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It was an olive branch and she felt foolish at the nitude of her relief

‘How do you do that?’ she asked

‘Do what?’

‘Laugh without laughing’

The lines at the corners of his eyes deepened

‘Years of training It wouldn’t do to encourage you’

He unhooked her leg froround before she’d even adjusted her balance She grabbed hold of his arht—her legs were as stiff as logs and bursts of sparkling pain danced up froroan by gritting her teeth

‘That bad?’ heher, his other hand splayed on her waist as she half-leaned her elbows against him

‘So,’ she replied, trying not to think of the hard surface of his chest, the dark, warm smell of his body so close to hers

‘I knew I shouldn’t have allowed you to come’

‘You did not allow e I’m not a child’

‘No You’re not’ He let her go, turning to follow the others towards a series of large tents pitched beside the date groves She bit back a curse and steadied herself against the camel instead He was the only man who could ensure she acted like a child, blast him

She’d promised herself she wouldn’t fall into her old behaviour around him Any of her old behaviours And yet here she was, either prickling like the hedgehog she used to call hi aware of every nuance of his expressions

She wasn’t a child any longer and her foolish infatuation was a thing of the past She was now an experiencedand could appreciate what a fine speci a fool of herself And that was that, she assured herself as she hobbled after him to join Poppy and Janet

They were escorted to a large tent set in the shade of palreeted with effusive warmth by the white-haired Sheikh and his wife Aziza Sam’s Arabic had improved since she’d returned, but there were still ti the effort to understand and this was just such a tiling along her legs until she noticed everyone had turned to her

‘So You are the youngest Sinclair, yes?’ al-Walid said, slapping his knees ‘You are very like your brothers’

‘You remember them?’ Sam asked, not certain if this was a compliment