Desert Kings Boxed Set: The Complete Series Books 1-6 Read online

  She pushed open the door—why were all these rooms so bright?—and scanned the glitzy hotel conference room for the man she’d tried so hard to get out of her mind. She saw a door on the far side open and an unmistakable, tall, broad-shouldered and jaw-droppingly handsome man enter.

  Heart pounding, she’d made her way across the floor. She hoped she was smiling but she couldn’t be sure.

  His eyes were blue. She’d almost managed to forget that detail. Dark slate blue, mesmerizing against his tan skin, and they fixed a gaze on her that made her breath catch. Electricity crashed through her as he took her hand in both of his. “Ronnie.”

  “Zadir.” She tried to sound clipped and professional, but just sounded panicked. “That was a very generous donation.” Her hand, still in his, heated and sent unwelcome signals to the rest of her body.

  “It’s for an important cause.” His expression was unreadable. “Let’s go.”

  “Oh.” She’d expected some pointed questioning about her rude behavior. “Okay. Where are we heading?” Hopefully not too far.

  “You’ll see.” His eyes shone with a glint of humor.

  “Is it local? It’s just that my car is parked in the hotel garage and I—”

  “I’ll be sure to return you to your car afterward.”

  “Okay.” She could handle this. It was just dinner, not a night in the empty desert. “I am sorry I didn’t—you know—I’ve been very busy.”

  “I do know.” He held the door open and ushered her out into the hotel lobby. “I read about the presidential library commission. Very impressive.”

  “I don’t have the commission yet. I’m one of three shortlisted architects. I have to present round three for the committee next week.”

  “I’m sure they’ll award it to you. Your designs are unique and perfectly suited to the setting.”

  “You’ve seen them?” They hadn’t been made public as far as she knew.

  “Yes. I’ve seen all your designs.” His blue gaze suggested that he’d seen a lot more than that, too. Which was true, of course. “You’ve accomplished a lot in a short time.”

  “I did tell you I was married to my work.” She’d also told him, truthfully, that he was the first man she’d slept with in years. She regretted revealing that now. Boy, this was awkward!

  He let her go first through the revolving doors out into the hot Washington, D.C., night. “My car is here.” He pointed to a white Mercedes sedan parked right in front of the hotel door, with a chauffeur already holding the door open.

  “Oh. You’re prepared.”

  “Indeed.” His mysterious smile made her a little nervous as she climbed into the car. He had promised to bring her back here. She settled herself into the seat, readjusting the skirt of her pale gray dress. He sat next to her, his big body taking up a lot of space. She remembered how they’d kissed in the back of the taxi taking them back to civilization—and someone else’s wedding—after they’d been rescued. Almost as if they were a couple.

  She stiffened, regretting the lapse of judgment. He hadn’t told anyone at the wedding about their crazy tryst in the Empty Quarter. What a relief! They’d talked about the crash, and he’d played along, telling everyone about how they tried to raise help with the radio, and how they’d rationed their water, but not how they’d cooled each others bodies with airplane towelettes, or how they’d— “It’s very hot in here. Do you mind if I open a window?” The lack of air made her feel faint.

  “It’s even hotter outside.” A smile tugged at one corner of his unbearably kissable mouth.

  “True.” She wanted to fan herself. At least her dark skin hid the blush that must be spreading under it. She’d forgotten how gorgeous he was. No wonder she’d fallen into his arms. She really should heed Cynthia’s advice and start dating again so she wasn’t so susceptible. “I was nervous, you know, about the auction.”

  “Why?” He looked curious.

  “I wasn’t sure anyone would want dinner with me.”

  “As you could see, I had considerable competition.” The smile played further across his mouth. “You’re obviously a very desirable companion. And you look stunningly beautiful tonight.”

  “Thanks.” She sucked in a breath, then realize it made her chest rise against the bodice of her tight dress and regretted it. “You look very handsome yourself.” Luckily, she wasn’t going to let herself get overwhelmed by his good looks and charm again.

  Not that he would be interested in her now. He was probably furious with her for blowing him off. Rich, powerful me—like her father—expected everyone to bend to their will. She doubted he was different.

  His big, broad hands sat on his knees. She remembered how they’d felt on her body, cupping her breasts and caressing her waist. “Could we turn the air-conditioning up a little?”

  Zadir leaned forward and spoke to the driver, then a welcome blast of freezing air streamed out of the vent in front of her.

  “Much appreciated.” She smiled. Goodness, this wouldn’t be easy! Still, she could be polite for a couple of hours. “How are things going back in your country?”

  “Very well, thank you. My brother Osman married and ascended the throne three months ago, so he’s starting to implement some much-needed reforms.”

  “That sounds great. Did you ever figure out who sabotaged the plane?” The pilot had ditched and left them to crash in the desert.

  “We have some political opponents, traditionalists who don’t want to leave the old ways. Unfortunately we haven’t managed to find out the identity of the pilot who abandoned us. He left no fingerprints or evidence in the cockpit. The pilot who was supposed to fly us was found tied up in his home and he didn’t remember anything about his assailants. Trust me, though. We’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  “We’re lucky to be alive.” Thanks to Zadir, who’d crash landed the plane like a pro.

  “It certainly put a few things into perspective for me.” He looked wistful. “Made me prioritize and think about the future.”

  Veronica peered out the window as a nasty feeling snuck over her. “Is this the airport?” The sign saying Ronald Reagan International Airport answered her question before Zadir could. “Why are we here?”

  “We have a trip to make.”

  “On a plane?” She’d had to beg and plead with herself to get on the flight from Bahrain back to D.C. after their crash experience. She hadn’t been on a flight since.

  “Did our crash make you afraid of flying?”

  “Absolutely! Didn’t it make you nervous?”

  “No.” He smiled slightly. “It was sabotage. Trust me, this place is secured like Air Force One. The pilot is a trusted member of our household staff.”

  “But where are we going?”

  “Ubar.”

  “But that’s in the Arabian Gulf! It’ll take hours to get there. We’re just supposed to have dinner.” He couldn’t be serious.

  “You did say that you’d come and visit my homeland.”

  “I know but that was…” When I was under the influence of your very considerable charms and could not be held responsible for my actions.

  “It’s Friday night. You’ll be home by Monday.”

  Panic flared in her chest. “No. Absolutely not. I need to get out of the car.” She reached for the handle as if she was going to open the door right there on the road to the terminal.

  “I did pay sixty thousand dollars for an evening in your company.”

  True. She hesitated. “An evening. Not a weekend. And I didn’t tell you to bid so high.”

  “I’d be glad to double my donation to Habitat for Humanity, if you’ll do me the honor of visiting my home.” His expression was serious and strangely humble.

  “But why? You should be mad at me for not returning your calls.”

  “I could never be angry with you.” His gaze trapped her. “Frustrated, absolutely! But I’ve forgotten all that. Just come, look at the site for my intended palace, and perhaps we can di
scuss your taking the commission.”

  Guilt crept over her. Was it really so hard to give him a weekend of her time after he’d saved her life? “I’m very busy with this presidential library thing.”

  “I understand and I’ll make sure your time isn’t wasted.”

  “But I don’t have any clothes.”

  “I’ve made preparations.” He looked pleased. Clearly he knew he was winning. “I even remembered that you like a spray bottle of water to keep your skin moisturized during the flight.”

  She stared.

  “And I know you like to wear black or white clothing.” They’d laid their clothes out on the desert floor, hoping to attract the attention of a passing plane. “Though I see you’ve ventured into silver tonight.”

  “It’s more of a gray.” She looked down at the dress, which Cynthia had talked her into. Suddenly she wondered if Cynthia was behind this whole thing. She’d badgered Ronnie endlessly to get in touch with Zadir after she’d been foolish enough to admit a small fraction of what had happened between them. And Cynthia had come up with the idea for the charity auction after that happened.

  “Do you know Cynthia Randall?”

  “We were at Princeton together.” He smiled.

  “Of course you were.” She was going to kill Cynthia. Strangely, it made her relax a little, though, to know that this was a conspiracy by her friend, not a coup by some mysterious foreign royal. “And she suggested that you should buy me at the auction?”

  “No, I insisted that she create the auction so I could buy you.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Zadir half hoped that seeing Ronnie again would cure him of his consuming passion for her. That plan was failing miserably. The sight of her in that fitted silver-gray dress totally undid him. Her wary gaze, her expressive mouth, her gorgeous coffee-colored skin and her athletic body combined to overwhelm his defenses.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the flight is uneventful in every way. Perhaps some champagne will settle your nerves.” She’d climbed out of his car but now stood on the airport tarmac in a quandary of indecision. The sleek corporate jet stood ready for takeoff, with the pilot already in position in the lit cockpit. He just needed to coax her on to it. “It’s the perfect opportunity to get over your fear of flying.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to get over it.” She shivered, despite the warm night, and he wanted to wrap his arms around her and comfort her. But not yet.

  “In your profession you need to travel to different sites and clients.”

  “I can take the train.”

  “Only if you don’t plan to leave the continental United States.”

  “That’s a large area.” She knotted her fingers together.

  He chuckled. “You’d deprive the rest of the world of your talent? That’s not fair. I feel responsible for the plane crash because I was the target of the sabotage.”

  “I don’t blame you. I just don’t want to ever feel that vulnerable again.”

  “It’s not good to be a victim of your fears either.”

  She hesitated, pursing her lovely mouth. “You have a point there.”

  Inside, he started to smile, but he kept his expression serious. “Fears have a way of growing and spreading. It’s best to nip them in the bud right away.”

  “You have a point.” Her big brown eyes looked thoughtful.

  Almost there. “If you get on the plane with me, I’ll increase my donation to Habitat for Humanity by tenfold.”

  His proposal did not have the intended effect. Instead she raised a brow. “The ability to throw money around does not impress me.”

  “It’s for a good cause.” Damn. Misfire! He’d forgotten what she’d told him about her wealthy father who tried to buy her affection without giving the intimacy she craved. “And I promise I’ll donate it anyway, but it would give me so much pleasure to show you my country. And I’d truly value your advice on what kind of structures would work best there, so you’d be helping our people, too.”

  She bit her full lower lip, which sent an uncomfortable surge of heat to his groin. He sent a prayer to the ancient gods of Ubar and held his breath as the seconds ticked by.

  She lifted her chin. “I’ll come.”

  A grin spread across his face before he could stop it. “Excellent.” He extended an arm for her to take, and she looked at it suspiciously for a moment.

  “This visit is purely professional.”

  “Of course.” Ouch! Still, there would be time for seduction later. He kept his arm steady, and she did gingerly slide hers inside it. Triumph swelled in his chest as he guided her across the tarmac to the steps leading up to the cabin. Slow and steady. Don’t blow it. He’d watched his brother Osman almost lose the woman he loved by coming on too fast and strong. American women were independent-minded and didn’t appreciate being rushed. Veronica Baxter was a celebrated architect and would not be in any hurry to drop everything and move to a desert kingdom, even if the sun setting behind the mountains was the most majestic sight on planet Earth.

  They’d reached the bottom of the steps, and he gestured for her to go first. Maybe he wanted to be behind her in case she tried to turn and run. Or maybe he wanted to admire her tight backside moving inside the smooth silver satin. Keep your cool. It wouldn’t be easy. Sitting inside a plane with Ronnie would remind him in vivid detail of all the delicious things they’d done last time they were alone in a cabin together.

  “Goodness. I’m so nervous.” She turned to him, eyes wide.

  “Flying is safer than driving.”

  “Except that your car can’t fall from the sky.”

  “It won’t fall. I’ll hold it up with my own arms.” He flexed a muscle, teasing. Her eyes darted to his biceps, which were well hidden by his black-tie attire, and for a second he thought he saw desire flash in her beautiful eyes.

  She turned and entered the plane. He’d prepared it carefully, with soft lighting and relaxing music, Coach luggage packed with clothing chosen by the personal shopper at Barneys, and an iPad loaded with music and videos for her entertainment.

  “This looks more like a spa than a plane.” She turned in surprise.

  “I tried to create a soothing atmosphere.”

  “You put a lot of thought into it.” She looked more nervous than relieved, as she lowered herself into one of the wide seats.

  He sat across the aisle, determined to show restraint. He wanted her at ease. He’d already warned his brothers not to jump all over her about being a future member of the family, but to treat her with warmth and allow her to dip her toes in the desert sand with no pressure.

  Seeing Ronnie again, he knew she was the one. Now he just had to convince her.

  Usually Ronnie wore earbuds on a plane flight, even if she wasn’t actually listening to anything, to stop random people from striking up a conversation with her. It was the best way not to get sucked into anyone else’s drama. This time she didn’t really have any choice but to chat with her neighbor. He’d paid sixty—or was it now six hundred?—thousand dollars for the privilege of her companionship, and she’d better deliver something other than a bright smile. Hopefully she could provide some useful suggestions about the type of buildings that would work best for his climate, and possibly some cutting-edge technology—like insulated concrete forms—that would help optimize construction.

  She hoped he wouldn’t expect more.

  “Are you okay?” The concerned look on his face touched and amused her.

  “Actually, I’m fine now that we’re on board.” The pilot had started the engines. “It was a psychological thing. I’m glad you made me do this.” She stretched. “Though it probably isn’t ideal to fly in a tight evening gown.”

  He smiled and showed that cute dimple in his left cheek. “We can change once the plane is up.”

  “That’s okay. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” The last thing she needed was to get naked anywhere near Zadir again. Or even down to her underwear. That had rather shoc
king results last time. She wondered what kind of clothes he’d bought for her and if they were something she’d be embarrassed to wear. You could tell a lot about how a man saw you by the kinds of gifts he gave.

  Not that she got many gifts from men. If she wanted something nice she’d rather buy it herself.

  Zadir gestured to a seat for her, and she was relieved when he sat on the opposite side of the aisle like last time. She wasn’t sure she could handle inhaling his bracing masculine scent for the thirteen or fourteen hours this flight would probably last. It was a larger plane than they’d crashed in last time. This one had the same luxurious leather-clad interior but could have packed in more than thirty passengers if it had regular seats.

  She shot him a brave smile as the engines geared up and the plane started to move. She could do this. And it would be an adventure. Then she’d come back and win that presidential library commission and secure her place in the pantheon of American architects.

  Within minutes, they were in the air, and the lights of D.C. grew farther away as they headed out over the dark ocean. After the plane reached cruising altitude, the pilot told them they could move about the cabin and Zadir suggested that they change.

  She tried—unsuccessfully—to avert her eyes as he changed out of his tuxedo into a well-cut pair of dark gray pants and a white shirt. His body was something else. Big and muscular but elegant and graceful at the same time.

  The beautiful Coach luggage he’d brought for her was packed with practical and stylish clothing by some of her favorite designers. She couldn’t have chosen better for herself.

  “I had professional help,” he admitted when she exclaimed over his clever choices. “I know when to defer to the expertise of others. But I did remember you preferred everything in black and white.” His eyes shone with mischief. “Are you like that in other areas of life?”