LITMIR.BIZ

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felt something under the table and reached down to stroke the black cat that twined through his legs. The last time he’d seen Familiar, the cat had been in the airport. Now he was at the Abbula. After listening to Omar and Beth talk about the cat, nothing about Familiar surprised Harad.

      “Meow.” Familiar hopped onto the chair beside Harad and looked pointedly at the dish of fresh butter.

      “Lucky this is Egypt,” Harad said as he buttered a piece of warm bread for the cat. “I don’t think restaurants in America allow feline guests.”

      With great finesse, Familiar took the bread from his fingers. Harad was so engrossed in Familiar that he didn’t notice the tall, slender woman who walked quietly up to the table.

      “What is it with cats and Egyptians?”

      Startled, Harad looked up to find Amelia watching him with humor.

      “We honor the feline,” he said, buttering another piece of bread and handing it to the cat. “Especially this feline. He played a large role in preventing injury to Beth.” He could see that Amelia was both intrigued and a little skeptical. “Would you and Mauve care to have dinner with me? I’ll fill you in on the details.”

      She hesitated, then gracefully sat in a chair opposite him. “Mauve is doing some vital work on a computer tonight and I get the feeling you’re guarding me,” she said as she settled a napkin onto her lap.

      “I promised my brother that I would make sure you were safe.” Another question popped out of his mouth, surprising him as much as her. “Does it bother you?” He signaled the waiter to bring another glass of wine.

      Amelia quit playing with her napkin and looked directly into his eyes. “Yes and no.”

      When she didn’t continue, he pressed. “Is there an explanation that comes with that answer?”

      “I’ve fought a long time to be considered independent in a very tough business. For me to do my job effectively, I can’t afford for anyone to look at me as someone who needs protection or to be cared for in any way.” She spoke slowly, as if she was exploring her feelings as she went. “That’s the yes part. The no part is that I have to admit, it is rather nice to know that someone cares what happens to me, even if it is someone who’s obligated to care because of his brother.”

      Her smile took the sting out of her last words, and Harad found that he was smiling back at her. “Our siblings have woven an interesting web around us,” he said. “You’ve come to protect your sister, who I might add seems completely capable of taking care of herself. And I’m here because of my brother. Soon you’ll be safely on your way home. Perhaps we can simply let it go at that and enjoy dinner. I highly recommend the sea bass.”

      Amelia pushed her unopened menu aside. “Seeing as how you’re my protector for the evening, I’ll have the sea bass. By the way, my rooms are lovely. This is a wonderful old hotel.” She leaned toward him, “Even if they do allow cats to dine in the restaurant.”

      Harad was captured by her warm smile and the hint of cleavage that was revealed by her forward movement. She wore a coral dress that fell smoothly over her slender figure. With her blond hair pulled casually into a bun, she was the perfect image of sophistication and poise. Yet there was a twinkle in her blue eyes that promised humor and mischief.

      The waiter came to the table and Harad was about to order, when Familiar put a paw on the menu beside him.

      “Meow!”

      It was a demand not a request.

      “I believe we’ll have three sea bass,” Harad said without blinking. “And a saucer of heavy cream.”

      AMELIA LEANED her wrists on the edge of the table to keep her hands still as Harad told her about her sister’s involvement with criminals intent on using the ancient plant called the orbus to produce a potent drug that might give them an unfair advantage in controlling global events.

      “I believe their goal was to use the drug to predict the future for political and financial gain,” he said. “But Beth and Omar figured out that several of Beth’s associates were involved in the plot. The criminals are in jail,” he concluded.

      “Beth was almost killed?” Amelia knew she sounded breathless. “When I got the packet she sent me, I knew something was wrong. But I never dreamed she was on the verge of being murdered.”

      “My younger brother is a very capable man. He’ll see to it that Beth is safe now.”

      “Then all of the criminals were captured?”

      Harad hesitated. “The man who backed Beth’s expedition, Nazar Bettina, could not be found. The authorities have discovered that no such man ever existed. We believe that John Gilmore, one of the scientists in Beth’s employ, created the identity of Bettina to hide a cabal of wealthy Americans.”

      “And those men will go unpunished?” Amelia didn’t try to hide her disappointment.

      “I hope not,” Harad said. “But it is now between your government and mine. Mr. Gilmore will be strongly pressured to reveal the names, which so far he has refused to do. He claims he doesn’t know who Nazar Bettina really is.”

      “Is my sister safe?” Amelia asked.

      “She’s very safe. Though Mr. Gilmore has so far refused to cooperate, the men who stood to gain from his deeds no longer have anything to gain. The plant that they sought has long been extinct. There is no longer an interest in your sister’s explorations.”

      “I’m still worried about her.” Amelia’s hand caught at the scarab pendant. “She sent a note that said I should get to Alexandria as quickly as possible and to bring some photographs. Then I received this pendant so I would be recognized by the people who would meet me.”

      “I knew nothing of the pendant,” Harad said, his gaze taking in the piece. “Omar sent me to meet you at the airport to make sure you understood everything was fine. And it is. Beth is safe and happy. You have my word. There is no need for you to change your business appointments. Beth’s only regret was there wasn’t time to get you to the wedding.”

      “I’d give anything to be there, but Beth’s happiness is all that’s important.” Amelia said. She couldn’t help but notice Harad’s hands. The fingers were long and tapered, and he used them with great eloquence as he talked. What would it be like to feel those fingers on her flesh? The thought was so erotic that she looked down at her plate. “And this lost city that she was searching for, will she ever find it?”

      Harad shrugged. “That’s between Omar and Beth. They must weigh the future.”

      It was a diplomatic answer and gave Amelia time to compose herself and frame another question. “Why is it that Omar is head of your people? You’re the elder brother. Isn’t it traditional for that role to go to the oldest son?”

      “Or daughter, in the case of my people.” Harad refilled her wineglass. “With my people, the gift of prophecy was passed from mother to daughter. A female child was the greatest blessing of the gods.” He gave a wry smile. “I suppose you could say that I’ve grown up in a reverse culture.”

      “That would be fascinating to experience,” Amelia said. “But you didn’t answer my question. It was a good dodge, but not good enough.”

      Harad laughed out loud, and Amelia found that she took great pleasure in his laughter. It had been a long, long time since she’d spent such an enjoyable evening.

      “I wanted something other than the desert life. Omar loves the horses. He enjoys the sun and the restless nature of a nomadic tribe. He is also the keeper of the faith, and I’m not mocking him when I say that. Tradition, to him, is vital. To me, it is a hindrance. Once we both received our education in Paris I knew I would never return to the old way of life. I wanted to live in the city, to enjoy the luxuries that I could earn. He was the exact opposite. So I stepped aside and let the man best suited to rule take over. Instead of a desert leader,

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