A Summer Smile

"I almost wish he hadn't been," Daniel said tautly. "I need to kill him. I need to do something to help her." He closed his eyes. "I feel so damned help­less, I think I'm going to explode."

  There was a flicker of sympathy in Clancy's hard face. "We all felt the same way when it happened. You were lucky not to have been around to see her right after we found her. It was enough to tear your heart out."

  "I don't think I was lucky. Bradford was there to help her and I wasn't," Daniel said harshly. "If I had been there, she would never have looked at me as if I were some kind of monster. She would have known she could trust me."

  "She was burning up with fever. She didn't know what was happening. She obviously thought she was back in that bordello."

  "Oh, yes, I realize all that." Daniel's mirthless laugh had a touch of desperation in it. "I also realize that after an experience like that she's going to have a hell of a time trusting or responding to any man." Dear Lord, that was putting it mildly. He had been so confident last night that he could ease friendship into a commitment. He had been almost brutal when he had taken Zilah. It was a wonder that she hadn't run away from him screaming instead of yielding so sweetly. She couldn't have enjoyed it. Gratitude or pity? It didn't matter. He just hoped he hadn't done any permanent damage by lovemaking that must have appeared closer to rape to Zilah. He had to make sure that she knew it wouldn't always be like that. That he was capable of treating her with the gentle­ness and care her fragility demanded.

  "Surely you aren't thinking about getting involved with her?" Clancy asked. "May I point out that you've known the woman only one day?"

  "I'm already involved." Daniel tossed the rest of his brandy down his throat and set his glass on the desk with barely restrained violence. "I didn't ask for it, but there it is. She's mine now, problems or no problems."

  Clancy stiffened. "I hope you're not speaking in the carnal sense. According to the last psychiatrist's report Zilah still isn't able to respond sexually to any man. I sure as hell didn't send you out there to seduce the girl. I'm not sure David would tolerate that kind of action on your part."

  "God!" Daniel's stomach muscles clenched as if someone had knocked the breath out of him. It was even worse than he had imagined. She was still scarred, still hurting, and he hadn't even been partic­ularly gentle with her in the first experience she'd had since that nightmare. Yet she had responded. At least he had thought she had responded at the time. How could he be sure with the swirling darkness and the earthquake of passion that had shaken him? Per­haps she had only submitted. Dear heaven, he hoped that hadn't been the case. If it was, then it was no wonder she had mistaken him for one of those mon­sters from her childhood.

  He was trembling, he realized with disgust. This wasn't the time to give in to weakness. He still had Clancy to deal with, and that was never easy. "Too damn bad," Daniel said coolly. "You can tell Bradford she's no longer his concern."

  "And what about Zilah? Doesn't she have any say in this?"

  "Do you think I'm going to lock her in a room and rape her?" Daniel's expression was a mask of pain. "She's never going to know fear or pain again as long as she lives. I'll see to that. But I'm not letting her go, Clancy. I can't run the risk of her shying away from me as she did this afternoon. Evidently it wouldn't take much to trigger that panic again. That rules out any type of normal courtship."

  "What are you suggesting then?"

  "I'm not suggesting anything, Clancy," Daniel said quietly. "I'm telling you I need time and that you're going to get it for me."

  "Time?"

  Daniel nodded. "Zilah stays here for two weeks alone with me. I don't want any interference from Bradford or her mother or anyone else. Not even you, Clancy. I'm going to have enough problems without trying to fight my way through a battery of protective guardians."

  "You're out of line, Daniel," Clancy said crisply. "You know I can't arrange that."

  "I know you're going to have to do your damned­est," Daniel said with a cool little smile. "Or else you're going to have to face just the awkward diplo­matic confrontation you've been trying to avoid between Alex and Philip."

  Clancy's eyes narrowed to ice blue slits. "You'd bring El Kabbar into it?"

  "If I have to," Daniel said. "That's up to you. You know Philip wouldn't bat an eye to closing his bor­ders and refusing to let Zilah leave or anyone to come in after her. He'd probably enjoy testing his power against the Ben Raschid regime."

  "I wouldn't doubt that for a minute," Clancy growled. "Dammit, Daniel, I won't be manipulated this way. You're bluffing."

  "Then call my bluff." Daniel's eyes were gleaming recklessly. "And take the consequences. Or give me my two weeks and then I'll bring her to Zalandan myself." He paused. "If she still wants to go."

  "And just how do you propose I accomplish this hiatus?" Clancy's tone was heavy with sarcasm.

  "That's up to you. We both know you have guile to spare when you choose to exert it. If it will help, I'll get Philip to have the doctor issue orders that she's not to be moved for that length of time."

  "And I only have to keep the homefront from find­ing out she's being held by a man who'd like nothing better than to tumble Zilah into his bed. Considering her circumstances, that particular knowledge would alarm the hell out of everyone." Clancy scowled. "I don't suppose you'd like to give me your assurance that that won't happen?"

  Daniel shook his head. "I want her more than I've ever wanted any woman before, so I can't promise anything." His expression was grim. "But I want her trust as well. That means I can't have both. Not right now."

  "Well, that's something at least." Clancy stood up. "You have your two weeks. You leave me very little choice." He placed his glass on the desk with careful precision. "I don't like to be put in that position," he said softly. "Remember that, Daniel. You're walking on thin ice."

  "I know." Daniel grinned suddenly. "That should prove how serious I am about this. You always did scare the hell out of me, Clancy."

  A reluctant smile tugged at Clancy's lips. He uttered an obscenity that was explicit. "Two weeks. After that I'm coming in to get her and to hell with diplomacy." His smile took on a silky ferocity. "And I'll nail your ass to the wall of the Tower of Tears at Marasef."

  "We'll see." Daniel slanted an engimatic smile at him as he straightened. "You've only played the game with me, Clancy. Never against me. You might be in for a surprise. Now that we've reached an agreement,

  I want to get back to Zilah." He strode briskly toward the door. "Let me know if you get any word on Hassan."

  "Daniel."

  Daniel looked back over his shoulder inquiringly.

  "This must mean a hell of a lot to you," Clancy said slowly. "But are you sure it's worth the possibil­ity of having to go up against Alex?"

  "It's worth it." Daniel's smile was bittersweet. "I feel as if I've found something I've been searching for all my life. I should have known it wouldn't come without a barb or two attached." He opened the door. "But, hell yes, it's worth it."

  When Zilah opened her eyes, she saw Daniel. It was obviously night, for it was dark in the room, but there was a lamp burning on the bedside table and Daniel was sitting in a wing chair drawn close to the side of the bed. There was a frown on his face as he gazed abstractedly into the distance.

  "Daniel?" she murmured drowsily to bring him back to her. She shifted in the bed, turning to face him. She was naked beneath the satin sheet that cov­ered her, she noticed absently.

  He straightened and leaned forward. "I'm here. Go back to sleep, babe. You're safe now."

  "I know." She was always safe with Daniel. "Are you all right?"

  "I'm fine and you will be too. Dr. Madchen said that you'd be weak and lethargic for a few days, but after that you'll be on the mend."

  "Dr. Madchen?"

  He went still. "You don't remember the doctor?"

  She shook her head. "It's all pretty much of a blur. I remember you carrying me into a foyer that looked like something out o
f an Arabian Nights palace. After that, it was all downhill." She frowned. "No, I remember something else."

  There was a flicker of wariness in Daniel's eyes.

  "Really?"

  "A man with strange-colored eyes. Almost tur­quoise. Was that the doctor?"

  Daniel chuckled. "No, that was your host, Philip El Kabbar. He'll be flattered to know that he made such an impression even while you were in the throes of fever. It will give his ego an enormous boost. Not that he needs it."

  "It's very kind of him to let us impose on him like this. I'd like to thank him."

  "You'll get plenty of opportunity to do that." Daniel reached out and took her hand in his. "The doctor doesn't want you traveling on to Zalandan for a week or so. He wants to be sure you don't develop

  complications."

  Her eyes widened. "Why should he think I'd have complications?"

  He looked down at her hand and idly began to stroke the pulse point at her wrist with his thumb. "Complications have a habit of popping up when you least expect them," he said evasively. "We're going to be very careful of you, Zilah." He glanced up, his eyes twinkling. "After all the trouble I took to get you away from Hassan, I refuse to lose you to a scorpion."

  His gentle massaging thumb was sending sparks of heat up her arm, and Zilah felt a tiny sensuous stirring in the pit of her stomach. "I wouldn't think of having all your efforts in my behalf come to nothing," she said lightly. "It would be most ungrateful of me." She couldn't seem to pull her gaze away from its entanglement with Daniel's. "I'll be dutiful in making a complete recovery. Has anyone notified my mother and David that I'm safe?"

  "We phoned Zalandan as soon as the doctor said

  you were out of danger. Clancy Donahue flew back there tonight and will give them a more personal report. You'll be able to phone your mother tomorrow yourself if you like."

  "Of course." Her forehead wrinkled in a frown. "Clancy Donahue was here too? The fever must have really caused me to draw a blank. What else did I miss?"

  "Nothing of importance." He gave her hand an affectionate squeeze before releasing it. "Do you think you can go back to sleep now that you've had some of your questions answered?"

  "But I don't have all my questions answered." She was scanning his face with a troubled expres­sion. There were lines of strain around Daniel's eyes and the flesh was drawn taut over his cheekbones. "Haven't you slept at all?"

  He chuckled. "I don't need much sleep. I was fine after I showered and had something to eat."

  "I don't think you slept last night either. And I don't see how you possibly could have slept the night before, planting all those bombs and whatevers."

  He grinned. "Yes, planting whatevers can be very exhausting."

  "Don't joke. You know perfectly well what I mean. Go to bed, Daniel."

  "Now, if you'd said come instead of go, I might be more amiable about the suggestion," Daniel drawled.

  She felt the heat in her stomach flutter and then begin to spread. "Then, come," she said breathlessly.

  The smile was abruptly gone from his face. He had a sudden heated memory of her nails digging mto his hips while she murmured the word that had broken his restraint into a million pieces. "You mean it?"

  "We've slept together before." She moistened her lips nervously. "You need the rest."

  The flame that had leaped fitfully in his eyes dis­appeared suddenly. "I appreciate your concern, but the situation is a little different now."

  Zilah glanced around the luxurious room, with its gleaming mosaic-tiled floors covered with richly patterned area rugs. "Externally, perhaps." Her eyes met his uncertainly. "But we're the same people we were last night in that cave, aren't we?"

  He stood up. "We're still the same people." He smiled gently. "Clancy said that danger had a way of bringing two people close in a hurry. I think he's right. I couldn't feel closer to you, old friend."

  Oldjriend. Last night when he had murmured that phrase in her ear it had brought her only warm contentment. Now, for some reason, it made her feel a little uneasy. She was probably just being stupidly imaginative to think there was an odd tension in Daniel's attitude. "I feel very close to you too, Daniel," she said softly. "And very grateful."

  His eyes, which had been carefully guarded, sud­denly flared to life. "I thought we'd already discussed how I regard gratitude. You can save that for Brad­ford. I'll have none of it." Then, when he saw the star­tled confusion in her expression, he took a deep breath and tried to smile reassuringly. "Sorry. You should know by now what a rough bastard I am. Maybe you're right about my being tired. Forget it.

  Okay?"

  "Okay," she said, still puzzled.

  "That's my girl." He tousled her hair affection­ately. "You go back to sleep. I promise I'll work at being halfway civilized the next time I see you."

  "Don't work too hard. I like you pretty well just the way you are." Her eyes were wide and uncertain, looking up at him. "You will be here when I wake up, won't you?" She smiled shakily. "I mean, you don't

  have any other terrorists to catch or planes to blow up or anything?"

  "I'll be here." He kept his tone deliberately off­hand. "I thought I'd stick around until you were well and then escort you to Zalandan myself. After all, you're still technically my responsibility. I always like to tie up all the loose ends on any mission I undertake."

  She felt a little ripple of pain mixing with the joy that news brought her. Responsibility. She was sure he hadn't meant to hurt her. He couldn't know just how bone-weary she was of being a responsibility to everyone. She smiled with an effort. "That sounds like fun. It will be interesting to see what kind of pyro­technics you can instigate on a more conventional journey."

  He bent forward and brushed a fairy-light kiss on her forehead. "I'll try to see what I can do to keep you amused." He straightened and reached for the switch on the lamp. He suddenly hesitated. "Would you rather I left the light on?"

  "Why should I?" she asked curiously. "I'm not a child afraid of the dark."

  "No, of course you're not. I guess I wasn't think­ing straight." The light flicked off, plunging the room into darkness. "Good night, Zilah."

  "Good night, Daniel." She felt bereft as she watched his massive shadow stride toward the door on the far side of the room.

  "Daniel?"

  He paused as he opened the door. The dim light from the hall haloed his auburn head with flame, but left the rest of him in silhouette. "Yes?"

  "I have one more question. Who undressed me?"

  There was a short silence before he answered. "I did. I undressed you and bathed you myself. Philip

  has no women servants. I thought you'd rather have me do it than a stranger."

  She felt a sultry tingle of awareness sweep through her. Good heavens, she was supposed to be ill and yet even the thought of Daniel's hands and eyes on her naked body sent a wrenching stab of desire for him through her. From frigidity to nym­phomania in one experience, she thought ruefully. No, not nymphomania. It was only Daniel that she wanted. Only Daniel. "You were right," she said huskily. "Thankyou."

  "You're welcome." He hesitated, and when he spoke again the words came jerkily. "You're a very beautiful woman, Zilah. Avery special woman. I hope ..." His words trailed off. "Good night." The door closed softly behind him.

  There was a tiny frown creasing Zilah's forehead as she turned on her side and settled her cheek on the satin pillow. Her uneasiness was growing by the minute. Why had Daniel been so reserved, almost cool with her? It couldn't have been entirely her imag­ination. In the brief time they had known each other she had learned to read him too well to mistake the signs of his withdrawal.

  Perhaps he was having second thoughts about the so-called obsession he had formed for her. The thought sent a chill of depression through her and she drew the sheet up to her chin with a little shiver. Well, what if he had? He was probably right to be wary of a relationship that had started so precipitously and had exploded with such wild
force. Perhaps he had satisfied his desire for her and no longer wanted her in that way anymore. What did she know about how long it took for men to tire of women? She should be equally sensible and offer Daniel the platonic friendship he appeared to want now. She knew that friendship lasted. If that was what he

  wanted. Oh, she just didn't know. Last night every­thing had seemed so beautifully certain and now she was miserably unsure.

  Then she determinedly cleared her mind of doubts and closed her eyes. The man was completely exhausted. She was foolish to try to analyze his actions when she couldn't possibly expect him to behave in a normal manner. For that matter, how did she know what his normal behavior was? They still had to get to know the more obscure facets of each other's personalities. All that would come in time. She wasn't going to lose the precious gift Daniel had given her. Not now that she knew what they could have together. It would hurt too much. She didn't think she would be able to stand it.

  What was she thinking? Of course she would be able to stand it. She was strong. She could stand any­thing. She closed her eyes and tried to let the serenity of that knowledge flow into her. It surrounded her, whirling doubts and fear away, but beneath it was a barely discernible chorus that sang her a wistful siren's song.

  I will he strong. I will survive. But, please, just this one time, let me not have to use that strength. Let me have Daniel. Please. Let me have Daniel.

  Five

  Turquoise eyes gazed down at her. Zilah opened her own eyes with a distinct sense of deja vu as she looked up in drowsy bewilderment into the face of the man standing by her bed.

  "I'm Philip El Kabbar, Miss Dabala. I apologize for barging in on you so unceremoniously. I wished to welcome you to my home, and assure you that if there's anything you need or want, you have only to ask." His smile was charming. "I would have waited, but I had to leave early to go to the irrigation project and I wanted to be sure to see you before I left. I hope you will forgive me?"

  There wouldn't be many women who would fail to forgive Philip El Kabbar almost any transgression. Zilah thought as she sat up in bed, tucking the satin sheet firmly beneath her arms. He was one of the most fantastically attractive men she had ever seen. He was in his early thirties, she concluded, with raven-dark hair and skin bronzed to a dark gold,