what he wanted was a companion for Alex of equal birth and status to temper that Ben Raschid arrogance.” He shrugged. “It was the wisest arrangement for everyone concerned. I was a thorn in my parents’ serene, conventional lives from the moment I was born. I was always more at home in Sedikhan than Tamrovia, and Alex and I grew up as close as brothers.”
“And what of Clancy Donahue? Is he still in Sedikhan?” Honey asked, her gaze on Rubinoff’s face in the flickering lights, which illuminated his face, only to return it to shadow in the next instant. Had there been a touch of bitterness behind the cynicism in his expression?
“Clancy?” There was no question of the affection in his face, even in the dimness of the room. “Oh, yes, Clancy’s a permanent member of Alex’s household now. He generally accompanies him everywhere. He was mad as hell when Alex made him stay behind on this trip.” He chuckled. “He tends to get a little overprotective and has a tendency to cramp Alex’s style.”
“I think he should have brought him along this time,” Honey said, frowning. “If he won’t accept my protection, there may come a time when he’ll need all the help he can get.”
“We’re doing very well without him,” Rubinoff said lightly. “And Alex was very receptive to you at dinner. Perhaps he’ll even allow you eventually to instigate some minor security measures on his behalf.”
Honey shook her head skeptically. “Charming as your cousin was to me, I don’t think he’s about to tolerate me in any capacity but as a dinner companion.”
The evening thus far had proved to be surprisingly pleasant, and she had found herself amazingly at ease with both Rubinoff and Ben Raschid by the time they’d finished dinner. It had been a fascinating exercise just to observe the cheerful badinage between the men and attempt to detect the subtle undercurrents that ran beneath the surface of the mocking raillery. She could well believe Rubinoff’s claim that Alex was like a brother to him. It was all there to see once you peered beneath the masks they wore—respect, humor, tolerance, and genuine affection.
The bonds that had forged their relationship were so strong and long-standing that one would have expected Honey to feel like an outsider. Strangely, this was not the case. Rubinoff had gently drawn her into the magic circle, and Ben Raschid had followed his lead with the mocking arrogance she was beginning to associate with him. By the time they’d left the restaurant, she was on a first-name basis with both men and felt a camaraderie that she would never have believed possible a few hours before. She was vaguely conscious that Lance was deliberately dampening down that vibrant sensuality and giving her the time and breathing space he’d promised her, and the knowledge filled her with an odd breathless warmth.
“You thought Alex was charming?” Lance asked with a black scowl. “I wanted you to like him, but you weren’t supposed to find him charming, damn it. I was the one who was supposed to dazzle you with my rapier wit and virile attractiveness. It’s clear that I’ll have to apply myself more assiduously to the project.” He hitched his chair closer to her own, until his hard muscular thigh was pressed intimately against her own, and put his hand on her knee. “
Now
do I have your complete attention?”
Honey firmly removed his hand and placed it back on the table with a tolerant little pat. It was impossible to be angry with him when he was gazing at her with those wistful blue eyes that still held a glint of little-boy devilishness in their depths. “I have an idea that you’ve had a great deal too much attention from women in your career, Lance,” she said lightly. “I wonder if you even remember their names.”
“Not many of their names,” he admitted frankly. “They’re all a bit of a blur after a while.” Then, as he saw the frown beginning to cloud her face, he covered
“And what of Clancy Donahue? Is he still in Sedikhan?” Honey asked, her gaze on Rubinoff’s face in the flickering lights, which illuminated his face, only to return it to shadow in the next instant. Had there been a touch of bitterness behind the cynicism in his expression?
“Clancy?” There was no question of the affection in his face, even in the dimness of the room. “Oh, yes, Clancy’s a permanent member of Alex’s household now. He generally accompanies him everywhere. He was mad as hell when Alex made him stay behind on this trip.” He chuckled. “He tends to get a little overprotective and has a tendency to cramp Alex’s style.”
“I think he should have brought him along this time,” Honey said, frowning. “If he won’t accept my protection, there may come a time when he’ll need all the help he can get.”
“We’re doing very well without him,” Rubinoff said lightly. “And Alex was very receptive to you at dinner. Perhaps he’ll even allow you eventually to instigate some minor security measures on his behalf.”
Honey shook her head skeptically. “Charming as your cousin was to me, I don’t think he’s about to tolerate me in any capacity but as a dinner companion.”
The evening thus far had proved to be surprisingly pleasant, and she had found herself amazingly at ease with both Rubinoff and Ben Raschid by the time they’d finished dinner. It had been a fascinating exercise just to observe the cheerful badinage between the men and attempt to detect the subtle undercurrents that ran beneath the surface of the mocking raillery. She could well believe Rubinoff’s claim that Alex was like a brother to him. It was all there to see once you peered beneath the masks they wore—respect, humor, tolerance, and genuine affection.
The bonds that had forged their relationship were so strong and long-standing that one would have expected Honey to feel like an outsider. Strangely, this was not the case. Rubinoff had gently drawn her into the magic circle, and Ben Raschid had followed his lead with the mocking arrogance she was beginning to associate with him. By the time they’d left the restaurant, she was on a first-name basis with both men and felt a camaraderie that she would never have believed possible a few hours before. She was vaguely conscious that Lance was deliberately dampening down that vibrant sensuality and giving her the time and breathing space he’d promised her, and the knowledge filled her with an odd breathless warmth.
“You thought Alex was charming?” Lance asked with a black scowl. “I wanted you to like him, but you weren’t supposed to find him charming, damn it. I was the one who was supposed to dazzle you with my rapier wit and virile attractiveness. It’s clear that I’ll have to apply myself more assiduously to the project.” He hitched his chair closer to her own, until his hard muscular thigh was pressed intimately against her own, and put his hand on her knee. “
Now
do I have your complete attention?”
Honey firmly removed his hand and placed it back on the table with a tolerant little pat. It was impossible to be angry with him when he was gazing at her with those wistful blue eyes that still held a glint of little-boy devilishness in their depths. “I have an idea that you’ve had a great deal too much attention from women in your career, Lance,” she said lightly. “I wonder if you even remember their names.”
“Not many of their names,” he admitted frankly. “They’re all a bit of a blur after a while.” Then, as he saw the frown beginning to cloud her face, he covered
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