The Desert Rogues Part 1

by Susan Mallery

  The three of them stood awkwardly in the center of the room. Zara couldn’t escape the feeling of being a bad copy of a stunning original. As usual Cleo broke the ice.

  “So what do we call you?” Cleo asked. “Your Highness?”

  “Just Sabrina.”

  “And you’re really a princess?”

  “From the day I was born.” Sabrina moved to one of the sofas and motioned for them to join her.

  “You sound American,” Cleo said, sitting at the opposite end of the same sofa. “The king has a bit of a Middle-Eastern accent.”

  “I spent a lot of my life in California. I can, like, do the Valley Girl thing if it makes you more comfortable.”

  Cleo grinned. “Cool. So you live here, now?”

  “I live close by.”

  Cleo pointed at her diamond. “Great ring.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Is there a husband to go along with that?”

  “Absolutely. Prince Kardal. We’ve been married about a year.”

  “A prince and princess. Just like in the fairy tales.” Cleo sighed. “I can’t believe we’re here. This is so not our regular life.”

  Sabrina turned her dark gaze on Zara. “Where are you from?”

  “Washington State. It’s in the northwest part of the country.”

  “Zara’s a professor,” Cleo confided. “She’s really smart. I live about eighty miles away in Spokane where I manage a copy shop.”

  “And now you’re in Bahania,” Sabrina said. The words sounded welcoming enough, but there was an edge to her tone that made Zara uncomfortable.

  Did Sabrina resent her being there? Dumb question, she thought. She was a complete stranger who arrived from nowhere with a preposterous story about being King Hassan’s illegitimate daughter.

  “I know this is unexpected,” Zara said quietly. “For all of us. I don’t know how much the king told you about why I’m here and all.”

  “He mentioned that you had recently found some letters he had sent to your mother. Apparently theirs was a great love affair.”

  Sabrina smiled, but there wasn’t any humor in her eyes. Zara folded her arms over her chest. She felt awkward and unwelcome. Sabrina was everything she herself was not—elegant, beautiful, well dressed. Zara was reminded of all the times she’d attended her mother’s dance classes and hadn’t been able to help tripping over her own feet. Eventually Fiona had given up trying to teach her daughter to be graceful.

  “What I don’t understand is how the two of you ever became sisters,” Sabrina said.

  Cleo shrugged. “It was just one of those things.” She began telling the story.

  Zara listened for a few minutes, then quietly rose and headed for the French doors. Maybe a few minutes outside would clear her head…or at least help her feel more as if she belonged here. Not that she did.

  She stepped out onto the balcony and caught her breath. The city stretched out on either side of the palace. She could see a few buildings over the treetops of the lush gardens surrounding the royal lands. More impressive than that was her view of the ocean. She walked to the railing and leaned against the warm metal. The soft, heavy air covered her in a hot blanket. She could smell exotic flowers and a faint scent of the ocean beyond. She’d never seen anything so lovely.

  And yet she desperately wanted to go home. How stupid was that? She was on the verge of having every fantasy ever come true and her heart’s desire was to bolt for safety. She was a coward—or an idiot. Maybe both.

  She closed her eyes and let the heat seep into her. The sun had moved low toward the horizon. It was nearly sunset. She felt as if she’d traveled a thousand miles in just one day.

  She heard a sound behind her. Before she could turn, she heard a familiar voice that sent shivers dancing along her spine.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  Chapter Five

  Zara turned and found Rafe lounging in the doorway to the room next to hers. On cue, her bones began their slow dissolve and her heart performed a steady but disconcerting cha-cha. He’d removed his jacket and loosened his tie. What was it about a man in semidisarray that sent the most sensible woman on the planet into emotional regression?

  “Are we neighbors?” she asked, doing her darnedest to keep her voice from coming out in a squeak.

  “As your temporary bodyguard it’s necessary for me to stay close.”

  Was it her imagination or did his voice sound more like a purr? Or maybe she was being affected by all the cats in the palace.

  “I’m sorry they made you move quarters.”

  He shrugged. “It’s no big deal. Are you getting settled?”

  “Some. The suite is huge. I think the bathroom has more square feet than my town house back home. Everything is lovely.”

  She turned back to face the water. When Rafe joined her at the balcony, she told herself not to read too much into his actions. A man like him would never be interested in a woman like her. If all the disasters that made up her personal life weren’t enough to remind her of her unfortunate past, there was always Jon.

  “You don’t sound very excited,” Rafe said. “Having second thoughts?”

  “Try five hundredth thoughts.”

  “You came looking for your father for a reason. You must have wanted to find him.”

  “I did. I know it’s not logical to be questioning everything now. I should shut up and be grateful.”

  “Maybe. At least he was happy to see you.”

  She nodded. “Too happy. His reaction is all about Fiona. He doesn’t know me, yet.” She pointed to the water. “Look at where we’re standing. How is this possible?”

  “The palace occupies some great real estate. At least your father isn’t a used-camel dealer.”

  Despite her confusion and Rafe’s nearness, she smiled. “I don’t believe there is such a thing.”

  Rafe looked at her and smiled slightly. “Sure there is. The aftermarket for camels is a booming business.”

  The sight of his smile turned her heart’s cha-cha into a tango. A tiny quivering need took up residence in her stomach. For reasons she didn’t understand, something about this man got to her on a very primitive level. She would have to remember to try not to drool in front of him.

  “What do you do here?” she asked. “You’re an American. How did you get to Bahania?”

  “Same way as you. By plane.” He straightened and leaned one narrow hip against the railing. “Actually I work for Princess Sabrina’s husband—Prince Kardal. I’m a security and tactical expert.”

  “That doesn’t tell me much.”

  “You’d find my work very boring.”

  She doubted that, but decided not to press. There might be a very good reason Rafe was being reticent. At this point she hardly needed more information. She was already too close to overload.

  “I’ve met Princess Sabrina,” she said. “She’s inside making friends with Cleo.”

  “Your sister is very friendly.”

  That was hardly news. “I know. I’m the smart one. She’s the funny, sexy, adorable one. At least she can distract all the family members so they don’t notice me.”

  “Oh, they’ll notice.”

  She shook her head. “If you’re trying to make me feel better, you’re doing a lousy job. I hate meeting a lot of people at once. I can never get the names straight and I doubt the royal family will consent to wear name tags.”

  “Probably not. But there are compensations. Look at the palace.”

  “I’m not in it for the money.”

  “I almost believe you.”

  He spoke so lightly that at first she thought he was kidding, but when she glanced at him, she saw the truth in his blue eyes.

  “I thought we’d covered this material,” she told him. “You all but accused me of wanting to blackmail the king. After you checked me out, I thought you’d changed your mind.”

  “I’m 98 percent convinced.”

  “Tell me when you are 10
0 percent.”

  “I will.

  ”She straightened and walked toward a bench between the doors to their rooms. “Is that what everyone is going to be thinking?” she asked as she sat down. “That I’m some horrible person out for what I can get?”

  “The king doesn’t think that and his is the only opinion that matters.”

  Zara wasn’t so sure about that. She found herself caring about Rafe’s good opinion. Of course that was more about her hormones than anything else.

  “At least this situation puts the rest of my life in perspective,” she said.

  “Just think about the excitement of being a princess.”

  Princess? She hadn’t thought that part of it through. “No,” she said without thinking. “That’s not possible.”

  Cleo would jump at the chance, but then, her sister had more of a princess personality. Zara rubbed her temples as she held in a groan. Cleo was the charming one. She could talk to anyone and men adored her. She, Zara, was painfully shy, awkward with strangers and had a horrible track record with men. In the past couple of years she’d begun to think there was something seriously wrong with her.

  “Zara?”

  She looked up and saw that Rafe had settled on the far end of the bench. She angled toward him. “This will never work. I’m hardly princess material. I barely know anything about Bahania, either the country or the customs. I’m sure to put a foot wrong. I’m not sophisticated or pretty. I’m a college professor from a small town no one has heard of. My idea of an exciting Friday night is going to a basketball game by myself. I can’t even get a date. My God, if everyone thought I was a freak before because I was a virgin, what are they going to think now?”

  Her words hung in the late-afternoon heat. Zara blinked several times, hoping she hadn’t actually said her thoughts aloud. Unfortunately, the stunned expression on Rafe’s face told her that she had.

  Humiliation washed over her. She felt her cheeks flame and started to get to her feet.

  “Forget I said that,” she mumbled, just as his hand settled on her forearm.

  “Don’t even think about going anywhere.”

  She sank back on her seat and ducked her head. “I didn’t mean it.”

  “Which part?”

  “All of it.”

  “There you are.”

  Zara looked up, grateful for the interruption. Sabrina had stepped out onto the balcony. Rafe rose to his feet. Sabrina shot him a look.

  “Oh, please,” she said with a laugh. “You’re going all formal on me now?”

  “We’re in a different place.”

  Sabrina sighed, her smile fading. “Tell me about it.” She turned her attention to Zara, who also stood. “I wanted to let you know that you and Cleo have been invited to a formal dinner tomorrow night. My father is entertaining several visiting dignitaries. My brothers will be there, as well. It’s a good opportunity for you to meet the family.”

  The world began to spin. Zara tried to breathe but couldn’t. “A f-formal dinner?” she stuttered. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  “Sorry. The king insists.” Sabrina didn’t look all that sorry. “Don’t worry. You won’t be expected to do much more than show up and chat with some of the guests.”

  “But my presence isn’t appropriate. We don’t even know for sure that I’m his daughter.”

  “The king specifically said he wants you and Cleo there. If you plan not to attend, I suggest you take it up with him.”

  “Not a good idea,” Rafe said quickly, as if he really thought she might complain to King Hassan that she didn’t want to accept his invitation. Not that she did, but she wasn’t about to share the fact publicly.

  Even though she was standing outdoors, she felt walls closing in around her. “I, ah, don’t have anything to wear.” Or the ability to pay for a dress that nice. Still, that was why they’d invented credit cards. She’d have to deal with the blow to her budget later. “Is there a store nearby where Cleo and I can shop?”

  Sabrina sighed. “I could loan you something.” She looked Zara up and down. “You’re taller and thinner, which is a little annoying, but I think I can recover. I’ll see what I can find.”

  Zara couldn’t tell if the princess was kidding or not. She had a bad feeling that Sabrina didn’t like her, although she didn’t know why. She wouldn’t have thought she’d been in town long enough to annoy anyone.

  “You’re very kind,” Zara said, trying to sound gracious.

  “Whatever.” Sabrina turned to leave, then paused. “Although there won’t be an official announcement about who you are, people are bound to notice the likeness. So be prepared to be the center of attention. No one will be rude enough to ask outright, but they will hint.”

  With that, she gave a smile and headed back into Zara’s room. Zara sank back on the bench.

  “Why does she hate me?”

  She expected Rafe to deny any such emotion. When he didn’t say anything right away, she glanced at him. He’d shoved his hands into his pockets and looked almost uncomfortable with the question.

  “She doesn’t hate you…exactly.”

  Zara closed her eyes. “What does that mean?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “I don’t seem to have any formal engagements until tomorrow.”

  Rafe settled next to her again. “Sabrina’s parents married in haste, as they say. By the time she came along, there was already trouble in the relationship. They divorced fairly quickly, and when her mother asked permission for her to be taken out of Bahania, the king agreed. Sabrina was raised spending the school year with her mother in California and her summers here.”

  Zara shook her head. “Wait a minute. What do you mean ‘her mother asked permission to take her out of the country’?”

  “Bahanian law requires that royal children be raised within the borders of the country. It’s not that uncommon. El Bahar has similar requirements. While royal couples can divorce, they can’t take their children away. That way the monarchy ensures that the heirs are raised knowing about their country and their people.”

  Zara thought that made sense, although it was difficult to relate to. “So Sabrina was a child of both countries. Why is that bad?”

  “No prince or princess had been allowed to leave before. In essence, Hassan didn’t care enough about his daughter to keep her around.”

  Zara didn’t like the sound of that. “Maybe he did care. Maybe her mother loved her so much that—”

  Rafe cut her off with a shake of his head. “Neither of Sabrina’s parents were very interested in her. She was shuttled back and forth all her life, left in the care of nannies and maids. Sabrina’s an intelligent woman. She was an excellent student, but neither of her parents noticed. Because her mother lived something of a wild life, the press assumed the same about Sabrina, even though it wasn’t true. Then her father arranged a marriage for her without consulting her. For her it was the last straw.”

  “What happened?”

  He hesitated. “She ran away. It turned out well in the end. She married Prince Kardal and they’re very happy together. However she and her father have only recently reconciled.”

  Zara got it right away. “So after twenty-plus years, they’re finally starting to connect, but she’s still bitter about all the years before. I show up out of nowhere and he welcomes me with open arms.”

  “Exactly.”

  Zara leaned back into the bench and groaned. “I’ve been in the palace less than three hours and I already have an enemy. What’s going to be next?”

  Rafe found Prince Kardal in the security briefing room going over plans.

  “Do you know how expensive the planes are going to be?” the prince asked when he entered.

  “Yes.” Rafe slid into the seat across from his boss.

  Like most modern rulers, Prince Kardal wore a suit rather than traditional garments. When he was home with his own people, he frequently returned to the old ways, but no
t while visiting a head of state—and his father-in-law.

  Kardal, a tall, dark-haired man, tossed the plans to the table. “Technology isn’t cheap. I miss the old days, when we could patrol our country on camels.”

  Rafe laughed. “Kardal, you’re barely in your thirties. You’re too young to remember those days.”

  The prince grinned. “Perhaps.” He stretched. “I know why you have come to see me.”

  “I bet. You heard about Zara?”

  “Is that her name?”

  “Yes. Zara Paxton. She’s a college professor from the Pacific Northwest. Some small town near Idaho.”

  Kardal raised his eyebrows. “Is it true? Is she Hassan’s daughter?”

  “Maybe.” He shook his head. “Probably. The king needs to be sure, which means blood tests. But right now he’s too excited to think logically. You know how he gets.”

  Kardal reached under his shirt cuff and touched the thick, gold slave bracelet there. “Yes, I know. Has Sabrina met with her?”

  Rafe nodded. “She came by Zara’s room about an hour ago.”

  “She cannot be happy about her father’s enthusiasm.”

  “No.” Which brought Rafe to another awkward point. “He’s asked me to watch over Zara. Be a temporary bodyguard.”

  Kardal didn’t say anything for a long time. Then the corners of his mouth turned up and he laughed.

  Rafe shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Yeah, it’s a real knee-slapper. Thanks for the support.”

  Kardal didn’t bother to apologize. He laughed a little longer, then finally spoke. “What is she like, this college professor?”

  “Scared.” He thought of Zara’s pretty face and the questions in her eyes. “She’s overwhelmed by all that has happened. I don’t think she was expecting to be moved into the palace so quickly.”

  Zara was as prepared to handle this as a rabbit was prepared to take on a pack of wolves. If she wasn’t careful she was going to be eaten alive. He couldn’t believe he was actually worried about her, but he was, dammit. What was wrong with him? He wasn’t a good person. He didn’t have altruistic feelings.

  “Do you like her?” Kardal asked.