One Hot Desert Night Page 4

  With that, he headed to the designated quarters without glancing back. Once there, he rapped twice on the wooden surface and waited. He had almost given up when the door creaked open to reveal his disheveled cousin, also dressed in a robe. “Bloody hell, Rayad,” Adan muttered. “I hope you tell me we’ve gone to war, the only excuse I will accept for you showing up here in the middle of the night.”

  “There is no war, but I must speak to your wife.”

  “My wife is not presentable at the moment, and why would you need to speak to her?”

  “I need to inquire about her sister.”

  Adan narrowed his eyes. “If you are entertaining thoughts of garnering permission to seduce Sunny, discard them now. She does not need to have you hounding her under the circumstances.”

  Perhaps he could bypass Piper after all. “Which circumstances would those be?”

  “She was thrown over by some bastard and has suffered a severe broken heart. Those were my wife’s exact words.”

  Siblings had been known to withhold truths from one another before, as it had been often with his cousins Adan and Zain. Or perhaps in this matter a wife was withholding information from her spouse. “And you are certain Piper is not concealing other details pertaining to her sister?”

  He presented a stern scowl. “I have no reason not to believe what she told me. Now what is this all about?”

  “I 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, an
d 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 a black, slinky dress.

  The plunging neckline would never work, not when she needed to hide the reminders of her recent torment. “Too much bling, and you still didn’t answer my question.”

  Piper tightened the band securing her dark auburn hair into a low ponytail before smoothing a palm down her flowing peach-colored sundress. “It’s no big deal, really. Just a simple state dinner Madison arranged several months ago. A few dignitaries hoping to hold court with the king. Some schmoozing. That kind of thing.”

  The kind of thing that made her head hurt. “Am I required to attend?”

  “No, but you’ll miss a lot of great food.” Piper withdrew another dress and held it up. “What about this one?”

  She eyed the satin evening gown that reminded her of a shiny hothouse tomato. “You know I look horrible in red, and I’ve had fancy food before. Just bring me a take-out box after you’re finished schmoozing. Or I’ll scrounge around in the kitchen after the festivities if I get hungry.”

  “You can come to the banquet and leave early if you’d like.” Piper brought out the final evening wear selection. “I’m sure Rayad wouldn’t mind seeing you in this one.”

  “That’s perfect.” Sunny was caught off guard by the verbal seal of approval that spilled out of her mouth without thought. One mention of the mysterious sheikh, and she was ready to party. What in the heck was wrong with her? “I meant it would work if I decide to go, and it really is immaterial to me whether Rayad is there or not.”

  Her sister sighed like she’d lost her best gal pal. “Stop being so stubborn, Sunny. You need to get out and socialize a while. Meet new people. Get to know those you’ve already met, better.”

  She needed to stay in and lick her wounds. “Believe me, I had enough socializing to last a lifetime in my youth. I swore at our debutante ball I’d never put on another ball gown again.”

  Piper chuckled. “I remember how much you hated being a deb.”

  “And I remember how much you loved the attention, although I don’t know why. That has to be the most antiquated tradition in the history of womankind.”

  Her sister’s blue eyes sparkled with amusement. “It was worth it seeing you in that hoop skirt. Now promise you’ll attend tonight or I’ll post pictures of that on the web.”

  Sunny snatched the gown from Piper’s clutches. “Fine. I’ll put on the darn dress and parade around for fifteen minutes, thirty tops.”

  Piper frowned. “Funny, I thought this royal blue one would be your least favorite. And I know how much you detest a high neck.”

  Not when she had an obvious scar to hide. She didn’t dare let her sister see the wound for fear she would have to explain, and she wasn’t prepared to reveal the details yet, if ever. “I like the overall cut of the dress. Sleeveless, satin and simple, yet elegant.”

  “And also loose fitting,” Piper said. “You won’t be able to show off your figure that I’ve envied since we were teenagers.”

  She didn’t care one whit how it looked on her. Much. She admittedly yearned to catch a glimpse of Rayad, and maybe continue her interview. “It’s fine, Piper, and I’ve envied your curves for years. And that you got the blue eyes and I got stuck with green. Besides, I’m sure no one will notice me at all.”

  Piper barked out a laugh. “Sure, Sunny. Just keep telling yourself that. I’m fairly certain I know at least one man who’ll be staring at you all evening, just like he did at dinner last night.”

  Darn if her sister hadn’t noticed. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

  “Rayad. He eyed you like you were dessert.”

  “He did not.”

  “Did so.”

  Sunny was simply too sleep-deprived to get into this now. “Go take care of your son.”

  “Aren’t you going to try it on?” Piper asked, followed by her patent scowl.

  Only after she was assured she had complete privacy. “I need to shower first, but I’m positive it will fit.”

  “We have yet to discuss your shoes.”

  Obviously her twin was intent on playing dress-up. “I have shoes.”

  “Heels?”

  “What does it matter? The gown is floor-length so no one will see my feet anyway. And I promise not to wear sneakers or hiking boots.”

  “Or you could wear these.” Piper reached into the pocket of one garment bag to retrieve a pair of silver sandals with three-inch heels. “The perfect finishing touch, and they’ll give you a little height, although at five-six you really don’t need that.”

  Her sister’s long-time height envy was now showing. Sunny snatched the platform torture shoes and set them at the foot of the bed. “Great. I’m all set. Now if you don’t mind, I need to bathe.”

  Piper gathered the remaining dresses into her arms and sighed. “If you’re hungry, the chef has some lunch for you in the kitchen. Wear a little extra makeup tonight, and if you need your hair done, Kira is a master.”

  She’d only briefly met the palace staffer and frankly didn’t trust anyone with her hair. “I can handle my hair, so if you’re done giving me orders, you can run along now.”

  Piper backed toward the door, grinning. “You are so going to totally blow Rayad away.”

  Her sister quickly left the room before Sunny could insist she didn’t need to impress anyone, let alone a man who was virtually a stranger. She did need to get on with the day and ignore thoughts of that man that had played on her mind much of last night.

  After making the bed, she made quick work of her routine and emerged from the shower feeling somewhat more human. Then she caught sight of the raised horizontal welt right above her collarbone and cringed. They’d told her she could eventually have a plastic surgeon repair it, but in time she hoped to be brave enough to wear it as a badge of honor. A reminder that life could end on a moment’s notice with one flick of a switchblade.

  Pushing the recollections aside, she dressed in a light blue T-shirt that concealed the evidence, put on a pair of white cotton shorts and slipped her feet into plain beige flip-flops. Next step—finding food.

  After twisting her damp hair into a knot at her nape, Sunny walked out the door and strode down the lengthy corridor, all the while considering the sinfully sexy sheikh...until she realized she had no idea where she was going when she hit a dead end in the hallway. She could turn right or left, and decided on right, only to discover Rayad heading her way, as if she’d somehow conjured him up.

  He continued to walk as he focused on a document in his hand, giving her a prime opportunity to covertly check him out. From the confident gait to the broad chest and all points up and down, he would be the kind of man worthy of a magical love spell. The kind of man who drew attention the moment he entered the room, or a confusing corridor in this instance. Then she remembered how she looked at the moment—wet-headed and bare-faced—and heat flowed over her cheeks, most likely leaving crimson in its wake.

  Who cared if she wasn’t dressed like a prom queen? So w
hat if her appearance was barely fit for public viewing? It truly didn’t matter what he thought. She didn’t give a rat’s patoot if he caught sight of her, turned and ran away.

  Yet when he looked up and met her gaze, he continued to move toward her, a hint of a smile curling the corners of his sexy mouth. As the space disappeared between them, he stopped and tucked the papers under one arm. “Good afternoon, Sunny.”

  The sound of her name on his lips made her think about warm desert breezes, the whisper of his voice in her ear, making love at midnight beneath the stars...

  Heaven help her, she had died and gone to Southern belle hell, where romantic ideals were as common as mint juleps.

  She managed to clear her throat, but she couldn’t quite clear her mind of the silly notion that he would ride in and save the day, complete with a sword and horse. “Good afternoon to you, too, Rayad. And before you ask, yes, I’m lost. Which way to the kitchen?”

  He pointed behind him. “Maintain your current course and take a left immediately before the staircase, then follow the scent.”

  The only scent she discerned at the moment was him. An earthy, exotic scent that gave the flower the night before a run for its money. “I take it you’ve already had lunch.”

  “Yes, and breakfast several hours ago.”

  He probably thought she was an absolute slug. “I slept in.”

  “Apparently, yet this is a good thing. Did you rest well?”

  As well as anyone plagued by visions of masked villains. “Fairly well. And you?”

  “Not as much rest as I perhaps should, but I require little sleep.”

  “Oh.” Now what? Ask him about his reading material? What he had planned for the day? Could she come along for the ride? Ride as in... “I guess I’ll go grab something to eat.”

  No sooner than she’d said it when a silver-haired, golden-skinned gentleman dressed in white muslin came toward them at a fast clip, a tray balanced in one hand. Sunny stepped to one side to get out of his way, but he paused and afforded her a quick glance before addressing Rayad. She knew a few Arabic words, but the exchange was spoken so fast, none of it made much sense. Then Rayad seemingly barked out an order before pointing down the hall.