On the Hunt - Page 27

Kira tensed, and she realized Harlan had read her expression as he reached out and took her hand. Dammit, she didn’t want Sarah to open any other intimate memories from her life to Harlan. He was aware of entirely too much about her already.

He sounded amused as he smiled slyly at Kira. “I don’t believe she thinks me worthy of confidences yet.”

“Nonsense,” Sarah said. “You must have misunderstood. You saved her and Mack. Who could be more worthy of trust?”

“We’ll get there,” Harlan said. “I’m trying not to be too pushy. She’s had a hard time lately. And she’s such a delicate flower…”

Which immediately caused Kira to snort with disdain and Sarah to start laughing.

And at least it interrupted any wish Sarah might have to defend her or tell him any more about their early life together. Kira glanced at Harlan, who was nodding and smiling at Sarah. Every movement was probably creating exactly the effect he meant it to. Charming Sarah and yet letting her lead the way.

I’m going to know you, he had told her.

Well, he’d clearly begun as he intended to continue.

Yes, she’d better not waste any time telling him about Kalim or he’d try to take over her world…

“You’re not a bad cook, Harlan,” Sarah said critically that evening as they walked her back to the clinic where she’d decided to spend the night. “The biscuits were particularly good. Not that I didn’t expect it. John is good with biscuits, too, when we go camping. I think it must be something in the male genes, or it might be a throwback to the Old West days when the cowboys sat around the campfire and did the cooking.” She made a face. “Please don’t tell me you had a French chef teach you the basics in that fancy castle.”

“No, I learned while I was in the service. I was a SEAL. Not a chef in sight.” He grinned. “But John liked my biscuits, too. I usually drew chow duty when we were hunting in the jungle.”

“I can see why.” Sarah stopped at the front door of the clinic. “You appear to be a man of many talents. But you and Kira really didn’t have to escort me back here to the clinic. I’m used to taking care of myself.”

Harlan glanced at Kira. “That sounds very familiar. Did she learn it from you?”

Sarah chuckled. “It’s all blended together over the years. We learned from each other.” She lowered her voice as she looked over her shoulder at the guards on duty on either side of the door. “I didn’t really expect you to call in the marines to guard my island.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, that’s right, it was the SEALs. Same difference.”

“Not nearly,” he said slyly. “SEALs are naval personnel. And you should have expected this reaction. You’re a very precious commodity both to John and to your friend Kira. No one is going to touch you. I’ll see to it.”

“Listen to him, Sarah.” Kira took a step toward her. “I told you earlier this evening about the trouble we’re expecting with Taylor. You still agreed to let me go forward with the new work I intend to do with the horses here. But I can’t do it if there’s even a chance it might affect you.” She grabbed her friend by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. “Dammit, Sarah, let Harlan give you any protection available. I’ll make sure it’s done right.”

Sarah was silent and then nodded with a smile. “Okay. But only if he teaches me to make those biscuits so that I can put John in the shade the next time we go camping.”

“Done,” Harlan said. “I’ll give you a private cooking class. You won’t regret it, Sarah.”

“I know.” She looked him directly in the eyes. “I haven’t regretted a single thing connected with Kira since the day we met. I don’t expect to begin now. You’re the one who might be in trouble if you don’t watch out.” She gave Kira a brief, warm hug. “Take care and don’t be too hard on him. I’ll see you in the morning to get my first lesson, Harlan.” She opened the door. “Now I’ve got to call John and then get to bed. I intend to have a different and exciting day tomorrow. Good night…” She closed the door behind her.

“Thank you for reassuring her, Harlan.” Kira immediately turned away from the clinic and started back up the hill toward the tent area. “You made it much easier for me to get her to agree to bring the horses to the island.”

“I think she would have done it anyway,” Harlan said as he started after her. “She cares about you. Nothing could be more clear. How old were you when she rescued you from that volcano?”

“Ten. My mother and father had left me with a nanny at our camp, but I tried to follow them up the mountain. I had a fall before I reached them. Sarah and her dog, Monty, were assisting in rescue efforts nearby, and she sent me to the local village hospital and then went after my parents herself.” She paused. “It was too late. They were both killed by the volcano before she found them.”

“And then she took you into her home?”

“It wasn’t quite that easy. I was a wild child and full of guilt once I realized it might be my fault that my parents had been lost when that volcano erupted. The only way she could halfway tame me was to let me work with her own dog and some of the others at the clinic. One thing led to another, and she began to teach me everything she knew because it was the only way I’d heal. I eventually got a veterinary sciences degree. Sarah gave me everything she could during these last years, including a pup named Mack, and that’s why I’m eternally grateful to her and always will be.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “End of story.”

He shook his head. “Not nearly the end,” he said. “You have a long way to go. I could see that the first time I saw you in Colorado. Or it might have been when Belson tossed that magazine with your photo on the desk in my study.”

“The media again?” Kira asked. “I believe we’ve both had enough of that.”

“Perhaps. But sometimes they can be helpful if you handle them right.”

“You might have found that to be true. I haven’t had your experiences. I tend to dodge and hide when I run into any of them.”

“Then I’ll make a bargain with you. Let me handle them for you. It will be part of our arrangement.”

“I’m not sure I want to do that. It might give you a little too much power.”