One Hot Desert Night. KRISTI GOLD

sensed there is more to Sunny’s sabbatical than the end of a relationship when I was with her this evening.”

      Adan took on a murderous expression. “Define when I was with her.”

      “We took a walk together in the garden.”

      “And where, Rayad, did you end your walk?”

      He realized exactly what his cousin was implying. “We ended the walk in the garden, and that is when I realized she has unexplained fears.”

      “Of what? You?”

      “Indirectly, yes. When I attempted to touch her—”

      “Where did you attempt to touch her?”

      “Her hand.”

      “Are you bloody sure you didn’t reach a bit higher than that?”

      Adan’s question echoed loudly through the hallway and apparently disturbed his bride, who suddenly appeared in the doorway. “If you two don’t lower your voices, you’re going to wake the entire palace, including our son and the twins. What in heaven’s name has you both so worked up?”

      Adan pointed at Rayad. “This cad made a pass at your sister.”

      His wife seemed surprisingly calm. “She’s an attractive woman, honey.”

      Rayad felt the need to defend his honor. “I only attempted to take her hand, yet her reaction to that innocent gesture has led me to believe she has possibly suffered a recent trauma.”

      “I told him it was a traumatic breakup,” Adan said. “With the soundman.”

      Piper frowned at her husband. “He’s a cameraman, Adan, and what kind of reaction are you referring to?”

      “She startles easily,” Rayad answered. “It is as if she is fearful of many things.”

      Piper’s gaze briefly faltered. “That’s understandable considering she throws herself into some fairly precarious situations due to her job.”

      Her lack of eye contact, coupled with the slight tremor in her voice, served to support Rayad’s suspicions. “I have seen this behavior before in those who have experienced violence in some manner. It can be indicative of post traumatic stress disorder.”

      Adan raised a brow. “It is probably indicative of your penchant for making unwanted advances on an unsuspecting woman.”

      He despised having his honor questioned. “I never force myself on unwitting women, Adan. And you have no cause to make accusations. At one time you were much worse in regard to making advances.”

      Adan took obvious offense over the affront. “I have always been noble when it comes to the fairer sex, cousin.”

      Patience waning, Rayad glared at him. “As have I, cousin.”

      “Rayad’s right,” Piper interjected, drawing both their attention.

      Adan regarded his wife with a confused expression. “Forgive me, Piper, but you haven’t known Rayad long enough to make that character judgment.”

      She shook her head. “He’s right about Sunny. Something did happen to her a couple of months ago.”

      “Why did you not tell me this before now?” Adan asked.

      “Because she made me promise not to say anything,” she replied. “But frankly, I’m worried about her. Even more so now.” She both looked and sounded extremely concerned.

      Exactly as he’d predicted. Rayad now needed all the details Sunny’s sibling could give him. “What precisely happened to her?”

      “She was in a small village in Angola,” Piper said. “Late one night she went for a walk on the streets. She was ambushed and attacked by some unknown assailants. They held her captive for a few hours before she managed to get away.”

      “Was she sexually assaulted?” Adan asked before Rayad had the opportunity.

      “No,” Piper stated adamantly. “She was very clear about that. Thankfully, nothing was broken aside from her spirits, but it did take a while for her to recover, according to her. In my opinion, she still hasn’t.”

      Two questions weighed heavily on his mind—why had her former lover not sought her out, and had anyone been held accountable? “Did they apprehend the assailants?”

      “They never did,” she said. “Sunny told me a lot of people travel there to mine for diamonds, so it could have been anyone from anywhere in the world. She doesn’t expect to ever find out the identity of the responsible parties.”

      How well he knew that concept, yet he refused to accept that conclusion. He had lived with his own mystery for many years, and lived his life for revenge. “Thank you for providing this information, Piper. It does explain her behavior. And now I know how I should handle the situation.”

      “Leave her be, Rayad,” Adan demanded. “She’s come here to be alone and heal her wounds.”

      His cousin’s cautions would not deter him from his goal. “And she cannot tend to that herself. I can provide the support she needs during her visit here in Bajul.”

      “It’s your idea of support that concerns me,” Adan said.

      “Maybe Rayad’s help is exactly what Sunny needs,” Piper interjected. “She’s not going to listen to me. If he can get through to her, he has my blessing.”

      Adan pointed at him. “Do not do anything inadvisable, Rayad.”

      He nodded his acknowledgment. “I will handle the situation with the greatest of care.”

      And he would, despite his desire for the beautiful, troubled Sunny McAdams. Perhaps this would be his chance to engage in an honorable endeavor. An opportunity to prove he had not completely lost his soul. Perhaps he could save this woman where before he had failed another. Perhaps he could prove to himself that he was a man worthy of salvation—not the soldier who had no hope for redemption.

      * * *

      “Wake up, sleepyhead.”

      Frightened and disoriented, Sunny jolted her head up from the pillow and attempted to focus on the figure before her. Thankfully, the familiar face and smile helped calm her raw nerves and bring her back into reality. Not that she was overly happy with her sister’s sudden appearance, nor did she understand why she had her arms full of garment bags.

      Sunny threw back the covers, climbed out of the too-tall bed and sighed. “You could’ve knocked, Piper.”

      “I did. Twice, in fact. And I’m really sorry if I scared you.”

      “I’m not scared.” The slight tremor in her voice belied her confidence.

      “It’s okay, Sunny. I know it’s been tough to overcome the effects of your ordeal.”

      Her twin couldn’t even imagine what she’d been through. “What time is it, and did you raid the local dry cleaners?”

      Piper looked down at the bags as if she didn’t remember what she had clutched in her arms. “It’s close to noon, and no, I did not raid the dry cleaners. I did, however, raid the local boutique earlier this morning to find you something suitable to wear.”

      Lovely. Just what she needed after a restless night—wardrobe criticism. “You told me to pack what I normally pack.”

      “Yes, but tonight we’ll be attending an event that requires something a bit more formal than cotton and khakis.”

      Sunny swept her mussed hair back with one hand and adjusted the top of her sleep shirt to better cover her neck. “What event?”

      Clearly bent on avoiding the question, Piper laid the bags across the end of the bed and unzipped the first of three garment bags. “This is my personal favorite,” she said as she withdrew