Authors note: Hello everyone. This story is a spinoff of the Twelve Tables series I wrote a while ago. While there will be cameo appearances of some of the Donati's, this series is based on and around a different family and table. I hope you enjoy this series despite its differences to the original story. ~ellie.
Prologue:
"Are you insane!" Jacobi said as he got out of his car. He was breathing heavily and shaking his head, looking at the tree in front of his car before turning his irate glare on the woman who had almost caused this accident. There was dust swirling around them which had been raised in response to her signal for help, which had made him almost drive his car into a tree.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly and approached him. "My name is Maryanne Donati, and I am in a dreadful hurry, but it seems I have run out of petrol. Can you help me, please?" She said in such a rapid string of words she breathed as heavily as him.
"Maryanne Donati?" Jacobi repeated her name, immediately making the connection to her family.
"You've heard of... Well, not me, but my family?" she asked, a frown furrowing her forehead. She looked at him more closely, taking in his handsome features. No, not handsome, she decided, it was more than just being handsome, he was rugged and interesting, she decided, and that was much better than merely being handsome. He looked to be around thirty, with broad shoulders, dark hair and the deep tan of a man who worked outdoors. She took in his dark eyes a moment after acknowledging that he had a great physique under the casual business shirt and pants. She realised he was studying her at the same time and he said her name again.
"Maryanne Donati," he seemed to nod his head as if finally accepting the name belonged to her. "Well, Miss Donati, let me be the first to tell you that dancing into the road on those high heels while lifting your skirt to expose your long legs can cause chaos!" he said in a reprimanding tone.
"You're right, no one has ever told me that before, but my skirt is back in place now, and there was no damage done," she grinned and smoothed her demure shin length denim skirt back into place. "I am sorry," she said contritely when his less than impressed gaze didn't waver. "I just couldn't think of any other way to make sure you stopped!"
Jacobi swore and looked around. It was a country road lined by large fallow fields. There was no sign of habitation or other traffic anywhere around them, and the summer sun was beating down, making it seem inhospitable.
"My car's diesel. I can't give you the petrol you need," he grouched. "Where were you heading?"
"Timboon. Are you? You're heading in the right direction at least." She asked. "Is there any chance I could get a lift with you?"
Jacobi looked her up and down again. She was stunning, her flowing dark hair held red gold highlight and she had unusually dark blue eyes that were almost violet. He imagined she was in her early twenties, and, aside from her face and lovely figure, she had sensational legs. There was an energy about her and an innate loveliness that he couldn't help but admire, even though she had almost caused him to collide with a big tree. Behind the loveliness, though, there was a conviction that she was no mere mortal, and, as such, begging a lift from a stranger held no danger for her. He grimaced, acknowledging that she was a Donati Princess, and, of course, she was a law unto herself. Just like the last Donati princess to spend time with his family, Nik.
"All right, but you can't just leave a car like that here," he looked at the sleek white sports car totally unsuited to life on country roads.
"No," she hesitated. "There is one more tiny thing, my phone died, and I can't charge it if the car doesn't start. Would you have a phone I could borrow?" She asked sweetly, making him shake his head again at the clueless woman who had almost killed him. "I'll pay for the call and the petrol to drive me to Timboon, naturally."
"You don't have to do that, naturally or otherwise," he grumbled, pulling his phone out.
"I insist," she gave an imperious little toss of her head as she took the phone from his hand.
He listened to a one-sided conversation between Maryanne and her Aunt, including a detailed description of his car, including registration. She sheepishly handed his phone back.
"Sorry about that, but she is a worrier," Maryanne explained. "Plus, she explained why I ran out of petrol. She used the car yesterday and forgot to refill it. I was in such a rush I didn't even check it," she smiled. "So I don't have to feel completely stupid."
"Why are you in such a rush?" he enquired, moving toward his car again, sensing that she had an equally airy reason, like being late to get her hair done or some such appointment that shouldn't require this amount of drama.
"Can I tell you as we drive?" she asked, following him to the car. He opened her door for her as he gestured to get in with a nod.
"I was here visiting my aunt and uncle and catching up with a friend from school. My friend was due to have her baby in two weeks but went into labour this morning. Her mother is still up in Queensland, and her husband was out at the mines and is on his way back but won't make it in time, and she called me. I'm all she's got, and I have messed it up terribly," she said sadly. "She has no one else, and this is her first baby."
"I see," he said blandly, but pushed the accelerator a little deeper hearing the emotion in her voice.
"I am truly grateful, even if I had have used your phone and waited for my Uncle to come, I could have lost hours, their home is half an hour in the other direction," she chatted as they drove. "May I ask the name of my rescuer?"
"Cobi," he answered with the single word of his preferred shortening of his name.
"Well, Cobi, may I borrow your phone again, please? I'd like to call the hospital and see how things are going. I am hoping I haven't missed the whole thing; she sounded so lost and scared when she called me." She took the phone he offered and thanked him again before speaking to a nurse in the maternity wing.
"Oh no, I think I am going to miss it entirely," her whole body sagged in defeat.
