by Cara Albany
"I suppose your life is just one long, uninterrupted round of social events," she claimed, a note of weariness in her voice.
Karim nodded. "Sometimes it seems like that," he admitted.
Exasperation flickered in her eyes and she looked at him quizzically as if she was trying to gauge whether he was being serious or not. He heard Erin draw in a sharp breath. Then her gaze hardened. "What do you want with me, Karim?" she demanded.
"Want?" he replied simply.
Erin nodded. "You followed me out here, Karim. You obviously want something from me."
He liked the sound of his name on her lips; always had done. Now was no exception. He knew one thing he wanted, but she wouldn't allow him to do that, he told himself. Kisses were off limits when it came to Erin.
Perhaps the time for joking was over. "You're right. I wanted to talk to you about something."
Her eyes narrowed. "What about?"
Karim glanced back toward the entrance to the reception room. He wasn't sure how much he could tell her. Not here. At least the both of them weren't in there, surrounded by people who could overhear what he was about to tell her.
"I don't know where to begin, really. In fact, the more I think of it, the more this seems like something I should really discuss with your mother. After all, she is the ambassador."
"Then why don't you?"
"It's awkward. It has to do with some of the people who are in there, right now."
Erin's brows furrowed. He'd piqued her curiosity. "I don't understand," she said.
Karim went to the balustrade and rested his hands on the cold marble. "Maybe this isn't the time or place, after all," he said slowly.
"You've made me curious," she replied. "You came all the way out here, and now you won't tell me?"
Karim looked at Erin. He could see the beginnings of concern in her eyes. "It's really not something that should concern you, at all. I just thought it might be a good idea to see what you think. You know your mother better than I do."
"Is this something diplomatic?"
Karim ran a hand through his hair. He saw how she watched him doing that, saw how her gaze narrowed in response to the smooth movement of his fingers through his slightly damp hair.
"If it's something to do with the consulate, then you should speak to my mom. She's the expert when it comes to those things." Erin peered at Karim. "But you know that already." She squinted at him. "Why would you even think about talking to me about anything to do with the consulate?"
"Forget I even mentioned it," he said sharply.
Erin leaned closer. "Or did you just use it as an excuse to come out here and get me on my own? To pick a fight." Her eyes widened accusingly. "Again."
Karim gazed at her, weighing his response. Was that the real reason why he'd followed her out here? Of course, it wasn't, he told himself.
"Is that what you think?" he asked sharply.
"It sure looks like it," she said. "Especially when you won't tell me what's on your mind."
"How do you know what's on my mind?" he murmured.
Erin peered at him. "You and I have known each other long enough. I think I can make a pretty good guess at what you're up to."
He felt himself stiffen and leaned closer to Erin. "Really? You think you know me that well?"
"I know you have a reputation," she retorted.
He arched a brow at Erin. "A reputation?"
Erin nodded, holding her gaze firmly on him. She said nothing and he knew she was testing him. The same as she'd always done ever since they'd first met. She was unlike any other woman he'd ever known. He drew in a deep breath and matched her gaze. Was that why there were times when he found her absolutely irresistible. Like now?
Erin shook her head and started to move away, but Karim took her arm gently, holding it firm and peering deep into her eyes. Erin froze and looked down at his fingers, wrapped around her bare arm. Her skin felt soft, and he tried hard to make sure he wasn't holding her too tight. He realized suddenly that he didn't want to let her go, not when he was enjoying the feel of her skin so much. But, the steady look in her eyes made him suddenly loosen his hold on her arm, releasing it.
The moment had passed as quickly as it had begun, but she didn't move off. She was still standing there, looking at him defiantly, as if he owed her an explanation for daring to touch her. It wasn't the first time he'd touched her, but somehow, right now it felt completely different than before. Previously they'd only exchanged air kisses and mild pleasantries. Nothing like this.
"I'll go and find my mom," she said after a long pause. "Maybe you'll have more luck finding something to say to her."
"Don't leave," he breathed. He moved closer and saw the color flush across her cheeks.
Her eyes narrowed and searched him again, trying to find an answer.
"Is this the best you can come up with?" she said in a low, even voice. Karim was sure she was trying to control her emotions.
"I wasn't aware I needed to come up with an excuse to be alone with you," he murmured.
He was so close to her now, he knew that it would only take a slight dip of his head and his lips would crash down on hers. Anticipation for the taste of her lips, the feel of the kiss, swelled his desire. He wondered how she would react to such an attempt. Probably with a slap to his face, he reflected.
"Well, you got what you wanted, didn't you?" she retorted.
"Did I?" he probed. "I'm not sure I did."
He was sure he saw a flash of indignation in her eyes, but it was quickly controlled. "I think you'd use any excuse to get what you want, Sheikh Al Rasareh," she stated.
Karim leaned closer, so that he was inches away from her, almost close enough to feel the heat caused by her indignation. "I don't need excuses, Erin. I usually get what I want."
She frowned. "I don't doubt that for one minute. But this time your little ruse didn't work."
"What do you mean? I'm deadly serious."
Erin smiled acidly. "I know that already." Her eyes traced a dismissive line up and down the length of his body. "You're one dangerous male, and I'm not going to be your next victim."
Her words cut into him in spite of his efforts to shrug them off as merely impulsive comment.
Erin turned away quickly and strode off, her low-heeled shoes sounding noisily on the marble floor. Karim watched the sway of her body as she made her way back into the reception room without so much as a glance back at him.
What a woman!
Karim drew in a deep breath, feeling desire pulse through him. He leaned back against the balustrade, feeling the tension ripple through his body. He sighed, his mind filled with images of Erin's pretty face, her tempting body, her defiant gaze.
Then he realized he hadn't had a chance to talk to her about the very urgent problem he and her mother's embassy faced. She had driven every thought clean out of his mind.
He'd have to find another way to address that subject. There would be another opportunity, he told himself.
Karim thought about Erin again; about her closeness; about how warm her skin had felt to the touch. He'd come so close tonight.
There would be another time.
And when that time came, he would do everything he could to taste the indescribable delights of Erin Summers.
CHAPTER THREE
"I understand Sheikh Al Rasareh spoke to you last night at the reception," Erin's mother said over breakfast the next morning.
Erin hesitated for a moment, the coffee cup hovering in front of her lips. "He did talk with me for a while," she admitted gazing quizzically toward her mother. Her mother seemed preoccupied this morning. In fact, she wasn't her usual positive self. Erin wondered what could be causing her mother to behave like that.
They were sitting at the breakfast table in the dining room of the embassy. Erin's mother, Louise Summers, sat immediately opposite Erin. This morning it was only Erin and her mother at the table. Belle had already left, and there had been no sign of Nicole all
through this morning, but that was no surprise really, given that Nicole was the wildest of the three sisters and was apt to do the craziest things. Erin had no idea where Nicole might have ended up after last night, but she quickly thrust those thoughts out of her mind. Why was her mother asking Erin about Karim?
"Did he ask you anything in particular?" Louise asked.
"Not really. He just wanted to chat," Erin said bluntly.
Louise's brows rose. "Chat?"
Erin scooped the corner of a croissant into her mouth, chewed nervously and nodded. She averted her eyes from Louise's suddenly penetrating gaze.
Louise sipped her coffee and put down the cup with a measured gesture. She frowned, and Erin wanted to ask what was troubling her mother.
"He did mention that he wanted to speak to you about something important," Erin added.
Louise nodded distractedly as if she hadn't heard what Erin had just said.
"He found me later in the evening," Louise said after a long pause. "We did talk," she added rather absent-mindedly. Erin thought her mother looked like she was miles away, thinking about something else entirely.
"What was it he wanted to talk to you about?" Erin asked trying to sound bright and breezy. Anything to lift her mother's mood.
Louise gazed across at Erin. "Diplomatic stuff. As usual," Louise said casually.
"What's wrong, mother?" Erin asked leaning her elbows on the table.
"Nothing, dear," Louise replied smiling softly at Erin.
Louise didn't usually talk about consular business with Erin, so whatever was bothering her mother must be serious. "Are you sure?" Erin asked.
Her mother was still such an elegant and beautiful woman, Erin thought. Even at this time of the morning, Louise was the picture of grace and refinement. Her blonde hair was swept back and tied in a neat bun; her eyes were bright with that familiar intelligence Erin had always admired; and then there were her pretty features which she had passed on to her three daughters.
Erin reached across and curled her fingers around her mother's hand. "You know you can always talk to me, mom," Erin said.
Louise smiled warmly at Erin. "I know that, Erin. You've always been a rock for me."
Erin grinned at her mother. "Don't forget dad." She quirked a brow. "I think he's pretty important, too."
"Of course he is," Louise replied, nodding her head.
Erin's father was on the board of an oil company which had interests in Qazhar. It was purely an advisory role since, being connected by marriage to an ambassador, he was restricted in what he could do business-wise while living in the kingdom.
"I wonder where your sister got to last night," Louise said, obviously trying to change the subject for the moment.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Erin replied. "Nicole has a mind of her own."
Louise rolled her eyes. "Don't I know it. She's a law unto herself."
"She's a wild one," Erin replied. "Then again, she always has been like that."
"I worry about her so much, sometimes," Louise said slowly.
"I think I saw her talking to one of the sheikhs," Erin explained.
"Which one?" Louise exclaimed. "There are so many of them in Qazhar."
Erin shrugged and laughed. "I know. They're everywhere. So many to choose from, I guess," she joked. "And they all seem to be rich and gorgeous."
Louise's eyes narrowed and she peered across at Erin. "That's an odd thing to say, Erin. Is there something I should know about?"
Erin squinted at her mother taken aback by the suddenness of the question. "Of course not. What makes you ask that?"
Louise lifted a shoulder. "Nothing. Probably just a rumor."
Erin felt concern curl in her middle. "What are you talking about? You don't think Nicole's thinking of getting married to a sheikh, do you?" Erin could hardly believe she'd just said that.
Louise's brows furrowed and she gave Erin a very long, searching look. "Not Nicole," she said after a long pause.
"Is that what's bothering you this morning, mom? Are you worried about Nicole?"
Louise shook her head. "It's not Nicole I'm worried about."
For a long moment her mother seemed to consider carefully what to say next. Finally, Louise sighed and gazed across at Erin. "Sheikh Al Rasareh told me something last night. Something quite concerning."
Erin's heart started to race. She saw the worry on her mother's face. "Am I allowed to ask?" Erin queried.
"Normally I would say no, but in this case it's a little bit more complicated than the usual diplomatic protocols."
For the life of her, Erin couldn't figure out what her mother was talking about. Normally there was a strict line drawn between what her mother could share about her work with the family members.
Louise gazed intently at Erin. "You know that there are people in Qazhar who don't exactly approve of foreign influence."
Erin nodded. "Of course I do. I've known that since before we all came here. Isn't that why you got the job in the first place, mom," Erin said with a grin. "Because you were considered the best for a post like this."
Louise shrugged, but seemed unconvinced. "That was one reason I got the position, I suppose. But my previous experience isn't going to help much if what Sheikh Karim says is true."
Erin frowned. "What's he been saying?"
Louise sighed. "It seems that at the recent regional conference there were some angry opinions expressed about the rate of progress in Qazhar."
"What's wrong with progress?" Erin asked.
"Nothing, as far as most people are concerned," Louise replied. "But not everyone wants foreign powers involved in Qazhar affairs."
"What are they proposing to do about it?" Erin asked.
"Nothing, for the moment. But, there are some very influential people making significant moves in diplomatic circles."
"To do what?"
Erin's mother frowned. "Provoke some kind of diplomatic crisis," she announced flatly.
"How can they do that?"
Louise peered at Erin. "You know that the politics of this region can be volatile. It wouldn't take much to stir things up."
Erin considered what her mother had said. What had Sheikh Karim to do with all of this? Was he a driving force behind the change her mother was talking about?
"Are you saying we might have to leave, mom?" Erin asked.
Louise smiled sympathetically. "Not right now, Erin," she replied.
"But sometime soon?"
Louise shook her head slowly. "I don't know yet. The situation is still uncertain. We might have to wait and see. I have some meetings to attend."
Erin squeezed her mother's hand. "I hope everything's going to be okay."
Louise smiled. "It will be, dear. I'm sure of it."
Erin could see that, in spite of what she had said, Louise was still obviously concerned about something. "What is it, mom? Is there something else you haven't told me?"
Louise gazed at Erin. "Sheikh Al Rasareh said a great deal last night. We talked about a lot of things." Louise's eyes narrowed. "Including you, my dear," she added.
"Me?" Erin exclaimed. "What about me?"
Louise smiled warmly. "I wasn't aware of it, but it seems Sheikh Al Rasareh thinks quite highly of you, Erin."
Erin felt the color race to her cheeks. "What on earth are you talking about, mom?"
"He spoke about you in quite glowing terms."
Erin frowned. "You know that's not true. Karim and I are almost sworn enemies."
Louise's eyes narrowed at the harshness of Erin's words. "I wouldn't describe your relationship with Sheikh Al Rasareh in those terms, my dear," her mother said evenly. "He actually seems to be quite smitten with you."
Erin couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Did you say "smitten"?" Erin asked sharply.
Louise nodded and Erin gasped. Louise smiled patiently, and Erin could see that she being humored. It was the only way to explain what her mother had just said. That just made things even
worse as far as Erin was concerned. What would she have to say to convince her mother that Karim was her sworn enemy?
"No really, mom. I'm being serious. Every time Karim and I are near each other, there's a firework display," Erin said. She suddenly realized that those words hadn't come out right. Not at all. "What I mean to say is..."
"You don't have to explain dear," Louise interrupted. "I understand what you're trying to say."
"But you don't, mom. That's the point."
"It'll be fine, Erin."
Erin frowned at her mother. "What will be fine?"
"I have to say I was surprised when Sheikh Al Rasareh told me all about your friendship," her mother said.
Erin gritted her teeth and groaned. Her mother's brows rose in response to the guttural sound. "We aren't friends mother," she declared as firmly as she could. "How can I get you to believe me?"
Louise sipped her coffee and put the cup back down on the saucer. She lifted the serviette from her lap and laid it on the table. She stood up. "I've got such a busy day ahead of me. I guess I better get going. The first thing I have to do is get ready for the Sheikh's visit, this morning."
"He's coming here this morning?" Erin exclaimed feeling a sudden panic.
Louise nodded. "Diplomatic business, of course. But then he insisted he get a chance to meet with you while he's here. I said that would be fine," Louise said. "I hope I did right," she added giving Erin a querying look.
Erin shrugged. "I did have something I wanted to do this morning."
Louise frowned. "He'll be so disappointed if you're not here."
"Somehow, I don't think he will," Erin said sharply.
"I think you're being too unkind to Sheikh Al Rasareh. He seemed really eager to speak with you. It would be a shame to disappoint him." Her mother gave her one those looks with which Erin was all too familiar. It was a look which said, "Please don't disappoint me." Then Louise added as if to seal the deal. "And I'd be so disappointed, too, Erin. I think you and Karim should get along better. He does have so much influence."
"Are you trying to recruit me in the diplomatic corp, mom? Erin said only half joking.