Charmed & Dangerous

by Candace Havens

  I moved to find more ribbon and returned with another stack. “I saw several women working at Duban. Isn’t it acceptable for a woman to have a family and work here?”

  “More the exception than the rule, especially in families with any kind of power or wealth.” Shera took a deep breath as if trying to rid herself of the sadness. “You know as well as I that there are millions of women around the world who have families and successful careers, but it isn’t a suitable lifestyle for his family. It still hurts because I thought he loved me.”

  “He did love you, dear, but he’s a man and he can’t help being an idiot,” Kazamar stated simply.

  In many ways Kazamar reminds me of my own mother. She speaks her mind, protects her children, and runs her home and the women’s foundation with the efficiency of a top CEO. Yes, Mom and Kazamar would get along very well.

  “So, Shera, what do you study in school and what grad school do you plan to attend?”

  “I did my undergraduate studies in physics at MIT, but I’m thinking of studying aerospace engineering at Caltech this summer. I took some time off to help my mother and Kahab with the foundation.”

  “And to mend your broken heart,” added her mother.

  “Yes, I suppose I needed time. Perhaps someday I’ll find a man who is open-minded and can accept me as I am.”

  “As far as I’m concerned, unless you have some kind of extreme need to have children, men aren’t worth the trouble,” I said, trying to lighten Shera’s mood.

  Kazamar laughed and the sadness lifted from her daughter’s eyes. “Bronwyn, you are both beautiful and brilliant, much like my daughter. And your assessment of men is as accurate as any I’ve ever heard. Now that we are finished with the charms what happens?” She stood and stretched her back.

  “I need to gather them all into the center of the room and place candles around the charms.” They helped me move the pile and make a circle of light with the red and black candles.

  I shook their hands, expecting them to go now that the work had been completed. “Thank you so much for your help. I’m ready to do the spell now.” I motioned them toward the door.

  “We will stay,” Kazamar stated firmly.

  Well, okay. I raised my arms in preparation for the spell and noticed Azir in the doorway. His mother turned to face him. “Well, don’t just stand there, come in and watch the magic. She’s beginning the spell. Your witch is a talented young woman.”

  “Bronwyn isn’t my witch, Mother, she is very much her own woman. But I grant you that she is talented.” And he winked at me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the sheik tried to flirt with me. He came in to stand between his sister and mother and watch the show.

  I don’t normally have such an audience for this kind of thing and couldn’t for the life of me figure out why I felt so nervous. Breathing slowly, I calmed my emotions so the energy within could build.

  In a few seconds I could feel a white light spilling out around me. Waving my hands across the charms, I recited:

  Door to door

  Window to window

  With this flame I protect all within;

  Evil shall not pass these borders.

  As I will, so mote it be.

  A burst of energy flew from my fingertips and circled around the room, then landed on the charms. For a moment they glowed.

  I looked up to see Azir’s family wide-eyed and openmouthed. Good magic does that to people.

  “It didn’t rhyme,” Shera whispered.

  I smiled. “Doesn’t have to, just need to get my point across.”

  “That was incredible. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen, and I’ve lived a very long time.” Kazamar shook her head. “Our Bedouins do magic, but they keep it very secret. I’m most impressed, young woman. How do the charms get to the shelters?”

  Azir stepped in. “We’re sending them overnight and in less than twenty-four hours each one will be fully protected by her power.”

  “I don’t understand how it works,” Shera said, “but I know that it will.” She turned to her brother. “Did you see the fire from her fingertips and the white light that flew across the room? It wasn’t tricks, it was real magic.”

  Azir laughed and hugged her. “Yes, little one. She is a very real witch. And we will celebrate her many talents at dinner. Now help her pack these up for shipping and I’ll meet you all for dinner in the main dining room.”

  Argh. Main dining room meant dressy clothes. I’d figured that much out. Unfortunately, I’d only brought enough clothes for the weekend, and had only one pair of nice dress slacks. Shera and I were about the same size, though she was about three inches taller. Maybe I could borrow something from her.

  When I returned to my room I discovered no need for worry. Boxes from Barney’s department store were piled on my bed. Two dresses, three pairs of jeans, several tops, nice slacks, a pair of high-heeled Jimmy Choos and some flats, and undergarments.

  I prayed that it was Kazamar, Shera, or one of the staff who had picked out the clothes. How embarrassing would it be to have the sheik choosing my Wonder Bras?

  Then I read the note:

  Dear Bronwyn,

  Please accept these gifts as appreciation for staying on with us for the next few weeks. I’m indebted to you for your service.

  If any of the items are not to your liking we can return them. I guessed on many of the sizes, so please let me know if something needs to be replaced.

  Best regards,

  Azir

  Great. I picked up the bra to check the size. Perfect fit. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or infuriated that he’d guessed my size and that I wear Wonder Bras. In fact, everything fit. Some of the bright reds and pink aren’t what I would have picked—I’m kind of partial to black—but they looked good.

  As much as I appreciated his generosity, I decided it was time to set some boundaries where the sheik was concerned. A jet was one thing, but silk panties with lacy insets were quite another.

  Eleven

  Thursday, midnight

  Dubai

  Spells: 3

  T he sheik never made it to dinner; he stayed locked in his office on a conference call. I’ll settle things with him tomorrow.

  Tapped into his cousin tonight and the thoughts were more lucid. Made me wonder if he might be schizophrenic. Instead of the blood and limbs from his previous thoughts, I found him worrying about someone called Blackstock. He had no face to go with the name, which made me think he’d never met the person.

  Let my mind wander over his and didn’t see anything that had to do with the shelters or bombs. Couldn’t get a handle on who exactly Blackstock is, but he’s important. When the name came up the cousin had a tremendous sense of anticipation. The sheik may be right about someone else trying to kill him. Maybe it’s this Blackstock guy.

  Huh? Cell phone’s ringing.

  Friday, 1 A.M.

  Sleep isn’t going to be easy tonight. Confusion reigns and I don’t know what to think.

  Didn’t get to the phone quick enough but Dr. Sam left me a strange message.

  “Bronwyn.” Long pause. “Damn, I miss you.”

  Called him back and he sounded so sexy it made my heart hurt.

  “I’ve missed you.” His voice filled the line.

  After the other day when he couldn’t wait to get off the phone to go play with my friends, I was surprised. He spoke like he actually cared. “Tell me what you’ve been doing the last few days.”

  Couldn’t tell him about my work with the sheik, so I tried to play it safe. “Oh, nothing special.”

  “Well, if it’s not that special, why can’t you come home?”

  Oops, he got me there. “Well, I guess it’s special to the people I’m working with but I can’t talk about it. Security reasons.”

  “Do you see me as some kind of security risk?” He huffed and I imagined him stomping his foot like a small child in a fit of temper.

  “Well, no. They aske
d me not to talk about it so I’m not going to. The phones might be tapped. Could we please just leave it at ‘I’m busy,’ and move on?” Didn’t mean to sound like such a bitch but as a general rule I don’t like explaining anything I do.

  “Damn, Bronwyn, this isn’t at all going the way I meant. Can we please start over? So how’s the weather in Dubai?”

  I laughed. “It’s hot and you can make better small talk than that, Sam. Tell me how Mr. Gunther’s doing.”

  “The man’s mind is incredible. He’s filled one of the journals you left and is working on the second one. He shows no signs of mental degeneration. Margie tells me that he only stops writing to take his meals and play the occasional game of chess. Old coot beat the pants off me the other night in five moves.”

  Sam with no pants. Good visual.

  “Did you let him win?” I could just imagine the gleam of triumph in Mr. Gunther’s piercing blue eyes.

  “Wish I could say yes, but no. He beat me fair. I wasn’t on my game though. My thoughts kept wandering to a witch on the other side of the world.”

  That’s the Dr. Sam I know, always quick with those underhanded compliments. “Tell me about Kira and Caleb. Are they making everyone ill with their lovey-dovey crap?”

  “They’re attached at the hip. When we had dinner with them the other night they couldn’t stop touching each other.”

  “We?”

  “Oh, they asked Simone to join us for dinner.”

  Note to self: Bash my very dear friends upside their idiotic heads when next I see them. Did they not clue in to the fact that Simone’s in man-hungry mode and goes for anything with two legs and a dick right now?

  “Bronwyn? Are you there?”

  “I’m here.” My jaw tightened at the thought of Simone pawing my man. I know she can’t help herself when she gets in these moods, but she’d promised to keep her hands off.

  “Anyway, Caleb had to go back to Dallas to work on a new assignment, but Kira’s meeting him there this weekend.”

  Truthfully the news about Kira and Caleb came as no surprise, but I wondered just how much time Dr. Sam and Simone had spent alone together since I’d been gone.

  “So you’ve made friends with Simone?” I could feel my right eye twitch with tension.

  “She’s quite a woman. At first she’s a bit much, but once you get used to her, she’s fun. Her sense of humor never fails no matter what the situation.”

  “Good to hear you’re getting along so well.” Worked hard to keep the sarcasm from my voice. “What’s she up to today?”

  “This morning she told me Kira had ordered books on a new martial arts technique and that’s how she planned to spend the day. Simone promised to show Kira how to kill a man with just two easy moves, or some nonsense like that.”

  With Simone it wasn’t nonsense. She could kill a guy in one move and she had the strength of five linebackers packed into that lithe five-foot-seven-inch body. What bothered me the most was the fact that Sam knew so many of the intimate day-to-day details about Simone. Could I actually be jealous? Argh!

  “Sam—”

  “What is it?”

  “Before when you said you missed me—”

  “I meant it. Every word. But—”

  Man, I hate the word but.

  “—We’ve only known each other for a couple weeks and it feels like things have turned serious rather fast. Not that I mind,” he added hastily.

  “I’m sure you have a point in there somewhere.” Gritted my teeth and waited for the one-two punch.

  “Look, we have some kind of connection. Would you agree?”

  “Yes, there’s a connection.” My mind drifted to the night we made love. Every time we touched, our souls combined into one, so that when we separated, it physically hurt. I’d never experienced sensations like that, and to be honest, I wanted to run as fast as I could away from them.

  “But you’re on the other side of the world—saving lives, I know—but I’m here. In Sweet. We lead two very separate lives. I like you, Bronwyn. But—”

  Have I mentioned how much I hate that word?

  “—I wonder if we shouldn’t take a step back and catch our breath. Give us both an opportunity to adjust to this new situation.”

  What the fuck was he talking about? He sounded like one of those television psychologists spouting psychobabble to the masses.

  I wanted to scream and—even worse—cry. I never cry, especially over a man. Didn’t he say that he liked me? Missed me? Why in the hell does he need to take a step back? I mean, I’m quite willing to run the other way, but that doesn’t explain his actions.

  Calling him vile names seemed an inappropriate response, so I did my best to quell my temper. “I understand. Now, if that’s all, I’d really like to get some rest. It’s late.”

  “Wait, Bronwyn, I think we need to talk this out. I don’t think you understand what I’m saying.”

  “Sorry, can’t hear you. Phone must be going out. Darn battery.” Click. I hung up on the bastard.

  Why? Why do I do this to myself? It had only been a couple of weeks and I’d let myself get totally into this guy.

  I never seem to remember the rule that men were put on this earth to drive us fucking insane.

  8 A.M.

  Lost boyfriends: 1

  Heading back into town with the sheik this morning. He has meetings and wants me to read some of the participants. He’s not telling me everything and I may tap into his mind when we get there. I only promised not to do it in his home. Never said a word about the office.

  If I let myself, I could feel a twinge of guilt because he was so nice to me last night. After the phone debacle with Sam, I headed to the garden for air.

  Hadn’t been there long when Azir stepped through the doorway off the east wing. He wore a fitted rib-knit T-shirt and jeans. His feet were bare, and he looked damn sexy.

  “Bronwyn, you’re up late.”

  “So are you.”

  His brown eyes questioned mine and I realized I must have worn my emotions on my face. I slipped my mask into place and saw a hint of a smile on his lips.

  “I don’t require much rest. Four hours or so gets me through the day.” He stepped closer and motioned to a small bench beside the tiny man-made creek that ran through the garden.

  “You’re a lucky man. I need at least eight and I’m always grateful for more.” I yawned.

  “So what’s keeping you up tonight?”

  No way I’d tell Sheik Azir that I had man troubles with Dr. Sam. So I sat like an idiot and shrugged.

  “I don’t want to pry, but if it’s a personal problem, perhaps I could provide some perspective.”

  “Thank you. That’s kind, but I needed some air. That’s all.” Not in this lifetime would I ever share my personal troubles with a client.

  I knew he didn’t believe me. Still, he smiled and we sat on the bench just enjoying the sounds of the water bubbling through the creek.

  Leaned back on my hands and looked up at the sky, covered with a sheet of twinkling stars.

  For several minutes we sat in silence. I moved to leave and the sheik spoke.

  “When I turned six my father took me into the desert to commune with the stars. During the day we rested in a small tent and stayed away from the heat as much as possible. But for five nights we stayed up until dawn and he taught me all of the constellations and told me stories of the Bedouin tribe. His people.” He turned to look at me.

  It was the first time I’d ever heard any mention of his father. The family didn’t speak of him. I figured he must have been dead for several years.

  “I get my interest in magic from him. He made me believe that anything I dreamed could be possible. We tracked footprints of those who had traveled before us and I learned much in those five days.”

  “Sounds like you had a wonderful father.”

  “He is a great man.”

  “Is?” No time like the present to find out if big daddy’s alive
or dead.

  Azir gave me a strange look.

  “I’m sorry. I thought your father died.”

  “No. He’s been away for the last year. Several of the Bedouin tribes in the north have land disputes. He travels around settling arguments. My father is greatly respected among his tribe.”

  “And he left you to run the family business?”

  “He never cared for it.” Azir sighed and stood. He reached out a hand to help me up off the bench. “His heart was never in it and when the opportunity arose for him to go, it turned out best for everyone.”

  Something wistful in his voice made me wonder if life would have been different for the sheik had his father hung around.

  “Can I ask something else?”

  Those brown eyes honed in on my face. “Yes.”

  “If your father hadn’t left the business, what would you be doing?”

  “Teaching.”

  Okay, talk about the last thing I expected to hear. “What would you teach?”

  “There are many wonderful things about my country, but raising individuals with open minds is not one of them. Some blame our faith, but our faith is open to all and much more accepting than most would think.” He paced the small path in the garden. His mood intensified as the passion rose in his voice.

  “In many ways I’m jealous of you. You live in a place where being different is a good thing. People in America have so many options. And that is what I want for my country.”

  Yes, we’re all so accepting that some jerk’s put a bounty on my head. “There’s good and bad that goes along with that. Child and spousal abuse and crimes are at an all-time high. And the homeless problem is beyond belief.

  “Teaching is a noble profession, Sheik. But look at the difference between crime here and there. You won’t find any here, because it’s almost nonexistent in your country. And while we do have the freedom to express ourselves, it isn’t the rosy picture you imagine.” I shrugged.

  “Oh, I know of what you speak. It’s far from perfect but there are opportunities there for most who seek them. It’s not for myself that I want these things. I send my sister to school there with the hope that she will stay and have a life she could never imagine here.”