stars.
And this private, flesh and blood woman whose eyes appealed for his touch, for him to take her, bring her to life.
Living with those eyes, those seductive lips that drew him to her, would not make for a comfortable week. And he’d just made it a thousand times worse.
He’d ridden off the sexual energy that had built over their long flight. Had been totally in control, with the self- discipline to keep his hands off her.
All he’d had to do was keep his distance, leave it to her to initiate any outings. He had his own agenda and it certainly didn’t include getting involved with a woman, especially one who was a national icon.
Until he’d taken a turn in the path and saw her standing before him, her hair hanging like silk around her shoulders. Wearing an embroidered silk kaftan that exactly matched eyes shining like a woman on her wedding night.
And he’d been the one insisting that the two of them should spend time alone together on a boat.
Offering to teach her to ride.
Unable to resist touching her lip with his thumb, his tongue, wanting to test the heat, knowing that it was for him.
It had taken every ounce of self-discipline to stop himself from carrying her into the pavilion hidden in the trees behind her. Making her his.
To force himself to step back, walk away.
He flipped off the water, stepped from the shower, grabbed a towel and wrapped it round him.
His clothes had been pressed and hung up but someone, Dena, probably, had added an array of casual and formal robes for his use while he was at Bab el Sama.
The kind of clothes that Hanif would wear. A sheikh, relaxing in the privacy of his own home, with his children around him.
It was Dena, undoubtedly, who’d dressed Rose in that silk dress, had painted her hands with henna. He frowned, wondering what she thought she was doing.
He shook his head. Rose was on holiday in an exotic location and no doubt Lucy had ordered that her friend be totally pampered.
She certainly looked a great deal more rested. Unlike him. He lifted his shoulders, easing them, then reached for his cellphone and called his grandfather at the clinic.
After he’d asked how he was, as if he didn’t know-in desperate pain but stubbornly refusing palliative care until he was permitted to return home to die-and getting the same answer, he said, ‘I met someone today who knew you.’
‘And is prepared to admit it?’
‘She said that you were stubborn,
There was a short harsh laugh, then, ‘She?’
‘She said, “Tell him that his sister Dena remembers him with fondness.”’
‘Dena?’ There was a rare catch in the old man’s voice. ‘She is well?’
‘She is well,’ he confirmed. ‘She said it was time you were home.’
‘Tell her…Tell her I will be there,
‘It will be so,
He put down the phone, spent a moment reminding himself why he was here, gathering himself.
Then he pulled out the jeans he’d brought with him, chose a loose long-sleeved white shirt from the wardrobe and pulled it over his head and stepped into thong sandals that seemed more suitable than any of the shoes he’d brought with him.
As he picked up the phone to stow it in his pocket, it rang. Caller ID warned him that it was Lucy and he said, ‘Checking up on me, Princess?’
She laughed. ‘Why? What are you up to?’ Then, not waiting for an answer, ‘I just wanted to be sure that Rose arrived safely.’
‘So why not call her?’
‘She wants to cut herself off from everyone while she’s away. She wants to think about the future without anyone else offering their opinions, clouding the picture.’
‘Instead, she got me,’ he said. ‘Tell me, was there a single word of truth in what you told me?’
‘Absolutely. Cross my heart,’ she swore. ‘Why do you think her grandfather was so desperate to stop her? He doesn’t want her doing anything as dangerous as thinking for herself, not without someone on hand to guide her thoughts in the right direction.’
‘And that would be in the direction of the marriage he’s arranged?’ he asked casually enough, despite the fact that the thought of another man touching her sent a shaft of possessive heat driving deep into his groin.
‘She’s longing for a family, children of her own, Kal, and I think she’s very nearly desperate enough to marry Rupert Devenish to get them.’
‘What other reason is there for a woman to marry?’ he asked.
Or a man, for that matter.
Far better to have people who had known you all your life, who understood your strengths and weaknesses, to seek a bride whose temperament, expectations matched your own, than rely on unbridled passion that, no matter how intense the heat, would soon become ashes. He’d seen it happen. His grandfather, his father…
‘Oh, pish-posh,’ Lucy said with the impatience of a woman who’d found a rare love and thought he should be making an effort to do the same. ‘How is she?’
‘Rose? She slept for a while, but now she’s exploring the garden.’
‘On her own?’
‘I have no doubt that your Dena has someone within call.’ Someone who would have seen him kissing her? ‘She’s safe enough,’ he said abruptly. ‘And we’re about to have lunch.’
‘Maybe when you’ve eaten you’ll be in a better mood. Perhaps I should call you then?’
‘No. Really. I’ve just spoken to my grandfather. And, as for your Rose, well, she isn’t quite what I expected. I imagined unruffled serenity.’
‘Oh? In what way is she not serene?’
In the quick blush that warmed her pale skin, in her eyes, a mouth, a body that gave away too much.
‘Well,’ he said, pushing away the disturbing images, ‘I would have welcomed a warning that she’s a nervous flyer.’
‘Rose? I never knew that. How did she cope with the helicopter?’ Her concern was genuine enough, Kal decided, giving her the benefit of the doubt.
‘I managed to keep her distracted.’ Before she could ask him how, he added, ‘I was surprised to discover that she doesn’t ride.’
‘I think a pony bolted with her when she was little.’ He could see the tiny frown as she tried to remember. ‘Something like that.’
‘Well, she appears to be willing to give it another go.’
‘You’re going to take her riding?’
‘Amuse and entertain her, that was the brief.’
‘Absolutely. I’m glad you’re taking it so seriously. But the reason for my call is to give you advance warning that Rose should be getting a courtesy visit from Princess Sabirah later in the week. The household will be warned of her arrival, but I thought you might welcome a little extra time to prepare yourself.’
‘Thank you, Lucy. If I haven’t sufficiently expressed my grat-’
‘It’s little enough in return for everything you’ve done for my charity, Kal. Just do me one favour. Don’t tell Rose that I was checking up on her.’
‘I won’t. Lucy…’
He hesitated. He knew his doubts were foolish. Lady Rose Napier had been hand delivered to him by her security guard…
‘Yes?’ she prompted.
