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A ‘delegate’ bearing revelatory, almost incendiary information.
He was still processing the impact of what he’d been told, and just when he thought his day couldn’t get any worse...
‘I have to talk to you.’
Lily bounded into his office unannounced, all glossy hair and shapely legs. Still in those damn shorts.
Khaled scowled as he watched her drop, uninvited, into the seat opposite him. ‘Were you never taught to knock before entering a room?’
‘Your trained killer on the door was awfully sweet and let me through without batting an eyelid, so I assumed I was welcome.’
The man might not be on the door much longer...
‘I remembered seeing him at your house in England, so we had a little catch-up. Do you know he’s going to be a father for the first time in the New Year? Looks like at least one of your guards will be powdering something after all. A baby’s bottom.’ She giggled at her joke. ‘They’re having a girl. They’re naming her Elnoor, after the Queen. Isn’t that lovely? I said that ifwehad a girl we’d—’
He raised a staying hand. ‘What exactly do you think you’re doing?’
After the morning he’d had, if she saidimprovisinghe was going to smash something.
‘Acting all happy and loved-up.’ She looked puzzled. ‘You said I was to be convincing. Asking about a member of staff’s baby seems quite natural. We’d be planning babies, too, wouldn’t we? If we were really getting engaged? But if you want me to be cool and distant let me know—though please stop changing your mind. I can’t keep up with your contradictory instructions.’
A sound like someone choking back a laugh had her spinning towards the corner of the room and the robed figure standing there. She looked horrified that she’d chattered on while Khaled still had a guest.
Then the guest winked at her.
‘Nate!’
Lily jumped to her feet and ran to her stepbrother, flinging herself into his waiting arms, bestowing her most dazzling smile on him.
Khaled ground his teeth. If she’d used that on the guard, no wonder he’d been so amenable.
‘Hey, Baby Sis.’
‘Where have you’ve been? What happened to you? Are you okay?’
She fired questions at him, patting his chest all the while, as if checking he was in one piece.
‘I’m fine. I’ve been hiding with the Marsh Bedouin. They’re good friends.’
Khaled watched the exchange and experienced a new and most unwelcome emotion. He was being ridiculous. Nate was her brother.
Stepbrother, an invidious little voice reminded him, and no blood relation.
He had to curb the impulse to march over there and haul her away from his friend.
Then his attention caught on what she was saying.
‘So we can end this pretend relationship?’
‘No!’
Stepbrother and sister turned as one to stare at him. Nate’s eyes were glinting in unholy amusement at his emphatic response.
‘I mean,’ Khaled said, being careful to sound more measured this time, ‘it’s safer for Nate if we continue until we can prove who’s behind the theft.’
‘Plus, I’ve already given my consent,’ Nate said.
Lily looked at him, aghast. ‘You’ve donewhat? I don’t need your consent.’
