Notorious (7 page)

By the time the meal ended, Sabin not only knew her viewpoints on all the subjects he’d mentioned but practically every other topic under the sun. He kept a rapid fire of questions and answers going and seemed genuinely absorbed in her replies.

Mallory found their views seldom coincided, but she found Sabin surprisingly tolerant and ready to listen even when he disagreed. Even the arguments became enjoyable; he displayed a rapier sharp wit and a dry sense of humor that made any conversation stimulating to the point of exhilaration.

“We’ll have coffee later,” he said as he pushed back his chair after they had finished dessert. “Have you ever seen the desert sky at night?”

She shook her head. “I grew up in Chicago.”

“Then you have a treat.” He pulled back her chair. “Come out into the garden.”

She grinned. “And walk down the primrose path?”

“No primroses in Sedikhan. The flora is much more exotic.”

He opened the French doors, and she was immediately bombarded by the scent of jasmine and gardenia.

She breathed deeply as she followed him down the landscaped path. “Wonderful.”

“Now look up there.” He pointed at the velvety black of the night sky studded with glittering stars. “How can you say we should stay earth-bound with all that waiting for us?”

“Ethiopia.”

“Jupiter.”

“Bangladesh.”

“Mush. A heart full of pure mush.”

She dropped down on a marble bench by a graceful mosaic fountain and looked up at him. He towered above her, the rich dark brown of his hair almost black in the moonlight. “Is that why you brought me out here? To argue about appropriations for NASA?”

“No.” He leaned on the rim of the fountain. “I thought I’d better provide you with the most
pleasant setting possible when I told you I wasn’t letting you go.”

She stiffened. “What? But you said after dinner we’d—”

“Discuss your departure,” he finished. “And we are. You’re not leaving Kandrahan.”

“This is ridiculous.”

He shook his head. “I know this throws all your neat little analysis out of kilter, but I don’t give a damn about getting even with you and Ben. I never did. I just wanted you.”

“You’ve
had
me, dammit.”

“I want you again,” he said softly. “And again and again. I want you to be my mistress, Mallory.”

“Well, you can’t have everything you want. I’ve no desire to be anyone’s mistress. All I want to do is get on with my life. It was all a mistake and—”

“What we had in the library was no mistake.” A hint of steel entered his tone. “You enjoyed the hell out of it, and I nearly went crazy.”

“Sex.” Mallory shook her head. “You can’t base a relationship on sex.”

“It’s done all the time.” He paused. “Besides, there may be more between us. It’s too soon to tell. I thought you were something you’re not, and all this has thrown me a curve.” He stopped and when he continued his voice held a note of restrained violence. “I need time to sort things out, and I’m not letting you run away while I do it.”

“You think I’ll just jump into your bed because you want me to?”

“No.” His lips tightened. “I know damn well you won’t. That’s why I’m grabbing my chance. For heaven’s sake, I’m not talking rape, Mallory.”

She laughed without mirth. “It sounds remarkably like it.”

His hands closed on the rim of the fountain. “Look, you’re not well enough to work yet.”

“I think that’s my decision to make.”

“Not while you’re under contract to me.”

“You?”

“Global.”

She stood up, her eyes were blazing at him. “You’d keep me from acting?”

“Until you’re entirely well.”

“Then I’ll get another job. I’ll wait tables or—”

“Not in Sedikhan. You don’t speak the language.”

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I’m beginning to become very angry with you, Sabin.”

“I don’t blame you. I’d be mad as hell.”

“Then let me go.”

He slowly shook his head. “Not yet. Give me three weeks.”

“To convince me how happy I could be as the outlet for your libido?”

He smothered a smile. “What I’m trying to do is turn back the clock to that first night when I saw you at the premiere, before everything got in our way. I’m not going to try to force you to go to bed with me, and I know bribery wouldn’t work now.” He shrugged. “That only leaves seduction, and seduction takes time. Give me three weeks to convince you that you’d be happy as my mistress. After that, I’ll let you leave Kandrahan and go to Marasef to start work on the picture.”

“And stay out of my life?”

“No promises. But I’ll stay out of your way until the picture is finished. Deal?”

She gazed at him without speaking, her mind a tumult of anger, hope, and fear. She could feel her confidence and control ebb away. He was making deals and trying to run her life to suit himself. “I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”

He nodded. “I thought you would. Tell me tomorrow.”

“I’ll tell you when I know myself.” She whirled on her heel and strode toward the palace. “And not before.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He was laughing at her.

She glared at him over her shoulder. “And I am
not
mush.”

“I’m beginning to think I exaggerated on that score.”

“You’re damned right you did.”

She swept regally into the house and slammed the door.

She had done that quite well, she thought with satisfaction as she hurried down the hall toward her room. Just like Glenn Close in
Dangerous Liaisons
.

She only wished her confidence was genuine instead
of bravado. She knew she would have to agree to the terms Sabin had set for her. She needed that role with Global, dammit.

She just wished she hadn’t found Sabin so blasted interesting this evening. It was difficult enough fighting that intense sexual charisma, but tonight she had learned he could also be as stimulating mentally as he was physically. She had actually
liked
the man.

Because he had wanted her to like him
, she reminded herself. He had deliberately shown her other facets of his personality so that she could see that the role he wanted her to play in his life would be pleasant.

Pleasant? She had been half out of her head when they had made love, and he had still brought her so much pleasure she couldn’t bear to think about it without feeling that same heated response.

But sex wasn’t enough, just as the tender, maternal affection she had felt for Ben wasn’t enough. She had made one mistake that had nearly wrecked her life, and she wasn’t about to make another. A career and friends, while not as
exciting, were far safer than the kind of relationship Sabin was offering her.

Now all she had to do was maintain her cool, sensible attitude for the next three weeks.

The next morning, Carey Litzke was sitting at the breakfast table with Sabin when Mallory walked into the dining room. He broke off in midsentence and gazed at Mallory warily. “Hi, I suppose you’re ready to draw and quarter me?”

“The thought did occur to me. I’m not at all pleased with you.” Mallory sat down across from him and spread her napkin on her lap. She avoided looking at Sabin as she reached for her orange juice. “Sabin told me you were in Marasef. What are you doing here?”

“You said you liked him,” Sabin said. “As a gracious host, naturally I wish to provide you with congenial companions. I called Carey last night and asked him to come to Kandrahan to amuse you.”

Sabin’s planned seduction was obviously beginning, Mallory thought. Instead of furs and
jewels, she was being given companions to keep her occupied.

Her tone was barbed as she said sweetly to Carey, “Do you always play court jester when you’re not laying traps for poor unwary ladies?”

Carey flinched. “I wasn’t happy about it. I was over the moon when Sabin told me it was only a misunderstanding that’s been straightened out now.”

“Back off, Mallory,” Sabin said. “You know you have no intention of blaming Carey for my sins.”

“You’re right. But I thought he deserved a few minutes of discomfort for following your dictates so slavishly.”

“Slavish isn’t a term I’d use for Carey,” Sabin said dryly. “He’s much more likely to lecture than praise me.”

“Good. My opinion of your taste is beginning to rise.” Mallory set her orange juice down on the table and smiled at Carey. “You have permission to stay, court jester.”

Carey grinned. “I warn you I’m no Robin
Williams. My amusement value is on a much quieter plane.”

“So is mine.” A servant set a plate of melon and strawberries before Mallory and glided silently away. “But there won’t be time for much play anyway. I intend to make use of you. I need someone to help me rehearse, and you can cue me.”

“Rehearse?” Carey shot Sabin a surprised glance. “I thought she—”

“Mallory would like to be prepared in case she wishes to leave Kandrahan and take over the role in
Breakaway.”
Sabin’s gaze rested on Mallory’s face. “But I believe she’s wisely decided to take a three-week vacation before she makes that decision. Isn’t that correct?”

Mallory met his gaze. “Partially. The choice is already made, but three weeks of rest won’t do me any harm.”

“No harm at all,” he said softly. “Vacations can sometimes be very pleasurable.” He stood up. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, Carey brought me some work to do from Marasef. I’ll go attend to it
so I can be free to enjoy your charming company this afternoon.”

She glanced down at her plate. “I intend to be working on the script all day.”

“No.” Sabin’s smile failed to hide his iron determination. “I couldn’t think of letting you exhaust yourself. You and Carey can work until two this afternoon on the script, but the rest of the day is mine.” He turned to Carey. “If she begins to tire, cut it short. I’m holding you responsible.” He turned on his heel and strode out of the dining room.

“What an exit line.” Carey made a face. “He puts your back up and turns me into an authority figure instead of a playmate. Diplomacy was never one of Sabin’s strong points.”

She began to eat her melon. “Have you known him for a long time?”

“Thirteen years. We went to Harvard together, and I started to work for him as soon as he assumed control of Wyatt Enterprises after his father died.” Carey lifted his coffee cup to his lips. “He’s not as hard as he pretends. He hasn’t had an easy life, Mallory.”

“Ah, yes, the life of a billionaire is fraught with woe.”

“I mean it.” Carey’s expression was grave. “His father was one of those captain-of-industry types who demand everything and give nothing. From the time Sabin was fourteen he was working for Wyatt Enterprises day and night while trying to keep up his schoolwork.”

She shook her head doubtfully. “Ben said his stepfather was very indulgent.”

“With Ben, not Sabin. Sabin was his own son. He had to measure up.” Carey met Mallory’s gaze across the table. “And he did measure up to impossibly high standards. He’s a giant in more than just physical size. The problem with people who are bigger than life is they tend to ask too much from the people around them.”

“Ben?”

He shook his head. “Sabin only asked that Ben give him honesty.”

And Ben had failed Sabin as he had failed her, Mallory thought with a pang. “But he asks more from you?”

“You’re damned right he does. He works me to
the point of exhaustion.” Carey grinned. “And then he gives me a year’s wages as a bonus and a dream vacation at one of those escapes-of-the-rich-and-famous resorts.” His smile faded. “But there’s never a vacation for Sabin. He’s still trying to measure up.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because Sabin won’t.” He paused. “I think you’ll be good for him, and sometimes it’s easier to understand someone’s actions if you know how they think.”

She did a double take and then smiled. “That’s what I told Sabin.”

“I knew we were on the same wavelength.” He returned her smile. “Uncomplicated. We work hard and enjoy life and the people around us. We climb step by step and don’t try to leap tall buildings with a single bound.”

She nodded. “But we get very irritated if someone arbitrarily steps in and blocks that climb.”

“Oops.” He reached out and poured coffee into her cup from the carafe. “Okay. I’ll shut up. I suppose it’s natural for you to be on the defensive.”

“I’d be insane if I wasn’t,” she said dryly as she picked up the cup and cradled it in her hands. “You may look at me as therapy for your workaholic boss, but I have a few problems of my own.”

“Yes, you do.” He hesitated. “Did Sabin tell you he had a private investigating team working on clearing up Ben’s murder?”

“No.”

“They turned up several bits of information that helped to free you, but it also meant you were under surveillance.”

“Charming,” she said wearily. “I not only had the police tailing me but a horde of private investigators.”

“Sabin’s contract with Randolph ran out two days ago, but they sent me one final bit of information you should be advised about. It was in the packet of stuff that arrived yesterday.”

She looked at him inquiringly.

“The day after you left New York your apartment was broken into and trashed.”

Her hands stiffened on the delicate china cup. “A theft?”

“Nothing seems to have been taken. Your landlady told Randolph’s man it was vandalism. Mirrors broken, cushions ripped.” He paused. “Photographs slashed. She thought it might be some local hoodlums.”

A chill iced through Mallory at the thought of mindless violence reaching across an ocean to touch her, even here in Sedikhan. “What photographs?”

“Some of your publicity photos.” He gazed at her, troubled. “That frightens you?”

A telephone ringing in the night and only silence on the end of the line
.

“Yes.” Her hand was trembling as she lifted the cup to her lips. “Violence always frightens me. I don’t understand it.”

“Have there been any other instances like this?”

“Not like this.” She looked into the black depths of the liquid in her cup. “Phone calls.”

“What?”