One Hot Desert Night (4 page)

“We have yet to discuss your shoes.”

Obviously her twin was intent on playing dress-up. “I have shoes.”

“Heels?”

“What does it matter? The gown is floor-length so no one will see my feet anyway. And I promise not to wear sneakers or hiking boots.”

“Or you could wear these.” Piper reached into the pocket of one garment bag to retrieve a pair of silver sandals with three-inch heels. “The perfect finishing touch, and they’ll give you a little height, although at five-six you really don’t need that.”

Her sister’s long-time height envy was now showing. Sunny snatched the platform torture shoes and set them at the foot of the bed. “Great. I’m all set. Now if you don’t mind, I need to bathe.”

Piper gathered the remaining dresses into her arms and sighed. “If you’re hungry, the chef has some lunch for you in the kitchen. Wear a little extra makeup tonight, and if you need your hair done, Kira is a master.”

She’d only briefly met the palace staffer and frankly didn’t trust anyone with her hair. “I can handle my hair, so if you’re done giving me orders, you can run along now.”

Piper backed toward the door, grinning. “You are so going to totally blow Rayad away.”

Her sister quickly left the room before Sunny could insist she didn’t need to impress anyone, let alone a man who was virtually a stranger. She did need to get on with the day and ignore thoughts of that man that had played on her mind much of last night.

After making the bed, she made quick work of her routine and emerged from the shower feeling somewhat more human. Then she caught sight of the raised horizontal welt right above her collarbone and cringed. They’d told her she could eventually have a plastic surgeon repair it, but in time she hoped to be brave enough to wear it as a badge of honor. A reminder that life could end on a moment’s notice with one flick of a switchblade.

Pushing the recollections aside, she dressed in a light blue T-shirt that concealed the evidence, put on a pair of white cotton shorts and slipped her feet into plain beige flip-flops. Next step—finding food.

After twisting her damp hair into a knot at her nape, Sunny walked out the door and strode down the lengthy corridor, all the while considering the sinfully sexy sheikh...until she realized she had no idea where she was going when she hit a dead end in the hallway. She could turn right or left, and decided on right, only to discover Rayad heading her way, as if she’d somehow conjured him up.

He continued to walk as he focused on a document in his hand, giving her a prime opportunity to covertly check him out. From the confident gait to the broad chest and all points up and down, he would be the kind of man worthy of a magical love spell. The kind of man who drew attention the moment he entered the room, or a confusing corridor in this instance. Then she remembered how she looked at the moment—wet-headed and bare-faced—and heat flowed over her cheeks, most likely leaving crimson in its wake.

Who cared if she wasn’t dressed like a prom queen? So what if her appearance was barely fit for public viewing? It truly didn’t matter what he thought. She didn’t give a rat’s patoot if he caught sight of her, turned and ran away.

Yet when he looked up and met her gaze, he continued to move toward her, a hint of a smile curling the corners of his sexy mouth. As the space disappeared between them, he stopped and tucked the papers under one arm. “Good afternoon, Sunny.”

The sound of her name on his lips made her think about warm desert breezes, the whisper of his voice in her ear, making love at midnight beneath the stars...

Heaven help her, she had died and gone to Southern belle hell, where romantic ideals were as common as mint juleps.

She managed to clear her throat, but she couldn’t quite clear her mind of the silly notion that he would ride in and save the day, complete with a sword and horse. “Good afternoon to you, too, Rayad. And before you ask, yes, I’m lost. Which way to the kitchen?”

He pointed behind him. “Maintain your current course and take a left immediately before the staircase, then follow the scent.”

The only scent she discerned at the moment was him. An earthy, exotic scent that gave the flower the night before a run for its money. “I take it you’ve already had lunch.”

“Yes, and breakfast several hours ago.”

He probably thought she was an absolute slug. “I slept in.”

“Apparently, yet this is a good thing. Did you rest well?”

As well as anyone plagued by visions of masked villains. “Fairly well. And you?”

“Not as much rest as I perhaps should, but I require little sleep.”

“Oh.” Now what? Ask him about his reading material? What he had planned for the day? Could she come along for the ride? Ride as in... “I guess I’ll go grab something to eat.”

No sooner than she’d said it when a silver-haired, golden-skinned gentleman dressed in white muslin came toward them at a fast clip, a tray balanced in one hand. Sunny stepped to one side to get out of his way, but he paused and afforded her a quick glance before addressing Rayad. She knew a few Arabic words, but the exchange was spoken so fast, none of it made much sense. Then Rayad seemingly barked out an order before pointing down the hall.

The man sent her an oddly apologetic look, lowered his head and continued on his way.

“What was that all about?” she asked after he disappeared.

“Your meal. I instructed him to place the tray in your room immediately after he asked if I had seen you. I told him you were standing before me.”

Sunny shrugged. “That’s understandable. He wouldn’t have any reason to know me. I hope you weren’t too hard on him.”

“Only after he made the mistake of assuming you are my lover and not the sister of a princess.”

She swallowed around her self-consciousness. “So he thought I was your mistress?”

“Precisely, yet he did apologize when I clarified your identity, although it was tempting to allow him to believe we are involved.”

She leaned a shoulder against the wall as the need to be somewhat coy, even flirtatious, overcame her. “In your dreams.”

He moved closer and nailed her with those damnable dark eyes. “I did have those dreams last night.”

She playfully slapped at his arm like a fourteen-year-old with a first crush. “You did not.”

He sent her a half smile. “Yes, I did. One cannot control the subconscious.”

Clearly, she was having trouble controlling herself around him because at the moment, she really, really wanted to kiss him. “I agree with you on that. But I also know that you and I have no business dreaming about each other.”

He inclined his head and studied her for a moment. “Did you have dreams of me?”

If only that were true. If only she were that well-adjusted. “Actually, no, but don’t take offense. I was extremely tired and I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.” And that happened to be one colossal lie.

“My dreams of you were very interesting,” he said, his voice low and compelling.

“In what way?”

He reached out and streamed a fingertip down her cheek, a gentle and almost comforting gesture, as if he sensed she needed that. “You were very spirited in my imaginings. I believe you are that way in all your endeavors.”

Her recent past came crowding in on her. “At one time, I suppose I was, but lately that’s not necessarily true.”

“Is this due to lack of confidence due to your lover’s disregard or has some other event changed you?”

His intuitiveness took her aback. Yet for the first time, she was very, very tempted to confess. “No, it’s because...” She had no reason to tell him anything, though somehow she sensed he’d understand. “Let’s just say things happen when you least expect it. Some not so great things, and we’ll leave it at that.”

After a brief bout of silence, Rayad took a step back. “Should you wish to speak to me of these
things
, it would be my honor to listen, and you may trust what you say will remain between us.”

How badly she wanted to believe him, but she really couldn’t. Not yet. “Thanks for the offer. I appreciate it.”

He offered a warm smile. “I suppose you should return to your room before your meal turns cold.”

“You’re right,” she said as she pushed away from the wall, clear disappointment in her tone. “Have a productive day.”

“Will I see you tonight at the gathering?” he asked.

“Unfortunately, I’m required to make an appearance. But I only intend to stay long enough and mingle very little.”

“If you are inclined, will you mingle with me?”

That would not be classified as a chore on any level. “I suppose I can add you to my dance card.”

He frowned. “I do not believe there will be dancing at this event.”

She laughed. “I know. That’s just a saying...never mind.”

He surprisingly clasped her hand and brought it to his lips for a soft kiss. “I will look forward to the moment when we meet again.”

After he released her, Rayad turned and retreated in the opposite direction, leaving Sunny’s mind in a serious state of confusion. She’d begun to discern a soft side to the tough guy, but perhaps his consideration only covered his true goal—seduction. She refused to fall in the frail-female trap. Or maybe she’d become too jaded to believe any man’s motives. After all, she thought she’d known Cameron well, and she’d been terribly wrong. What true friend and former lover turned his back on someone in their hour of need? A man whose own guilt overrode his compassion. A man looking for a way out of a relationship that had grown static due to both parties’ opposite goals and vast differences. She, in part, had played a role in their demise by pushing him away.

If she ever decided to have a serious relationship with someone else, Sunny vowed to choose a man who believed in open, honest communication. She honestly doubted Rayad Rostam would be that man because soul-deep, she suspected he had his own serious flaws and secrets.

Tonight she would converse with him, be cordial and try her best to ignore his charms. How hard could that be?

Four

T
he man’s name should be Bond. Sheikh Bond.

Exactly Sunny’s first thought when she glanced to her right to witness Rayad Rostam’s grand entrance. She hadn’t seen this much neck-craning since she’d been involved in a twenty-car pileup in Los Angeles.

He’d shaken and stirred almost every female in the packed ballroom—every size, shape, age and nationality—as they seemed to instantaneously notice the darkly gorgeous, debonair man dressed in black tie. She tried not to notice, honestly she did, but he was extremely hard to disregard.

When Sunny caught his glance, she refused to count herself among his admirers, even if she’d like nothing better than to go to him and request he take her away from the crowded ballroom. For that reason, she immediately turned her attention back to Maysa Mehdi, who looked beautiful in her flowing aqua gown, her waist-length brown hair woven into a loose braid. She also looked as if she could give birth at any minute. “Do you need to sit down?”

The queen pressed a palm into her lower back. “I
need
to go into labor.”

“Hopefully not at this moment.”

Maysa smiled. “That would definitely make the evening much more interesting.”

Sunny couldn’t argue that point. “When are you officially due?”

“Two weeks. As a physician, I know it’s best if I complete the gestation period. As a woman with swollen ankles, tomorrow would not be too soon.”

Standing not far behind Maysa, Sunny noticed the darkly handsome and somewhat fierce-looking man she’d last seen at Piper and Adan’s wedding reception. “It seems Tarek Asmar is still on the guest list for all important royal events.”

“Yes, he is. My husband is quite impressed with his business acumen.”

“And that young woman seems quite impressed with him, too.”

Maysa subtly glanced over her shoulder. “That is Kira. She basically runs the palace now that Elena has decided to retire.”

The woman looked as if she’d like to run off with the billionaire. Or perhaps she was only being polite to an honored guest. Nope. Sunny recognized serious flirtation when she saw it.

Maysa presented a bona-fide frown, something she rarely did. “I believe you are being summoned, Sunny.”

She followed the queen’s gaze straight to Rayad, who was holding up the wall adjacent to the double doors, towering over several people in his vicinity. When he crooked a finger at her, she laid her hand above her breast and mouthed, “Me?” He answered with a nod.

She could fail to respond to the request, or she could see what he wanted. At the very least she should wait a bit so as not to appear too eager. But as if he’d morphed into some high-powered magnet, Rayad drew her toward him with only a sly, sexy smile.

As Sunny attempted to work her way through the crush of people, Piper clasped her arm, halting her forward progress. “Are you leaving so soon? We haven’t even sat down for dinner yet.”

Food wasn’t quite as appealing as a striking guy in a tux. So much for ignoring Rayad. “I’m just going to grab some fresh air. It’s a little warm in here.”

“Will you be gone long?”

Not if she could help it. “I’ll be back before the first course.”

As soon as she reached Rayad, he clasped her hand and guided her to a corner away from the crowd. “May I say you look very beautiful tonight?”

She couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. “Yes, you may, and I’ve heard that one before.”

“It certainly bears repeating, and often.”

Odd how he knew all the right things to say, and she felt the need to return the favor. “You look very handsome yourself, Your Highness.”

He also looked as if he’d eaten a mouthful of pickled eel. “I prefer not to be burdened with an official title by someone with whom I have a personal connection.”

They were definitely up close and personal at the moment, thanks to the middle-age woman wearing the purple silk caftan standing behind her, practically pushing Sunny into the sheikh. “All right, Rayad. Personally speaking, for such a thoroughly macho military guy, you wear refinement very well.”

Amusement flashed in his dark eyes. “I truly appreciate your somewhat dubious compliment. Now if you would please come with me, I have something to show you.”

All sorts of possibilities ran through Sunny’s mind, none of which she could repeat in a social setting, unless it happened to be a biker bar. “Is it bigger than a breadbasket?”

Rayad’s smile melted into a frown. “I am not quite clear on your meaning, yet I believe you will find it interesting.”

Too bad she didn’t know what
it
was, but her inherent sense of curiosity propelled her answer, and she couldn’t discount the benefits of spending time with him. After all, she hadn’t completely learned what made him tick. “I suppose I’m game since the noise in here is stifling. But you do realize if anyone sees us leaving together, rumors will spread like wildfire.”

“They will only envy me due to my good fortune of having your company,” he said, followed by the kind of grin that could drive a woman to write a poem in praise of his perfection.

But not her. Never her. She wasn’t that taken with him. Much. “Since you put it that way, let’s go.”

As Sunny followed Rayad into the red-carpeted foyer, she cursed her apparent weakness where he was concerned. She ran through a mental laundry list outlining all the reasons why she couldn’t become involved with him, if only temporarily. Reasons that hadn’t existed until recently. Reasons she wished would just go away and allow her to be carefree again.

Together they navigated a labyrinth of hallways until they reached a steep, narrow staircase leading downward. “Is this the way to the dungeon?” she asked when Rayad stepped aside.

“No. It is a place of great historic interest.”

That should make her feel better, but as she descended the stone steps on the stupid spiked heels, the claustrophobia began to hinder her breathing. Fortunately, the stairs weren’t substantial in number, and she reached the bottom winded but without incident. Rayad joined her to open a heavy wood door, allowing her entry into a large room that resembled a museum, complete with glass cases.

“What is all this?” she asked him over one shoulder.

“Artifacts,” he said as he walked to the display to her right. “The history of Bajul’s past.”

Sunny moved closer to him and studied the primitive pottery, glossy stones and weathered scrolls. “I’m no historian, but that all looks rather ancient.”

“It is. Most of these relics were excavated in the desert region to the south of the mountains.”

“That must have taken several years.”

“It did take some time, yet it was worth my efforts.”

She shot him a surprised look. “You found all this?”

“Yes. On the land I own approximately eighty kilometers from here.”

While she mentally converted that into fifty miles, Sunny went back to surveying the artifacts. “Interesting. Is it a mountainous area?”

“No. The terrain is flat, and the climate much more arid.”

One thing about Bajul—its topography was as varied as the state of Texas. “Do you prefer the desert?”

He inched a little closer to her side. “Yes. It holds a certain magic, particularly in the evening.”

Cue the return of the midnight lovemaking fantasies. “Yes, it does. There’s nothing quite like a warm breeze on your face while stargazing. I remember that from a trip to the Sahara.”

“Would you wish to experience it again?”

“Experience what?” she asked, the rasp in her voice indicating her recent penchant for wicked yearnings.

“The desert and my land.”

“Now?”

“Perhaps tomorrow would be better.”

She called on her wit to cover the unsettling excitement. “Would we be traveling by camel?”

He released a low, sensual laugh that acted on Sunny like a potent aphrodisiac. “All-terrain vehicle. We could journey there during the day and return late into the evening.”

She would be an absolute fool to agree. “Maybe that wouldn’t be wise.”

Taking her by the shoulders, he turned her to face him. “It would be very wise. The place I wish to take you is a healing sanctuary.”

This time she laughed, a cynical one. “Honestly, my heart isn’t that broken.”

“Perhaps your soul is.”

This conversation made little sense...unless... “Has Piper said something to you about my reasons for being here?”

“Yes, but you should not direct your anger at her.”

Oh, but she would. “Piper had no right to tell you about the...” Even now she had trouble saying it. “What I went through.”

He tenderly tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “If you feel it necessary to blame someone, then blame me. I sought her out to confirm what I suspected after our time in the garden.”

She wasn’t that transparent. Or was she? “I don’t know how that’s possible.”

“I know the signs of trauma,” he said. “You exhibited them several times, though you attempted to hide them from me.”

She sighed. “Okay, I admit I’ve been jumpy since the incident. But I’ll be fine. I just need a little more time.”

He raised a brow. “Are you certain?”

Not exactly. “I’ve been told the memories will eventually pass.”

“Allow me to assist you,” he said as he cupped her jaw. “Allow me to take you to this safe haven. I expect nothing more than your company.”

If only she could believe he had honorable intentions. If only she wasn’t waging her own war between accepting his friendship and wanting to feel whole again. To regain her inherent sensuality. Her trust. “I promise I’ll think about it and give you an answer tomorrow.”

He looked resolute. “You will go.”

“You are entirely too confident.”

“I know you better than you believe, Sunny. You once longed for adventure, yet your understandable fear prevents you from pursuing that which you desire. Let this journey be the catalyst to return you to who you once were.”

Such a lofty goal. “You sincerely believe that will happen in one day?”

“With faith comes great reward, if you are open to all possibilities.”

She was open to a lot of things, namely a kiss, yet she couldn’t gauge how she might react. If the way he studied her mouth was any indication, she might find out. Instead, he took a slight step back and thrust his hands in his pockets.

“We should return to the reception,” he said. “Otherwise, what I am considering could very well offend you.”

“And that is?”

“I wish to kiss you, yet I do not wish to contribute to your discomfort due to my own cravings.”

Hearing the words melted her resolve to stay strong and not succumb to his charms. Knowing he wanted her gave her unexpected courage. “I wouldn’t exactly be uncomfortable, and I certainly wouldn’t take offense. But I might regret it.”

He smiled halfway. “Do you not trust my skill?”

She worried he had too much skill. “Oh, I trust you on that front. But how do I know you’re not the kind of man who kisses and tells?”

His expression went suddenly somber. “Whatever transpires between us will remain between us.”

Oh, heavens, she was going to do it—invite him to put her in a lip-lock. She had to know how it would feel. How she would feel. “In that case, show me your skill.”

Keeping his arms to his sides, he leaned forward to press his lips against hers, making a brief pass, then another, as if testing the waters. Then, as if she’d become someone else, Sunny wrapped one hand around his neck, signaling she needed more. He answered that need by delving into her mouth with the soft glide of his tongue.

Skilled
was an enormous understatement. The man was an expert. A kissing prodigy. She wanted to be closer to him, feel his arms around her. Yet when he drew her into an embrace, Rayad inadvertently triggered a series of frightening images from deep within her psyche—suffocating recollections that caused her to break the kiss and wrest away.

“I’m so sorry,” she muttered around her labored breathing. When she noted the disappointment in his expression, she felt the need to explain. “This has nothing to do with you. It’s me.”

He narrowed his eyes and nailed her with a serious look. “What did your abductors do to you?”

“It’s not what you’re thinking.” But it so easily could have been, had she not had the good fortune to get away. “It’s about the confinement.”

He streaked a palm over the back of his neck. “My apologies for crossing a boundary I should not have crossed.”

The sincerity in his tone touched her deeply, and led her to believe he truly was a “nice guy.” “Rayad, I wanted you to kiss me, but I have serious issues due to the kidnapping. Maybe I’ll tell you a few details tomorrow.”

He couldn’t mask his astonishment. “Then you will come with me?”

Rescinding her agreement seemed prudent. The urge to say “yes” won out over all her concerns. “All right. You win. I’ll go.”

He looked entirely too satisfied, and gorgeous. “We will leave before dawn so that we will have enough time to enjoy our day together.”

Spending even a few hours in his presence seemed extremely appealing. “Then I suppose we should say good-night now so I can join my sister for dinner and get to bed a little earlier than planned.”

“As much as I would like to stay with you a while longer, I will escort you back to the soiree for the evening meal.”

After they returned to the hallway in silence, Rayad gently clasped her hand, turned it over and kissed her wrist. “You will not regret your decision to spend the day with me.”

She sincerely hoped not. “I guess I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early.”

“That will be my pleasure.”

He turned and started away then paused and faced her again. “Bring a swimsuit with you.”

That could pose a problem on several levels. “What if I didn’t pack one?”

He brought out his best smile, and it was oh so good. “Then I suppose we will have to improvise.”

With that, Rayad walked away, one hand in his pocket, the other dangling at his side, looking every bit the debonair devilish sheikh turned spy.

Sunny did own a swimsuit, and she’d brought it along. She also owned a scar she’d worked hard to hide. To most, it probably wouldn’t appear that hideous, but it could lead to hard questions. And tomorrow she’d have to decide whether she would tell Rayad Rostam everything.