by Sue Swift
He wondered how he could have her, discreetly and privately. Not at La Torchere, not with Jerome Carrington and Marta Hunter around.
As they danced, part of Kamar’s mind began composing a letter to his father accepting the ambassadorship from Zohra-zbel to the United States. He could easily imagine Selina’s naked body gracing a big bed in the ambassador’s residence.
Chapter Eleven
Ignoring the ache from her sore, arthritic hip, Merry Montrose hurried along the garden path, trying to keep Kamar Asad and Selina Carrington within earshot. These young people don’t appreciate their good health, she was thinking. When they’re my age—
She stopped herself short, remembering that she was their age, though trapped in an old broad’s body. But not for long, she promised herself.
Nothing wrong with her hearing, fortunately…
Rats and monkeys. They were planning to go parasailing! No, no, no. That was all wrong. She didn’t want one of them flying through the air while the other waited on the beach. She wanted them together, falling in love and getting married.
But what would stop them?
Tipping back her head, she scrutinized a small, puffy cloud leisurely floating high in the blue, blue sky. She smiled at it, wiggling her left index finger.
The cloud puffed up a little more.
Merry increased the speed and diameter of her circular finger wiggle. The little cloud became a big cloud, crossing the sun.
Ducking behind a bush, she stretched her arms above her head and murmured, “Little cloud, you’ve made me proud. Give us rain, make us…make us…”
Make us what? Why couldn’t she think of a decent rhyme for rain? She rubbed her aching hip. Pain came first to mind, but pain was bad.
Drain? With her bad luck, all the drains in the resort would flood. Brain? Show us your brain?
To heck with it. “Just give us some rain, all right?” she snapped.
The cloud obliged with a soft, misty drizzle.
Not bad, she thought, considering that her spell wasn’t worthy of even an apprentice little witchie. Continuing along the path that Selina and Kamar had taken, Merry hoped that her meager spell-casting abilities would be enough.
Selina lifted her face to the heavens. “It’s raining, Kam,” she breathed. “Maybe there’ll be a rainbow.”
He slipped his arm around her. “But no parasailing. What, then, do you want to do today?”
“Well, it can’t be anything outdoors.”
“I can think of something to do indoors. In my suite. In bed.”
She scowled. “You know my views on casual sex.”
“It’s not casual. We’re engaged.”
“And that would be soooo fun with my grandfather around.”
“He’s playing with Emma.” Kam nuzzled her neck.
She giggled. “How about we take the ferry to town, do some sight-seeing, shopping?”
“Lunch?”
“Sure.”
“Let’s also take a drive. I rented a Porsche at the airport that will bring tears to your pretty blue eyes.” He took her arm in a warm, possessive grip.
“Why would you want me to cry?”
“So I can kiss away your delicious tears and offer you the comfort of my manly arm.” He winked.
She sniffed. “Why are you being so romantic?”
“We’re engaged. You’re beautiful. And that pest from the National Devourer is behind us. Bloody hell,” he added under his breath.
Selina turned. “So she is. I also see the resort manager. I figured the show couldn’t be for me.” She shook her elbow, trying to get free.
Kam resisted. “Oh, but it is. Remember, you’re beautiful.”
She sniffed again.
His smile flattered. “Please don’t tell me that you’re one of those phony, modest girls, or a painfully insecure neurotic.”
“I plead guilty. I am a painfully insecure neurotic and proud of it.”
“Proud?”
“I come by my neuroses honestly.”
His face fell. “Yes, you did.” He’d dropped his bantering tone. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have teased you.”
“It’s all right. I’ve learned to live with it.”
“Live with it? Perhaps. You survived by growing a shell like a dinosaur egg. But beneath, as you say, you’re still a frightened kid.”
He’s listening to me, she thought. This is good. “Yep, that’s about the size of it.” She managed a cocky tilt of her chin.
Kam draped a friendly arm over her shoulders. “Well, I know what kids like.”
“What?” she asked with suspicion.
He grinned. “Fast cars.”
She grinned back. “Let’s go upstairs and change.”
“I like this bikini,” he said, turning her around.
“What’s so special about it? I’ve been wearing it all week.”
“Do you hear me complaining? It shows lots of your skin.”
“Oh, there’s nothing unusual about my skin.”
He squeezed her closer and bent his head to nibble on her earlobe. “Yes, there is. It belongs to a goddess.”
Laughing, she shook her head as they entered the hotel. “You don’t miss a chance, do you?”
To Selina’s dismay, a bug-green P.T. Cruiser followed Kam’s Porsche onto the ferry. A familiar but unwelcome figure sat behind the wheel. “What’s she doing here?” she demanded of Kamar.
He glanced in his rearview mirror. “She is doing her job.”
“Why do we have to be her job?”
“It’s me, goddess, not you. I apologize.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” She lifted her chin. “I refuse to let her spoil our day.”
“That’s the spirit!” Kam set the parking brake and got out of the car.
Selina fiddled with her seat belt, wondering if he’d open her door.
He did, asking, “Has the safety belt broken?”
Caught. She blushed. “No, I’m just a little fumble fingered this morning.”
“Then fumble with my fingers.” He caught her hand, casting a glance at the green car behind them. He swung Selina into his arms. “Let’s give the old witch a little kissy face.”
“Sure.” Selina lightly rubbed her lips on his, keeping eye contact even when he slid his hand into her hair to bring her closer, deepening the kiss. He slipped his arms around her waist beneath her T-shirt.
More delightful shivers. She could get addicted to this man if she wasn’t careful.
Before she was quite ready to stop, he released her. Despite her determination to not get involved, she felt a little…bereft when he let her go.
His dark eyes smiled. “Let’s go topside and get a coffee.”
After the ferry docked in town, Kam drove Selina to the city center. There, clustered around a central square, were the county government buildings as well as a museum and shops.
Selina consulted a tour guide she’d snagged on the ferry. “It says here that the city hall, which also functions as the county seat, is a historic building dating from 1809 and renovated in the 1930s as a Works Project Administration program.”
“Let’s go in.” Kam held open one of city hall’s carved double doors.
Selina stepped inside. “Oh, look at this.” The walls were covered by detailed murals depicting the history of Loveland County.
A flash distracted her, and she turned. Marta Hunter stood in the doorway, lowering her camera.
Irritation scraped Selina’s nerves. Advancing, she snapped, “Are you stalking us?”
Hunter shrugged. “You’re news. And a shot of the prince and his fiancée applying for a marriage license could be worth a lot.”
“We aren’t here to pad your wallet.” Selina planted her hands on her hips. “Would you mind leaving us alone? How can I get to know this man if you’re constantly on our butts?”
Without answering, Hunter slunk around Selina to a bench, evidently planning to linger.
Kam said to Selina, “What happened to your PR? That wasn’t very diplomatic.”
“There’s a time for everything, even rudeness, and I am not getting a marriage license. That’s going too far.”
“Just getting the application? That would convince her that we’re serious. Perhaps she would then let us alone.”
Selina eyed Hunter. “Maybe you’re right. It has to be filled out and sent back in, doesn’t it?”
They went in to the county recorder’s office. After they showed their IDs, a clerk typed their names onto the form and gave it to Selina. As she left, she marched over to Hunter and waved it. “Here it is! Satisfied?”
“Thank you, Lord above.” Hunter whipped out her camera and took a photo.
“Don’t thank Him,” Selina snapped. “God has nothing to do with this. As far as we’re concerned, you can go straight to hell and check in with your boss, the devil. Are you going to let us alone now?”
“At least until my story’s filed.” Hunter dashed toward the door.
Chapter Twelve
With Hunter busy filing her story, Selina and Kam spent a pleasant day touring south Florida. Kam hadn’t lied about his rental car. Selina, who didn’t own a car and hadn’t known how to drive a manual transmission, had spent the afternoon learning. After an hour, she liked the Porsche so much that she and Kam had to negotiate to divide driving responsibilities.
They returned to the resort well after sundown. To their surprise, a small welcoming committee stood on the dock to greet them: Marta Hunter, camera in hand, and another woman Selina didn’t recognize.
“Ixzit.” Kam braked, then stopped the Porsche.
“What? What does izzit mean?”
“Ixzit. It is a mild expletive, like your darn or damn. But never mind that. Look there.”
“What?” Selina asked, craning her head to look past him to the pair on the wharf. “Marta Hunter here to say hello? Oh well. I’m kinda getting used to her. Besides, I’ve had such a good day I refuse to get upset about her.”
“I am not bothered by Hunter, but that other lady is the resort manager.”
“Why would she be here?” Selina’s breath caught in her throat. “Do you suppose that there’s something wrong with Grandpa Jerry?”
Kam unrolled his window. “Ms. Montrose, what a, uh, pleasant surprise. All is well with Mr. Carrington?”
“I believe so,” the older woman said. “I last saw him eating supper with Emma Forsythe.”
Selina noticed that Ms. Montrose held herself stiffly, as though her back or her hips pained her. Poor lady, Selina thought. Aging must be hell if you’re in poor health.
The resort manager continued, “I heard from Marta Hunter that you picked up a marriage license at the courthouse today.”
“Just a formality.” Kam shrugged.
“Would you mind telling me if you signed it?”
“No.” Kam handed it over.
“Can you do so?” She handed it back with a pen.
“What for?” Selina asked.
“It doesn’t mean anything unless it’s signed.”
“It’s not supposed to mean anything,” Selina murmured.
Kam’s cell phone rang. As he pulled it out and thumbed a button, he said, “Just sign the wretched thing, all right? Perhaps then all these people will leave us alone.” Kam signed, then handed the paper and the pen to Selina while Hunter’s camera flashed. He then returned to his phone call, conducting a voluble exchange in Arabic.
While Selina signed her name, she noticed that the resort manager had become officious and more than a little irritating. What was the deal, anyhow?
Finally, she and Kam—still on his cell phone— finished answering a bunch of annoying questions, signed everything, and they were free to go. When he’d finished his call, she asked, “What the heck was all that about, anyhow?”
“The phone call? They just wanted to know—”
“No, not the phone call,” she said, exasperated.
“Oh, Montrose and Hunter.” He put the Porsche into gear. “I’m not sure. Security, I would think. Since 9/11 you Americans have correctly instituted many new security procedures.”
“Jerry and I didn’t go through that when we came here,” Selina grumbled.
“Perhaps they forgot, and are now making up for it.”
“You’re probably right. Hey, I’m hungry. How about some dinner?”
Kamar looked her over. “You’re not exactly dressed for it.” She was wearing her floppy canvas hat, a T-shirt, wrinkled capris and her three-inch platform sandals. He had to admit that the shoes were growing on him.
“Yeah,” she said. “Like you’re so formal.”
“It’s the Marlins’ cap,” Kamar said, stopping in front of the hotel.
“Or the Florida Is for Lovers T-shirt.”
“I think it is most appropriate.” Kamar winked at Selina as a valet opened her door.
She waited until Kam walked around the car to her, then asked, “How about a burger by the pool? Then we don’t have to change.”
“But you have looked so beautiful for our dinners.”
“I’m tired of playing dress-up every night.”
“It is so flattering, the trouble you go to.”
“It’s because I’m insecure.”
“You shouldn’t be.” He took her hand as they went into the hotel.
“Maybe not. Um, how about that burger?”
“A burger it is, then our walk.”
“We can dance, too. Think they’ll play ‘Unforgettable’ for us?”
The next day dawned sunny and hot. After Kam took Selina parasailing, which she found exhilarating but exhausting, they went to their respective suites to relax before dinner.
She showered and put on a terry robe. Before she lay down for a much-needed rest, she looked out the window to see Jerry seated next to Emma Forsythe on lounge chairs by the pool. Both sipped umbrella drinks and appeared delighted with life.
“Good for you, Grandpa Jerry,” Selina murmured as she curled up on the sofa for a nap.
She was roused by banging on the suite door. Blinking, she raised her head. Long sunbeams slanted through the window, so she guessed it was late in the afternoon. She staggered to the door and, recognizing Kam’s voice calling her name, opened it.
“Wha—what?” She rubbed her temples. Could she be hallucinating? Kam, clad only in boxer shorts, was at her door, hair standing on end. The naked chest was good; his frantic disarray wasn’t.
He waved a paper. “We could be in a lot of trouble.”
“What? Did the deal fall through?”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with the house. This is about us.”
“Us?” Selina grabbed the paper. It was the same one they’d picked up at the courthouse the day before, but now the marriage license was stamped FILED in big, official looking letters.
“Ixzit. Where did you get this?”
“It arrived by special messenger a few minutes ago.” He strode into the suite, pacing back and forth. “We’re married.”
“No way.”
“Look at it! It’s a Florida marriage license. We both signed it and now it’s filed.”
Willing herself to remain in control, Selina examined the document. Her heart lurched. “You’re right. Check this out. A judge made it official after a notary signed it. Who’s Meredith Montrose?”
“She’s the resort manager. What does she have to do with this?”
“She’s the notary.” Selina caught her breath, a little dizzy. “That witch. She must be in league with Hunter. Hunter always seems to know what we’re doing and where we’re going. Montrose must be telling her. Do you remember that they were both at the dock last night, asking questions and taking pictures?”
“They married us without our knowledge or consent.” Kam slammed a fist into the nearest wall.
“Damn. What if your father finds out?”
“Exactly what I was thinking.”
“We have to get this annulled as soon as possible.”
He visibly calmed. “Yes, we can do that, can’t we?”
“Sure. It’s no big deal, is it?”
His gaze shifted. “I suppose not.”
“It really isn’t. It’s a, a mix-up, that’s all. We’ll get it straightened out in the morning.”
“Yes, you are right.” Kam backed out of the suite. “I will skip dinner with you tonight, Selina, all right? I will spend the time checking on how to get this annulled.”
“Wait! Tomorrow’s Saturday. Nothing will be open. And, until the house deal’s done, maybe we shouldn’t start any paperwork.”
He paused. “That is so. The positive aspect is that no one will suspect that I am buying the ambassador’s residence. But I must think on how to handle this. I am not hungry for dinner, Selina. I will see you later, perhaps.”
Kamar left, wondering if Selina or her grandfather had anything to do with what had happened, but immediately dismissed the possibility that she was involved. He’d come to know Selina and her moods. Though she liked to play games, flirt and tease, she was incapable of this brand of deception. She’d looked truly startled, even a little shaky, when confronted with the document.
Her grandfather, though…Kamar brooded. He wouldn’t be surprised if the old man had helped that pair of witches, Hunter and Montrose, to create this fiasco. Jerry had initially suggested the fake engagement, hadn’t he? And then persuaded his granddaughter and Kamar to take part in it.
Returning to his suite, Kamar chewed on his lower lip. He’d been a fool, sucked into a scam that was very serious. He might be able to feign a casual attitude about this unexpected marriage to Selina, but in his life, marriage was a serious business. Kamar remembered when his brother had become betrothed to a young Saudi princess, Amira, who’d brought wealth and connections to the House of Zohra-zbel. The negotiations had taken more than a year, and the wedding had been a major event in the political lives of both nations.
Aware he was a valuable commodity to his country, Kamar expected a similar hubbub to surround his nuptials, though not at the level that had attended his brother’s wedding. But this unplanned union with Selina Carrington could spoil his value as a marriage prospect to many of the notoriously selective Arabian royals.
