A Summer Smile Read Free Page A

bigger in the confines of the cabin than he had by the jeep as he strode down the aisle toward her. He sat down in the seat facing her, his gaze searching her face. "My name is Daniel Seifert. Have they hurt you?"
    "Not really. It doesn't matter." She moistened her lips nervously. "You have to tell Sheikh Ben Raschid not to give in to them. I'll get out of this by myself."
    "Oh, will you?" Daniel asked sardonically. "That might be a little difficult considering the circumstances."
    "I told you. I'll handle it. I owe too many debts already. I can't add a burden like this to them."
    He was silent for a long moment, studying her intently. "You mean it."
    "Of course I mean it. I don't say things I don't mean," she said, impatient. "Now, will you tell David and the sheikh I'm fine and that I'll find a way out of this mess myself?"
    He shook his head. "We'll talk about it later," he said. Zilah Dabala looked more tired and more finely drawn than she had in the photograph, but the clear green eyes meeting his were steady and unafraid. There was no summer smile, however. Her lips were taut with the effort she was making to keep them from trembling. Strange that he could miss a smile he'd never really seen outside of a photograph. Suddenly his gaze sharpened as he realized that a cut marred the softness of her lower lip. His expression hardened into a fierceness that startled her. "Who struck you? I thought you said you hadn't been hurt."
    Her fingers flew automatically to the cut on her lip. "Hassan. Stupidly, I tried to grab a gun from Hakim. I won't do anything so impulsive again." She deliberately dropped her hand away. "See, it's only a little cut. It doesn't hurt. And, anyway, it doesn't matter."
    "It matters." His tone was granite-harsh. His finger rose to brush her lower lip with a gossamer touch.
    Zilah felt a sudden sensation that was like nothing she had ever experienced before. It must be pain, she thought in bewilderment. But somehow it didn't feel like pain. It was more like a hot tingle of pleasure. Daniel Seifert's navy blue eyes were holding her own with mesmerizing power.
    "It matters very much." His voice had softened to dark richness. Then he shifted so that his bulk was between her and the men in the front of the plane. "I'll take care of Hassan soon. It will be a pleasure I'll look forward to." His voice was a mere whisper. "We haven't much time. Be ready."
    Zilah's brow knotted in puzzlement. "Ready for what?"
    "There will be intense pain." Daniel was speaking rapidly, his eyes on her face. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't think of any other way. I knew I'd be searched, so I couldn't bring anything along to protect you. Will you trust me?"
    "You're going to—"
    "Trust me," he said again. "I won't let anything happen to you. Just hold on to me until hell freezes over. You won't be sorry."
    She met his worried gaze. Gentleness, regret, and some other emotion she couldn't define were conflicting in that brutally powerful face. She smiled. "I'll hold on to you until hell freezes over. I   promise." He returned her smile. How odd that warm gentle smile looked in the rough-hewn boldness of his warrior face.
    "Good. I'll damn well remind you of that promise if you forget. We're in this together, Zilah."
    She nodded. "Toge—" The word was shattered as an explosion rocked the plane. "What!"
    Within seconds of each other there was a chain of explosions that appeared to encircle the plane. After that the action was so lightning-fast that she perceived it only as a blur.
    Daniel reached into his back pocket and brought out a pristine white handkerchief. "Cover your nose and mouth and keep your eyes closed. Try to hold your breath."
    Then he tore off his left ear!
    A false ear, she realized almost immediately as he balled it up in his palm.
    The explosions were still going on outside the plane. Hassan was shouting something to the other man, who was peering through the window to try to sight their attackers.
    Confusion became