The Desert Princes. Jackie Braun
through the shallows to where the waterfall tumbled into the pool, making that part of the water icy cold. ‘Put your hand in here.’
Casey could see nothing beyond the wall of water, but at Raffa’s insistence she thrust her hand into it.
‘Now, feel around…Here, let me help you,’ he shouted above the crash of spray.
The touch of Raffa’s warm arm and shoulder was more than welcome, but she was determined to find it first. ‘I’ve got it,’ she exclaimed triumphantly, pulling out a large glass bottle. Champagne.
‘And glasses,’ Raffa prompted, taking the bottle from her.
‘You must have planned this like a military campaign,’ she said, bracing herself for another sortie.
‘Are you complaining?’ Raffa murmured dangerously close to her ear.
‘Far from it,’ she told him with a happy laugh.
‘Then let’s go and have breakfast.’
She was in over her head, Casey realised, pulling on her clothes. Losing sight of the fact that this could never last because of their relative positions in life was the least of her worries. She was deeply in love and loving every moment of this. She was committed to living the fantasy, Casey thought, following Raffa into the shallows.
And should be committed for doing this, her sensible self insisted.
Maybe, Casey thought, frowning, but in her heart she was totally committed to Raffa and to A’Qaban. How could it be otherwise, when her whole life seemed to have been leading up to this moment?
They got dressed quickly—Raffa in his robe and Casey already regretting the fact that she had scorned the robe he’d offered her in favour of fiddly trousers and a buttoned-up top. Robes were far more accommodating to still-damp bodies, Casey realised, hoiking her undergarments into some sort of order as Raffa went ahead around the sandy rim of the lagoon. He was leading her towards what might have been best described as a shady dell, if there had been oak trees instead of palms. As they rounded a rocky promontory she gasped in disbelief. ‘Croissants?’
Casey stared at the feast laid out on a rug in front of them. There were even cushions to sit on, in the shade at the edge of the lagoon. On a clean linen tablecloth a mouthwatering display of fruit, bread and cheese was spread out, and everything was neatly covered in a net cloth to keep the bugs away.
‘You’re full of surprises,’ she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
‘For a wild man of the desert?’ Raffa suggested dryly, throwing her a glance.
‘Oh, please don’t be insulted. I mean it as a compliment. But did we really bring everything here on the horse? I remember the bulging saddle bags, but I had no idea you’d brought so much.’ Clapping her hands together, she stared at Raffa and then at the food.
Suddenly she saw the light. Raffa must think her really dumb, Casey concluded.
‘What’s wrong?’ he said.
‘You didn’t prepare any of this, did you?’ She gestured in disappointment and let her hands drop back to her sides.
‘Did I say that I did?’ Raffa’s luminous gaze sharpened.
‘You didn’t have to. I presumed…’ She glanced around. ‘But then I’m also guilty of presuming we’re alone out here. And that can’t be true, can it, Raffa?’
‘Does it make a difference?’
‘To walking around in the nude? To swimming in the nude? To believing this is our private paradise? Yes, it does.’ She moved away from him as icy dread trickled down her spine. ‘You misled me,’ she said, swinging around. ‘I feel like I’ve been had. Is this how it’s going to be?’ She made a gesture and then stopped, the words freezing on her lips. There was no ‘going to be’, because there was no future for them. When was she ever going to get that into her head?
Raffa walked over to her. ‘We were alone,’ he said quietly. ‘We were alone right up to dawn this morning, when the camel train came in with the supplies I’d asked for from the camp we visited. I wanted to do something special for you— something you would never forget.’
She’d never forget how she felt now, Casey realised. Raffa couldn’t see that he didn’t need to do anything for her, that he only had to be. And this was the second time she had misjudged him so badly.
Confused and full of emotion, she passed a hand across her eyes as if to wipe the debacle from her memory. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Casey?’
‘I’m sorry that I spoiled everything; that I always spoil everything.’
‘You don’t. You only feel so bad because you’re mentally exhausted from wrestling with your conscience and still throbbing from our lovemaking—something life-changing for you.’
And not for him?
‘Don’t,’ she said quietly when Raffa rested his hand on her arm.
To discover she was just another notch on his bedpost would finish her. But perhaps she had needed this to bring her up short and make her face the truth. She had no alternative now but to be the one to finish this; she was in far enough. She was in love, deeply and for ever…and utterly pointlessly. Nothing Raffa could say or do would ever change that.
SHE clung to business like a drowning man to a lifeline. She didn’t need Raffa’s encouragement to get dressed and meet the team of people who had remained so discreetly out of the way once they had proved it was possible to bring the five-star service of Raffa’s hotels into the desert.
The part of her mind that wasn’t mourning the loss of something that had never really existed had to be laid gently to one side as she turned her thoughts to business. She was soon fully involved in discussions with Raffa and the team, suggesting that more guides should be brought in to decide what would and would not be possible for enthusiastic amateurs to do in the desert. Like Raffa, she was determined not to make a sideshow of the desert people, but if some of them could be persuaded to become involved, at least on a part-time basis, they both felt their vision stood a good chance of becoming reality.
‘Some of these men are already unofficial game wardens,’ Raffa explained as they walked back to pick up their personal belongings from their temporary campsite.
‘Do you think they might be prepared to extend their duties?’
‘It’s possible,’ he said, all the time watching her thoughtfully. ‘If you draw up a plan I’ll make sure it’s discussed.’
‘I can’t ask for more than that,’ she said, though she couldn’t hold his gaze when Raffa looked at her this time.
‘We make a good team, Casey.’
As he helped her step over some rocks she willed herself to feel nothing as his strength kept her safe. It was a relief when he turned the conversation to Casey’s idea for a safari camp within an hour of the city, where resident staff and a really good chef could be employed on a permanent basis.
‘I like your idea,’ he admitted when they reached the sheltered ledge where so much had happened.
‘So does this mean I get the job?’ She tried not to look at the rumpled mound of rugs on which they’d slept and made love as she spoke.
‘Of course you’ve got the job. Do you think I would have brought you to the desert otherwise?’
Emotion welled inside her, threatening to spill out. Looking away, she bit down on her lip fiercely, as a reminder that this was allshehad ever wanted. ‘Idon’tknow,’ she said honestly, when her thoughts betrayed her. ‘I hope I’ve proved I have skills as well as vision, and…’ here she hesitated