One Desert Night - By Maggie Cox Page 0,20

of his painstaking research, and as the discussion ended, the merest smile touched the edges of Zahir's well-cut lips. At least he appeared pleased with what he had heard.

Then it was Gina's turn.

As Zahir directed his glance back to her, she had the panicked idea that his eyes were like the high-power lens of a high-resolution microscope, illuminating a specimen on a slide for detailed examination. Right now she was the specimen.

Fumbling with her papers as she cleared her throat to speak, she saw a few of the A-4 sheets slide off her lap and onto the patterned rug. She was mortified. Not exactly the best start, she thought, as she hurriedly gathered the papers and tidied them.

'Are you ready to proceed with your presentation now, Dr Collins?'

Hearing the sardonic edge to his tone didn't exactly help Gina's case. 'Yes, Your Highness.'

She made herself look him straight in the eye to give herself courage. After all, she was an expert in her field not some nervous schoolgirl making a presentation for a class project.

'I thought I would start by discussing the fascinating legend that has grown up around the Heart of Courage.'

Where had that come from? It wasn't the first thing she'd intended discussing at all! The papers had got mixed up when they'd slid off her lap, and the sheet that had been at the bottom of the pile was now somehow on top. There was a sudden drop in temperature in the sultry air. Gina's glance collided with Zahir's. It was the iciest look she'd ever received. For a couple of excruciating seconds her breath was strangled inside her throat.

'I think not, if you don't mind, Dr Collins? I prefer to stick to verifiable facts right now. Speculation about any kind of mythical legend can only detract from a more important discussion about the authenticity and provenance of the jewel's origins. So we will stay with what is important and not go off on some insignificant tangent …agreed?'

After such an unprepossessing beginning, Gina felt she made a hash of the rest of her presentation. By the time it came to an end, and Jamal had appeared with a tray of the delicious cardamom-scented coffee for their refreshment, she just wanted to flee back to her quarters and liberally splash her burning face with ice water.

'Dr Collins? May I have a private word with you?' Soundlessly, Zahir had materialised at her side, and was holding out his hand to help her up from the floor cushion. As she automatically slipped her hand into his, he turned briefly to Jake. 'Dr Rivers, you should take your coffee outside on the terrace and relax for a while. Later, Jamal will give you a proper tour of the palace.'

'Thank you, Your Highness. I'll very much look forward to that.'

When the twin doors had closed behind Jamal and Jake, Zahir put his hands behind his formidable back and paced the floor a little before turning back to Gina. There was no mistaking the anger that transformed his breathtakingly handsome features into an intimidating mask.

'What did you think you were doing, trying to make a fool of me like that?'

'What do you mean?'

'Bringing up the legend…that's what I mean!'

'I—I had no intention of trying to make you look a fool. I just got my notes muddled up and—'

His face was suddenly bare inches from hers, and the sensation of her blood roaring in her ears blotted out any others.

'Why should the tale of that cursed legend even be amongst your notes when I have already told you I will have none of it?'

Hearts pounded a lot in romance novels, and now Gina knew why. She released the painful breath she'd been holding and nervously smoothed her hand down the side of her dress. 'In my search to establish the truth about an artefact I would hardly ignore anything that came up time and time again in the research—however unimportant or inconvenient a client regards it to be. My father taught me to fearlessly examine everything.' She unconsciously jutted her chin.

The man in front of her sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead. 'Your father?'

'He's a professor of antiquites and ancient history back home.'

'Ah, yes… The man you deemed more important than coming back to me.'

'He's my only remaining family,' Gina said miserably. 'He needed my support.'

Zahir's hot temper dissipated as abruptly as sometimes a sandstorm in the desert came to an end. How was a man with healthy red blood coursing through his veins supposed