page8 (1/2)

‘I’m sorry, Millie,’ he said softly

‘Are you? Do you care?’

‘You won’t do anything silly when you leave here, will you?’ he said without answering her question

‘Like ested

‘Every story has more than one viewpoint,’ he observed

Lifting her chin, she gave it to him with both barrels ‘In this instance, a viewpoint that’s convenient for you, and another that’s not so convenient?’

His stare hardened again ‘That’s your interpretation’

Maybe, but Millie’s vision enco back on board the Sapphire just before the royal li her home had turned a corner and she hadn’t been able to see hili he’d put everything right

‘I’lanced at his state-of-the-art atch ‘I have another appointment’

Millie’s cheeks blazed red as she followed his glance to the door ‘Of course’ Ti

‘I have a party to prepare for,’ he explained ‘Why don’t you coestion ‘I’ll make time to speak to you’

A party on board the Sapphire? Just the as enough to invoke terrible memories and make her stomach churn with dread ‘I won’t take up anyfor the door

‘But we’re not finished,’ he said ‘If you coht we can talk’

Was he mad? Was she? Attend a party on board the Sapphire? Why was she even hesitating? Obviously, she had to say no

‘Thank you,’ she said ‘What time shall I arrive?’

He shrugged ‘Any ti all across the ship You ht enjoy it’

She ht not

‘Until tonight,’ he said before she had chance to change her mind

‘Until tonight,’ she echoed So this was her last big erous as staring at the sun

Dis his staff, he took the unusual step of personally escorting Millie off the ship It was a reminder of why she was branded on his ether in a troubling set of memories, and in spite of his words to Millie, he was in no hurry to see her go They took the stairs Having the two of them confined in the cab of an elevator would be far too much too soon However much he wanted to protect this new, older Millie, he wanted to seduce her more They chatted politely about this and that as they walked through the Sapphire like two strangers who’d only just met There wasn’t just one elephant in the room, but two Sex and death were a potent coain

‘You’re happy living above the laundry?’ he asked

‘Of course I a, sideways look And that was all she was going to say on that subject, he guessed, until they met later, when he was determined to find out more

‘How do you knohere I live?’ she asked

He cursed hied

‘The sa?’ she queried ‘Should I be flattered by your interest, or accept that aabout people you meet?

‘Whichever,’ she added with a shrug ‘I’ll just ht into my life than I had expected’

Was the Sheikh having her watched? Millie wondered If so, why? And how long had it been going on? Did he think she knew soossip, or perhaps a careless remark made by one of his crehen they were on shore?

It was a relief to step out on deck Being too close to aIt was as if she had been plugged into a power source And that was dangerous, Millie concluded No one with any sense played with fire