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When she’d emerged from his dressing room he’d been surprised by the surge of heat as her big hazel eyes had lifted to his. He’d told himself it was the normal reaction of any red-blooded male finding an attractive young woman in his bedroom. He wasn’t concerned. It meant nothing.
Except her floral perfume teased him. It had clung to his clothes after he’d carried her on board and now it invaded his senses again.
She rose to soak the sponge in fresh water. Her teeth worried at her bottom lip as she worked. Her full, sensuous lip of dusky pink...
Khaled cleared his throat. ‘You’re lucky that you only have a cut or two. You could have been badly injured on that damn fool climb,’ he said.
She shrugged. ‘It’s just a few scratches. Anyway, Nate needed my help,’ she answered, not looking at him.
She bent forward again. This time he sent his gaze to the safety of the carpet.
‘What exactly has your stepbrother told you? And don’t even think of lying. My patience is wearing thin.’
She looked up at him. ‘That there’s money missing from the charity fund and you believe Nate is responsible—which is crazy. You know him. He doesn’t care about money.’
‘That’s because he’s never been without it before. He lost everything when his father’s fortunes collapsed. There was nothing left for either of you, I understand?’
‘I don’t see what it’s got to do with you, but, no, there was nothing. Even the house is to be sold. I moved out two days ago.’
Moved out? Did she have somewhere to go?
There was an unpleasant tightening in his chest.Get a grip, he thought, and responded sharply. ‘It has everything to do with me if it becomes a motive for theft.’
‘However bad it got, Nate would never steal.’
‘There is compelling evidence that suggests otherwise.’
She shuffled forward to perch on the edge of her seat, checking for remaining scratches. Helplessly, Khaled’s gaze travelled the length of her body from pale shoulder to slender ankle.
Hell.
‘Have you considered that someone is trying to frame him? Or that actually it’s you they’re trying to hurt?’
He gave a wry, mirthless laugh. ‘Lily, I’m a political leader introducing reform in a region that clings to its traditions. I have numerous enemies. That’s why I’m careful to protect myself, and my interests, and why it’s almost impossible that anyone other than Nate has the money.’
‘Almostimpossible, but not completely? Then I know Nate is innocent.’
‘The transfer originated in his office.’
‘Maybe his secretary did it.’
‘Penny? Her alibi is solid. Plus, she’s worked for the family for years. Even for my mother’s cousin for a while. She’s beyond reproach.’
Lily shifted again, this time checking the inside of her calf.
He gritted his teeth. He wasnot, he reminded himself, attracted to short, troublesome redheads, and he’d prove it.
He snatched the sponge from her hand. ‘You’re not being thorough enough. I’ll do it.’
As his fingers touched the soft skin at the back of her knee a shot of pure energy raced straight to his groin. He masked his reaction by carefully checking each scrape for dirt and then reaching for tape and bandages. She’d gone very still, and when she spoke her voice was less certain than it had been.
‘Then there is...is some other explanation. Are you even looking for anyone else?’
He gently pressed a lint pad against her skin and secured the edge with tape.
‘Not yet. There would be no point.’
‘Then you’re letting the real culprit get away. You’re a fool.’
