Defying her Desert Duty Read Online Free Page B

woman who’d stalked away from him in the club.
    His heart gave a kick of appreciation and the dormant fire in his veins smouldered anew.
    Hell! Since when had any woman had such an effect on him? Not even his last lover, naked and eager in his bed, would have garnered such an instantaneous response.
    He rubbed his hand across his jaw, noting the stubble he hadn’t bothered to remove. Lack of sleep was the problem. He’d been awake for thirty-six hours—eager to get here and get this over quickly so he could return to the new challenge that awaited him.
    His reactions were haywire.
    ‘The Emir has asked me to escort you home.’ He curved his mouth in a reassuring smile and reined in his impatience—as if he had nothing better to do with his time than act as her minder on the trip from Paris to Bakhara.
    Yet he couldn’t begrudge Hussein this favour. Soraya Karimwould soon be his bride—of course he wanted her kept safe on the journey.
    A pity no-one had thought to keep an eye on her while she partied in Paris!
    ‘I thank the Emir for his kindness in providing an escort.’ Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. ‘However, it would have been helpful if you’d contacted me before you arrived. That would have given me time to prepare.’
    Zahir frowned at the hint of disapproval in her carefully polite tone.
    What was there to prepare? Surely, as an eager bride, she’d jump at the chance to return to Bakhara and the opulent bridal gifts Hussein would shower upon her.
    After years of delay Hussein was finally ready to proceed with the wedding. His chosen bride should be grinning with delight.
    Instead she surveyed Zahir coolly.
    ‘I’m here to assist. You can leave the details to me.’ Winding up the lease on her apartment and organising a team of removalists would be the work of a few phone calls.
    She nodded. ‘I’m obliged to you. However, I prefer to make my own arrangements.’ She paused. ‘When is the Emir expecting me?’
    ‘I’ve organised a flight tomorrow night. The royal jet will fly us back.’ A day to complete his nursemaid duties and deliver her safely to Hussein. Then Zahir could make his way to his new post. He’d been itching to get to it for weeks.
    ‘The Emir expects me
tomorrow
?’ Her face leached of colour, leaving her looking unexpectedly fragile.
    Zahir opened his mouth then shut it again.
    This wasn’t going to plan. He’d envisaged her eager to return to Bakhara and embrace her new life as wife of the country’s ruler. He’d expected excitement, gratitude, even.
    Instead she looked horrified.
    A thread of curiosity curled within him till he blanked it out. He wasn’t interested in understanding Soraya Karim, especiallyas he had a fair idea he wouldn’t like what he found on closer inspection. He prized loyalty above all things and Hussein deserved better than a fiancée who couldn’t be trusted to keep away from other men.
    ‘There’s a problem with tomorrow?’ He didn’t bother to hide his disapproval.
    His nostrils flared with distaste as he wondered if she needed extra time to say goodbye to that lanky fool from the nightclub. Surely she wouldn’t delay her departure for
him
? Or had he been a ploy? Perhaps she’d been trying to make the handsome blond guy at their table jealous.
    He’d observed the covetous glances she’d attracted in that bar. Anger stirred at the notion she’d played fast and loose with Hussein’s trust.
    ‘No, tomorrow’s not convenient.’ Just that. No explanations, no apologies, just a shimmer of defiance in those fine eyes and a hint of mulish wilfulness in her down-turned mouth.
    Despite himself, Zahir felt a spark of appreciation for the way she stonewalled him. The negotiators this last week could have done with some of her spunk. They might have come out of the joint-venture deal with a better share of the profits.
    But that didn’t negate the fact that she disrupted his plans. True, Hussein hadn’t specified a date for his