Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [135]
Unfortunately, this was not to be the case. After the hot shower she was more wide awake than ever. She changed to her shorty pajamas and flicked off the light. She was about to slip beneath the covers when there was a knock at the door. She frowned in puzzlement and then relaxed. It must be Simon checking to see how she had weathered the evening.
“I'll be right there,” she called, and grabbed the matching polka-dot robe. It offered very little protection, as it also came only to her thighs, but at least it covered the transparency of the gown. She turned the light back on and padded barefoot to the door.
It was not Simon. Ahmet Kahlid stood at the door, still dressed in his dazzling white dinner jacket. He held a bottle of champagne in one hand and two champagne glasses in the other. His dark eyes were sparkling brightly, and there was a genial smile on his face.
His gaze roamed frankly and appreciatively over her scantily clad body. “How very alluring you are in that, ma petite,” he boomed cheerfully. “You look like a young dryad.”
She peeked up at him warily. “I was just about to go to bed,” she said carefully. “I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me.”
He shook his head stubbornly, his smile not losing a bit of its conviviality. “I most certainly will not excuse you,” he said breezily. “I couldn't bear to think of you alone and brooding in your cabin. You must have a glass of this most excellent champagne with me so that you will feel happier.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I really couldn't—” The rest of her sentence was lost, as Jane was forced to move quickly aside to avoid being trampled by Kahlid when he stepped into the cabin and looked around the room appraisingly.
“How can you breathe in this cabin?” he asked wonderingly. “I can hardly turn around.” He put the glasses on the night table and sat down casually on the bed. He patted it invitingly and said softly, “Come and have your champagne, ma petite, and soon all your pain will bubble gently away.”
Jane closed the door and came forward to sit gingerly on the bed beside him. She didn't want to offend the sheikh by refusing the comfort he offered. He had been very sympathetic today, and she was grateful for the help he'd extended tonight in getting her out of the lounge.
“I'll just have one glass, then,” she said quietly.
“Good,” Kahlid answered approvingly, and he opened the champagne and poured the frothy liquid into the crystal glasses. “You will see that I am right,” he continued gently. “It is never good to be alone when one is unhappy.”
Jane sipped the champagne slowly, liking the tart taste tingling on the tip of her tongue. Perhaps Kahlid was right at that, she thought. She certainly felt better than she had earlier in the evening. There was something oddly soothing about the big friendly Arab.
“It's very good champagne,” she offered, smiling shyly. “But shouldn't you return to Jake and Miss Torres?”
He shook his head ruefully. “I'm very much afraid I was de trop. Jake has no desire for a third party when he is with a beautiful woman.”
Jane bit her lip and lowered her eyes unhappily.
Kahlid made an impatient gesture. “What a fool I am. Forgive me, little Jane, I did not think.” He poured some more champagne into her glass and then set the bottle on the table. “He is an idiot, my friend Jake,” he went on gently. “Lola is a very desirable woman, but you have something special, Jane.”
Jane stared at him, mesmerized by the intentness in the liquid darkness of Kahlid's eyes. Kahlid, too, was so absorbed that he did not hear the quiet opening of the door.
“Cozy. Very cozy,” Jake Dominic said with savage sarcasm. “I must compliment you on your progress, Ahmet, but did you notice that bed is a bit too narrow for a successful seduction?”
Kahlid and Jane both looked up, startled, at Jake standing in the open doorway. He was still dressed in the white dinner jacket, but he had removed the black tie, and his white shirt was left unbuttoned at the throat. His