Читать книгу In The Sheikh's Service - Susan Stephens - Страница 12

CHAPTER FOUR

IT HADN’T ESCAPED Isla’s attention that His Serene Majesty was also known as the Lion of the Desert, but she was no gazelle. She was more of a doughty old warhorse, tough and thick-skinned—

A warhorse?

She was more like a mole blundering blindly about on the fringes of a royal world she knew nothing about, Isla reflected with a frown as she sank down with relief at her desk as the vice chancellor and the royal party moved on. Winning the prize of a trip to Q’Aqabi was the opportunity of a lifetime. She still couldn’t quite believe that she’d been chosen. She’d worked so hard, but had always known that it wasn’t a guarantee. The opportunity meant everything to her, and she couldn’t afford to be distracted by her attraction to Shazim. She had to concentrate on preparing to be plunged into the desert, a world that would test her like no other. She knew it bore no relation to her fantasies, and she welcomed the hardship and danger. She had never been under any illusion where her work was concerned. Working with animals wrenched her emotions this way and that, and Shazim’s project would demand every bit of skill she possessed. But if she could do anything to help, she would gladly devote her life to it.

It was hardly likely that they would work together, Isla reassured herself. The Sheikh of Q’Aqabi must have royal duties by the score—

She sprang to her feet as the official party came into view again.

‘Coffee time,’ the vice chancellor carolled with enthusiasm, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

‘You will excuse me, Vice Chancellor, I hope?’ His Majesty intoned graciously. ‘I have a wish to see my manuscripts.’

Isla’s heart beat like crazy as Shazim stared at her. He must know that she had been detailed to show him the exhibits.

The tiniest adjustment to Shazim’s glance was enough to turn his congenial exchange with the vice chancellor into something very different for her. He could seduce her with a look—if she were a different woman. Though she was surprised that the Lion of the Desert was interested in her at all.

‘Of course Isla must accompany you,’ the vice chancellor enthused. ‘You couldn’t have anyone better to accompany you, Your Majesty. I have it on good authority from the head librarian here that Isla brings order to our questing minds.’

‘Indeed?’ Shazim queried, staring at her with veiled amusement.

‘By which our vice chancellor means that I keep the catalogue here in good order,’ Isla explained primly.

Shazim’s eyes sparkled with humour as he dipped his head with approval. ‘I look forward to learning more about how you maintain such an ordered catalogue.’

As Isla led the way he noticed with interest the sassy heels. Everything about Isla Sinclair intrigued him. More than ever he got the sense of the ice maiden with a molten core. It was that heat that made him want to take her to the furthest reaches of the library, to the shadowy, dusty nooks, where no one ever strayed—

‘Your Majesty?’ she prompted him. ‘The tour?’

‘Of course. Please, lead on...’ He had become distracted watching her walk away. The high heels made her hips sway rhythmically, while her buttocks strained the seam of her skirt. Discovering that Isla was the prize winner was the worst outcome possible. A short affair could be managed discreetly, but she was coming to Q’Aqabi, not just to tour the nature reserve and veterinary facilities as part of her prize, but to offer her expertise and work there for a while. Under those circumstances, there could be no affair, short or otherwise.

‘And here we have the illuminated manuscript of the Canticle of...’

He wasn’t listening. He knew everything there was to know about the manuscript. Isla could have been spinning him any old yarn, and he’d still be enthralled. His good intentions where restraint was concerned were under pressure already. They were alone in this part of the library, the academic party having moved onto the room where refreshments had been set out. Isla was doing everything she was supposed to, with apparently no personal interest in him. She appeared so contained, when he knew that nothing could be further from the truth. She wasn’t docile or tame. Isla was like one of his wild animals, free and spirited. She was ambitious too, and just as driven to succeed as he was. His ambition to be everything he could be to his people to make up for past sins had an obvious cause, but what was driving Isla?

His gaze strayed to her shoes. There was more than a hint of the rebel about her, and he wondered how that would translate in bed.

‘I’ve got a better idea,’ he said when she paused in front of a glass cabinet housing another of his priceless illuminated manuscripts.

‘Oh?” said, turning with a frown.

‘Have dinner with me tonight.’

‘What?’ She looked at him as if dinner were another word for sex. ‘Oh, no, I don’t think—’

His suggestion had thrown her. For the first time she was flustered. Her cheeks were red and her breathing sped up. He guessed she wanted to have dinner with him, wanted to spend time with him, but didn’t want to do anything to threaten the practical opportunities he could offer Isla in terms of her career.

‘I would like to discuss the new veterinary school with you,’ he said, making it hard for her to refuse.

‘With me?’ She touched her chest with surprise, then turned instantly suspicious.

‘I would appreciate hearing a recent student’s forthright point of view. You would be forthright with me, wouldn’t you, Isla?’

‘Of course, but—’ Her intelligent grey gaze sharpened on his.

‘Then, shall we say eight o’clock? I’ll have my driver pick you up—’

‘But you don’t know—’

‘Where you live?’ Angling his chin, he smiled into her eyes.

‘You had me followed?’

He cancelled out her affront with a glance. ‘The vice chancellor supplied your address, along with all other information I might need, so my people could get in touch with the prize winner to arrange transport to Q’Aqabi.’

‘Of course,’ she agreed, biting down on the swell of her lip as she thought about this.

While Isla settled her mind, he wrestled with ideas that had never concerned him before. Discreet arrangements could be made when he wanted a woman in his bed, with mutual agreement the only condition. But when Isla was in Q’Aqabi where he had duties and responsibilities, he could not please himself. He was pledged to his country, and, if he had judged Isla right, she would want more than a brief affair, and that was something he could never give her. Would things change when they reached the desert? Would he make an exception this one time and mix business with pleasure? Would Isla be prepared to pay the price for that pleasure, or would it break her when he sent her away?

And maybe him?

No woman had the power to do that.

His senses sharpened as Isla drew a tense breath and shook her head. ‘I’m afraid dinner tonight isn’t possible.’

‘You have a prior engagement?’

‘Yes,’ she admitted, meeting his gaze with candour, ‘with my studies.’

‘But that’s what I want to talk to you about. I know your career hopes are pinned on specialising in the preservation of endangered species—’

‘Not hopes. I will specialise,’ she corrected him with a verve he could only admire.

‘There is nowhere better than Q’Aqabi for you to pursue your work. We have species on the verge of extinction, and a programme specifically designed to save these animals.’

‘Are you offering me a job before I even arrive in the country?’

Her look was both a challenge and a provocation.

‘I think I’d better try you out first, to see how you shape up.’

She met his amused stare with distinct lack of humour and a lift of her brow, as if to ask if they were still talking about her career prospects.

The project meant the world to him, and he turned serious as he decided that if Isla was as good as they said she was, she would get the job.

‘The team that will be working on my new nature reserve has not been finalised yet, but your up-to-date knowledge and your obvious devotion to your work puts you in a very good position.’

She visibly relaxed, making him wonder again about her past experience with men. When it came to her love of animals, Isla couldn’t be shaken, but when it came to flirting with him, it was always one step forward and two steps back.

‘You want to have dinner with me,’ she confirmed with a frown. ‘And this is so we can discuss your nature reserve and the new veterinary school?’

‘Amongst other topics,’ he agreed. ‘I’m sure we won’t be short of things to talk about.’

‘I hope I don’t let you down...’

Even he couldn’t be sure, as Isla grew thoughtful, if she was talking about her appeal to him as a person, or as a vet. One thing was certain, he had waited long enough for her answer. ‘Do you accept my dinner invitation, or not?’

Her eyes briefly flared, but she had more sense than to take him on. She would not risk antagonising him, when visiting Q’Aqabi was everything she longed for, and had worked so hard to achieve.

‘What’s your answer, Isla?’

Lifting her chin, she met his stare candidly. ‘Thank you, Your Majesty. Yes. I will have dinner with you.’