Hey, its safer than flying around a Formula One race course at two hundred miles per hour.
She snorted. Not in my book.
Well, its a lot safer than navigating a room full of social-climbing, money-lusting, crown-seeking women looking to trap me into marriage.
You have a point there. Her grin faded. How can you joke around at a time like this?
He shrugged, an elegant movement of his broad, athletic shoulders. How can I not? I prefer laughter over the alternative. By the way, he added casually, if youd like to drop your veil while youre in here with me, I wont tell on you.
Surprised by the offer, she gazed at him searchingly. Funny, but she was shy about showing him her face. Would he think she was too forward if she took off her veil? Oh, for heavens sake. The guyd lived in England since he was a kid! He was perfectly accustomed to western women. If anything, it must be strange to him to see women all covered by veils.
Please, he murmured. Give me a pretty face to think about as I languish here waiting for my luck to run out.
Was she pretty? She wasnt exactly ugly, but shed never been overly concerned with her looks. She wore decent clothes and put on makeup when she thought a camera crew might be lurking outside her apartment, but that was about it. This man was no doubt used to looking at exotic, gorgeous supermodels.
Had she detected a hint of desperation in his lightly voiced request? She cast a glance around the medieval dungeon. He must be going crazy staring at these featureless and depressing walls in near-total darkness. It was a simple enough thing to grant the poor guy. She reached up and removed the safety pin securing the end of the veil but blinked in surprise when he brushed her hand aside and reached for the veil himself. The black silk caressed her cheek as he slowly lifted the panel of fabric aside.
Why showing this guy her face should be a big deal, she had no idea. But here she was, holding her breath like some Moorish virgin on her wedding night. Sheesh. She risked a glance up at him. A faint smile curved his lips as he regarded her like a connoisseur observing fine art.
Lovely, he breathed. He let the silk slide from his fingers to trail down over her breasts.
She shrugged, embarrassed. I suppose. If you go for that wholesome all-American look.
He laughed lightly. You must rememberin this part of the world, your blond hair and blue eyes are exotic. Very few women here share your coloring. He chuckled and added, Admittedly Ive spent most of my life in England. But to my eye, most people there are one shade or another of paste-white. Your tan is a nice departure from that. And you have extraordinary bones.
Bones? Uh, okay. If he said so. He was the connoisseur, after all. And as for being exotic, shed never thought of herself that way. Belatedly it occurred to her that if shed been in a bar and hed said that, shed have blown off his observation as a pickup line.
Whats your first name, Miss McMann? he asked.
Katy.
Is it just Katy or is that short for something?
My real names Katrina, but Ive always hated it.
Its a beautiful name, like its owner. But if you insist, I shall call you by your so very American nickname.
Why in the hell did his blatant flattery knock her off balance like this? Aspiring young lawyers hit on her all the time, trying to get an introduction to the legendary McMann clan. And of course, there were the fortune seekers who mistakenly thought she lived off her brothers wealth. And then there were the occasional jerks whod hit on anything in skirts.
She mumbled, What should I call you?
He grinned. Under the circumstances, wed better stick with Prisoner 1806. Or Akbar, he added.
She looked up, startled at the dry humor in his voice. His stunning eyes sparkled like twenty-four-karat gold. No doubt about it, this guy was a lady-killer.
He spoke in an intimate tone pitched for her ears alone. Thank you for coming back to see me today and thank you for not betraying my identity. I owe you my life.
His face was partially hidden in deep shadows. Beneath his swollen bruises and the big white bandage over his nose, she caught a glimpse of the man he normally wasa man so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him.
Dang, she murmured. No wonder youre on the list of the worlds most eligible bachelors.
Oops. Had she just said that aloud? Oh, God. She had. She watched in dismay as he threw his head back and let out a rich laugh.