One Hot Desert Night by Kristi Gold Read Free Book Online

cotton shorts and slipped her feet into plain beige flip-flops. Next step—finding food.
    After twisting her damp hair into a knot at her nape, Sunny walked out the door and strode down the lengthy corridor, all the while considering the sinfully sexy sheikh...until she realized she had no idea where she was going when she hit a dead end in the hallway. She could turn right or left, and decided on right, only to discover Rayad heading her way, as if she’d somehow conjured him up.
    He continued to walk as he focused on a document in his hand, giving her a prime opportunity to covertly check him out. From the confident gait to the broad chest and all points up and down, he would be the kind of man worthy of a magical love spell. The kind of man who drew attention the moment he entered the room, or a confusing corridor in this instance. Then she remembered how she looked at the moment—wet-headed and bare-faced—and heat flowed over her cheeks, most likely leaving crimson in its wake.
    Who cared if she wasn’t dressed like a prom queen? So what if her appearance was barely fit for public viewing? It truly didn’t matter what he thought. She didn’t give a rat’s patoot if he caught sight of her, turned and ran away.
    Yet when he looked up and met her gaze, he continued to move toward her, a hint of a smile curling the corners of his sexy mouth. As the space disappeared between them, he stopped and tucked the papers under one arm. “Good afternoon, Sunny.”
    The sound of her name on his lips made her think about warm desert breezes, the whisper of his voice in her ear, making love at midnight beneath the stars...
    Heaven help her, she had died and gone to Southern belle hell, where romantic ideals were as common as mint juleps.
    She managed to clear her throat, but she couldn’t quite clear her mind of the silly notion that he would ride in and save the day, complete with a sword and horse. “Good afternoon to you, too, Rayad. And before you ask, yes, I’m lost. Which way to the kitchen?”
    He pointed behind him. “Maintain your current course and take a left immediately before the staircase, then follow the scent.”
    The only scent she discerned at the moment was him. An earthy, exotic scent that gave the flower the night before a run for its money. “I take it you’ve already had lunch.”
    “Yes, and breakfast several hours ago.”
    He probably thought she was an absolute slug. “I slept in.”
    “Apparently, yet this is a good thing. Did you rest well?”
    As well as anyone plagued by visions of masked villains. “Fairly well. And you?”
    “Not as much rest as I perhaps should, but I require little sleep.”
    “Oh.” Now what? Ask him about his reading material? What he had planned for the day? Could she come along for the ride? Ride as in... “I guess I’ll go grab something to eat.”
    No sooner than she’d said it when a silver-haired, golden-skinned gentleman dressed in white muslin came toward them at a fast clip, a tray balanced in one hand. Sunny stepped to one side to get out of his way, but he paused and afforded her a quick glance before addressing Rayad. She knew a few Arabic words, but the exchange was spoken so fast, none of it made much sense. Then Rayad seemingly barked out an order before pointing down the hall.
    The man sent her an oddly apologetic look, lowered his head and continued on his way.
    “What was that all about?” she asked after he disappeared.
    “Your meal. I instructed him to place the tray in your room immediately after he asked if I had seen you. I told him you were standing before me.”
    Sunny shrugged. “That’s understandable. He wouldn’t have any reason to know me. I hope you weren’t too hard on him.”
    “Only after he made the mistake of assuming you are my lover and not the sister of a princess.”
    She swallowed around her self-consciousness. “So he thought I was your mistress?”
    “Precisely, yet he did apologize when I clarified your