It is my prerogative to not answer any question.’
Well, that was straight out. She was on Fadia’s side until the young mum definitely decided what she wanted to do. She stood up and he did also. ‘I see. Thank you.’ Her voice was dry. ‘And thank you for seeing me.’
He studied her. Intently. And she felt he could see not just her but right through her. Into her brain. Hopefully not through her clothes. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling. ‘I found our conversation to have been most illuminating.
‘Yes.’ Well, she had learned a little. ‘Some of it was.’
‘Good day, Miss Carmen.’ He bowed and a small smile teased at the side of his mouth. The air in the room seemed suddenly more heavily scented, the music dimmed, and his eyes burned into hers. She knew he was thinking of that moment in the lift. She was too. She could feel the flush in her skin, her neck warmed, and yet she couldn’t look away. His perusal drifted down and swept the full length of her. And it was as if he’d trailed a feather down her skin. She shivered and his eyes darkened even more.
She needed to get away. ‘Good day, Prince Zafar.’
‘My word, it is, Miss Carmen.’
CHAPTER THREE
ZAFAR accompanied her to the door and watched her walk away up the corridor. Actually, he couldn’t take his eyes off her, even toyed with the idea of calling her back until he realised what he was doing.
Her shapely legs would show to advantage in traditional dress and her formless tunic still did not disguise the lushness of her body. He could quite clearly remember his view from yesterday and had even recognised the scent of her skin next to his today.
Unexpected recognition when he barely remembered any woman since his wife had been killed.
The memory saddened him and pulled his mind away from Fadia’s midwife.
Poor, sweet Adele. Theirs had been an arranged marriage, she younger than him, eager to please and expecting her husband to keep her safe. Her broken-hearted family had entrusted him with their precious daughter and he’d failed. The burden of that guilt still weighed heavily on him, the picture of her frightened eyes before the plane crashed haunted him in his sleep.
He hadn’t looked at another woman since. Had lost himself in his work until recalled to royal duty.
Now his task was to ensure Fadia and her sons were safe. Nothing else. But he feared it would not be easy. That was his real problem. He feared. Feared he would not be able to stop something terrible happening. Feared he’d be unable to save Fadia and her sons like he had been unable to save his own family.
Prior to two years ago he’s been afraid of nothing. Evil had arrived and until it was conquered he would not be distracted.
His eyes strayed to the empty corridor. Perhaps the midwife could help, though. And so his concentration returned to Carmen as he turned thoughtfully back into his suite. She had braved the lion in his own den. He admired her courage. And she amused him with her determination not to be cowed by his prestige. But she’d lied about Tom.
So the dog might be here in the hotel. He would have Yusuf investigate. And delve into the delightful Miss Carmen’s past too. Perhaps she could help his cousin more than they knew, and such information would be useful.
He needed Fadia and the twins well enough to travel as soon as possible. He would feel better when he had them back in Zandorro.
Zafar strode across the room and out the doors onto the balcony, punished himself with the rise of gall in his throat from that height, forced himself to grip the rail and glance down. His gut rolled and he stepped back as he drew breath.
His mind roamed while he stared out over the rolling sea. If he cut off the bustling town below, the ocean seemed not dissimilar to the rolling dunes of his desert, and he could feel a lightening of his mood that normally only came when he retreated to solitude.
A whimsical thought intruded where none normally went. He wondered what Miss Carmen would think of the desert or the ways of a desert prince. It was an unexpected but intriguing scenario.
Carmen clanged the door behind her. Her favourite place. The fire escape. He’d burnt her again. It was criminal to be that handsome and mesmerising. But at least she’d found out Fadia was just a pawn on his gold-embossed chess set and she, Carmen O’Shannessy, didn’t like the idea. Or him. If Fadia needed an ally, Carmen was her girl.
It brought back too many unpleasant memories. The way Carl had turned, as early as their honeymoon, swearing at her, keeping her awake with tirades when she’d needed to sleep, wearing her down, demeaning her after a year of desolation until she’d finally accepted the enormity of her mistake and run away. Had moved jobs, states, lost friends until finally she rebuilt her life.
Domineering men did not have a place in her life. She straightened off the door and began her descent. Unfortunately, she could picture this man’s wicked smile so easily and the warmth she’d felt.
No. No trust, especially for men who could cool and heat her body with just a glance. So why did she want to run back and relive the sensation? How did that work?
When Carmen opened the door on the sixth floor, of course her friend the guard was still there. He rose from his chair when she appeared and nodded coldly as she walked past him towards her own room at the end of the corridor.
Made a good little enemy there, she thought as she stared past him to the rooms of mums and babies that looked out over the beach. When she reached the end of the corridor the midwife’s room welcomed her with a sanctuary, which she couldn’t help embracing, from his beady eyes.
So what if her room only held spare supplies? At least she could shut the door—which she did firmly—and lean back against it.
Unfortunately, the barrier didn’t stop the thoughts of Zafar that followed. She couldn’t remember ever being this unsettled over a man and that loss of control brought unpleasant reminders of her marriage.
Carmen pushed herself off the door and straightened the empty baby cots before energetically restocking the linen from the trolley into her shelves. Still needing distraction, she wiped over the bath equipment and scales she used to weigh the babies.
‘Done. Hmm.’ She rested her hand on the computer at the desk, but she didn’t see any of it. She could see Prince Zafar, though, in her mind’s eye, and recalled the way he made her feel.
On Tuesday, refreshed after a full night’s sleep, Carmen welcomed the new mothers recently arrived from their birth at the nearby hospital. When she’d finally made it to her room the phone shrilled with neglect.
‘Midwife. Can I help you?’
‘Carmen? It’s Fadia. I’ve been trying to reach you for ages. There’s a new pink rash on Harrison that’s a bit pimply. Can you come to my room when you get a minute, please?’
‘Sure. Everything else okay?’ No word from Tom, she hoped.
‘The boys and I are fine otherwise, if that’s what you mean.’
Carmen relaxed. ‘Is it okay if I check on one of my other mothers first?’
‘Oh?’
