href="#ulink_22c922d4-2a94-5901-bfc8-7db7caba4edc">CHAPTER NINE
SWOOPING DOWN THEN back up and around on the winding road that had been cut through sheer rock cliffs, the powerful rented sedan effortlessly handled the mountain curves Gabby was sure her own little car would have struggled with mightily. With any other driver at the wheel, she might have been a little nervous at the speed with which he was taking the sweeping turns, but Rafael’s supreme confidence was evident, just like it was at work. Or anywhere else, for that matter.
She couldn’t help but wonder if her coming along on this work trip had been James’s idea or Rafael’s. Somehow, she had a feeling it was the prince wielding his powers of persuasion, which was a nice way to say he was manipulative. But how could she be sorry about that?
She glanced at the man and his gorgeous profile, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Spectacular, isn’t it, Gabriella?”
“Yes.” And she wasn’t about to tell him she was thinking of his looks as well as the scenery. “But I’m surprised you wanted to take the time to drive from the airport, instead of using a helicopter. I thought the Sheikh was worried to death.”
“The chopper would only cut about twenty minutes off the trip. And I talked to both the Sheikh and his wife on the phone. Between you and me, I’m almost positive this is false labor, and maybe not even that. She’s taking every twinge or odd feeling as something catastrophic. But of course we need to confirm that, which is why we’re here.”
Gabby stared out the window, suddenly not seeing the craggy rock cliffs and tumbling river below. She was remembering the odd twinges. Peculiar, off sensations that she too had assumed were nothing, focusing on her patient instead. A stupid error in judgment that had ended up being catastrophic indeed. “I hope we’re seeing her as soon as we get there. Just in case.”
“Don’t worry. We are.”
He must have sensed something in her response, because his voice had changed from pleased at enjoying their drive to more serious.
“If you think it’s unlikely to be labor, why did you want me to come?”
“I don’t know this man, and some sheikhs can be difficult to deal with. Traditional attitudes being what they are, it can be helpful to have a woman who’s an experienced midwife helping care for his wife.”
“I guess I can see that. How often has Dr. Jet-Setting OB run into problems with that?”
“A few times. When I do, I put on a wig and a dress. Solves everything.”
He flashed her a quick grin, and Gabby laughed at that amusing and absurd vision. As though putting on those items would in any way disguise the potent masculinity that exuded from the man.
The road flattened and soon the wilderness gave way to houses and large apartment buildings alongside the highway, then the town of Vail itself came into view. Rafael swung the car through a roundabout and on into the village, where cobbled walks and charming buildings lined the streets, many designed to look like they belonged in an old Swiss town.
“Like I said, we’ll stop at the hospital first, then check into the hotel.”
Unable to shake the unease she felt about the pregnant woman’s condition, Gabby was just about to ask how far it was to the hospital when she saw signs for it and they swung into the parking lot. “Wow, I’m surprised the hospital is so close to the main town. And how did you know where it was?”
“I’ve been here a few times. It’s a good gig to combine skiing with working.”
“I’d think you’d do that in Switzerland and Austria.”
“There, too. Among other places. Like I said, it’s a good gig.” That grin again, then he was out of the car and coming over to her side to open the door, reaching for her hand.
“You don’t have to open my door, you know. I’m an open-my-own-door kind of woman.”
“Sorry if it bothers you. But as you noted the first day we met, I do as I please. And it pleases me to be a gentleman.”
The words held a tinge of that arrogance that was just part of him, but his eyes were warm and sincere. Even as she rolled her eyes a little, she had to laugh. “I guess it’s impossible for a prince to not believe he can do as he pleases. And since you haven’t asked me to kiss your ring, I guess I’ll indulge you by letting you assist me out of the car.”
“The only reason I haven’t asked you to kiss my ring is because I don’t wear one. But I would like you to kiss something else.” And with that, he leaned into the car and pressed his mouth to hers.
For a split second she stared into half-closed moss-green eyes before her own flickered shut. And just like that her heart began to pump in slow thuds as she savored the taste of him in her mouth, as she breathed in his scent, letting herself slowly sink into the kiss until he broke the delicious contact and pulled back.
The eyes staring at her this time had darkened, and it seemed his chest rose and fell in several deep breaths before his lip quirked at one corner. “Air’s thin up here, isn’t it? Let’s go.”
He held out his hand, and she didn’t say a word as she slipped hers into it. Then kept it there as they walked into the hospital, and she had the same bad-good feeling she’d had when James had first told her she needed to come on this trip.
She’d never get truly involved with a man again. Never fully trust that kind of relationship. But if she had to briefly fall off that wagon, wasn’t Rafael the perfect man to do it with? Okay, yes, she already had, figuring it would be just that one time. But she was beginning to see that, as long as he was still working at the clinic, there was no way she could resist letting their professional time together turn personal.
She wanted him. Again. And it looked like he wanted her the exact same way.
Her lips hadn’t stopped tingling, and she willed herself to look normal as they stopped at the front desk to get directions to the seventh floor. Still holding her hand, he led her to the elevator. “I didn’t hear what the room number was.”
“That’s because there’s no need to know it. They’ve paid big money to basically rent out the whole floor.”
“The whole floor?”
“Not uncommon. The Sheikh wants privacy and discretion. He’ll likely have flown in his own staff to prepare food for everyone and to tend to his wife. Possibly brought comfortable furnishings for their stay here. I had one patient in Morocco whose family brought twelve place settings of fine china from their palace to the hospital.”
“Wow.” That was about the only thought she could conjure, though she wasn’t sure if it was because she was so amazed or because her brain could only focus on one thing at a time, and at that moment it was still thinking about his lips and the feel of his hand wrapped around hers. About the rest of their stay here together and where it all might lead.
Rafael punched the elevator button and the doors closed. Alone in the enclosed space, their recent kiss sizzled in the air between them, so hot she could practically feel it burning her skin. And from the slight flare to his nostrils, the way his skin seemed to tighten over his cheekbones he felt every bit as much heat as she did.
The
