Why? Harrison asked out loud, stymied.
Everyone was silent.
Somebody thinks she knows something, Alex ventured.
Harrison stared at his friend. Unspoken was that the somebody who thought she knew something had the power to influence the UAE law enforcement. Not good for Julia.
The horses? asked Leila.
Brittany spoke up. Theyll see you. Theyll follow you.
Harrison and Alex looked at each other. Brittany was likely right.
Unless, Brittany continued. She turned her attention to Julia, sizing the woman up. Trade me clothes. In case the taxi driver described you.
Julia shook her head. I cant let you-
Oh, yes, you can, said Harrison. He nodded approvingly at Brittany. A decoy.
Damn, said Alex with clear admiration.
Brittanys fingers went to the zipper at the side of her gown.
Men outside, please, came Leilas scolding voice, and Harrison realized hed been staring.
He and Alex immediately moved into the hallway and shut the door behind them.
What in the bloody hell is going on? asked Harrison as soon as they were alone.
Alex shook his head. Something to do with Millions to Spare?
What could she know? What is there to know?
It must be connected to Leopolds Legacy.
Harrison switched to that angle. And somebody knows she was here with the Prestons?
And that she followed Millions to Spare.
Harrison swore. There was no telling how high or how far this went. And maybe Julia did know something. But maybe it was something she didnt even realize she knew.
He didnt want to consider the possibility she was playing him again.
No. He wasnt going to explore that line of thinking.
Want me to sleuth around? asked Alex.
Absolutely. When you and Brittany get back-
Whoa. Wait a minute. Me and Brittany?
Julias my responsibility. And Im not about to let you get arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal.
Alex looked aghast at the prospect of staying with Brittany.
Good grief. Brittany was a perfectly nice person.
Theyre going to follow you two, said Harrison. Lead them south as far as you can, then play dumb. Im going to take the Jeep and go cross-country toward Fujairah.
Over the dunes?
And through the mountains.
Alex cocked his head. I dont think theyll expect that.
Thats what Im counting on.
Harrison felt around in his pocket and retrieved a credit card, holding it out to Alex between two fingers. If you get lucky, and make it to Ajman, book a decoy hotel room with this.
Alex took the card and grinned. And then book the real one with cash?
You got it, said Harrison. Keep running and keep sleuthing as long as you can. Ill be calling you when I get a chance.
Alex nodded.
The door to the vets office came open. Theyre done, said Leila.
Brittany acknowledged that Julia looked very nice in the Feteami gown. Her breasts were slightly fuller than Brittanys, the result being a more voluptuous silhouette. But there was enough give in the fabric that it still fit her well, and the shimmering beads accentuated Julias graceful neck.
It would have been better for Brittanys peace of mind if Julia had looked terrible. But Brittany would just have to get over this silly reaction to the woman.
Julia had done nothing overt. She wasnt flirting with Harrison. In fact, Brittany mostly felt sorry for her. She was obviously frightened, and simply wanted to get out of the country as quickly as possible.
Julia teetered a little bit in the four-inch heels. Brittany had to admit she was grateful theyd switched shoes so that she wore the roomy, canvas flats.
She had no desire to go riding through the desert in her Claudio Merazzi shoes. Bad enough she was wearing a dress. She knew her thighs would rub against the saddle, but hopefully they wouldnt be out there too long. And she could climb into the big, en suite bathtub when they got back.
She could already feel the soothing, foamy water.
She was worried there wouldnt be a proper goodbye for the guests at the secretary-generals party. But she supposed that couldnt be helped. Although she didnt have a diamond on her finger as yet, it was her job to support Harrison.
She drew a deep breath as the men walked back into the office. In this, she was ready, willing and able to offer support.
Thank you, Julia offered, reaching out to squeeze Brittanys hand.
Brittany smiled at the woman and squeezed back. If it wasnt for the odd energy she sensed between Julia and Harrison, she might even like the woman.
Itll be over soon, she promised.
Oh, I hope so, said Julia.
There was a faint buzz, and Leila grabbed her cell phone from her pocket and put it to her ear.
Theyre coming, she whispered to the group. Then she pointed to an outside exit door from the little office. Ill explain to your grandmother, and Darla will make sure the guests get a proper goodbye.
Tell her the French, the Uzbeks- He swore under his breath.
Darla will know what to do, said Leila. Shell tell them the right story.
Harrison gave a grim-faced nod, and Brittany understood there must be some important diplomatic talks going on at the party.
Roc and Cedar Twist are this way, said Leila.
Knowing time was running out, Brittany headed for the door.
To her surprise, Alex appeared at her elbow.
What-
Shh.
But-
Quiet, he ground out as he ushered her through the exit to the dark yard. You need help getting on?
No. She had been riding since she was five years old. She was perfectly capable of mounting her own horse.
But where the heck was Harrison?
She strained to look over her shoulder.
Leila shut the door, and she and Alex were alone, save for the two horses tied to the hitching post.
Wheres Harrison? she demanded.
Alex grinned as he untied the lead rope of the taller animal. Hes with Julia.
What?
Quiet, Alex warned.
Youre coming with me? Brittany couldnt believe it. She was sacrificing her thighs to spend time with Alex?
Well both be taking a ride with the police if you dont get on that horse. He mounted and turned his big chestnut in a circle.
Some lights went on in the building behind them, and Brittany deftly released the other lead rope. She swung up on the mare, adjusted her seat, arranged the skirt as best she could and took up the reins.
How did you pull this off? she asked Alex in the most accusatory voice she could muster.
He just grinned unrepentantly at her. Looks like its you and me, babe. Then he turned south along the fence line and urged the horse to a gallop.
Brittany spurred her horse to follow. She was going to kill Alex. The second she had an opportunity, she was simply going to kill him.
Julia struggled to keep up with Harrison, crossing his lush lawn in the ridiculous high-heeled shoes.
Brittany had smaller feet.
She was marrying Harrison, and she had smaller feet.
Julia gritted her teeth in frustration with herself.
She had to stop caring about the stupid things. She was in a foreign country, and she was running from the police. What did she care about Brittanys shoe size or what Harrison saw in the woman?
Of course, it could be that Brittany was beautiful, cultured, gracious and kind. Oh, yeah. And intelligent. Brittany seemed very intelligent.
She supposed a man might be interested in some of those qualities.
Not to mention that Brittany had a title. She was Lady Brittany Livingston. Julia had looked it up on her laptop back at the hotel. No reason to look her up, really, other than plain old curiosity. Harrison was practically going into an arranged marriage with Lady Livingston, and Julia had wondered why he would do that.
Harrison stopped abruptly at the corner of an outbuilding, and Julia all but stumbled into the back of him. His hand clamped firmly around her wrist. He was holding a little tighter than was comfortable, but she wasnt about to complain. Hed make sure she didnt fall, and he knew exactly where they were going on this dark, moonless night.
See that yard light? He pointed to a spot in the distance.
Is that where were going? She was disappointed by the distance. There was already a blister forming on her baby toe.
No, said Harrison, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
We have to avoid it, he continued. Well go around the back of that paddock, and come up on the garage from the south.
Youre joking.
He turned to look at her. What do you mean?
I mean, my feet are killing me.
He glanced down. So take off your shoes.
That solution seemed a little too simple.
Wont I cut my feet?
On grass?
What about poisonous snakes?
Vipers?
Julia shuddered.
Id worry more about scorpions, said Harrison.
Oh, thanks.
I was joking. Vipers like the sand, and scorpions are usually under rocks.
That really wasnt funny, Harrison.
Take off your shoes.
Seriously. Were running for our lives here. At least my life. Well, my freedom. And youre making jokes about poisonous things.
Venomous things.
I hate you.
No, you dont.
Of course she didnt. He was rescuing her. But he didnt have to be such a jerk about it.
Take off your shoes, he repeated.
But she couldnt bring herself to do it. Even if snakes and scorpions were rare on manicured lawns, she wasnt dashing around in the pitch-dark not knowing what she might be stepping on.
He let go of her wrist, turned his back and crouched down. Then hop on.
Im not-
Blisters, scorpions or me. Unless youd rather deal with the police.
Without another word, Julia hiked up her skirt and clambered onto his back.
He grunted and shifted her into place, wrapping his hands around her bare thighs before straightening.
Hang on tight, he warned, and then he started to jog.
There was nothing but her panties between her and his suit. Nothing at all between his hands and her thighs. She could smell his hair, hear his deep breathing, feel the shift and play of his muscles.
And then, there was the friction.
Oh, the friction.
She tried to shift, to get away from it, to alleviate the embarrassing-
Hold still, he commanded.
She froze.
Unfortunately, he kept moving, and the feeling began to throb between her legs.
What was she, a danger junkie or something? First the kiss and now this? If she wasnt careful, she was going to-
How can you be getting tired? he asked.
Im not tired.
Youre panting in my ear.
Sorry. She tried to get her mind on something else. Poor Millions to Spare. Or poor Leopolds Legacy, ready, willing and waiting to race.