Contract to Pleasure Page 9

  Epilogue

  Tamara paced back and forth, waiting impatiently for Lara to arrive. There were so many things to do with the wedding now only a week away. Oh, why couldn’t Lara wrap up shooting her movie earlier and come here already?

  Kendrick found her with her hands clasped behind her back, her teeth biting her lower lip. He kissed her softly, running a soothing tongue over her lip. “Orrin will be here soon with Lara.”

  As soon as his arms came around her, Tamara felt better. “I don’t know why I’m like this.”

  “You’ve planned this wedding down to the last detail. Everything will be fine.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “Of what?” he asked tenderly.

  “I’m not queen material,” she mumbled against his chest.

  Kendrick laughed. “Let me be the judge of that.” He picked her up and sat down on a large chair, positioning her on his lap. “You certainly looked like a sexy queen last night wearing nothing but the crown jewels.”

  Tamara hit him in the arm, blushing. “I didn’t mean that.”

  The door opened abruptly. Her father stood on the threshold, looking pale. She jumped up. “Father! What’s wrong?”

  “The ship transporting your sister was attacked.”

  Oh God. “Lara?” She felt numb with fear.

  Orrin spoke from behind Joseph. “We have received communication from the Xerexians. They’ve taken your sister hostage.”

  Anger and fear warred inside her. “They’ll pay for this.” Her eyes slid over to Kendrick. “We have to get her.”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean, no?” she repeated, unable to believe what she heard.

  “What else do you know?” Kendrick asked Orrin. His voice was calm, a stark contrast to the panic assailing Tamara at that very moment.

  “They’ve taken her to Utuja. It is my belief the Xerexians don’t want this wedding to go through and will do anything to stop it.” He paused. “Your sister was the only one they could get to.”

  “I’m going to Utuja,” Tamara declared.

  “I’ll arrange for Federation troops to accompany you,” Joseph Conway offered grimly.

  “You’re not going anywhere, Tamara.”

  She spun and faced her soon-to-be husband. “My sister’s life is in danger. I will get her.”

  “You’re no longer a Special Services agent. You will soon be my queen. You cannot put yourself in harm’s way.” Kendrick addressed the man standing quietly behind Orrin. “Vartan?”

  He stepped forward, a tough, battle-honed Bandarian warrior. “I’ve been to Utuja. Kendrick’s right, Tamara. It’s a very dangerous place.”

  “You’ll go, of course.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement from Kendrick.

  With a small smile at his friend, Vartan nodded. “Of course.”

  Tamara clenched her fists. “This is very important to me. Lara is my sister.”

  Kendrick dropped a kiss on her lips. “If anybody can get Lara out, it’s Vartan. I would trust him with my life.”

  “Don’t worry.” Vartan clasped her hand in his, confidence in his eyes. “If your sister is as brave as you are, she’ll stay alive until I get her.”

  Tamara and her father exchanged glances. Lara? Brave? She loved her sister, but tragedy to Lara amounted to her breaking a fingernail. “Oh, but --”

  Kendrick laid a hand on her arm with an almost imperceptible shake of his head. “Your future queen will be eternally grateful to you, my friend.”

  Vartan bowed and left. As soon as he was out of earshot, Tamara turned to Kendrick. He held up a hand. “He’s the finest warrior I know. Vartan will rescue Lara from the Xerexians and bring her back unharmed, I am sure of it.”

  She frowned. “I’m afraid Lara’s been spoiled by the trappings of success. I don’t know how well she’ll fare as a hostage. And the Xerexians have taken her to Utuja, deep in the jungle --”

  “What of it?”

  “Lara absolutely hates anything that crawls. She’s deathly afraid of them. Vartan should at least know what he’s in for. He has the wrong impression about my sister. Why did you stop me from correcting him?”

  Kendrick had the grace to look sheepish. “I just thought it would be interesting to see those two together.” Pulling her close, he buried his face in her hair. “He’s been having fun at my expense, saying I’m a besotted fool. Now I’d like to see him suffer a little in return.”

  Tamara sighed, softening. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Lara will probably drive Vartan crazy.”

  Kendrick chuckled. “I’m counting on it.”

  THE END

  Beverly Havlir

  In a perfect world, I would write surrounded by hunky, barely clothed men ready to serve my every need. Laundry would be folded out of the dryer and dinner served with a snap of my fingers. And best of all, I could eat chocolate to my heart’s content without an ounce of fat showing anywhere on my body.

  Reality is much different. I write mostly at night, or whenever I can squeeze in the time barring distractions from my kids. However, my husband is always a willing “test subject” for some rather erotic experiments and is a valuable source of male perspective, and I have to admit, two kids and seventeen years later, he still gets me hot with just a smile.