Diamond in the Desert

Which was exactly what she had hoped for—

Was it?

Of course it was, but she wasn’t going to pretend it didn’t sting. Everyone had their pride, and everyone wanted to feel special—

Hard luck for her, she thought ruefully.

‘So, how far exactly is it to the mine?’ he said. ‘How long will it take by road?’

‘Depending on the weather?’ She turned the key in the lock. ‘I’d say around ten minutes.’

‘Is there any chance we can take a look around today, in that case?’ Emir asked as he held the door for her.

He was in more of a hurry than she’d thought. Well, that was fine with her. She could accommodate a fast turnaround. ‘The mine is a twenty-four-hour concern. We can visit as soon as you’re ready.’

‘Then I’d like to freshen up and go see it right away—if that’s okay with you?’

‘That’s fine with me.’ She had to stop herself laughing at the thought that she had never met anyone quite so much like her before.

As she used to be, Britt amended, before Emir came into her life. Taking charge of her bag, she hoisted it onto her shoulders. ‘Welcome,’ she said, walking into the cabin.

‘This is nice,’ Emir commented as he gazed around.

He made everything seem small, she thought, but in a good way. The cabin had been built by a big man for big men, yet could be described as cosy. On a modest scale, it still reflected the personality of the man who had built it and who had founded the Skavanga dynasty. With nothing but his determination, Britt’s great-grandfather had practically clawed the first minerals out of the ground with his bare hands, and with makeshift tools that other prospectors had thrown away. There was nothing to be ashamed of here in the cabin. It was only possible to feel proud.

‘What?’ Emir said when he caught her staring at him.

‘You’re the only man apart from my brother who makes me feel small,’ she said, managing not to make it sound like a compliment.

‘I take it you’re talking about your brother, Tyr?’

‘My long-lost brother, Tyr,’ she admitted with a shrug.

‘I can assure you the very last thing on my mind is to make you feel small.’

‘You don’t—well, not in the way you mean. How tall are you, anyway?’

‘Tall enough.’

She could vouch for that. And was that a glint of humour in Emir’s eyes? Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, after all. Maybe bringing him to the cabin wasn’t the worst idea she’d ever had. Maybe they could actually do business with each other and have fun.

And then say goodbye?

Why not?

‘Are you going to show me to my room?’ Emir prompted, glancing towards the wooden staircase.

‘Yes, of course.‘

Ditching her bag, she mounted the wooden stairs ahead of him, showing Emir into a comfortable double bedroom with a bathroom attached. ‘You’ll sleep in here,’ she said. ‘There are plenty of towels in the bathroom, and endless hot water, so don’t stint yourself—and just give me a shout if you need anything more.’

‘This is excellent,’ he called downstairs to her. ‘Thank you for putting me up.’

‘As an alternative to having you camp down the mine?’ She laughed. ‘Of course, there are bunkhouses you could use—’

‘I’m fine here.’

And looking forward to tasting some genuine Nordic hospitality, she hoped, tongue in cheek, as she glanced out of the window at the snow-clad scene.

‘Britt—’

‘What?’ Heart pounding, she turned. Even now with all the telling off she’d given herself at the tempting thought of testing out the bed springs, she hoped and smiled and waited.

‘Window keys?’ Emir was standing on the landing, staring down at her. ‘It’s steaming hot in here.’

Ah… ‘Sorry.’

She stood for a moment to compose herself and then ran upstairs to sort him out. The central heating she’d had installed was always turned up full blast before a visit. She could operate it from her phone, and thoughts of turning it down a little had flown out of the window along with her sensible head thanks to Emir. ‘I suggest you leave the window open until the room cools down.’ Fighting off all feelings about the big, hard, desirable body so very close to her, she unlocked the window and showed him where to hang the key.