And the Desert Blooms Read Online Free Page A

friends, Pandora.”
    “It’s not very interesting. I wouldn’t want to bore you.”
    “On the contrary, I’d be very interested.” He waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. “All right, let’s move on to more recent history. Let’s talk about Luis Estavas.”
    Her eyes widened. “Luis? But how—”
    “Or perhaps you’d like to tell me about your weekend with that Texas millionaire, Ben Danford.” His expression hardened. “Or your current live-in companion, Neal Sabine.”
    “You’ve had me investigated,” she said, her eyes wide with incredulity.
    “You’re damn right I did,” he said harshly. “You stole those six years from me. I had a right to know who you were spending them with.”
    “Stole!” She shook her head. “You’re impossible. Those were my years, my life, not yours.” She was so indignant that for a moment she didn’t realize what a lucky break this was. Philip had done her work for her. She wouldn’t have to drop any subtle hints about her shady past or dangle poor Neal in front of him. She was already established as a woman of the world thanks to Philip’s possessiveness. She tried to hide her relief beneath a careless laugh. “My men friends have been delightfully amusing.” She paused. “And quite protective. Life can be difficult for a woman on her own.”
    “Financially?” He lifted a brow. “I understood rock stars made exceptionally good money.”
    “They do while they last.” She made a face. “And good musicians can have lasting and lucrative careers. Unfortunately, I seem to spend money as quickly as I make it.” She touched the velvet of her gown. “I like pretty things, and I have no illusions about my talent. I have a good, strong pair of lungs, style, and a body that’s appealing enough in the scanty costumes Neal dresses me in. I’ll coast along another year or so, but in the end I’ll be replaced by a new craze.”
    “Still, you’re very watchable. I think I might like to see you perform.”
    She tried to hide the sudden alarm she was feeling. He mustn’t do that. She revealed too much of herself when she was on stage. “You don’t like rock, and I’m hardly good enough to change your mind. You’d be disappointed.”
    “You’re very realistic.”
    “The life I’ve lived hasn’t encouraged anything else. I’ve learned to look for certain”—she paused delicately—“rewards in my relationships.” She gave him the smoldering look Neal had taught her for publicity photos. She did it very well by now. “That’s the real reason I sent you the medallion. I thought we might come to an arrangement. You’ve always been very generous to women who please you.”
    His face was impassive. “You know I don’t indulge in permanent associations. You were streetwise even as a child, and I never tried to hide my relationships from you. I haven’t changed.”
    She laughed. “Does that report from your detective agency indicate that I’m looking for commitment?” She shook her head. “Permanency doesn’t have any appeal for me either. It just so happens I have a three-month break after the concert tomorrow night and I thought we might spend it together.”
    His face was watchful. “Let’s be very clear, shall we? You’re offering to become my mistress for the next three months, with no strings attached, in exchange for my”—his lips curved in a mirthless smile—“generosity?”
    Her throat was dry. “Yes. Does the idea appeal to you?”
    “Oh yes, it appeals to me. You’re a very beautiful woman, and I’ve always liked a businesslike approach in my Khadims.”
    Khadim. There was no special emphasis on the word, yet it cut like a knife. She held her smile in place with an effort. “I remember that. Then are we in agreement?”
    “Perhaps.” His expression was intent. “There’s something about your very tempting offer that makes me vaguely uneasy.”
    “Uneasy?”
    “Perhaps it’s my pride smarting. Maybe I enjoy having a