Desert Sands. Barbara Jeffs

      “Can you stand?”

      She glared at him with exasperation. “Of course I can stand I’m twenty-five not in my dotage.”

      He chuckled and her heart missed a beat. “Well come on then.” He rose to his feet and held his hand out smiling down at her. After a slight hesitation she placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet. “Can you mange by yourself or do you want me to help you?”

      “Such solicitude,” she mocked with biting sarcasm. “Must protect your investment mustn’t you? It wouldn’t do to have me ill. There would be no reas---“

      “That’s enough!” His harsh voice interrupted her outburst, the smile disappearing from his face to be replaced with a haughty anger. “I may not be your favorite person at the moment but I demand you show me respect. I have never done anything to you to give you a reason not to respect me.”

      Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “What do you call blackmail and kidnapping? Good deeds?”

      “Who is kidnapping you?” He shook his head in a negative gesture. “Not me.”

      “In a way you are. I wouldn’t be going with you if it wasn’t for Tom.”

      His expression turned savage and his eyes darkened with rage. “You would be well advised not to mention your lover’s name in my presence. It was your decision to accept my offer I did not twist your arm.” He threw the facecloth savagely into the vanity sink and strode toward the door. He paused in the doorway but did not turn around. “I’m sorry I made you ill,” he murmured huskily and walked out of the room closing the door with a quiet click.

      Shannon stared at the door with her mouth hanging open. For goodness sake he was an enigma. She would never understand him. Just how well did she really know him? She had thought she knew him very well indeed but now she was not so sure. During the two weeks they were engaged they had shared a lot of fun and laughter and endless sessions of love making but she was beginning to suspect that she had not known Kalim the person.

      When she eventually walked back into the sitting room Hassam was speaking on the telephone in a language she did not understand and there was no sign of Kalim. A frown settled on her brow as she glanced around the room. Now where had he gone?

      Hassam smiled warmly at her as she wandered across to the sofa and sat down beside him. She curled her legs underneath her and waited patiently for him to complete his call.

      “Where’s Kalim?” she asked as soon as he replaced the receiver on its cradle.

      He nodded his head toward his bedroom. “In there making a call to Rentanof. I was using this phone and he didn’t want to wait.”

      She glanced across at the open door then turned back to face him her nerves jangling with uncertainty. “Rentanof?”

      He nodded. “He’s making arrangements for Tom Bennett’s safety until we arrive home.” His brows knotted in a curious frown. “Would you care to tell me what the hell is going on? Kalim stormed into my room and ordered his plane to be readied and all his appointments to be cancelled. He wants to leave as soon as possible and if I needed to give a reason I was to say a family emergency.” His frown deepened as he continued. “Then he informs me he is getting Tom Bennett released and that you are coming home with us.”

      “Plane.” Her eyes widened in shock. “He’s got his own plane?”

      “Of course.” He gestured toward the telephone and grimaced. “For what it’s worth it is ready to take off now.”

      “You have your own jet airliner?”

      Hassam chuckled. “Don’t sound so surprised. How did you think he travelled around the world, on a broom?”

      “I wouldn’t be surprised,” Shannon muttered realizing Hassam had heard her remark when he burst out laughing, and she laughed with him.

      Kalim abruptly broke off his conversation with the guard captain of Lilla jail in the middle of a sentence when he heard the sound of Shannon’s laughter. It was a sound he thought he would never hear again. He was suddenly brought out of his reverie by the squawking phone in his hand and he reluctantly placed the receiver against his ear and resumed his conversation.

      “I assumed he used commercial flights like everyone else,” Shannon said as her laughter died away.

      He was shaking his head as she was speaking. “That would not be safe or convenient.”

      A shiver raced through her system. There was that word again Kalim’s safety, danger. The fear and terror started crawling in her stomach and she felt the nausea rise up again. How was she going to live with this gut wrenching sickness all the time?

      “Is this a private conversation or can I join it?” Kalim asked as he walked into the room his eyes flickering between them.

      “We were discussing your plane,” Hassam stated gravely then spoiled it by winking at Shannon. “Which is ready whenever you are as per your instructions.”

      “My plane huh?” It was obvious he did not believe a word of it. “What about my appointments?” he asked as he walked across to the sofa.

      Hassam rose to his feet. “I’ll get started on them straight away but you won’t be able to cancel Amono on Friday.”

      “Do the best you can.”

      Hassam nodded his head as he turned and walked into his bedroom to make a dozen phone calls. Do the best he could. Sure it would be no problem. He only had to perform a miracle or two. It appeared Shannon Leigh Brown was still causing him problems but this time they were nice problems.

      “Move over.” Kalim pushed Shannon gently on the shoulder and she moved along the cushions. He sank down beside her and filled a coffee cup from the fresh tray Hassam had ordered earlier. “Do you want one?” He offered her the steaming cup.

      “Thanks.” Her hand closed around the cup. Tingles shot up her arm as her fingers tangled with his and she hastily dropped her eyes to the hot black coffee. A large brown hand poured cream into the cup, and she swallowed hard.

      She leaned back and watched him as he poured his own coffee loving the way he moved and the fresh clean smell of his tangy cologne. Desire curled in her stomach like a red hot fire and she hastily took a gulp of her drink and nearly burned her tongue off.

      “When are we leaving?” she asked when she finally recovered her breath from the scalding drink and her senses from his nearness.

      “Apparently Friday afternoon unless Hassam can get me out of that meeting with Amono.”

      He lifted the cup to his lips and sipped the hot drink while he stretched his legs out before him crossing them at the ankles.

      “Friday,” she gasped her eyes widening in shock. “That’s only two days away. I can’t be ready to leave by Friday. You’ll have to wait until Wednesday at least.”

      He shook his head and the expression on his face was suddenly menacing. “You’ll be ready to leave whenever I say you will.” He stared at her with so much coldness in his eyes she shivered in fear. “Be careful Shannon your lover is not safe yet.”

      “I can’t do everything by Friday,” she said desperately. “There’s the lease on my flat---“

      His harsh bark of laughter interrupted her and she glanced at him warily her eyes asking a silent question.

      “You haven’t been near your flat in six months it’s a little late to worry about it now.”

      She blinked with surprise. “How do yo---“ she broke off sucked in a deep calming breath then asked. “You’ve had my flat under surveillance?”

      His mouth tightened with disgust. “There was no need. For a small monthly retainer your landlady was more than happy to let me know if she heard from you.”

      A sharp