Iris Johansen - A Summer Smile

However, he had succeeded in maintaining that avuncular façade, judging from Zilah’s touching declaration this morning. He was her best friend. He had to hold on to that. He had gained her trust; he mustn’t blow everything because he was so hot for her he was ready to explode. It might take months, even years, before she was ready to give herself because it was what she wanted, not because of that unselfish generosity that seemed ingrained in her. He could wait. At least, he hoped he could. This afternoon when she had appeared at the pool in that French-cut swim suit, he hadn’t been sure. He’d been so aroused he’d had to spend the entire session in the pool to keep from scaring the hell out of her.

He finished his drink and leaned forward to set his glass on the desk. Of course he could wait. All he had to do was avoid swimming pools, and bathtubs, and the sight of Zilah on a horse or walking across the room. It would be a real piece of cake.

He settled back in the chair and stretched his legs out before him. It was just as well that he had to wait here for Clancy’s call. He was in no shape to play the platonic friend tonight. He had to gather his reserves and repair his defenses before he faced Zilah again for any extended period. Hell, at this rate he might even have to take up yoga and contemplate his navel or something, he thought. Maybe it would take his mind off other portions of his anatomy.

Zilah’s eyes widened in surprise as she opened the door.

“May I come in?” Philip El Kabbar asked politely. “You’ll notice my manners have improved. I even knocked. I think that deserves a reward.”

“Yes, of course.” Zilah tightened the belt of her white satin robe and stepped back. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“According to Daniel, your security has been so tight that you shouldn’t have been expecting anyone.” Philip’s turquoise-colored eyes were fixed on her face. “Where is the little tigress?”

“Tigress?” Zilah asked faintly. Oh, dear heavens, he knew! She should have known Pandora would never be able to pull it off.

The shiekh frowned. “Pandora,” he said impatiently. “I understand she’s been guarding you like a tiger with her only cub. Where is she?”

“Oh, Pandora.” Zilah felt weak with relief. “She’s in the bathroom. I think she’s rinsing out a few things. I’ll go and get her.”

“Rinsing out a few things?” Philip’s lips twisted skeptically. “Pandora? That’s a rather tame occupation for her. Have you worked some magic to turn her into a docile lady’s maid? I think I’ll be very displeased if you have. That’s not why I sent her to you.”

“I know,” Zilah said quietly. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but we get along very well. She’s a charming child and I like her very much.”

“Then it’s obviously time I sent her away,” Philip said as he closed the door and leaned against it. He was dressed in dark trousers and shirt that outlined his lean, tough body and was as maddeningly attractive as he was outrageous. “Her stay here was supposed to be a punishment. Clearly it hasn’t turned out that way.”

“What do you have in mind?” Zilah asked stormily. “Perhaps you could throw her into the dungeon instead.”

“Yes, I could. There is one, you know. Thank you for the suggestion,” Philip drawled. “I’ll consider it.”

“You’re utterly impossible. Do you realize that? You’re a complete anachronism.”

He smiled. “But I have the power to get away with it. In the end, that’s the bottom line. Haven’t you found that to be true?” His smile vanished. “And I don’t appreciate your taking it upon yourself to defend her from my very righteous wrath. Pandora is my property. She’ll tell you that herself.”

“Only because she mistakenly thinks the sun rises and sets with you. She’s lived for the past several years in an environment entirely under your control. What do you think her reaction will be when she goes out into the world and finds out all men aren’t self-indulgent barbarians?”

Something flickered in his face. Anger? Pain? It was difficult to tell, for it was gone so quickly. “It’s hard to anticipate Pandora’s reactions. She seldom thinks and acts like other women.” He paused. “Yet. She’s still in the embryo stage.” He straightened. “Now, if you’ve quite finished trying to puncture my arrogance, I’ll go fetch your poor victimized little friend.” He started across the room.

Zilah instinctively ran to stand before the bathroom door. “No. I’ll get her. You stay right here.”

Philip stopped, his gaze taking in the trace of panic in her face. He shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said slowly. He grasped her shoulders and lifted her aside. “I find I’m suddenly very eager to view this newly docile Pandora at her housekeeping duties.” He turned the knob. “Very eager indeed.”

Zilah said hurriedly, “I don’t think-” She broke off.

It was too late. He had thrown open the door and she could tell by the stunned expression on his face that the jig was very definitely up.

She shifted to peer over his shoulder and almost groaned aloud. Ribbons! Where on earth had Pandora gotten the pink ribbons?

Somewhere, evidently, for she was sitting in the center of the sunken tub dressed in her usual jeans and ribbed cotton sweater. It was Androcles who was haute couture with an enormous pink satin bow tied around his striped tail. Pandora was in the process of tying another around his neck when she casually glanced up. She froze into statuelike stillness.

“A tigress! My God, a tigress! No wonder you did a double-take when I said that,” Philip exclaimed.

Pandora was rallying quickly. “He’s a male, actually. His name is Androcles. Hello, Philip.”

“A tiger,” he repeated, dazed. “You’ve had a tiger in the bathtub for the last week?”

Pandora lifted her chin defiantly. “Well, it’s your own fault, Philip. It was your idea for me to come here. I couldn’t just abandon him, could I?”

“Abandon a tiger?” Philip asked blankly. “How does one abandon a tiger?”

Pandora got to her feet and gathered Androcles protectively in her arms. “He’s only a baby. He didn’t even know how to swim until I taught him.”

“You taught him to swim ?” He shook his head as if to clear it.

Pandora frowned. “Really, Philip, I wish you’d listen. I think I’m making everything perfectly clear.”

“Oh, perfectly.” His lips were twitching uncontrollably. “I don’t know why I appear to be so thick-headed tonight. I suppose I’m more accustomed to thinking of a tiger in the jungle than in the bathtub. You’ll have to forgive my lack of adaptability.” He suddenly threw back his head and laughed uproariously. It was some time before his laughter dwindled to a chuckle. His blue-green eyes were still twinkling as he slowly shook his head. “I’ve heard of a tiger in the tank, of course. But, as usual, you’ve gone a step further, Pandora. Why should I have expected anything else?”

Pandora breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re not angry with me?”

“I’m furious,” he drawled as he crossed the bathroom and jumped down into the tub beside her. “Or I will be when I have time to think about it.”

“It’s just a little tiger,” Pandora said coaxingly.

“I don’t know whether I should ask where you acquired him. I have an idea that I don’t want to know.”

“Bazaar. Poachers,” Pandora said succinctly.

“I’m sure there’s considerably more to the tale than that, but I can wait until later for the details.” His usually cynical eyes were still alight with laughter and a rare tenderness as he looked down into her face. “You can’t keep him, you know,” he said gently. “We’ll have to send him to the wildlife reserve.”