A Summer Smile (17 page)

"You don't mind if I use the bathroom first to change into my swimming suit and braid my hair?" Zilah asked politely. "If it wouldn't be too much bother?"

"Am I being pushy?" Pandora asked a little uncertainly. "You don't really mind our being here, do you?"

Zilah tousled the top of Pandora's silky head affectionately. "I like having you here," she said as she turned toward the bathroom. "You're good company." She sighed. "I'm even growing fond of that blasted tiger cub."

Zilah had reached the bathroom door when Pandora spoke behind her. "Daniel does want you. Maybe if he doesn't love you now, it might come afterward." Her voice was wistful. "You might have a chance, at least."

"That's assuming that you're right." Zilah kept her voice firmly under control. "And you're not right, Pandora. Not this time." The door closed softly behind her.

Daniel replaced the receiver of the telephone and turned away from the desk to accept the drink Philip was holding out to him. "Three down, one to go."

"Donahue?"

Daniel nodded. "They captured three of the terrorists this afternoon trying to cross the border back into Said Ababa." He took a sip of brandy. "Hassan wasn't with them. They'd had a slight difference of opinion and split up." Daniel smiled grimly. "These three decided they wanted to stay alive."

"You think he's still on your trail?"

"Probably," Daniel said. "According to his dossier, Hassan is almost as fanatical as his brother. He won't give up easily. Starting tomorrow I want a guard on Zilah's door." He made a face. "Not that she'll need it with Pandora staying in her room. I haven't even been permitted through that sacred portal since she arrived on the scene."

"Really?" Philip's arm halted midway in the act of lifting his own drink to his lips. "That's curious. I knew she was displaying a most unusual devotion, but I can't see Pandora as a chaperone. I would have thought you would have objected more vigorously. I take it you're not sleeping with the lady?"

Daniel was silent.

"Even more curious," Philip said. "It's not like you to waste opportunities. You wouldn't want to tell me why you've developed this superhuman restraint at this stage in your life?"

"No, I don't think I would," Daniel said quietly. "I don't think it's something that you would understand. "

Philip drained his glass. "You're probably right." He set the glass down on the desk. "But I do understand the little dragon I put in charge of your chaste

princess, and it's not in character for her to be overly protective of anyone."

"Except you," Daniel suggested softly.

Philip inclined his head mockingly.
 
"Except me." he conceded. He turned to go. "You'll get your guard but I think I'll just go see why Pandora is suddenly behaving with such zealous propriety." He paused at the door. "Would you care to come with me?"

Daniel shook his head. "Clancy is interrogating the prisoners now. He's going to phone me back if they're able to pry Hassan's hiding place out of them. Tell Zilah I'll come and let her know the details as soon as I get the call. She'd better have dinner without me."

"I'm sure if anyone can extract the information, he can," Philip drawled. "A very thorough man, your Clancy Donahue."

"He'd better be damn thorough," Daniel said wearily as he sat down in the oversized chair facing the desk. "I want this over and done with."

"You're on edge," Philip said. "I understand celibacy has a way of doing that to a man." He smiled faintly. "Personally, I haven't been so foolish as to indulge in that idiocy since I was fourteen, so I wouldn't know."

"Philip." Daniel leaned his head back against the high back of the chair and tried to relax the tense muscles of his shoulders. "Go to hell."

Philip laughed. "That's the second time in the last ten days I've been designated to the fire and brimstone. Do you suppose I'm not as charming as I've been led to believe?" He held up his hand. "Don't answer that. It's much more comfortable to be left with my illusions."

Daniel's hand tightened on the arm of his chair as the door closed behind the other man. Then he consciously forced himself to relax. He shouldn't have

been so short with Philip. If Philip hadn't possessed a puckish sense of humor beneath that mocking arrogance, he might have taken offense. And despite his feelings regarding Zilah's presence here, Philip had acted the true friend. He had offered hospitality as well as the protective cloak of power that surrounded every guest of Sheikh El Kabbar.

Daniel suddenly grinned as he remembered Philip's last remark. It was probably Zilah who had been the first to consign Philip to the fiery depths. He wouldn't put it past her. There was strength and spirit in her that ran like a powerful underground river beneath that beautiful serene surface. He only wished he could concentrate on those lovely spiritual qualities without being distracted by the tempting surface. Like Philip, he wasn't accustomed to celibacy, and his willpower had been stretched to the limit in the last ten days. He felt like someone had kicked him in the stomach every time she brushed casually against him. He was sure he hadn't slept more than a few hours a night during the entire time. His nerves were so frayed and raw that it was a wonder he had been able to exercise any control at all.

However, he had succeeded in maintaining that avuncular facade, judging from Zilah's touching declaration this morning. He was her best friend. He had to hold on to that. He had gained her trust; he mustn't blow everything because he was so hot for her he was ready to explode. It might take months, even years, before she was ready to give herself because it was what
she
wanted, not because of that unselfish generosity that seemed ingrained in her. He could wait. At least, he hoped he could. This afternoon when she had appeared at the pool in that French-cut swim suit, he hadn't been sure. He'd been so aroused he'd had to spend the entire session in the pool to keep from scaring the hell out of her.

He finished his drink and leaned forward to set his glass on the desk. Of course he could wait. All he had to do was avoid swimming pools, and bathtubs, and the sight of Zilah on a horse or walking across the room. It would be a real piece of cake.

He settled back in the chair and stretched his legs out before him. It was just as well that he had to wait here for Clancy's call. He was in no shape to play the platonic friend tonight. He had to gather his reserves and repair his defenses before he faced Zilah again for any extended period. Hell, at this rate he might even have to take up yoga and contemplate his navel or something, he thought. Maybe it would take his mind off other portions of his anatomy.

Eight

Zilah's eyes widened in surprise as she opened the door.

"May I come in?" Philip El Kabbar asked politely. "You'll notice my manners have improved. I even knocked. I think that deserves a reward."

"Yes, of course." Zilah tightened the belt of her white satin robe and stepped back. "I wasn't expecting you."

"According to Daniel, your security has been so tight that you shouldn't have been expecting anyone." Philip's turquoise-colored eyes were fixed on her face. "Where is the little tigress?"

"Tigress?" Zilah asked faintly. Oh, dear heavens, he knew! She should have known Pandora would never be able to pull it off.

The shiekh frowned. "Pandora," he said impatiently. "I understand she's been guarding you like a tiger with her only cub. Where is she?"

"Oh, Pandora." Zilah felt weak with relief. "She's in the bathroom. I think she's rinsing out a few things. I'll go and get her."

"Rinsing out a few things?" Philip's lips twisted skeptically. "Pandora? That's a rather tame occupation for her. Have you worked some magic to turn her into a docile lady's maid? I think I'll be very displeased if you have. That's not why I sent her to you."

"I know," Zilah said quietly. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but we get along very well. She's a charming child and I like her very much."

"Then it's obviously time I sent her away," Philip said as he closed the door and leaned against it. He was dressed in dark trousers and shirt that outlined his lean, tough body and was as maddeningly attractive as he was outrageous. "Her stay here was supposed to be a punishment. Clearly it hasn't turned out that way."

"What do you have in mind?" Zilah asked storm -ily. "Perhaps you could throw her into the dungeon instead."

"Yes, I could. There is one, you know. Thank you for the suggestion," Philip drawled. "I'll consider it."

"You're utterly impossible. Do you realize that? You're a complete anachronism."

He smiled. "But I have the power to get away with it. In the end, that's the bottom line. Haven't you found that to be true?" His smile vanished. "And I don't appreciate your taking it upon yourself to defend her from my very righteous wrath. Pandora is my property. She'll tell you that herself."

"Only because she mistakenly thinks the sun rises and sets with you. She's lived for the past several years in an environment entirely under your control. What do you think her reaction will be when she goes out into the world and finds out all men aren't self-indulgent barbarians?"

Something flickered in his face. Anger? Pain? It was difficult to tell, for it was gone so quickly. "It's hard to anticipate Pandora's reactions. She seldom thinks and acts like other women." He paused. "Yet. She's still in the embryo stage." He straightened. "Now, if you've quite finished trying to puncture my arrogance, I'll go fetch your poor victimized little friend." He started across the room.

Zilah instinctively ran to stand before the bathroom door. "No. I'll get her. You stay right here."

Philip stopped, his gaze taking in the trace of panic in her face. He shook his head. "I don't think so," he said slowly. He grasped her shoulders and lifted her aside. "I find I'm suddenly very eager to view this newly docile Pandora at her housekeeping duties." He turned the knob. "Very eager indeed."

Zilah said hurriedly, "I don't think—" She broke off.

It was too late. He had thrown open the door and she could tell by the stunned expression on his face that the jig was very definitely up.

She shifted to peer over his shoulder and almost groaned aloud. Ribbons! Where on earth had Pandora gotten the pink ribbons?

Somewhere, evidently, for she was sitting in the center of the sunken tub dressed in her usual jeans and ribbed cotton sweater. It was Androcles who was haute couture with an enormous pink satin bow tied around his striped tail. Pandora was in the process of tying another around his neck when she casually glanced up. She froze into statuelike stillness.

"A tigress! My God, a tigress! No wonder you did a double-take when I said that," Philip exclaimed.

Pandora was rallying quickly. "He's a male, actually. His name is Androcles. Hello, Philip."

"A tiger," he repeated, dazed. "You've had a tiger in the bathtub for the last week?"

Pandora lifted her chin defiantly. "Well, it's your own fault, Philip. It was your idea for me to come here. I couldn't just abandon him, could I?"

"Abandon a tiger?'" Philip asked blankly. "How does one abandon a tiger?"

Pandora got to her feet and gathered Androcles protectively in her arms. "He's only a baby. He didn't even know how to swim until I taught him."

"You taught him to
swim?"
He shook his head as if to clear it.

Pandora frowned. "Really, Philip, I wish you'd listen. I think I'm making everything perfectly clear."

"Oh, perfectly." His lips were twitching uncontrollably. "I don't know why I appear to be so thickheaded tonight. I suppose I'm more accustomed to thinking of a tiger in the jungle than in the bathtub. You'll have to forgive my lack of adaptability." He suddenly threw back his head and laughed uproariously. It was some time before his laughter dwindled to a chuckle. His blue-green eyes were still twinkling as he slowly shook his head. "I've heard of a tiger in the tank, of course. But, as usual, you've gone a step further, Pandora. Why should I have expected anything else?"

Pandora breathed a sigh of relief. "You're not angry with me?"

"I'm furious," he drawled as he crossed the bathroom and jumped down into the tub beside her. "Or I will be when I have time to think about it."

"It's just a little tiger," Pandora said coaxingly.

"I don't know whether I should ask where you acquired him. I have an idea that I don't want to know."

"Bazaar. Poachers," Pandora said succinctly.

"I'm sure there's considerably more to the tale than that, but I can wait until later for the details." His usually cynical eyes were still alight with laughter and a rare tenderness as he looked down into her

face. "You can't keep him, you know," he said gently. "We'll have to send him to the wildlife reserve."

"I know that." Pandora's eyes were misty. "It's not fair to take away a wild thing's freedom just because we want to love and keep it close to us. It wouldn't be right."

There was an odd look on Philip's face. "No, it wouldn't be right," he repeated in an abstracted way. He glanced down at the cub in her arms and reached out to take it from her. "I'll give your friend to Raoul to care for until we can make arrangements to transport him."