair down and the scene caused his heart to swell with feelings he had not yet dared confess or admit, either to himself or anyone else. He moved his feet on the gravel startling her out of her ecstasy.

Her doe eyes, first riddled with surprise warmed as they zeroed in on her observer. His hazel eyes held hers as a small smile formed across his bearded countenance.

"Hi, Ryan. What are you doing here?" She looked away to avoid the rosy blush she was sure was about to color her cheeks.

"I came looking for you...nice ride!" He scanned the 2017 Wrangler with pure admiration.  "Which patient did you sweet talk to let you hide away in their car?" His sweeping gaze landed on her.

"I don't know whether to be flattered or offended by that!" She lowered her eyelids closed not missing his smoldering gaze. "Flattered that you think I am charming enough to convince a patient to let me in their car, for some quiet time or offended because you think am hiding."

"We'll get back to that later, in the meantime, whose car is this?"

"Mine!" She opened her eyes to witness the surprise she knew was coming. "Well, don't look so surprised, I did tell you that I had a car."

"You said car not Wrangler! Plus, how, can I not be surprised? You own the latest model of the Wrangler and you sleep on the floor? Doing quick math that's a fortune in Kenyan shillings!"

"I know, priorities right?" She sighed leaning over the passenger seat to open the door. "Now, come in, get out of that sun." He snapped from his trance and climbed in through the open door, shutting it behind him. His back eased into the cushy black leather seat, turning, he ran a hand over the embossed headrest.

"Princess?" He asked taking his hand off the golden lettering.

"Oh, yes the car was a birthday gift from Salim, my betrothed."

"Spineless but generous huh? How come I have never seen you drive it, in fact, I have never seen this car in this parking lot and trust me I would have noticed. It doesn't exactly blend in with the ambulances."

"I Can't remember the last time I took it for a ride. Since I was living at the hospital, I would come here and just let the engine run for a while then cover it back up." She said pointing to the grey canvas cover in the back seat.

"Wow, Salim really gave you this car? He must be serious about you."

"So you think he is serious because he bought me a car? This is nothing compared to what he is worth. Oh trust me, the car was my sister's idea, they are awfully chatty with each other. She heard me gush over it a while back so she must have mentioned it to him."