Free Sheik Protector by Dana Marton Page A

blaring behind her. If they caught her, if they found Karim, a bleeding, semiconscious sheik…She would be tossed in jail quicker than she could say, “I want to call the American embassy.”
    She didn’t want to stay here with Karim, but she didn’t cherish the thought of a Middle Eastern women’s prison, either, or the chance of running into the assassin or assassins on the street. She would see to Karim’s injuries then think of something, she decided, and headed off to find some water and some strips of clean linen. She called a “Stay where you are” over her shoulder, knowing it to be unnecessary.
    The first thing she registered when she opened the door that lead to the rest of the palace was that the place was a complete mess. Drawers overturned, furniture pulled away from the walls, books and clothes scattered all over the place.
    But even through the mess, the splendor of the palace was obvious. It had been built in a more modern style than Karim’s, with a lot of straight, clean lines and a certain amount of masculine severity. Everything was the best money could buy: the marble, the crystals, the furniture and the electronics equipment that was the latest on the luxury market.
    She found a bathroom, used it then washed her hands thoroughly with soap, looked for something to collect water in, but couldn’t find anything. She moved on, hoping to find a first-aid kit. Then realized that the place was too enormous to search from top to bottom just now and settled for a clean white towel.
    On the way back, she picked up a priceless-looking modern art vase and filled that with water in the bathroom.
    Karim was still completely out, coming to only when she began removing his clothes. His jacket was bloody all over. Guilt pricked her again over drugging him.
    “Sorry. It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
    Then again, if he hadn’t tried to stop her from going home, she wouldn’t have had to resort to such desperate measures. She focused on the task ahead.
    “I’m going to try to figure out what your injuries are, see if any of them are life-threatening.” If he could on some level comprehend what was going on, she wanted him to know that she was removing his clothes for a perfectly valid reason.
    She tried not to pay too much attention to the strong column of his neck as she unbuttoned his shirt, barely gawked at his wide shoulders, tanned skin, the muscles of his chest and his arms. He was perfectly built, perfectly proportioned, his body all masculine grace and beauty. Not that she was impressed or anything.
    She did her best to think of Steve, the weasel who’d broken her heart. She’d thought they’d been in a committed relationship for the past five years. She’d made it clear that all she wanted was marriage and kids, the stability and warmth of a family. And Steve had strung her along, promising all that, but always asking for just a little more time before they got started. Then he moved to L.A. and left her behind like he left his old job and old apartment. He needed to reinvent himself, he’d said.
    And then along came Aziz, who treated her like a princess and charmed her so thoroughly her head was spinning. He’d promised nothing and at that point, she appreciated the honesty and, on the rebound, couldn’t resist the man. She knew it had been a mistake as soon as the short fling was over. It hadn’t fixed anything, hadn’t made her any happier.
    Then she’d found out that she was carrying his child.
    She was petrified that she wouldn’t be able to care for a child on her own, like her mother had been unable to care for hers. But not for a moment did she regret this baby.
    “That should do it,” she said when she had Karim stripped to the waist. She couldn’t picture Karim wooing a woman with outrageous gestures. “I bet you’re the strong, silent type.”
    He gave no indication of hearing her. He actually was softly snoring. Good news, that. Seemed he was just asleep and not