Mistress Of The Sheikh

“What for?”

“I just told you. For the camera you destroyed.”

“Ah. That.”

“Yes. Yes, ‘Ah, that.’ You owe me six hundred and—”

Nick reached for the phone. “Abdul?” he said, never taking his eyes from her, “come to my rooms, please. Yes, now.” He put the telephone down, leaned back against the wall and tucked his hands into his trouser pockets. “Your escort is on the way, Miss Benning. Abdul will escort you down to the curb where the trash is usually left.”

Enough was enough. Amanda’s composure dissolved in a burst of temper. She gave a shriek and flew at him, but Nick caught her shoulders, held her at arm’s length.

“You rat,” she said, her breath hitching. “You—you skunk! You horrible, hideous savage—”

“What did you call me?”

“You heard me. You’re a skunk. A rat. A—”

“A savage.” He swung her around, pinned her to the wall. The memory, so long repressed, burst free. “Damn you,” he growled. “You’re Dawn’s roommate.”

“Her immoral, American roommate,” Amanda said, and showed her teeth. “How brilliant of you to have finally figured it out. But then, I never expected a baboon to have much of a brain.”

The door swung open. Dawn al Rashid stepped into the room. She stared at her shirtless brother, her red-faced best friend, and swallowed hard.

“Isn’t that nice?” she said carefully. “I see that you two have already met.”

CHAPTER FOUR

AMANDA stared at Dawn. Dawn stared back.

“Dawn,” Amanda said, “thank God you’re here! Your brother—”

“Did you invite this woman into my home?” Nick’s icy words overrode Amanda’s. He took a step toward his sister and Dawn took a quick step back. “I want an answer.”

“You’ll get one if you give me a min—”

“Did you invite her?”

“Don’t browbeat your sister,” Amanda said furiously. “I already told you that she asked me to come here tonight.”

“I will do whatever I please with my sister.” Nick swung toward Amanda. His face was white with anger. “You take me for a fool at your own risk.”

“Only a fool would imagine I’d lie my way into your home. I know it may come as a shock to you, Sheikh Rashid, but I don’t give a flying fig about seeing how a despot lives.”

“Amanda,” Dawn muttered, “take it easy.”

“Don’t tell me to take it easy!” Amanda glared at the sheikh’s sister. “And where have you been? Just go take a look at my brother’s rooms and I’ll meet you there, you said.”

“I know. And I’m sorry. I tore my panty hose, and—”

“It’s true, then. You not only invited this person into my home, you told her she was free to invade my private rooms.”

“Nick,” Dawn said, “you don’t understand.”

“No,” the sheikh snapped, “I don’t. That my own sister would think I would welcome into my presence the very woman who corrupted her—”

“How dare you say such things?” Amanda stepped in front of Nick. “I never corrupted anyone. I came here as a favor to your sister, to do a job I really didn’t want to do because I already knew what you were like, that you were a horrible man with a swollen ego.”

Her eyes flashed. This was pointless and she knew it. Her rage was almost palpable. She yearned to slap that insufferably smug look from Nicholas al Rashid’s face, but he’d never let her get away with it. Instead, she moved around him.

“I’m out of here. Dawn, if your brother, the high-muck-amuck of the universe, lets you use the phone, give me a call tomorrow. Otherwise—”

Nick’s hand closed on her arm. “You will go nowhere,” he growled, “until I have answers to my questions.”

“Dammit,” Amanda said, gritting her teeth and struggling against his grasp, “let go of me!”

“When I’m good and ready.”

“You have no right—”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Nick and Amanda looked at Dawn. She was staring at the two of them as if she’d never seen them before. “What in hell is going on here?”

“Don’t curse,” Nick said sharply.

“Then don’t treat me like an imbecile.” Dawn slapped her hands on her hips and glared. “Yes, I invited Amanda here tonight.”

“As my ‘gift’,” Nick said, his mouth twisting.

“That’s right. I wanted to give you something special for your birthday.”

“Did you really think I’d find it appealing to have you provide a woman for my entertainment?”

“Holy hell,” Amanda snarled, “I was not provided for your entertainment! And don’t bother telling me not to curse, Your Dictatorship, because I don’t have to take orders from you.”

“I can’t imagine what my sister was thinking when she made these arrangements.”