Debbi Rawlins - By The Sheikh's Command

Definitely more attractive.

No one else gave her that funny flutter in her tummy.

“Is everything all right?” He narrowed his gaze and then again looked toward the door by which Chuck had left.

“Fine.” She wondered how much he’d heard. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“A woman such as yourself has many admirers. Sometimes their attention can seem overwhelming.”

“Admirers?” Her cheeks burned and she hugged the clipboard to her chest. “Don’t be silly.”

He frowned slightly. “You must not take these young men’s intentions lightly.”

Intentions? She wasn’t going to ask. “Help yourself to any of the horses. Cord favors Lightning, the tan gelding, when his horse is being groomed.”

Rafe stared at her, his dark eyes intense and probing, making her want to confess to sins she hadn’t even committed.

“I have to get back to work,” she said, and turned away from him. Nothing on the paper attached to the clipboard made sense anymore, but it gave her something to focus on.

“Brianna?”

“I’ll have something made for lunch around one. If I’m not around, check the refrigerator.”

He touched her arm and she stiffened. “Why are you so uneasy around me?”

“I’m not.” Heat climbed her neck, and when he urged her to turn around, she lowered her lashes.

“What am I to think but that Aliah has said unkind things about me?”

“That’s not true.” Her gaze flew to his face and she saw the amusement he couldn’t quite hide. “Okay, so you make me a little nervous. I don’t know why. Probably because I’d never met a sheikh before.”

“Now that you have, am I so different than any other man?”

“I guess not,” she said, lying through her teeth. He was different, all right. Taller, darker, more self-assured than any of the guys she knew. And when he smiled. Lord help her. Maybe it was a good thing he didn’t smile all that often.

“Tell me, who was that young man with whom you were speaking?”

“Chuck Williams. He works here.” She narrowed her gaze. “Why?”

“In your brother’s absence, I hope you feel free to come to me if you have any problems.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “I thought you said Cord was only teasing about asking you to watch over me?”

“I am an older brother. I would want someone to take care of Aliah in my absence. In effect, now that she has married, I have handed her over to Cord. It is not unusual for a brother to—”

She made a most unladylike sound of frustration, and then clamped her mouth shut when she realized what she’d done.

His eyebrows drew together in a slight frown. “You are upset.”

“Not really.” Embarrassed was more like it. Aunt Elaine would be mortified and furious at Bri’s manners. Of course, since leaving New Hampshire, Bri had changed in a lot of ways. Thanks to Cord, she had more freedom than she’d ever dreamed possible. “It’s just that—” She shook her head. “It’s not important. I apologize for overreacting.”

He stared at her, his dark eyes searching, and for a moment she feared he wouldn’t let the matter drop. Not that she had any intention of discussing the importance of her newfound independence. Such as it was. Here at the Flying Ace the crippling shyness that had stunted her social life seemed to ease. She felt safe here. At peace. But if she had to venture out into the world again…

She couldn’t even finish the thought.

“No need for an apology, I assure you.”

“You’re right.” At his surprised look, she swallowed. “I’m your hostess while my brother is away, not your ward.” There. She’d said it. “Not that I don’t appreciate your concern.” She sighed at the unnecessary concession.

Rafe’s left eyebrow went up, and she couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or amused.

She didn’t care. She’d said her piece and she wasn’t sorry. “Now, if you will excuse me…”

He touched her arm when she started to turn away. “Answer one question first.”

“Okay,” she said slowly. “If I can.”

“Why would you not want to go to this dance in town?”

She lifted her chin. “You were listening?”

“I overheard. There is a difference.”

Amusement and not annoyance had been on his face, she decided. The look was still there. Condescending, almost paternal. She had a good mind to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him so hard he’d never think of her as a child again.

The mere idea stole her breath. She could no more do something like that than ride bareback in a rodeo. Heck, she still had trouble staying in a saddle. Lots of dogs and cats roamed her New Hampshire neighborhood. No horses.

Texas was a whole new world to her.

So was Rafe.

She swallowed hard at the way he stared into her eyes as if he could read her every thought. “I really have to get back to work.”

“Then I will assist you.”

That startled a laugh out of her. “You? Work?”

Anger flared briefly in his eyes. “The idea surprises you?”

“Well, you couldn’t even get your own breakfast.” She bit her lip, wishing she hadn’t said that.

“Ah, how do you know that was not a ploy to assure myself of your company?”

She blinked. “Huh?”

He laughed, and his whole face changed. “Perhaps I am not the man of leisure you assume.”

“I didn’t assume any such thing. Allie told me how much you do for Munir.”

“Ah, but you think I am ignorant of the mundane tasks of life.”

“Well…” Bri thought about Allie’s first attempts at manual labor and she had to stifle a laugh. “Actually, yes, I do.”

His features tightened. “Your honesty is admirable.”

“Not that I’m being critical. There’s been no need for you or Allie to do things for yourselves.”

“While I was at the university, you would be surprised at what I learned to do for myself.” One side of his mouth lifted and made her wonder what exactly he meant. “Allie did not go away to school and as a result became very pampered.”

“But she’s not anymore. She does a lot around here to help. Heck, before long Cord won’t need—” She gasped, horrified at what she was about to say.

Quickly, she turned back to sorting the bits. She’d already lost count of the bridles. After an hour she’d accomplished nothing. If she couldn’t be useful in the business end of the ranch, no one would need her.

When Rafe remained silent for too long, she finally slid him a glance. And wished she hadn’t. The sympathy she saw in his eyes made her ill.

“Brianna.” He took her hand and she was too stunned to pull away. “Just because a man takes a wife does not mean he does not need his sister.”

“You don’t understand.” She looked down at the toes of her tennis shoes, trying to gather her thoughts, willing herself not to say anything foolish.

He stroked the inside of her wrist with his thumb, and her breath caught. “I understand that you mean a great deal to Cord.”

She met his eyes, and pulled her hand away. “You don’t know him. You can’t say that.”

“Ah, but I am only repeating something he told me.”

“I don’t believe you.”

He smiled. “He also said you were shy, but he neglected to mention refreshingly honest.”

This conversation was not helping. In fact, hurt seeped into the fear. Just how intimately had Cord discussed her with Rafe?

As if reading her mind, Rafe sobered. “Your brother spoke of you only in terms of a warning to me.”

“A warning?”

“I told him how extraordinarily beautiful you are and he told me to…” His dark brows drew together in a puzzled frown. “The saying escapes me. Ah, I believe the term he used was ‘hands off.”’