On the Hunt - Page 36

“Taylor?”

“That’s a big part. I want him out of our lives.”

“Any other reason?”

Kira laughed. “You’re matchmaking again, aren’t you? Back off.”

“I saw… something. I just thought it might be hope on the horizon.”

“I owe Harlan,” Kira said again. “And he wants Taylor dead if he can talk me into it. Not exactly the most romantic circumstances for you to work with, Sarah. Go home to John where you have the real thing.”

“I do… constantly.” She laughed. “And I can’t wait, even after all these years together. That’s how I know it is the real thing. I’m just trying to spread the good word to all and sundry.”

“Kira!” Fiona was opening the jet cockpit door and then running toward them across the tarmac. “It’s about time you got here, Kira. I’ve decided I need your help and support. I was just trying to talk Harlan into taking me along with you to Egypt. I’ve never been there, and you told me there are some magnificent horses raised by your friend Kalim that I might be able to persuade Harlan to buy for my stable.”

“I doubt if Kira made any promises.” Harlan was getting out of the plane and coming around to greet them. “I tried before, and her friend Kalim wouldn’t even see me,” he said dryly. “But I’ll promise to try again while I’m there with Kira. She might have influence that I don’t.” He smiled at Kira. “I agree with Fiona that you’re running a little late. I was about to come and look for you.”

“I didn’t think that you were in that much of a hurry. You said sunset.” She gazed out at the red-streaked sky. “I’d say I’m right on time.”

“You would be… if I hadn’t decided we needed to leave a little earlier.”

Kira glanced at him in surprise. “Then that was obviously your doing. That’s hardly my fault, Harlan.”

“True, that’s why I was going to go find you. I didn’t say I was right about it.”

“And you admit it? Amazing.”

“It does happen occasionally,” he said solemnly. “I just try to keep it under control.”

Kira tried to keep her lips from twitching with amusement. “Like you do everything else?”

He nodded. “It’s so rare. I knew you’d understand.”

Kira nodded as she looked back at Fiona. “Not really. But I do understand you’d probably want to talk to Fiona alone to say goodbye.”

His eyes narrowed. “But since I’ve noticed the two of you have become very close indeed during the past few days, it may be you thought she’d have a better chance of getting whatever she wanted if she had more time to concentrate her attention on persuading me?” He gave Fiona a quick kiss on the cheek. “It’s okay, Fiona. This is something I do understand.”

“No, you don’t,” Kira said as she took a step closer to him. “Not everyone wants something from you, Harlan. Fiona doesn’t. I’m sure she’d rather have your company than one of Kalim’s horses.”

“I was joking.” Harlan was no longer smiling. “Sometimes I can only give what I can, when I can,” he said quietly. “And I believe she knows me well enough to realize that. If she doesn’t, then I’ve completely failed her.”

Kira could tell he meant every word; she was probably the one at fault, she thought ruefully. As usual, she might have jumped too quickly to conclusions when it came to someone as complicated as Harlan. “Then I apologize for poking my nose into your business when I had no right,” she said. “It won’t happen again.”

He shrugged. “You were just protecting Fiona from me. It’s no surprise. I’ve noticed you have a habit of trying to save the world and all the creatures in it. You didn’t realize that Fiona and I don’t need saving, not even from each other.”

Then he walked across the tarmac toward where Sarah was standing and shook her hand. “It’s been a pleasure getting to know you, Sarah. I’ll tell John he’s a lucky man. Thank you for letting my guards tear up your beautiful island. I’ll make sure they repair any damage. You’ll find it better than when you turned it over to me.” He grimaced. “And the first thing on my list is a brand-new runway that will accommodate all the jets we’ll need to bring in the rebuilding crews.”

“That sounds great. I’m not worried,” Sarah said. “You’re an honest man, Harlan. Just take care of Kira, and we’ll call it even.”

“If I’m allowed.” He held out his hand to help Kira into the plane. “Sometimes it’s difficult.”

Then he turned and took Fiona into his arms. “Take care of yourself. I’ll work hard on getting you a horse from Kalim.”

She held him close and said huskily, “I don’t want his stinking horse. I’d find a way to get it myself if I did. Just come back soon, Harlan.”

“I have every intention of doing that.” He grinned. “And if you ever meet him, I wouldn’t call any of Kalim’s fantastic horses ‘stinking’ to his face. It’s not only rude, it’s inaccurate, and we might want to do business with him in the future.”

“I’ll remember.” She was backing away from him across the tarmac. “And I’ll take care of Domino for you, Kira. But come back soon or he might forget you. I can’t be expected to do everything, you know.”