And the Desert Blooms Read Free Page A

always been vaguely conscious of that glowing promise, but it had been all but obscured by her fire and intensity. He wondered cynically if that intensity was still as strong. Perhaps she had found, like most beautiful women, that society requires nothing more of her than a tempting body and an accommodating nature.
    For some reason that thought sent a surge of rage through him, and he reached impulsively for the jeweler’s box on the far side of the desk. He flipped it open and stared down at the medallion, trying to subdue his anger.
    He had given her the medallion to safeguard her when she was a child running wild around the village and encountering danger at every turn. Everyone recognized the rose and sword as the in signia of his house, and it had placed her automatically under his protection and possession. She had accepted the fact that she belonged to him. She knew he didn’t give up what was his. Not ever. Yet she had returned the medallion without even the courtesy of a note. What the devil did she mean by that gesture?
    His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he reached out to touch the gold of the rose. With the Pandora he had known six years ago, he would have been able to guess. Sometimes he had felt so close to her, he could almost read her thoughts. Now he couldn’t be sure. Beauty had a way of corrupting anything it touched, and Pandora had lived with the knowledge of her own exceptional beauty for years now. Perhaps she had changed.
    If that was the case, her sending the medallion could mean any number of things. Invitation, rejection, reconciliation.
    Of course she had changed. Everyone changed with time and experience. And the Pandora who was smiling out of the picture with such smoldering sensuality had obviously gained a lot of experience along the way.
    Well, he’d find out how those changes would affect him very soon. Because, even if she didn’t realize it, she still belonged to him. He had only to decide in what capacity.

TWO
    T HE RECTANGULAR JEWELER’S box was lying on her vanity table when she walked into her dressing room after rehearsal the next evening.
    Pandora recognized it at once, and for a moment the breath stopped in her lungs. So soon? Philip never hesitated once a decision was made. She had known he’d react at once—she’d even counted on it. Still she was stunned. She walked slowly across the room and flipped open the lid of the box, already knowing what she’d find there. There was a small card lying on top of the medallion. Her hands were shaking as she picked it up and read the bold script.
    “It’s not that easy. There’s a car waiting in the alley outside the stage door. Don’t keep me waiting.”
    No signature. There was no need for one. Both the tone and the handwriting itself were poignantly familiar.
It’s not that easy.
She would have laughed aloud if she hadn’t been afraid she would burst into tears. There was nothing easy about this situation. She had never been so frightened in her life. Yet beneath that fear was an exuberant joy that was growing with every second. She was going to see him. Dear, sweet heaven, after six years without him she was going to
see
him again!
    She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. She mustn’t get so excited. She had to convince Philip she was as sophisticated and blasé as the other women he took to his bed.
    She’d be fine in another moment. She had learned to disguise her feelings in the past two years. She would be able to fool Philip if the masquerade didn’t last too long. She would have to accomplish her purpose quickly.
    She opened her eyes. Her reflection in the lighted vanity mirror was not reassuring. Her dark eyes were enormous in her white face. What if Philip didn’t think she was even pretty? Other people seemed to, but beauty was a matter of taste. She felt panic rise in her. What if—No, she wouldn’t let herself have these doubts. Move. Philip was waiting. The game was about to start. She wished she