He wore the same white coveralls, although they were clean this time. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes and it appeared he had lost some weight. But an easy smile tugged at his mouth when he saw her. As he approached her bed, he held out a small bouquet of violets. “Here, these are for you.”
Shyly, Kelly reached out, her fingers making contact with his hand. “Thank you,” she whispered, unable to meet his burning gaze.
Sam drew up a chair and sat down. “You look better, Kelly.”
“The flowers, Sam…they’re beautiful. Where…how did you get them?”
A faint smile crossed his exhausted features. “They have a few florist shops here in Abu Dhabi, you know. Just because we’re in a desert, that doesn’t mean nothing grows.” He squeezed her hand gently. “How are you feeling?”
She gave a slight shrug. “Would it sound bold if I said I was missing you?”
“No,” he answered slowly. “In fact, I’ve missed you too, my redhaired witch.” He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. The silence lengthened between them as he studied her thin features. “I damn near lost you, Kelly,” he said huskily. “The evening we flew you in here, they said you didn’t stand a chance. No one gave you any hope except Coots and I.” He became more sober. “I’ve never prayed so hard in my life, Kelly.” He allowed his hand to drop from her chin. “In fact, I never prayed much before seven days ago,” he admitted.
Tears surged to her eyes. “Oh, Sam,” she cried.
He got to his feet, bent over and held her for a long, long moment. Kelly’s tears flowed down her cheeks and she lifted her face, longing to feel the warmth of his body against her own. “Hold me,” she whispered. “Just hold me, Sam.”
“Forever, if you want,” he said huskily next to her ear. His voice had cracked and tears flowed down his cheeks, soaking into her beautiful copper-colored hair. He stroked her silken hair, shutting his eyes tightly, resting his head against her. For long moments he gently massaged her back and shoulders in a movement meant to relax her. For this moment she was a part of him no matter what the future might hold.
Finally, Kelly raised her head. A smile touched her wet lips as she reached up, drying his tears with the palm of her hand. “I…I’ve never seen a man cry before, Sam,” she noted, her voice thick, raspy. It left her shaken, touched beyond words. A strange, fluttering sensation pulsed in her heart as she realized that Sam’s tears were a sign of true strength and not a weakness. He was secure enough in his masculinity to entrust his gentle side to her. The revelation humbled Kelly as nothing else had in her life.
Sam pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her so she could dry her flushed cheeks. “Some things in life are worth crying over, honey,” he returned gently. “Like you, for instance.”
She lowered her lashes, and when she raised them there was a glint of laughter in her eyes. “What’s this about my being Mrs. Tyler?”
Sam’s grin matched her own. “Why? Don’t you like the sound of it? Kelly Tyler has a more adventurous ring to it than Kelly Blanchard.”
She knotted the handkerchief between her slender fingers, unable to speak. The idea of being his wife created a warm glow in her heart. “Don’t tell me I said, ‘I do’ when I was dying. I know! Someone gave me the last rites and you decided to marry me for my millions, right?” she teased.
He became sober. “You’re close,” he murmured. “The father was here and he did give you the last rites, Kelly.”
Her heart plummeted. “No…” My God, had she truly almost died?
“I might tease you about many things, but I’d never lie to you, honey. The priest gave you the last rites while I was holding your hand. Coots was here too.”
She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “And the rest of it?” she asked softly.
“My idea. We don’t know how much influence Sheik Hassad holds here in Abu Dhabi. If he thought about stealing you again, he might think twice if you had a Mrs. tacked onto your name.” An irrepressible smile lurked in his azure eyes. “What if I had married you? What would you have done?”
Kelly raised her chin, meeting his gaze. “My only regret would be that we hadn’t given each other a proper amount of time to get to know one another,” she admitted.
Sam pursed his mouth. “Ahh, my redhaired witch has a grain of common sense after all.”
“I came by it the hard way, Sam. I married Todd on the spur of the moment and lived to regret it. I spent four years in hell and I don’t ever want to duplicate that mistake.”
He gave a nod of his head. “Well put.” He sighed. “And I agree, time does make the difference.”
“Mr. Tyler?” the nurse called from the door. “I’m sorry, time’s up for this evening.”
Sam frowned, slowly rising. He reached out and touched her hair in a wistful motion. “Listen, I’m in town for the weekend. I’ll write down the hotel and room number where I’m staying. If you feel up to it, call me later and we’ll talk more of what happened.”
“And then what? What about my pipe? How is it holding up?” she asked.
Sam shook his head. “I don’t believe it. You’ve damn near just died and here you are asking how your pipe’s holding up.” His eyes grew misty for a moment. “You’re quite a lady, you know that? And to answer your hardheaded business question, your pipe is doing just fine. We’ve got the water going through at high pressure now and it’s working like a champ. Satisfied?”
She rested her cheek against his callused hand. “Yes,” she murmured. “Come and see me tomorrow?”
Sam leaned down, his breath warm against her face. “Wild horses won’t stop me,” he promised huskily. He claimed her parted, waiting lips, felt her heated response. But, fearing he would hurt her, he eased the pressure and reluctantly drew away. “Be sure to have the nurse put those violets in water, honey. And every time you look at them, think of me.”
* * *
Kelly was standing in the solarium of the hospital when Sam arrived the next evening. She was dressed in a light cotton gown and matching robe of pale green, a gift from Sam. Her hair, unbound and free, made her look as wild and free as the mustangs he had seen on the dry Texas panhandle. Sam halted at the entrance, admiring her as she stood near the window that overlooked the city. He could see that she was almost herself again.
“You know you’re causing a riot walking up and down the halls like that?” he asked, watching her turn. A jolt of pleasure coursed through him as he saw the surprise in her emerald eyes change to unabashed happiness.
Joy surged through Kelly and she went into his waiting arms, pressing her body fully against him. “Sam,” she whispered breathlessly. She didn’t care what he thought. It had been a long, boring day and she had missed him terribly. If he was surprised by her spontaneity, he took it in stride. His arms wrapped around her slender form, crushing her against him.
“I’ve missed you,” he growled. “Come here,” he ordered. He kissed her slowly and as he traced the outline of her lips, he felt her melt against him. He invaded the sweet depths of her mouth. A soft moan rose in her throat and he reveled in her uninhibited passion. Kelly broke away first, her laughter the tinkle of bells as she looked up at him. Her eyes…He groaned to himself. Her eyes were shining with life as never before. And he knew he was partly responsible for it.
“I thought you’d never get here!” she confided, taking his hands and pulling him from the solarium to the adjacent tiled balcony.
“Oh?” he asked, allowing himself to be tugged along. “Where are you taking me?”
Kelly laughed. The fresh salt air from the Persian Gulf lifted strands of hair from her shoulders as she rested her elbows on the balustrade. “Look, Sam! Isn’t it beautiful? The salt air. The minarets! I never realized how beautiful this city was.” She turned to him, gazing up into his handsome, craggy features. In the last twenty-four hours a miracle had occurred. No longer did Sam look exhausted. The tautness of his skin was gone. There was color in his face, hi
s blue eyes were lively with humor once again.
“You’re certainly feeling your oats tonight,” he noted with a careless grin. “What’s the occasion?”
“The doctors are releasing me. They’ve given me a clean bill of health.” She giggled like a schoolgirl. “I think I’m driving them all crazy! I pace my room. I pace the halls. I can’t speak Arabic.”
Sam reached over, drawing her into the crook of his arm. “You’re getting restless.”
Kelly nodded. “I’ve made a decision, Sam.”
“You have?”
“Yes. I’m going to fly back on that helicopter with you tomorrow morning.”
His brows drew together and he put her at arm’s length. “What are you talking about?” he growled.
Kelly braced herself. “I’m going back to the blowout, Sam. No one’s recorded any data on that pipe. I need at least one week to put together some sort of rest results to see—”
“Dammit!” he exploded, gripping her shoulders. “I won’t allow it!”
Kelly stood stunned, openmouthed. His fingers were like brands on her arms.
“Now you look here,” he ground out softly. “Hassad is still in the area. We’ve got reported terrorist activity which is keeping him busy chasing them, but he’ll be back. It’s hotter than hell out there right now, Kelly. You suffered a sunstroke. A sunstroke can kill you. We don’t have facilities at the site to take care of you if you have a relapse.”
She drew herself up and stepped away from him. “I’ll be okay, Sam.” Her voice took on a new note of stubbornness. “You forget, my life doesn’t begin and end in this desert. I have a multimillion-dollar business to salvage when I get back home, providing Blanchard pipe withstands the tests this time.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Sam…don’t you see? Whether I want to or not, I’ve got to go back out there! I’m scared. Yes, I’m scared as hell. Every time I think of Hassad I…I…”
Sam swore, his eyes black with anger. “You damn near got raped! Not to mention getting kidnapped! And you want to go back on site and invite his advances again? Where is your brain, Kelly?”
“I’ll wear a pistol on me at all times! If I see Hassad, I’ll shoot him myself!” she flung back. “I’m going and that’s all there is to it!”
His nostrils flared in silent fury as he glared at her. “Okay,” he finally muttered, “have it your way. I’ll be back in ten minutes.” He turned on his heel and stalked off the terrace.
Kelly trembled, suddenly cold even though the evening was warm. She saw the mixture of hurt, anger and anguish in his eyes. She heard it in his voice. Shutting her eyes tightly, Kelly turned, hugging the balustrade for security. She loved him. God, how much she loved that man! But her father’s reputation was at stake. She had to tough it out no matter how frightened she really felt down inside. She acknowledged her fear of Hassad. But she wouldn’t allow fear to stop her.
She was walking slowly back to her room when she saw Sam stalking toward her. His face was set and taciturn as he approached her.
“Come on,” he ordered tightly. “You’re coming with me.” His fingers closed about her arm and he forced her along with him.
Despite her protests, Sam hauled Kelly back into her room. Her only suitcase had been thrown unceremoniously on top of the bed and opened. Sam slammed the door, breathing hard. “Now you get dressed and pack whatever articles you want to bring with you,” he ordered.
She glared at him, hands resting imperiously on her hips. “Just who the hell do you think you are?” she shouted. “I’m not taking orders from you!”
“You don’t have any option,” he breathed angrily. “Now you either get dressed or I’ll haul you out of here just like you are.”
Kelly blinked. He was serious. “Where are we going?”
“To my hotel room.”
She opened her mouth and then shut it. “Your room?”
“That’s right. You’ll stay in my sight until tomorrow morning.”
Kelly tensed. “And then?”
“Then I’m putting you on a plane going Stateside.”
Her green eyes narrowed. He was serious. Controlling her initial burst of anger, she considered her options. One look at his set features convinced her he meant to carry through with his plan whether she cooperated or not. “Give me ten minutes, will you? I don’t want you standing there staring at me while I dress!”
A crooked smile fled across he mouth. “Okay, ten minutes. But if you’re not ready—”
“I’ll be ready! Just get out of here, Sam Tyler!”
There was a continued tension between them as they took a taxi to the Hilton Hotel. Kelly sat stiffly in one corner of the cab. Sam sat infuriatingly silent in the other corner. He took a grip on her arm once they arrived at the hotel, and in the elevator, he slid his arm around her waist even though there were five other passengers with them. He wouldn’t put it past Kelly to try to slip out on another floor and leave him empty-handed.
Once in his room, he locked the door and put the key in his pocket. She stood there, devastatingly beautiful and absolutely furious. He placed her suitcase on a small bureau.
“You might as well get comfortable,” he growled. “You aren’t going anywhere until eight a.m. tomorrow morning.”
Kelly’s eyes rounded with disbelief. “Like to tell me where I’m going at eight a.m.?”
Sam congratulated himself with a slight smile. He walked over to the small refrigerator and drew out a bottle of chilled champagne. “You’re booked on a flight for Houston. I intend to make sure you’re on board.”
“You bastard!” she breathed. “I won’t allow anyone to run my life for me.”
He gave her a cool glance and popped the cork on the bottle. “Under ordinary circumstances, I’d agree with you.” He poured the frothy liquid into two glasses. “Has it ever entered your mind that I care about keeping your skin in one piece even if you don’t?”
“It’s my skin and you don’t own me!”
“I’d never want to own you, Kelly. But I would hope that you trust my intentions where you’re concerned enough to listen to my judgment.”
She gave him a frosty stare. He was so damn sure of himself. And of her. In the back of her mind she knew that he was only doing what he thought best. But right now, that was secondary.
“My decision-making process is not faulty, Sam! I told you, I’m scared to go back there but—”
“Duty calls?” he finished, handing her the glass.
Kelly placed the champagne on the coffee table. “I owe you my life,” she breathed, “but I meant it when I said you can’t run it for me, Sam.”
He met her fiery gaze. “I’m collecting on that debt today,” he said. “I’m asking for one day of your time in exchange for your life.” His voice hardened. “That’s my demand. And that’s the way it’ll be, Kelly.”
Sam caught her arm as she tried to slap him. Calmly he put his glass down, then returned all his attention to her. He couldn’t be angry at her outburst. He would have felt the same. He captured her in his arms. “Calm down,” he growled. “You’ve got nothing to be angry over. I’m doing you a favor.”
Kelly muttered a string of expletives that raised even his eyebrows. “You damn roughneck! Let me go! I’ll show you! No one runs my life for me! You hear me, Sam Tyler! Oh,” she cried, realizing it was useless to struggle, “damn you…damn…”
Sam ran his fingers through her reddish gold hair. “You’re such a Texas wildcat,” he murmured. “A real hellion of the first order.”
Kelly struggled briefly once more, wildly aware of his body. She refused to meet his searching blue eyes. “Let me go,” she demanded breathlessly.
Sam changed position, smiling silently. “And let you nail me with a right hook?”
“I won’t try to hit you again,” she gritted out.
He enjoyed the rise and fall of her breasts beneath the simple white blouse she wore. Her nostrils were flared with indignation, her hair in disarray and still
her stubbornness continued unabated. “I think it’s about time someone tried to gentle you,” he murmured, catching her startled look. He stroked her flushed cheek with the back of his hand. “Tamed,” he whispered huskily, “not broken. Now come here and quit fighting me.”
Kelly swallowed her protests as his mouth moved lightly across her lips in a breath-stealing kiss. It was a kiss meant to inflame, arouse and coax. His mouth moved with skilled assurance, teasing, outlining her lips. A moan broke from her throat even as she tried to free herself. His mouth hardened, taking charge of her, forcing her to give in to the fire that licked through her body. She was starving for his touch, and the feel of his well-muscled body against her own made her ache with need. Suddenly, all the danger Kelly had faced in the past week melted away beneath his skillful hands. Hadn’t this been what she had wanted all along? To love and be loved by Sam Tyler?
The ache of desire intensified as his hand lightly caressed her taut, straining breast. The nipple hardened beneath his coaxing. “Love me, Sam. Please, love me. I need you so…”
A curious flame flickered in his eyes as he stared down at her. “I’ve been dreaming of loving you since the day I met you,” he breathed hoarsely. “I almost lost you, Kelly. I won’t lose you again,” he whispered against her lips.
She closed her eyes as he lifted her off her feet and into his arms. He gently placed her on the bed and proceeded to undress her. His hands, so large, scarred and callused, gently caressed her as if she were a fragile, priceless treasure. She felt his fingers tremble as he removed her blouse. As the lacy bra slipped away, he grazed her breasts with his palm. A soft sigh of pleasure escaped from her. She leaned upward, placing small, fiery kisses from his jaw, down his corded neck to the wiry hair on his broad chest. His groan vibrated through her being. Sam made her feel more womanly than she ever had before.
He nudged the slacks off her hips and she shivered with delight as his hands roved down the length of her legs. Each touch added fuel to the fire, building her need of him into a near frenzy. He leaned over, placing feathery kisses across her stomach while removing the panties. His long fingers traced her beautifully formed thighs, parting them, caressing the heated place between. She moaned his name, her breasts rising and falling with shallow gasps as he eased his bulk across her body. Placing his knee between her thighs, he sought out her gaze.
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