Diamond in the Desert

‘My long-lost brother, Tyr,’ she admitted with a shrug.

‘I can assure you the very last thing on my mind is to make you feel small.’

‘You don’t—well, not in the way you mean. How tall are you, anyway?’

‘Tall enough.’

She could vouch for that. And was that a glint of humour in Emir’s eyes? Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, after all. Maybe bringing him to the cabin wasn’t the worst idea she’d ever had. Maybe they could actually do business with each other and have fun.

And then say goodbye?

Why not?

‘Are you going to show me to my room?’ Emir prompted, glancing towards the wooden staircase.

‘Yes, of course. ‘

Ditching her bag, she mounted the wooden stairs ahead of him, showing Emir into a comfortable double bedroom with a bathroom attached. ‘You’ll sleep in here,’ she said. ‘There are plenty of towels in the bathroom, and endless hot water, so don’t stint yourself—and just give me a shout if you need anything more.’

‘This is excellent,’ he called downstairs to her. ‘Thank you for putting me up.’

‘As an alternative to having you camp down the mine?’ She laughed. ‘Of course, there are bunkhouses you could use—’

‘I’m fine here.’

And looking forward to tasting some genuine Nordic hospitality, she hoped, tongue in cheek, as she glanced out of the window at the snow-clad scene.

‘Britt—’

‘What?’ Heart pounding, she turned. Even now with all the telling off she’d given herself at the tempting thought of testing out the bed springs, she hoped and smiled and waited.

‘Window keys?’ Emir was standing on the landing, staring down at her. ‘It’s steaming hot in here.’

Ah... ‘Sorry.’

She stood for a moment to compose herself and then ran upstairs to sort him out. The central heating she’d had installed was always turned up full blast before a visit. She could operate it from her phone, and thoughts of turning it down a little had flown out of the window along with her sensible head thanks to Emir. ‘I suggest you leave the window open until the room cools down.’ Fighting off all feelings about the big, hard, desirable body so very close to her, she unlocked the window and showed him where to hang the key.

‘This is a beautiful room, Britt.’

The room was well furnished with a thick feather duvet on the bed, sturdy furniture, and plenty of throws for extra warmth. She’d hung curtains in rich autumnal shades to complement the wooden walls. ‘Glad you think so.’

Now she had to look at him, but she lost no time making for the door.

‘Are these your grandparents?’

She did not want to turn around, but how could she ignore the question when Emir was examining some sepia photographs hanging on the wall?

‘This one is my great-grandfather,’ she said, coming to stand beside him. The photographs had been hung on the wall to remind each successive generation of the legacy they had inherited. Her great-grandfather was a handsome, middle-aged man with a moustache and a big, worn hat. He was dressed in leather boots with his heavy trousers tucked into them, his hands were gnarled and he wore a rugged jacket, which was patched at the elbows. Even the pose, the way he was leaning on a spade, spoke volumes about those early days. Family and Skavanga Mining meant everything to her, Britt realised as she turned to leave the room.

She had to ask Emir to move. Why was he leaning against the door? “Excuse me...’

Straightening up, he moved aside. Now she was disappointed because he hadn’t tried to stop her. What was wrong with her? She had brought a man she was fiercely attracted to to an isolated cabin. What did she think was going to happen? But now she wondered if sex with Emir would get him out of her system. Would anything?

At the top of the stairs she couldn’t resist turning to see if he was still watching her.

Something else for her to regret. And what did that amused look signify—the bed was just a few tempting steps away?

And now the familiar ache had started up again. They were consenting adults who made their own agenda, and, with the mine open twenty-four seven, it wasn’t as if they didn’t have time—

And if she gave in to her appetite, Emir would expect everything to be on his terms from hereon in—

‘I’ll take quick a shower and see you outside in ten,’ she called, running up the next flight of stairs to her own room in the attic. Slamming the door, she rested back against it. Saying yes to Emir would be the easiest thing in the world. Saying no to him required cast-iron discipline, and she wasn’t quite sure she’d got that.