Well, arent you going to open it? demanded Lara. Dont you want to know who theyre from?
I know exactly who theyre from, said Rose slowly. Khalim sent them.
You cant know that!
Oh, yes, I can. She gave a wry smile. I may have had a few sweet and charming boyfriends, but not one who would spend this much on a bunch of flowers. But curiosity got the better of her, and she ripped the envelope open to find her hopes and her fears confirmed.
The message was beautifully and arrogantly stark.
The yellow is for your hair; the blue for the sapphire of your eyes. I will collect you at noon. Khalim.
Oh, my goodness! How utterly, utterly romantic! squeaked Lara, who was busy looking over her shoulder.
You think so? asked Rose tonelessly.
Well, Id be in absolute heaven if I got flowers like these from a man! And what a masterful message! Youd better get a move on!
But Rose wasnt listening. What a cheek! she exploded as her eyes roved over the message again. How dare he just assume that he can tell me a time and Ill be meekly sitting here waiting, like a lamb to the slaughter?
But you arent going out anywhere else today, are you? asked Lara in a puzzled voice.
That isnt the point!
Well, what is the point?
The point is that I dont want to go out with him!
Dont you? Honestly?
Honesty was a bit more difficult. Rose had worked hard on her independence and her sense of self-possessionboth qualities which she suspected Khalim could vanquish with the ease of a man who had sensual power untold at his fingertips.
A tiny bit of me does, she admitted, and saw Laras face go all mushy. But the rest of me is quite adamant that he would be nothing but bad news!
Lara sighed. So what are you going to do? Tell him that to his face? Or just pretend to be out when he calls? She brightened a little. I could go instead, if you like!
Rose was unprepared for the shaft of jealousy which whipped through her with lightning speed. She shook her head. Im a realist, she said proudly. Not a coward. If I turn Khalim down again, then hell just up the anteand I am not prepared to be bombarded with charm and expensive trinkets.
And wouldnt he just wear her down anyway?
Hes the kind of man who thrives on the chase, she said slowly. The kind of man who isnt used to being rejectedits probably a first for him!
So what, then?
Little shivers of excitement rippled down Roses spine as a decision formed in her mind. Ill go, she said, in a voice which wasnt quite steady. And Ill convince him that Im not the sort of woman he wants.
What sort of woman is that? asked Lara, mystified.
A temporary concubine! said Rose, and then, seeing Laras expression of mystification grow even deeper, added, Someone who will live with him as his wife, until he tires of her, and then on to the next!
You dont sound as though you like him very much, said Lara thoughtfully.
And that was just the trouble. She didnt. And yet she did. Though how could she form any kind of opinion about the man, when she didnt really know him at all? She was simply sexually captivated by a man who exuded an animal magnetism which was completely foreign to her.
Im going to go and get ready, she said, looking down at her faded jeans.
What shall I do with the flowers?
At the door, Rose turned and smiled. Ill forgo the obvious suggestion! You keep them, Lara, she added kindly, and went back into her bedroom to change.
At least her wardrobe was adequate enough to cope with most thingseven something like this. Her job meant that she had to look smart or glamorous whenever the occasion beckoned. Though an outing with a prince was so far outside her experience!
Still, a midday assignation was unlikely to call for much in the way of glitter, and she deliberately chose her most expensive and understated outfit. A demure shirt-dress in chalky-blue linen. It looked very English, she decided, and not in the least bit exotic. As she slid the final button into its hole she wondered whether that was why she had chosen it. To emphasise the differences between her pale restraint and his dark, striking beauty.
She swept her hair back and deftly knotted it into a French plait, and had put on only the barest touch of make-up before she heard the pealing of the front door bell. Drawing in a deep breath for courage and hoping that it might calm the frantic beat of her heart, Rose went out into the hall to answer it.
She pulled open the front door and saw that it was not Khalim who stood there, but a very tall dark-haired man dressed in an immaculate suit, his green eyes glittering with something akin to amusement as he looked down at her belligerent expression.
Miss Thomas? he asked smoothly.
He had a cool and rather beautiful face and was the kind of man who might, under normal circumstances, have made her heart beat a little faster. But these were not normal circumstances, Rose reminded herself.
Thats me, she said inelegantly.
The Prince Khalim is downstairs waiting for you in the car, he said quietly. Are you ready?
Rose frowned. And you are?
My name is Philip Caprice. I am his emissary.
Really? Rose drew her shoulders back. And did Prince Khalim not think it polite to come and call for me himself?
Philip Caprice hid a smile. It is quite normal for him to send me to collect you.
Well, it is not normal for me! said Rose heatedly. If he cant even be bothered to get out of the car, then perhaps you would be so kind as to tell him that I cant be bothered going downstairs!
Philip Caprice frowned. Look
But Rose shook her head. Im sorry, she said firmly. I know youre only doing your jobbut your bosssinvitation she bit the word out sarcastically leaves a great deal to be desired. It might have been more polite if hed actually phoned me to arrange a time, instead of calmly announcing it the way he did! Either he comes up here, or Im staying put.
Philip Caprice nodded, his green eyes narrowing, as if recognising determination when he saw it. As if recognising that, on this, she would not be budged.
Ill go and tell him, he said. Perhaps you could leave the door open?
Having to ring the doorbell would be too much of an indignity, I suppose? she hazarded, but she did as he asked.
She stood for a moment and watched him go, before stalking back into the sitting room where Lara, who had been listening to the entire conversation, was see-sawing between fascination and horror.
Oh, Rose, she whispered admiringly. Youve done it now! Bet you anything he just drives away!
I sincerely hope he does, said Rose coolly.
Do you really? came a deep, velvety voice from behind her, and Rose whirled round to see Khalim standing there, with such a glint in his black eyes that she was unable to tell whether he was amused or outraged.
Y-yes! Yes, I d-do, she said breathlessly, her heart clenching tightly in her chest as she saw how different he looked today. The eyes glittered with the same predatory promise, but there was not a flowing robe in sight.
Instead he was wearing an exquisitely cut suit in deep charcoal-greya modern suit with a mandarin collar which set off the exotic perfection of his face. And where the flowing silk had only hinted at the hard, lean body which lay beneaththe suit left absolutely nothing to the imagination and Rose just couldnt stop looking at him.
His shoulders were broader than she had realised, much broader, while the narrow hips were those of a natural athlete. And the legsgood heavens, those legs seemed to go on forever. Such powerful legs.
Rose opened her mouth to say something, but words just failed her.
You want me to go away? he prompted silkily.
Did she? It would probably be for the best, she answered truthfully.
But youve dressed for lunch, he observed, his eyes sweeping over the elegance of the pale linen dress.
Yes, I have.
So why waste all that effort?
It wasnt much effort. She shrugged. It only took me a few minutes to change!
Im flattered, he said drily.
She fixed him with a reproving stare. Im used to men being courteous enough to collect their date, and not sending a servant to collect them!
His eyes grew flinty. Philip is no servant, he said coldly. He is my emissary.
Lets not quibble about terminology! she returned. Why didnt you come yourself?
Khalim sighed. What would her reaction be if he told her that he had never had to? That all his life he had only had to metaphorically click his fingers and whichever woman hed wanted would comeif not running, then walking pretty quickly.
But I am here now, he said, in as humble an admission as he had ever made. Because he suspected that Rose Thomas was not playing games with him, and that if he pushed her too far then she would simply refuse to come. And he wanted her far too much to even countenance that.
He turned to where a tousled-headed brunette was gazing at him in wonder from the other side of the crimson-painted room, and gave her a slow smile.
Khalim, he said, with a slight nod of his head.
Rose was infuriated to see Lara virtually dissolve into a puddle on the carpetbut who could really blame her? It was something outside both their experiences, having a man of this calibre here, exuding vibrancy and sheer physical magnetism.
L-Lara Black, she stumbled. And Im very pleased to meet youK-Khalim.
Any minute now and her flatmate would start prostrating herself in front of him, thought Rose despairingly. She turned to find those impenetrable dark eyes now fixed on her.
Shall we go? he questioned quietly.
She knew that it would be impossible to backtrack, even if she had wanted toand to her horror she discovered that there was no way she wanted to. She wanted one lunch with this magnificent man. One lunch to show him that she was his equal. That she wouldnt crumble and capitulate in the face of all his undoubted charms.
One lunch, that was all.
Very well, she answered, in a quiet tone which matched his.
Khalim very nearly allowed a small smile of triumph to creep onto his lips, until he drew himself up short. There was no victory to be gained from that coolly dispassionate acceptance! he reminded himself. But instead of feeling irritation at her unwillingness to co-operate, he found that his senses were clamouring to life, making his blood sing out that heated, relentless rhythm once more.
Come, then, Rose, he said, and gestured for her to precede him.
In the hallway, however, he halted, and Roses mouth dried as she turned to see why. He was too close. The hall was too small. If she reached out her hand she could touch that proud, beautiful face. Could run her fingertips along his sculpted chin, and meet the faint rasp of shadowed growth there. She swallowed.
Khalims eyes gleamed. So. He had not been mistaken. It was for her just as it was for him. She wanted him. He noted the coiled-up tension of repressed desire in her rigid frame. He could read it in the dark helplessness of her eyes, and in the fulsome pout of her soft lips.
So, he said unsteadily. Where would you like to go?
Havent you booked anywhere? asked Rose in surprise. She had assumed that he would want the best table in one of the best restaurantsand Sunday was traditionally a very busy day for eating out.
No. He shook his head.
That will limit our choice somewhat.
I dont think so. He saw the frown which had creased the milky-white space of skin between two exceptionally fine eyebrows. I never have to book, he explained, and for the first time in his life he realised that he sounded almost apologetic.
And then Rose began to get her first glimmer of the implications of dating this man. She tried to make light of it and smiled. One of the perks of being a prince, I suppose?
Thats right. He found himself smiling back, unable to resist that sunny and unsettling curve of her mouth. Where would you like to go?
Rose wasnt a head-hunter for nothing. Her people skills were what kept her going in a competitive industry. She guessed that luxury would be second nature to Khalimso wouldnt he be a little bored with luxury?
Theres a local Italian restaurant called Pronto! on Sutton Street, she said. Simple foodbut good. And you can usually get a table there!
He was pleasantly surprised, expecting her to plump for somewhere much more up-market than her local restaurant. Then lets go and find it, he murmured.
On the way downstairs, Khalim was hypnotised by the proud set of her shoulders and the plaited hair of brightest gold which had captivated him from the moment he had first seen her.
Outside sat the most luxurious car Rose had ever seena great black gleaming monster of a car, with tinted windows and a liveried chauffeur who was standing beside it, and who immediately sprang to open the door.
Take us to Pronto!, said Khalim. On Sutton Street. And the chauffeur inclined his head respectfully.
Rose climbed into the back seat, noting that Philip was seated at the front, next to the chauffeur. And next to him, a dark-suited and burly individual. A bodyguard? she wondered nervously. Probably.
The car cruised slowly through the traffic-snarled streets, until it drew up outside a restaurant whose exterior was adorned with a giant picture of the Italian flag.
Vibrant, observed Khalim softly as the chauffeur opened the door for them and they both climbed out onto the pavement.
Isnt Philip joining us? asked Rose.
Khalim suppressed a feeling very close to frustration, but even closer to jealousy. Jealousy? So she wanted his cool and handsome emissary to join them, did she? Was she attracted to him, he wondered in disbelief, or did she simply want a chaperon?
His mouth hardened. No, he is not.
Now, what had put that look there? puzzled Rose, shocked by the sudden surge of relief which washed over her. She wanted to be on her own with him, she realised sinkingly, her growing attraction to him becoming all too apparent by the moment. But with an effort she managed to shrug it away. Fine by me, she said easily.
Inside the restaurant it was even more vibrantwith Italian music playing gently in the background.
The waitress gave Khalim an appreciative glance. Have you booked? she asked him.
Khalim shook his head. Can you fit us in?