Kat Martin - Against the Sun

A thought that eased some of the tension inside her.

Sitting down in the cream leather Eames chair behind her desk, she went to work. She started making calls, digging up the information Jake had asked for, and some she needed, as well. She had the name and contact information of the aide who was handling the Saudi end of preparations for the visit, Caseem Al Dossari. She made a list of questions, then phoned the man in Saudi Arabia.

Did the sheik or his family have any special needs? Did anyone require or prefer any special foods? Was there anything in particular the family wanted to see or do while in Houston? Most importantly, how did the sheik and his family wish to be addressed?

The man patiently answered each of her questions and added a few more details he thought might be useful.

Sage finished the cell and spent the next few hours going over her notes and making other calls.

It was almost noon when she finished the call and her assistant buzzed her on the intercom.

“Yes, Will?”

“Mr. Cantrell has a few things he needs to go over.”

“Of course. Send him in.” She sat up a little straighter, tossed her hair back over her shoulder as Jake walked through the door.

“I just wanted to let you know we’ve got security coming in this afternoon. They’ll be round-the-clock in the building until the negotiations are finished.”

“That’s a relief.” Not wanting to be at even more of a height disadvantage, she stood up and walked toward him.

“You come up with those names?” he asked.

Sage couldn’t stop a smile. “The sheik’s full name is His Highness Sheik Khalid bin Abd al-Kahtani bin Abd Al Kahzaz.”

“There’s a mouthful.”

“Formally, we’re to call him His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Kahzaz. Being a little less formal, we can leave off the His Highness and go with Sheik Khalid.”

“That’s better.”

“I have the son and daughter’s names, as well. Roshan’s twenty-six and A’lia’s twenty-two. I’ve got a list of all their personal likes and dislikes, which I’ll be discussing with the hotel, and some things they’d like to do while they’re here.”

“Such as?”

“The daughter loves to ride. I thought we’d take them out to Ian’s ranch for a couple of days. Give them a real taste of Texas.”

“Where is it?”

“Out along the Brazos less than two hours away. We’ve got twenty-five hundred acres out there. There’s a main house and a separate guesthouse. It should be perfect.”

“I’ll need to see the place ahead of time, check the security.”

A soft knock sounded. Phillip’s knock. He didn’t feel he should have to go through her assistant to speak to her. It irritated her a little.

Her fiancé smiled as he stepped through the door and kept the smile in place when he spotted Cantrell. “Just wanted to check in, make sure our evening was going forward as planned.”

It was Friday, Phillip’s last night in Houston. He wouldn’t be back in the country for at least two months. Fridays were one of the nights he stayed at her apartment when he was in town. Tuesdays and Fridays they went out to dinner, came home and made love. It fit into both of their schedules.

Sage had never given that fact much thought until she glanced at Jake. She couldn’t imagine Jake Cantrell planning his calendar around the two days a week he intended to have sex.

The thought made her feel uneasy, and somehow restless. She didn’t know why.

She shoved the thought away, looked up at Phillip and smiled. “It’s Friday, and your last day in the city. Of course we’re going out as planned.”

Cantrell’s blue eyes fixed on Phillip. They seemed darker, somehow more intense. “If you don’t want company, I’d advise you to change your plans.”

Sage’s mouth thinned. “What are you talking about? What Phillip and I are planning has nothing to do with you.”

“Have you looked outside lately?”

“No, why?”

“Because that little scene you caught this morning has grown, the crowd already more than doubled. My job is to protect you. You’re stuck with me until the Saudis are gone.”

Her shoulders stiffened. She wanted to tell him to take his protection and shove it. That he was overbearing and domineering, and she didn’t like it.

She looked at Phillip, who was waiting for her to do exactly that—tell Cantrell to stay out of her personal affairs. She thought of the night ahead, of Phillip in her bed, of another round of unimaginative lovemaking and very little passion. Suddenly, it was the last thing she wanted.

“I think Mr. Cantrell is right. Ian wouldn’t have hired him if he didn’t trust his judgment.”

“Nonsense. Most of those people are students from the university. They’re hardly a threat.”

“Until this is over, what I say goes,” Jake said. “And if she goes out with you, I’m coming along.”

Phillip bristled. But he wasn’t a fool and he was certainly no match for Cantrell. Not that he would consider behaving as anything less than a gentleman.

“Why don’t we go get some lunch?” Sage suggested, ignoring the guilt slipping through her, the feeling that she was somehow betraying Phillip. “We can say our goodbyes in the dining room.”

“I planned to have dinner at the club.” River Oaks, the most exclusive country club in Houston. “That’s hardly the same as lunch in the executive dining room.”

Jake didn’t say a word, just stood there with his legs splayed and his hands crossed, staring straight ahead, looking like an employee—for once.

Sage almost rolled her eyes. He could be as irritating as Phillip.

“Fine, let’s go.” Phillip waited while she grabbed her bag, then took her arm and walked her out the door. She wondered why he hadn’t suggested staying home tonight, having dinner in her apartment. But their relationship had never been one of grand passion. It was comfortable, the kind both of them felt could stand the test of time.

“I’ll be in the conference room when you’re done,” Jake said, following them out of her office.

Phillip’s jaw looked tight as he watched Cantrell’s tall frame disappear inside the room. Turning, he led Sage toward the elevator and the small but first-class restaurant on the fourteenth floor.

She tried to convince herself she was furious at Jake. That what she was feeling wasn’t relief.

Five

The weekend arrived. Both days, Jake escorted Sage to the office, where only a few people were working in the building. There were just a few protestors out in front, and none of the chaos that had greeted them coming and going on Friday. These were kids. Most of them wanted their weekends off.

While Sage caught up on things at the office, Jake began the work he needed to do before the Saudis arrived. As the protests had grown, his job had expanded. Fortunately, Ian had given him the authority to arrange whatever additional security was needed during the visit.

Jake made a trip to the Four Seasons, walked the twentieth floor, checked the exits, checked the lobby, dining rooms and kitchen. The hotel was well run, and nothing unusual caught his eye. He spoke to hotel security, alerting them to the Saudis’ visit, advising them to treat the matter as a celebrity stay and keep the information quiet.

The staff assured him that wouldn’t be a problem. Oil-rich Texas was used to visitors from the Middle East. It was only the recent unrest that complicated the situation.

On Sunday afternoon, after Sage finished work, she and Jake drove out in the Jeep to the Dumont family ranch, south and a little west of Houston. The weather had turned slightly cooler. Jake hoped it stayed that way. The Saudis were certainly used to heat, but the humidity was something else.