Touch the Horizon Read Online Free PDF Page B

causing sand to cascade to the floor. “Why don’t you go change before bearding Karim in his den? It looks like you brought half of the desert in with you. He’s not going to be any more angry with you in fifteen minutes than he is now.”
    David shook his head. “I’ll go right in to see him.” He smiled gently. “Karim always roars loudest when he’s worried. I’ll just show him I’m all right and let him take the edge off his temper.” He walked rapidly down the hall. “See you at dinner, Clancy.”
    Clancy gazed after him with an expression compounded equally of affection and exasperation. The assignment Alex had given him of protecting David was proving more difficult than if it were Karim himself he had to guard. David’s gentleness covered a will that was even more inflexible than Alex’s or that of the old tiger waiting for David in the study.
    He could almost visualize David lounging in a chair in front of Karim’s desk, listening patiently while the sheikh ranted and raved at him. There would be that same gentle smile on his face when Karim ran out of words and anger. He’d get up, say something soothing and noncommittal, and leave. He’d seen it happen a dozen times with Alex and Sabrina, and then it had only amused him. Now that he was the one being confronted by that iron determination, he wasn’t quite so entertained. It wasn’t bad enough having Ladram somewhere out there just waiting to pounce. Now there was Billie Callahan on the scene, who’d be an unknown element in an already explosive situation. And he could do without unknown elements appearing out of nowhere at this point. When David had finished with Karim, he’d be having a talk with the sheikh himself.
             
    Billie’s eyes widened with admiration as she was led down a long hall that contained a multitude of arches and tiny alcoves where Eastern carpets in rich, jewellike colors lay on gleaming mosaic tiles. Filigreed Moorish lamps hung here and there on long brass chains, softly lighting the magnificent paintings on the walls of the alcoves. The collection evidently included everything from the old masters to the most brilliant of the contemporary school. There was even a glowing island landscape by Rubinoff, she noted admiringly.
    Yasmin opened the delicately carved cream-colored doors and preceded Billie into the suite. “I think you’ll be comfortable here,” she said. “The bathing chamber and dressing room are through there.” She gestured toward an arched doorway hung with a diaphanous white net curtain. “Naturally, everything you require will be provided.”
    “Naturally.” Billie wrinkled her nose impishly. “Where have you hidden Aladdin’s lamp for me to rub?” She glanced blissfully at the wide ottoman bed hung with amber silken curtains, at the table inlaid with mother of pearl that stood beside the monster of a bed, then looked at the white filigree doors that must lead to her own private patio. “On second thought, I don’t believe I need it. Glory, what a
sinfully
gorgeous room.”
    There was a trace of amusement in Yasmin’s smile. “I am happy it pleases you, because I’m not certain, but I don’t think we have Aladdin’s lamp on hand.”
    “No matter,” Billie said breezily. “The only thing I need now is a bath and a change of clothes. I won’t even ask for minstrels or acrobats to keep me amused.”
    “I think we can fill your needs.” Yasmin said. A frown suddenly darkened her face. “Though there may be difficulty finding a garment suitable for dinner.” Her gaze went over Billie’s slender figure, which had a fragility belied by the crackling vitality emanating from it. “You’re quite slim, aren’t you?”
    “That’s putting it kindly,” Billie said glumly. “I’ve got less shape than Twiggy did in the 1960s.” She gazed wistfully at Yasmin’s full bodice. “No bazooms. Every woman in the world has great bazooms but me.”
    “Bazooms?” Yasmin’s