On the Hunt - Page 35

“That seems fair. But sometimes lately you’ve taken over all the action. Can I trust you?”

“You can trust me. I wouldn’t dare do anything else. I need you to be where I can keep an eye on you at all times. Nothing could make this more clear than that moment tonight when I was on the verge of breaking your neck. I don’t want to ever come that close again. Good night, Kira.”

She heard his footsteps as he headed for his own tent and found herself smiling. She reached up and brushed her hand over her damp cheek and throat where he had touched her. It had been a wild, exciting, and upsetting evening, and she should want to forget it. But somehow she didn’t. That moment had been special in a strange way, and she had wanted to keep it and Harlan with her for a little longer. It might change tomorrow, but right now she liked that feeling of closeness that had surrounded them and believed him when he’d said she could trust him…

Mack was nestling next to her because he had sensed her restlessness and wanted contact. She reached out and stroked him. “Did you have a good time tonight? I bet you did. I would have liked to have gone with you. Harlan is probably a good partner, but it wasn’t fair to me. Next time, I get to go along…”

CHAPTER

9

NEXT DAY

8:00 A.M.

“I love your island,” Fiona shouted as she jumped out of the transport plane and ran toward Kira, who was coming down the hill to greet her. “I’ve already checked it out from the air, and Domino is going to love it, too.” She grabbed Kira and turned her around in an exuberant circle. “He’s a little nervous right now. I knew he would be, so I took the trip with him to soothe him. Though I don’t really know why he should be. Those transport planes are luxurious as hell, and the horses are pampered like kings. I guess it’s because he’s not nearly as accustomed to being transported as Golden Boy. But he’ll get over it. Golden Boy has had to be flown quite a bit since he became an Olympic superstar.” She was motioning to one of the grooms to take Domino’s lead. “The other transport plane landed an hour ago, and Harlan arranged to have Golden Boy taken to the stable and settled into a stall. He said to tell you to wait for him here until he gets back, that it was your responsibility to take care of me, and that Belson would be here in a few minutes.” She made a face. “But I’d rather go up and get Domino settled. How about it?”

“Don’t tempt her.” Harlan was coming out of the clinic. “I’ve arranged breakfast for you, and she needs to introduce you to her good friend Sarah.” He looked at Kira. “I thought you might like to be the one to do that, and I knew you’d want Fiona’s first day to be as smooth as possible.”

“No fun and games?” she asked with brows raised.

“Nary a one. I made a promise. Belson was told to bring you straight to the stables if you requested it. I thought that would be okay. But wouldn’t you like to take her to meet Sarah?”

“You know I would.” She turned and linked arms with Fiona. “Come on. She’s an extraordinary woman and you’ll see how lucky you are to have her in your corner. She taught me everything she knows about caring for animals and was right beside me whenever I wanted to experiment on something new and different.” She looked over her shoulder at Harlan as she pulled Fiona toward the clinic. “I’ll take care of Fiona. You and the groom can get Domino settled. If you’re lucky, we might leave you a bite of breakfast.”

He nodded and touched his hand meekly to his forehead. “Yes, ma’am. Whatever you say, ma’am.” He was strolling toward the transport plane, gesturing to the groom to follow him. “I’ll see you later, Fiona. It seems I have work to do.”

Fiona gazed speculatively after him and then back at Kira. “Harlan is being very accommodating to you. Almost suspiciously so. It’s usually my uncle who gives all the orders. Did I miss something?”

“Nothing that would be important to you. You’ll still have all the security that you’re accustomed to under his watch. Both you and your horses will be safe from any interference. We just clarified an agreement that we made about a few other details.” She changed the subject. “He did tell you that we have to leave tonight for Egypt for a few weeks to take care of that business?”

Fiona nodded with a frown. “He called me last night. I told him I didn’t like it. I’m not stupid. Usually whenever he goes anywhere and arranges protection for me, it has to do with Taylor. Coming here was going to be different, and I was relieved because I knew he wouldn’t want to send you anywhere into danger after he’d just saved your life. Right?”

How could Kira explain that she was the one who had lured Harlan into risking his life by making this deal that gave him the chance to confront Taylor once more? Fiona had been a victim all her young life, and the only person she really cared about was Jack Harlan. Which meant the only thing Kira could do was to make the same promise she’d made Harlan. “I’ll take good care of him. Nothing is going to happen to your uncle while we’re in Egypt. He’s just going to meet a friend of mine, and then we’ll be coming back here and I’ll start running diagnostics on your horses. Until then, you’ll be in the hands of the trainers and vets who work here on Summer Island. They’re experts hired by Sarah. You’ll like all of them.”

“I’m sure I will.” Fiona shook her head ruefully. “And I promise I’ll work very hard until you get back. If you’ll promise to keep that promise you’ve just made me.” She was nibbling nervously at her lower lip. “I can’t lose Harlan, too, Kira. I can’t tell you how good he’s been to me. He’s all I have.”

“I know.” Kira squeezed her arm. “You have nothing to worry about, I promise. Your uncle is very good at taking care of himself, and I’ll take care of him, too. Now, can we forget everything but having a good time today here on this island I love? There are so many things I want to show you and tell you about how I trained Mack here.” She saw Sarah coming out of the clinic and heading toward them and waved. “And how Sarah tried her very best to train me. Bless her heart. What a headache I was to her…”

SUMMER ISLAND

TWELVE HOURS LATER

The sun was going down in pink-and-violet splendor when Sarah walked Kira back to the jet that evening. “It was a good day. I like your Fiona. She’s full of vim and vigor and maybe a little bit of the devil. She reminds me of you when you first came here. She has the same drive and stamina with those horses that you had with Mack and the other dogs.” She chuckled as she glanced sideways at Kira. “I’ll be glad to look in on her occasionally until you return, if you don’t mind. That way, I won’t miss you nearly as much.”

“Are you kidding? I’ll look forward to it, and she’ll have someone to bond with that’s not military or one of the horse brigade. She’s going to miss Harlan.”

“I can see how she might,” Sarah said. “He’s not only family, he’s brilliant and charming and he’s a good guy. By the way, where did she disappear to after dinner tonight?”

“She told me she was going to say good night to the horses at the stable and then meet us at the jet. I think she wanted a few moments with Harlan before he left. She’s a little worried about him. She told me that he’s always been good to her. She might even have a few plans that involve him and this trip. You can never tell what mischief Fiona will be up to.”

“And how has he been to you?” Sarah asked. “You’ve appeared to be getting along well since I came here.” She tilted her head, thinking. “What’s not to like? Let’s see… Besides all the things I mentioned… he’s complicated, a scientific genius, a brilliant soldier and strategist. Many women would find him desirable enough to do some in-depth hunting in his direction. Why not?”

“You forgot that he can be very difficult.”

“And…?”

Kira shrugged. “He’s everything else you mentioned. What else can I say? I owe him. He saved my life and Mack’s. But that’s not why I’m going to get on his jet and fly off to Egypt with him. We both have a purpose and we have to do what’s necessary.”