that went on forever until you could see the curve of the earth. Natalie would enjoy ranch life. From the way she handled those threatening notes, he knew she was tough and brave—not a sissy.
She was a city gal with a highly competitive nature. She didn’t like to be second best, and she wasn’t shy about stating her opinions. If she came to his ranch, she’d likely be running the damn place within a week.
When Quint turned away from the painting, he glimpsed a face—shaggy hair and a Vandyke beard. It was the guy from the street, but he wasn’t wearing his black windbreaker. Was he following? Was his presence a coincidence?
The cell phone inside Natalie’s purse rang out, and she quickly grabbed it. “Sorry,” she whispered. “I hate to interrupt anyone’s appreciation of these paintings.”
“Don’t worry on my account.”
She stepped into the foyer and conferred in hushed tones. After she disconnected the call, she returned to him. “We have to leave. Prince Zahir arrived a week early. He’s at Quantum.”
Chapter Three
The unexpected arrival of Zahir Haji Haleem sparked a warning inside Quint’s head, and he tried to recall the details from this morning’s Confidential briefing when they discussed Middle Eastern politics. He remembered that Zahir—identical twin brother of Javid—was estranged from his family in Anbar but was still referred to by his hereditary title of Prince of Anbar. He had a reputation as a playboy. Zahir expected to be named leader of Nurul. What else? There was a connection between Prince Zahir and Sheik Khalaf of Imad. In fact, Zahir was planning to marry Khalaf’s daughter so he could be sure of taking over the throne of Nurul.
As their taxi neared the Quantum Building, Quint thought it might be useful to have a backup expert at this meeting with Zahir. “Say, Natalie, don’t you think Whitney would get a kick out of meeting a real prince? Maybe we should call her.”
“Absolutely not.” Natalie was all business. She’d spent the whole time in the cab on her cell phone, making arrangements with her staff. “The fewer people at this meeting, the better. It’s important to avoid any publicity. Until the Quantum board of directors decides our position regarding oil purchases from Nurul, we can’t be placed in a position where reporters would ask those questions.”
“Why not tell the media the truth?”
“Protocol.” She dug into her purse and pulled out a tiny gold mirror and lipstick. “Zahir is, in title, a prince. As such, we should treat him with a certain deference. At the same time, we need to avoid any substantive discussion of policy.”
“You’re the expert,” he said. “Why do you think Prince Zahir showed up early?”
“My guess? He wants to force our hand, to make Quantum commit to using Nurul as a supplier before he’s even on the throne. His early arrival throws us off guard.”
“An ambush,” Quint said.
“Exactly.”
As she outlined her lips with a soft cranberry color, he watched the purely feminine procedure with fascination. Her pretty mouth pouted then smiled, showing pearly white teeth. Damn, she was a lovely little thing. He wanted to kiss that war paint off her lips, to taste her womanly sweetness. His pulse speeded up. He felt the stirring of desire, numbing all logical thought, and he told himself to look away from her. But his eyes refused to obey. It was going to be a struggle to keep his brain above his belt buckle.
When the taxi pulled up at the curb, she suggested, “I’m going to be awfully busy for the next few hours. Maybe you should return to your hotel, and we can make plans for tomorrow.”
No way. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll just tag along. You think the prince is going to wear his native costume? Long flowing robes and a scimitar?”
“Doubtful. From research, I know he prefers western dress.” She hopped out of the cab. “Not western like you, of course.”
Quint adjusted the bolo tie at his throat. “Of course not.”
Inside the Quantum Building, they took the elevator to the thirty-first floor and went down the hall to her father’s office. Though this was nearly the end of a long day, Natalie’s attitude was crisp and alert. She’d been given a public relations challenge and had risen to it. By contrast, Quint felt ill-prepared. Still thinking about her cranberry lips, he could barely remember his own name, much less recall the pertinent data about Zahir…until he shook hands with the handsome prince in his classy-looking tailored suit and silk necktie.
When Quint looked into the dark opaque eyes of Zahir, he remembered. Zahir was dangerous. He’d been trained as a freedom fighter in a regime where cruelty was sometimes prized as much as courage.
Quint’s instincts warned him to shoot this rattlesnake before it had a chance to strike, but he kept himself in control. “Pleased to meet you.”
Zahir waited a few seconds before responding, a subtle tactic to make the other person uncomfortable. But Quint didn’t fidget or rush to break their handshake. He wasn’t intimidated by Zahir.
“I know you,” Zahir said, echoing the words of his brother when he first met Quint. Déjà sheik. This was getting a little spooky.
Quint played his part by saying, “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“I know your reputation as a wildcat oil surveyor. You are, I suppose, my competition.”
In more ways than one. Quint was up-front, honest and direct. He would always try to do the right thing. Zahir, he reckoned, was out for Zahir.
If Quint hadn’t been undercover, he would’ve pushed for more information about links to Imad and a true definition of “freedom fighter.” Did Zahir’s secret occupation include the slaughter of helpless women and children? Was he also a secret terrorist? And, by the way, what did he know about a bomb in Reykjavik?
But this wasn’t the time to pick a fight. Quint’s job meant blending inoffensively into the woodwork. He released Zahir’s hand and slapped a friendly grin on his face. “Heck, I’m not much competition for anybody in the oil business. Right now, I concentrate on ranching. I like to keep my butt in the saddle from dawn till dusk.”
“What brings you to Chicago?”
Same thing that brought you. “Just a little vacation. I’ve been imposing on the public relations lady here at Quantum to show me around.”
“Natalie,” Zahir said.
Quint didn’t like the way the syllables of her name rolled around in Zahir’s mouth. “That’s right. Natalie Van Buren.”
“Daughter of the CEO.” Zahir’s glance slithered across the room toward Natalie, who was chatting with her father and another Quantum employee. “A very pretty woman.”
Quint’s muscles tensed. “Looks to me like you’ve got your own entourage.”
Zahir was accompanied by three attractive ladies and a bland guy who looked like a classic hanger-on.
“It’s the title,” Zahir confided proudly. “All women dream of being with a prince, and I
