The Sheik & the Virgin Princess

Hassan cut him off with a shake of his head. “My mind is made up. I will only trust you with her safety. It will be a temporary matter, until you return to your regular duties.”

“Trust him for what?” Zara asked.

“Rafe will be your bodyguard. He will protect you with his life.”

Chapter Four

R afe held in a groan. He did not need this kind of trouble in his life. Protecting royalty wasn’t that big a deal—he’d been in charge of Prince Kardal’s security for three years. But guarding the king of Bahania’s newly found, soon-to-be-favorite daughter wasn’t his idea of a good time. Especially when the king had more in mind than her physical protection. King Hassan wouldn’t want anyone messing with Zara for any reason—including and probably especially sex.

Which meant his physical attraction toward her could be a one-way to ticket to a headless moment should he be foolish enough to let his libido overrule his common sense. Not that he would ever let that happen.

“Your Highness,” he said, trying to figure out how to reason with the king without creating trouble.

Hassan waved away his concerns before he could even voice them. “As a temporary measure, Rafe. I’m not unmindful of your duties to my son-in-law.”

Zara glanced between them, obviously confused. “What are you two talking about?”

Cleo bounced off the sofa and fluffed her short blond hair. “What your new father is saying is that Rafe has been assigned to protect you with his very life. While I could be taken by terrorists and tortured, and everyone would just yawn.”

Hassan smiled at her. “Rafe will keep you under his care, as well,” he said. “While you are my guest, your safety is of equal concern. You are the most-beloved sister of the daughter of my heart’s desire.”

“Could I get that on a plaque?” Cleo asked.

“Perhaps a tapestry,” the king told her. “We could have the weaving women design one.”

“You have weaving women?” Cleo sounded horrified. “Is that what they do with their entire day? Weave? Do you…” Her voice trailed off as she caught the king’s smile. “You’re teasing me.”

“Yes.”

Cleo shrugged. “He’s got a sense of humor. Who knew?”

Zara didn’t respond. She still looked as if she was in shock. Hassan hugged her one last time.

“I leave you in the protection of your bodyguard. Rafe will make all the arrangements to move you into the palace. I look forward to seeing you there.”

With that, he was gone. Cleo shook her head. “This is amazing. Just like in a movie.”

Rafe wished it was a movie. Then he could get out of his seat and head back to his regular life. Instead he was stuck. He supposed that he could go to his boss and complain, but that would annoy King Hassan.

Zara folded her arms over her chest. “He can’t be serious. He wants you to be my bodyguard?”

“I’m more than qualified.”

She opened her mouth, then closed it. “This isn’t about your abilities, Rafe. It’s about being sane. Who on earth would want to hurt me? No one knows who I am.”

“You might be Hassan’s daughter. I know it sounds far-fetched, but go along with it for now, all right? This is a temporary situation.”

“Don’t you have a real job you’d rather be doing?”

He was supposed to be coordinating the development of an air force in Bahania, El Bahar and the City of Thieves. “That is going to have to wait for a while.”

Prince Kardal, his boss, would understand. At this point in the negotiations no one wanted to annoy King Hassan. Which meant Rafe would spend the next few weeks making sure Zara didn’t get so much as a splinter. It would mean long hours and close contact with the first woman to get his attention in years. Life had a hell of a sense of humor.

“Look at the bright side,” Cleo said. “At least the king didn’t throw you out on your butt. If anything, he seemed really happy to see you.”

Zara nodded. “I don’t know what to think about any of this. I guess we should head back to the hotel and pack up our stuff.”

Cleo did a couple of quick dance steps. “I’m gonna live in a palace,” she sang as she shimmied around the sofa. “And you wanted to go camping in Yellowstone instead of coming here.”

Zara headed for the door. “I’m beginning to think that would have been a better idea.”

“I don’t have any experience with this whole bodyguard thing,” Zara said as Rafe followed them back to their hotel. “Do you plan to go with me everywhere?”

“Pretty much.”

“Will you carry the groceries when we go to the supermarket?” Cleo asked.

“You won’t be doing grocery shopping,” Rafe told her.

Zara was still focused on the whole “go with her everywhere” concept. “I don’t have a very interesting life,” she admitted. “You’re going to get bored.”

“I’ll manage.”

They crossed the street and walked toward the entrance to the hotel where she and Cleo had stayed. Was this tall, dangerous man really going to shadow her, day and night? Was it possible?

“You know, you could just meet us at the palace,” she said. “We can take a cab.”

He didn’t bother answering.

A bodyguard? It was too weird to believe. Of course there was a chance that King Hassan might be her father, which put the whole bodyguard dilemma in perspective. Her life had suddenly taken on the unreal qualities of a visit to a fun house.

Zara had seen some physical similarities between herself and the king, but she hadn’t felt any kind of emotional connection. He’d been so sure and she’d wanted to head for home. It was one thing to be ten years old and long for a father to sweep into her life and give her the stability she’d always wanted. It was another to be grown-up, with a life of her own and find out she might be related to a ruling monarch.

When they reached the hotel, Rafe escorted them to their room. Once there, he actually checked the small space before allowing them to enter.

“Because terrorists might want to kidnap me?” she asked, slightly bemused as he stepped aside to let them in.

“Because I’m good at what I do.”

His blue eyes were just as cold as they’d always been, but now she found them less scary. Perhaps because he was her only link to sanity in this impossible situation.

Cleo headed into the hotel room. Rafe briefly touched Zara’s arm to detain her.

“I’m going to make some phone calls while you pack,” he said, pulling a cell phone from his coat pocket. “Don’t let anyone in the room but me.”

“Is there a code word?” she asked.

“Troublemaker.”