He closed his eyes for a split second, and the muscles in his shoulders bunched. His heartbeat deepened, and his scent swirled out around her.

The passion from the pool house invaded her body. Fear and desire coalesced to one emotion, and her focus shifted to his mouth. Just once, she thought. Just once before her life went to hell.

His lips parted and he dipped his head.

Her hand curled into a fist with his shirt trapped inside. She pulled herself up on her toes, slanting her head, tipping forward.

His hand wrapped around the back of her head and dragged her in.

His lips met hers, full on, hot and open.

Passion welled to life from her belly, roiling out to every finger and toe. She opened her mouth, and his tongue invaded. His free arm wrapped around her waist, clutching her firmly to his body, her breasts plastered against him, her belly molding to the shape of his arousal, her thighs flush up against his, not a centimeter between them.

His kiss went to her neck, her ear, her temple, then back to her mouth. He stroked her cheek, ran his hand over her hair, slid the other over her buttocks, kissing her over and over again.

Then something banged in the barn.

A horse, most likely.

But they both jolted back to reality.

He broke the kiss and held her tight, gasping beside her ear, one hand still clasping her bottom.

“Not good,” he rasped.

“Sorry,” she breathed against his chest.

He shook his head. “That wasn’t your fault.”

“It was the fear,” she said.

“Yeah,” he agreed, his grasp on her loosening slowly.

“Could have happened to anyone.” She forced herself to pull back.

“The heat of the moment,” he said.

“Exactly.” She brushed the wrinkles from the front of his dress shirt.

He took a half step back. “There’s no need-”

“It never happened.”

Harrison could carry on with his plans for an arranged marriage to Brittany without any fear of Julia being indiscreet. It was definitely the least she could do.

Harrison took another step back, and they separated completely.

“The vet’s office,” he said.

She nodded.

He started to take her hand again, but then backed off.

Good thinking.

Clearly, they couldn’t be trusted together.

Harrison had a lot of faith in Alex. And if Alex was suspicious, then so was Harrison.

“Something’s not right,” Alex repeated, standing next to Brittany in the small vet’s office.

Leila had arrived, reporting that the horses were ready to go out the back way if needed. And it was looking as though they might be needed.

“A person of significance?” he parroted Alex’s earlier words back to him.

“It usually means some kind of hostile, material witness,” said Alex. “And they only use it in a very serious case.”

Harrison’s attention went back to Julia. She looked absolutely terrified, but he still didn’t know if he could trust her completely. She’d lied to him before.

“Do you have any idea what this is about?”

“I’ve only been here four days,” she all but wailed.

“Shh,” he admonished. The police were searching in the house at the moment, but they’d move to the barn soon enough.

Her voice turned to a hoarse whisper. “You were with me for most of that time.”

“The horse theft charges are back,” Alex put in. “It looks to me like they’re using anything and everything they can think of to get their hands on Julia.”

“Why?” Harrison asked out loud, stymied.

Everyone was silent.

“Somebody thinks she knows something,” Alex ventured.

Harrison stared at his friend. Unspoken was that the somebody who thought she knew something had the power to influence the UAE law enforcement. Not good for Julia.

“The horses?” asked Leila.

Brittany spoke up. “They’ll see you. They’ll follow you.”

Harrison and Alex looked at each other. Brittany was likely right.

“Unless,” Brittany continued. She turned her attention to Julia, sizing the woman up. “Trade me clothes. In case the taxi driver described you.”

Julia shook her head. “I can’t let you-”

“Oh, yes, you can,” said Harrison. He nodded approvingly at Brittany. “A decoy.”

“Damn,” said Alex with clear admiration.

Brittany’s fingers went to the zipper at the side of her gown.

“Men outside, please,” came Leila’s scolding voice, and Harrison realized he’d been staring.

He and Alex immediately moved into the hallway and shut the door behind them.

“What in the bloody hell is going on?” asked Harrison as soon as they were alone.

Alex shook his head. “Something to do with Millions to Spare?”

“What could she know? What is there to know?”

“It must be connected to Leopold’s Legacy.”

Harrison switched to that angle. “And somebody knows she was here with the Prestons?”

“And that she followed Millions to Spare.”

Harrison swore. There was no telling how high or how far this went. And maybe Julia did know something. But maybe it was something she didn’t even realize she knew.

He didn’t want to consider the possibility she was playing him again.

No. He wasn’t going to explore that line of thinking.

“Want me to sleuth around?” asked Alex.

“Absolutely. When you and Brittany get back-”

“Whoa. Wait a minute. Me and Brittany?”

“Julia’s my responsibility. And I’m not about to let you get arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal.”

Alex looked aghast at the prospect of staying with Brittany.

Good grief. Brittany was a perfectly nice person.

“They’re going to follow you two,” said Harrison. “Lead them south as far as you can, then play dumb. I’m going to take the Jeep and go cross-country toward Fujairah.”

“Over the dunes?”

“And through the mountains.”

Alex cocked his head. “I don’t think they’ll expect that.”

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

Harrison felt around in his pocket and retrieved a credit card, holding it out to Alex between two fingers. “If you get lucky, and make it to Ajman, book a decoy hotel room with this.”

Alex took the card and grinned. “And then book the real one with cash?”

“You got it,” said Harrison. “Keep running and keep sleuthing as long as you can. I’ll be calling you when I get a chance.”

Alex nodded.

The door to the vet’s office came open. “They’re done,” said Leila.

Brittany acknowledged that Julia looked very nice in the Feteami gown. Her breasts were slightly fuller than Brittany’s, the result being a more voluptuous silhouette. But there was enough give in the fabric that it still fit her well, and the shimmering beads accentuated Julia’s graceful neck.

It would have been better for Brittany’s peace of mind if Julia had looked terrible. But Brittany would just have to get over this silly reaction to the woman.

Julia had done nothing overt. She wasn’t flirting with Harrison. In fact, Brittany mostly felt sorry for her. She was obviously frightened, and simply wanted to get out of the country as quickly as possible.

Julia teetered a little bit in the four-inch heels. Brittany had to admit she was grateful they’d switched shoes so that she wore the roomy, canvas flats.

She had no desire to go riding through the desert in her Claudio Merazzi shoes. Bad enough she was wearing a dress. She knew her thighs would rub against the saddle, but hopefully they wouldn’t be out there too long. And she could climb into the big, en suite bathtub when they got back.

She could already feel the soothing, foamy water.

She was worried there wouldn’t be a proper goodbye for the guests at the secretary-general’s party. But she supposed that couldn’t be helped. Although she didn’t have a diamond on her finger as yet, it was her job to support Harrison.

She drew a deep breath as the men walked back into the office. In this, she was ready, willing and able to offer support.

“Thank you,” Julia offered, reaching out to squeeze Brittany’s hand.

Brittany smiled at the woman and squeezed back. If it wasn’t for the odd energy she sensed between Julia and Harrison, she might even like the woman.

“It’ll be over soon,” she promised.

“Oh, I hope so,” said Julia.

There was a faint buzz, and Leila grabbed her cell phone from her pocket and put it to her ear.

“They’re coming,” she whispered to the group. Then she pointed to an outside exit door from the little office. “I’ll explain to your grandmother, and Darla will make sure the guests get a proper goodbye.”

“Tell her the French, the Uzbeks-” He swore under his breath.

“Darla will know what to do,” said Leila. “She’ll tell them the right story.”

Harrison gave a grim-faced nod, and Brittany understood there must be some important diplomatic talks going on at the party.

“Roc and Cedar Twist are this way,” said Leila.

Knowing time was running out, Brittany headed for the door.

To her surprise, Alex appeared at her elbow.

“What-”

“Shh.”

“But-”

“Quiet,” he ground out as he ushered her through the exit to the dark yard. “You need help getting on?”

“No.” She had been riding since she was five years old. She was perfectly capable of mounting her own horse.

But where the heck was Harrison?

She strained to look over her shoulder.

Leila shut the door, and she and Alex were alone, save for the two horses tied to the hitching post.

“Where’s Harrison?” she demanded.

Alex grinned as he untied the lead rope of the taller animal. “He’s with Julia.”

“What?”

“Quiet,” Alex warned.

“You’re coming with me?” Brittany couldn’t believe it. She was sacrificing her thighs to spend time with Alex?