A Summer Smile (11 page)

"I know." Daniel grinned suddenly. "That should prove how serious I am about this. You always did scare the hell out of me, Clancy."

A reluctant smile tugged at Clancy's lips. He uttered an obscenity that was explicit. "Two weeks. After that I'm coming in to get her and to hell with diplomacy." His smile took on a silky ferocity. "And I'll nail your ass to the wall of the Tower of Tears at Marasef."

"We'll see." Daniel slanted an engimatic smile at him as he straightened. "You've only played the game
with
me, Clancy. Never against me. You might be in for a surprise. Now that we've reached an agreement,

I want to get back to Zilah." He strode briskly toward the door. "Let me know if you get any word on Hassan."

"Daniel."

Daniel looked back over his shoulder inquiringly.

"This must mean a hell of a lot to you," Clancy said slowly. "But are you sure it's worth the possibility of having to go up against Alex?"

"It's worth it." Daniel's smile was bittersweet. "I feel as if I've found something I've been searching for all my life. I should have known it wouldn't come without a barb or two attached." He opened the door. "But, hell yes, it's worth it."

When Zilah opened her eyes, she saw Daniel. It was obviously night, for it was dark in the room, but there was a lamp burning on the bedside table and Daniel was sitting in a wing chair drawn close to the side of the bed. There was a frown on his face as he gazed abstractedly into the distance.

"Daniel?" she murmured drowsily to bring him back to her. She shifted in the bed, turning to face him. She was naked beneath the satin sheet that covered her, she noticed absently.

He straightened and leaned forward. "I'm here. Go back to sleep, babe. You're safe now."

"I know." She was always safe with Daniel. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine and you will be too. Dr. Madchen said that you'd be weak and lethargic for a few days, but after that you'll be on the mend."

"Dr. Madchen?"

He went still. "You don't remember the doctor?"

She shook her head. "It's all pretty much of a blur. I remember you carrying me into a foyer that looked like something out of an Arabian Nights palace. After that, it was all downhill." She frowned. "No, I remember something else."

There was a flicker of wariness in Daniel's eyes.

"Really?"

"A man with strange-colored eyes. Almost turquoise. Was that the doctor?"

Daniel chuckled. "No, that was your host, Philip El Kabbar. He'll be flattered to know that he made such an impression even while you were in the throes of fever. It will give his ego an enormous boost. Not that he needs it."

"It's very kind of him to let us impose on him like this. I'd like to thank him."

"You'll get plenty of opportunity to do that." Daniel reached out and took her hand in his. "The doctor doesn't want you traveling on to Zalandan for a week or so. He wants to be sure you don't develop

complications."

Her eyes widened. "Why should he think I'd have complications?"

He looked down at her hand and idly began to stroke the pulse point at her wrist with his thumb. "Complications have a habit of popping up when you least expect them," he said evasively. "We're going to be very careful of you, Zilah." He glanced up, his eyes twinkling. "After all the trouble I took to get you away from Hassan, I refuse to lose you to a scorpion."

His gentle massaging thumb was sending sparks of heat up her arm, and Zilah felt a tiny sensuous stirring in the pit of her stomach. "I wouldn't think of having all your efforts in my behalf come to nothing," she said lightly. "It would be most ungrateful of me." She couldn't seem to pull her gaze away from its entanglement with Daniel's. "I'll be dutiful in making a complete recovery. Has anyone notified my mother and David that I'm safe?"

"We phoned Zalandan as soon as the doctor said

you were out of danger. Clancy Donahue flew back there tonight and will give them a more personal report. You'll be able to phone your mother tomorrow yourself if you like."

"Of course." Her forehead wrinkled in a frown. "Clancy Donahue was here too? The fever must have really caused me to draw a blank. What else did I miss?"

"Nothing of importance." He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze before releasing it. "Do you think you can go back to sleep now that you've had some of your questions answered?"

"But I don't have all my questions answered." She was scanning his face with a troubled expression. There were lines of strain around Daniel's eyes and the flesh was drawn taut over his cheekbones. "Haven't you slept at all?"

He chuckled. "I don't need much sleep. I was fine after I showered and had something to eat."

"I don't think you slept last night either. And I don't see how you possibly could have slept the night before, planting all those bombs and whatevers."

He grinned. "Yes, planting whatevers can be very exhausting."

"Don't joke. You know perfectly well what I mean. Go to bed, Daniel."

"Now, if you'd said
come
instead of go, I might be more amiable about the suggestion," Daniel drawled.

She felt the heat in her stomach flutter and then begin to spread. "Then, come," she said breathlessly.

The smile was abruptly gone from his face. He had a sudden heated memory of her nails digging mto his hips while she murmured the word that had broken his restraint into a million pieces. "You mean it?"

"We've slept together before." She moistened her lips nervously. "You need the rest."

The flame that had leaped fitfully in his eyes disappeared suddenly. "I appreciate your concern, but the situation is a little different now."

Zilah glanced around the luxurious room, with its gleaming mosaic-tiled floors covered with richly patterned area rugs. "Externally, perhaps." Her eyes met his uncertainly. "But we're the same people we were last night in that cave, aren't we?"

He stood up. "We're still the same people." He smiled gently. "Clancy said that danger had a way of bringing two people close in a hurry. I think he's right. I couldn't feel closer to you, old friend."

Oldjriend.
Last night when he had murmured that phrase in her ear it had brought her only warm contentment. Now, for some reason, it made her feel a little uneasy. She was probably just being stupidly imaginative to think there was an odd tension in Daniel's attitude. "I feel very close to you too, Daniel," she said softly. "And very grateful."

His eyes, which had been carefully guarded, suddenly flared to life. "I thought we'd already discussed how I regard gratitude. You can save that for Bradford. I'll have none of it." Then, when he saw the startled confusion in her expression, he took a deep breath and tried to smile reassuringly. "Sorry. You should know by now what a rough bastard I am. Maybe you're right about my being tired. Forget it.

Okay?"

"Okay," she said, still puzzled.

"That's my girl." He tousled her hair affectionately. "You go back to sleep. I promise I'll work at being halfway civilized the next time I see you."

"Don't work too hard. I like you pretty well just the way you are." Her eyes were wide and uncertain, looking up at him. "You will be here when I wake up, won't you?" She smiled shakily. "I mean, you don't

have any other terrorists to catch or planes to blow up or anything?"

"I'll be here." He kept his tone deliberately offhand. "I thought I'd stick around until you were well and then escort you to Zalandan myself. After all, you're still technically my responsibility. I always like to tie up all the loose ends on any mission I undertake."

She felt a little ripple of pain mixing with the joy that news brought her. Responsibility. She was sure he hadn't meant to hurt her. He couldn't know just how bone-weary she was of being a responsibility to everyone. She smiled with an effort. "That sounds like fun. It will be interesting to see what kind of pyrotechnics you can instigate on a more conventional journey."

He bent forward and brushed a fairy-light kiss on her forehead. "I'll try to see what I can do to keep you amused." He straightened and reached for the switch on the lamp. He suddenly hesitated. "Would you rather I left the light on?"

"Why should I?" she asked curiously. "I'm not a child afraid of the dark."

"No, of course you're not. I guess I wasn't thinking straight." The light flicked off, plunging the room into darkness. "Good night, Zilah."

"Good night, Daniel." She felt bereft as she watched his massive shadow stride toward the door on the far side of the room.

"Daniel?"

He paused as he opened the door. The dim light from the hall haloed his auburn head with flame, but left the rest of him in silhouette. "Yes?"

"I have one more question. Who undressed me?"

There was a short silence before he answered. "I did. I undressed you and bathed you myself. Philip

has no women servants. I thought you'd rather have me do it than a stranger."

She felt a sultry tingle of awareness sweep through her. Good heavens, she was supposed to be ill and yet even the thought of Daniel's hands and eyes on her naked body sent a wrenching stab of desire for him through her. From frigidity to nymphomania in one experience, she thought ruefully. No, not nymphomania. It was only Daniel that she wanted. Only Daniel. "You were right," she said huskily. "Thankyou."

"You're welcome." He hesitated, and when he spoke again the words came jerkily. "You're a very beautiful woman, Zilah. Avery special woman. I hope ..." His words trailed off. "Good night." The door closed softly behind him.

There was a tiny frown creasing Zilah's forehead as she turned on her side and settled her cheek on the satin pillow. Her uneasiness was growing by the minute. Why had Daniel been so reserved, almost cool with her? It couldn't have been entirely her imagination. In the brief time they had known each other she had learned to read him too well to mistake the signs of his withdrawal.

Perhaps he was having second thoughts about the so-called obsession he had formed for her. The thought sent a chill of depression through her and she drew the sheet up to her chin with a little shiver. Well, what if he had? He was probably right to be wary of a relationship that had started so precipitously and had exploded with such wild force. Perhaps he had satisfied his desire for her and no longer wanted her in that way anymore. What did she know about how long it took for men to tire of women? She should be equally sensible and offer Daniel the platonic friendship he appeared to want now. She knew that friendship lasted.
If
that was what he

wanted. Oh, she just didn't know. Last night everything had seemed so beautifully certain and now she was miserably unsure.

Then she determinedly cleared her mind of doubts and closed her eyes. The man was completely exhausted. She was foolish to try to analyze his actions when she couldn't possibly expect him to behave in a normal manner. For that matter, how did she know what his normal behavior was? They still had to get to know the more obscure facets of each other's personalities. All that would come in time. She wasn't going to lose the precious gift Daniel had given her. Not now that she knew what they could have together. It would hurt too much. She didn't think she would be able to stand it.

What was she thinking? Of course she would be able to stand it. She was strong. She could stand anything. She closed her eyes and tried to let the serenity of that knowledge flow into her. It surrounded her, whirling doubts and fear away, but beneath it was a barely discernible chorus that sang her a wistful siren's song.

I
will he strong. I will survive. But, please, just
this
one time, let me not have to use that strength. Let me have Daniel. Please. Let me have Daniel.

Five

Turquoise eyes gazed down at her. Zilah opened her own eyes with a distinct sense of deja vu as she looked up in drowsy bewilderment into the face of the man standing by her bed.

"I'm Philip El Kabbar, Miss Dabala. I apologize for barging in on you so unceremoniously. I wished to welcome you to my home, and assure you that if there's anything you need or want, you have only to ask." His smile was charming. "I would have waited, but I had to leave early to go to the irrigation project and I wanted to be sure to see you before I left. I hope you will forgive me?"

There wouldn't be many women who would fail to forgive Philip El Kabbar almost any transgression. Zilah thought as she sat up in bed, tucking the satin sheet firmly beneath her arms. He was one of the most fantastically attractive men she had ever seen. He was in his early thirties, she concluded, with raven-dark hair and skin bronzed to a dark gold,

high, hollowed cheekbones and a well-shaped mouth that held a hint of leashed sexuality. Leashed. Yes, everything about him fit that word. His tall, slim frame, garbed in casual blue jeans and a black sweatshirt, gave the impression of tremendous strength, rigidly restrained. His expression was a smooth, guarded mask of charm. Those striking blue-green eyes were cool and slightly cynical beneath slashing dark brows.

"I should be the one to apologize for intruding into your household, Sheikh El Kabbar," she said. "You've been very kind. I promise I won't abuse your hospitality any longer than I have to."

He shrugged. "Daniel wishes you to remain here. My home has many rooms and the servants have little to do. You are welcome to stay as long as Daniel enjoys your presence."

Well, that certainly put her firmly in her place, she thought wryly. It appeared that the sheikh's charming facade was just that. Beneath that mask was an almost brutal honesty and a touch of ruthless-ness. "It's not a question of my entertainment value, Sheikh El Kabbar," she said dryly. "When my health is improved, I'll leave with or without Daniel. I'm not a harem girl or khadim waiting on any man's pleasure. In case you haven't heard, Sedikhan has outlawed slavery in any form."

"But the laws of Sedikhan don't necessarily apply to my province," he said with a slight smile. "I believe you'll find that out shortly. I run my lands to suit myself." His gaze raked slowly over her. "You're a very lovely woman. I can see how Daniel would be intrigued by you. If you are generous with your body, he will treat you well. He is kind to his women." His lips twisted. "Far kinder than I. You would be wise to be less defiant and more accommodating. It is, after all, what a woman is most proficient at doing."

She shook her head incredulously. "I can't believe this. You're speaking as if women have no wills or minds of their own."

"Am I?" The slashing black brows lifted mockingly. "I have no desire to give that impression. I know women can have extraordinarily strong wills. As for their mental powers"—he lifted one shoulder in a half shrug—"they can be very cunning as well."

"Cunning?" Zilah echoed distastefully. "What a horribly denigrating word. I regard myself as intelligent, but I am nor cunning." She frowned. "Do you always speak to women so insultingly?"

"No, usually I'm quite flowery and utterly charming," he drawled outrageously. "I'm only honest with them when they might offer a threat to me or mine." Her eyes widened. "You think I'm some kind of a threat?"

"It's a possibility." His eyes were cool, shimmering ice floes. "As I said, Daniel is intrigued. It is not like Daniel to regard women in a serious light. He was very emotional yesterday when you were so ill. Emotion has a way of weakening a man's defenses. I will not have him hurt. Miss Dabala. You must ply your woman's wiles on someone else. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly," she said calmly. "I'm to fall meekly into Daniel's bed, but on no account am I to venture to think or regard myself as anything but a vassal." She lifted a brow. "Have I got it right?"

He nodded. "Perhaps you are more intelligent than cunning after all, Miss Dabala. You're quite correct."

"I just wanted to make sure I understood." She met his eyes and said clearly, "Go to hell, Sheikh El Kabbar."

There was a flicker of surprise in his face, followed by a touch of amusement. "I've found some women capable of sending men there, but not by suggestion alone. I'm afraid you're going to have to do better than that."

"I have no desire to try to influence your destiny in any way, Sheikh El Kabbar," she said wearily. "Or Daniel's either. All I want to do is to get well enough to go to Zalandan. The minute the doctor releases me, I won't bother you again."

"Ah, but the doctor is a very cautious man where certain patients are concerned. You may be with us for some time. That's why I thought we should have this chat." His smile was brilliant in his bronzed face. "Enjoy your stay with us, Miss Dabala. I promise that on the next occasion we meet I'll be as meticulously polite and diplomatic as anyone could wish."

"I'd rather you'd be rude but honest," she said bluntly. "I haven't any use for polite deception."

For an instant there was a trace of admiration in those guarded eyes. "I can see how you would appeal to Daniel. He has a great respect for honesty as well. That was why I was a bit alarmed when—" He broke off. His gaze narrowed thoughtfully on her face. Respect and admiration are far more dangerous than lust. I'll have to keep a close eye on you. Miss Dabala." His gaze once more traveled over her, lingering on her naked shoulders above the sheet. There was suddenly a fugitive twinkle in his eyes. "A task I'm going to take a good deal of aesthetic pleasure in performing." Before she could reply he had turned away and was strolling toward the door. "You have such superb skin that it's really a shame to cover even an inch of it, but Daniel's being very stuffy about not keeping you totally naked for the duration of your stay here. As your own clothing was blown up with :he plane, I've taken the liberty of ordering you a complete wardrobe from the stores in Marasef." He glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes gleaming

with mischief. "Don't worry, Daniel also insisted on paying for everything, so you're not beholden to me for a single handkerchief. What a pity. I enjoy having beautiful women in my debt. Good day, Miss Dabala." Zilah found herself staring at the closed door with a mixture of indignation and amusement. Philip El Kabbar was utterly impossible, obviously a complete male chauvinist and more arrogant than even a ruling sheikh had any right to be. She should be ready to roast him over open flames after that little conversation. Yet there had been a thread of warmth and humor beneath the mask of glittering hardness that for some inexplicable reason had kept her from feeling too much animosity.

There was a perfunctory knock on the door, and it swung open. Daniel entered, balancing a covered rattan tray in one hand and a large box in the other. He was dressed even more casually than El Kabbar had been, in cutoff jeans and an army-green tank top. However, nothing about Daniel's vitality was leashed. It was almost an explosive force as he strode into the room. "I ran into Philip in the hall," he said grimly as he kicked the door shut with his sandaled foot and strode toward the bed. "Was he decent to you?"

"Isn't he usually decent to his guests?" she asked evasively.

"Don't play word games with me, Zilah." He tossed the box he was carrying on the bed and settled the tray on her lap. "I want an answer from you." He sat down on the bed beside her and plucked the napkin from the covered tray to reveal eggs and fingers of buttered toast. "Eat your breakfast."

A little smile tugged at her lips. "Which do you want me to do first?"

"Both." He scowled. "Hell, I wanted to be here to run interference for you. I only stopped for a minute to pick up that box from the helicopter. I should have known Philip would do something to upset you."

"He didn't upset me," she said as she took a bite of toast. "I had no trouble holding my own with your friend, the sheikh. Though I think he was doing his best to intimidate me. He appears to have very little respect for the gentler sex."

"That's because he's never found them to be particularly gentle." He too picked up a piece of toast from her plate and began to nibble it absentmind-edly. "That, along with having a father who believed all women belonged in a seraglio, wasn't conducive to developing warm and tender feelings toward womankind. He doesn't trust them worth a damn and acts accordingly."

"Is that why he doesn't have any women servants?"

"Probably. I never asked him," he said. "Look, I know he said something that wasn't exactly hospitable. When I told him you were staying for a bit, he had that thoughtful look that usually means trouble. I'd appreciate it if you'd ignore it. Philip is a good friend to me. I'll see that it doesn't happen again."

"He is a good friend to you. That was why he was trying to save you from my vampish ways. I got the distinct impression he believed I was about to clip all your locks off as Delilah did Samson's." She tilted her head to look at him with mock objectivity. "I could have told him that with your beard it would be entirely too much trouble."

Daniel's hand rose quickly to his jaw. "You don't like my beard?"

She had a fleeting memory of the soft virile brush of that beard rubbing against her naked breasts and she felt a sudden thrust of aching heat go through her. She dropped her eyes to her plate. "I like it. I just don't have any desire to wear it on my belt as a trophy." She smiled. "That particular shade of red doesn't go well with my coloring."

"Oh, I don't know," he said blandly. "I think you could get used to wearing me on your person in no time at all." He took another bite of toast before adding softly, "Or in your person."

Her startled gaze flew up to meet his. His eyes were soft and midnight-dark and his face was filled with sensuality. She was abruptly conscious of the warm hardness of his naked thigh pressing against her own through the thin satin barrier of the sheet. There was a sudden tingling clenching between her thighs that made her inhale sharply.

Daniel muttered a curse beneath his breath and got to his feet. "Dammit, I told you I was a roughneck. Things just come out." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I'll try to watch it."

Why was Daniel upset? The remark hadn't been obscene, merely suggestive. Yet Daniel was acting as if he'd just propositioned a nun. "It didn't offend me," she said, bewildered.

"Good," he said briskly. He bent over the bed and opened the lid of a large box he'd brought into the room just before he'd gotten her breakfast tray. "These are for you. There are more boxes in the helicopter. The servants will bring them in later. I went through this one and it seems to contain all you'll need for right now." He pulled out wisps of lacy underthings and a chocolate-colored robe that was only a sheer float of accordion pleats. "I suppose I should have expected something like this. Philip ordered the wardrobe from the same store his Khadims usually use."

"Considering his attitude toward women, it doesn't really surprise me," Zilah said dryly. "He probably thinks that's our sole role in life and we

should dress for it. I can't say I'm overly fond of your friend."

"That bad, was he?" Daniel asked gloomily. "I was afraid he might be. Well, you may not be crazy about his manners, but he has one attribute that will win your approval."

"And what is that?"

"He's a damn fine rider and has one of the most famous stables in the Middle East. I'll take you to see it tomorrow if you're well enough."

Zilah's face lit up. "Horses? I'd love to see them. Couldn't we go today? I feel fine."

Daniel was shaking his head. "Not today. You may feel fit, but you're bound to have a reaction from the fever you had yesterday. The doctor said you were to take it easy for the next few days. That means today you stay in bed."

Zilah's expression clouded mutinously. "But I feel fine. I'm very tough usually. I don't know why that scorpion sting affected me so violently."

"You may think you're Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane rolled into one, but today you're definitely playing Camille." He turned to the door. "Finish your breakfast. I'll go to the study and see if I can find a few games to keep you occupied. Any preferences?"

"I want to see the horses," she said stubbornly. "I Aouldn't try to ride them without the sheikh's permission, of course. I just want to see them."

"Games," Daniel repeated firmly as he strode through the doorway. "I'll be back in a few minutes to pick up the tray. Eat."

He was doing it again. Just because she'd been so helpless after she'd been stung by the scorpion, he Aas taking charge and giving orders as if she had no rill or mind of her own. She lifted the tray off her lap and set it on the bed beside her. She'd had enough to eat, blast it. She'd also had enough orders for one

day. First, El Kabbar with his autocratic instructions, and now Daniel. She wasn't about to lie in bed and be waited on by Daniel. He had already done too much for her. When he came back she would tell him that, but she had better look less like the Camille of Daniel's metaphor when she did it. The first thing she needed was a shower and then to brush her teeth and wash her hair. . . .