Diamond in the Desert(7)

'I've been travelling these roads since I was a child.'

'Then I'm surprised you don't know about the hazards of melting snow.'

He definitely deserved a session in the sauna and a dip in the freezing lake afterwards, she concluded.

* * *

'We're nearly there,' she said.

'Good.'

Why the smile in his voice? Was he looking forward to their stay at the  isolated cabin? She squirmed in her seat at the thought that he might  be and then wondered angrily why she was acting this way. It was one  thing bringing her city friends into the wilderness for a rustic  weekend, but quite another bringing Emir down here when there could only  be one outcome-

Unless he had had enough of her, of course, but something told her that  wasn't the case. She'd stick with her decision to enjoy him and get him  out of her system, Britt concluded, explaining that the nearest hotel  was too far away from the mine to stay there.

'You don't have to explain to me, Britt. I like it here. You forget,'  Emir murmured as she drew to a halt outside the ancient log cabin, 'the  wilderness is my home.'

And now she was angry with him for being so pleased with everything.  And even angrier with herself because Emir was right, the wilderness was  beautiful in its own unique way, she thought, staring out across the  glassy lake. It was as if she were seeing it for the first time. Because  she was seeing it through Emir's eyes, Britt realised, and he sharpened  her focus on everything.

'This is magnificent,' he exclaimed as they climbed down from the Jeep.

She tensed as he came to stand beside her. Her heart pumped and her  blood raced as she tried not to notice how hot he looked in the dark,  heavy jacket and snow boots. Emir radiated something more than the  confidence of a man who was sensibly dressed and comfortable in this  extreme temperature. He exuded the type of strength that anyone would  like to cling to in a storm-

He looked downright dangerous, she told herself sensibly, putting a few  healthy feet of fresh air between them. But the lake was beautiful, and  neither of them was in any hurry to move away. It stretched for miles  and was framed by towering mountains whose jagged peaks were lost in  cloud. A thick pine forest crept up these craggy slopes until there was  nothing for the roots to cling to. But it was the silence that was most  impressive, and that was heavy and complete. It felt almost as if the  world were holding its breath, though she had to smile when Emir turned  to look at the cabin and an eagle called.                       
       
           



       

'I'll grab our bags,' he said.

As he brushed past her on his way to the Jeep she shivered with  awareness, and then smiled as she walked towards the cabin. She was  always happy here-always in control. There would be no problems here.  She'd keep things light and professional. Here, she could put what had  happened between them in the boardroom behind her.

Emir caught up with her at the door, and his first question was how far  was it to the mine? With her back to him, she pulled a wry face.  Putting what had happened behind her was going to be easier than she had  thought. They hadn't even crossed the threshold yet and Emir's mind was  already set on business.

Which was exactly what she had hoped for-

Was it?

Of course it was, but she wasn't going to pretend it didn't sting.  Everyone had their pride, and everyone wanted to feel special-

Hard luck for her, she thought ruefully.

'So, how far exactly is it to the mine?' he said. 'How long will it take by road?'

'Depending on the weather?' She turned the key in the lock. 'I'd say around ten minutes.'

'Is there any chance we can take a look around today, in that case?' Emir asked as he held the door for her.

He was in more of a hurry than she'd thought. Well, that was fine with  her. She could accommodate a fast turnaround. 'The mine is a  twenty-four-hour concern. We can visit as soon as you're ready.'

'Then I'd like to freshen up and go see it right away-if that's okay with you?'

'That's fine with me.' She had to stop herself laughing at the thought  that she had never met anyone quite so much like her before.

As she used to be, Britt amended, before Emir came into her life.  Taking charge of her bag, she hoisted it onto her shoulders. 'Welcome,'  she said, walking into the cabin.

'This is nice,' Emir commented as he gazed around.

He made everything seem small, she thought, but in a good way. The  cabin had been built by a big man for big men, yet could be described as  cosy. On a modest scale, it still reflected the personality of the man  who had built it and who had founded the Skavanga dynasty. With nothing  but his determination, Britt's great-grandfather had practically clawed  the first minerals out of the ground with his bare hands, and with  makeshift tools that other prospectors had thrown away. There was  nothing to be ashamed of here in the cabin. It was only possible to feel  proud.

'What?' Emir said when he caught her staring at him.

'You're the only man apart from my brother who makes me feel small,' she said, managing not to make it sound like a compliment.

'I take it you're talking about your brother, Tyr?'

'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.