Millions To Spare

Harrison felt around in his pocket and retrieved a credit card, holding it out to Alex between two fingers. “If you get lucky, and make it to Ajman, book a decoy hotel room with this.”

Alex took the card and grinned. “And then book the real one with cash?”

“You got it,” said Harrison. “Keep running and keep sleuthing as long as you can. I’ll be calling you when I get a chance.”

Alex nodded.

The door to the vet’s office came open. “They’re done,” said Leila.

Brittany acknowledged that Julia looked very nice in the Feteami gown. Her breasts were slightly fuller than Brittany’s, the result being a more voluptuous silhouette. But there was enough give in the fabric that it still fit her well, and the shimmering beads accentuated Julia’s graceful neck.

It would have been better for Brittany’s peace of mind if Julia had looked terrible. But Brittany would just have to get over this silly reaction to the woman.

Julia had done nothing overt. She wasn’t flirting with Harrison. In fact, Brittany mostly felt sorry for her. She was obviously frightened, and simply wanted to get out of the country as quickly as possible.

Julia teetered a little bit in the four-inch heels. Brittany had to admit she was grateful they’d switched shoes so that she wore the roomy, canvas flats.

She had no desire to go riding through the desert in her Claudio Merazzi shoes. Bad enough she was wearing a dress. She knew her thighs would rub against the saddle, but hopefully they wouldn’t be out there too long. And she could climb into the big, en suite bathtub when they got back.

She could already feel the soothing, foamy water.

She was worried there wouldn’t be a proper goodbye for the guests at the secretary-general’s party. But she supposed that couldn’t be helped. Although she didn’t have a diamond on her finger as yet, it was her job to support Harrison.

She drew a deep breath as the men walked back into the office. In this, she was ready, willing and able to offer support.

“Thank you,” Julia offered, reaching out to squeeze Brittany’s hand.

Brittany smiled at the woman and squeezed back. If it wasn’t for the odd energy she sensed between Julia and Harrison, she might even like the woman.

“It’ll be over soon,” she promised.

“Oh, I hope so,” said Julia.

There was a faint buzz, and Leila grabbed her cell phone from her pocket and put it to her ear.

“They’re coming,” she whispered to the group. Then she pointed to an outside exit door from the little office. “I’ll explain to your grandmother, and Darla will make sure the guests get a proper goodbye.”

“Tell her the French, the Uzbeks-” He swore under his breath.

“Darla will know what to do,” said Leila. “She’ll tell them the right story.”

Harrison gave a grim-faced nod, and Brittany understood there must be some important diplomatic talks going on at the party.

“Roc and Cedar Twist are this way,” said Leila.

Knowing time was running out, Brittany headed for the door.

To her surprise, Alex appeared at her elbow.

“What-”

“Shh.”

“But-”

“Quiet,” he ground out as he ushered her through the exit to the dark yard. “You need help getting on?”

“No.” She had been riding since she was five years old. She was perfectly capable of mounting her own horse.

But where the heck was Harrison?

She strained to look over her shoulder.

Leila shut the door, and she and Alex were alone, save for the two horses tied to the hitching post.

“Where’s Harrison?” she demanded.

Alex grinned as he untied the lead rope of the taller animal. “He’s with Julia.”

“What?”

“Quiet,” Alex warned.

“You’re coming with me?” Brittany couldn’t believe it. She was sacrificing her thighs to spend time with Alex?

“We’ll both be taking a ride with the police if you don’t get on that horse.” He mounted and turned his big chestnut in a circle.

Some lights went on in the building behind them, and Brittany deftly released the other lead rope. She swung up on the mare, adjusted her seat, arranged the skirt as best she could and took up the reins.

“How did you pull this off?” she asked Alex in the most accusatory voice she could muster.

He just grinned unrepentantly at her. “Looks like it’s you and me, babe.” Then he turned south along the fence line and urged the horse to a gallop.

Brittany spurred her horse to follow. She was going to kill Alex. The second she had an opportunity, she was simply going to kill him.

Julia struggled to keep up with Harrison, crossing his lush lawn in the ridiculous high-heeled shoes.

Brittany had smaller feet.

She was marrying Harrison, and she had smaller feet.

Julia gritted her teeth in frustration with herself.

She had to stop caring about the stupid things. She was in a foreign country, and she was running from the police. What did she care about Brittany’s shoe size or what Harrison saw in the woman?

Of course, it could be that Brittany was beautiful, cultured, gracious and kind. Oh, yeah. And intelligent. Brittany seemed very intelligent.

She supposed a man might be interested in some of those qualities.

Not to mention that Brittany had a title. She was Lady Brittany Livingston. Julia had looked it up on her laptop back at the hotel. No reason to look her up, really, other than plain old curiosity. Harrison was practically going into an arranged marriage with Lady Livingston, and Julia had wondered why he would do that.

Harrison stopped abruptly at the corner of an outbuilding, and Julia all but stumbled into the back of him. His hand clamped firmly around her wrist. He was holding a little tighter than was comfortable, but she wasn’t about to complain. He’d make sure she didn’t fall, and he knew exactly where they were going on this dark, moonless night.

“See that yard light?” He pointed to a spot in the distance.

“Is that where we’re going?” She was disappointed by the distance. There was already a blister forming on her baby toe.

“No,” said Harrison, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“We have to avoid it,” he continued. “We’ll go around the back of that paddock, and come up on the garage from the south.”

“You’re joking.”

He turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, my feet are killing me.”

He glanced down. “So take off your shoes.”

That solution seemed a little too simple.

“Won’t I cut my feet?”

“On grass?”

“What about poisonous snakes?”

“Vipers?”

Julia shuddered.

“I’d worry more about scorpions,” said Harrison.

“Oh, thanks.”

“I was joking. Vipers like the sand, and scorpions are usually under rocks.”