One Hot Winter's Night by Serenity Woods

unless you count his affinity for confectionary.”
    Sayed laughed. “Good sex does not come around often, Cat. Make the most of it.” He took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. “Come. The figurine is in the hotel safe. Let us go and make the transaction.”
    She nodded. Tears pricked her eyes. She’d underestimated Sayed, had thought he would be angry at the thought of competition for her affection. She always thought the worst of men. It was nice to be surprised.
    She collected her bag, and then Sayed took her to the main reception. The manager showed them into the meeting room next to his office. After a short wait, a security guard came in with a safety deposit box. He unlocked it, opened it up, and then stood back to let Sayed take out the wooden box inside.
    Sayed opened the lid. She extracted the figurine lying on the velvet, set into foam. It was about four inches high, in the shape of a cat sitting upright, its front paws together primly before it. Cast in bronze, with gold ear- and nose-rings, it had the design of a winged scarab on its chest and head.
    “It’s like the Gayer-Anderson cat,” she said, breathless with wonder. “That puts it in the Late Period, I’d say.”
    Sayed nodded. “I agree.”
    “It’s beautiful, Sayed.” She turned it in her hands. Not taking her eyes from it, she reached into her bodice and pulled out a cheque. They discussed a price, she haggled, and when they eventually agreed, she wrote in the amount and handed it to him, and he handed her the key to the safety deposit box.
    He pocketed the cheque. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, Dr Livingstone.” He smiled. “Although not quite as pleasurable as it could have been.” His eyes twinkled. “And now, you must excuse me, my dear. I have a meeting in town. Please give my apologies to Alexander.” He kissed her on the cheek. Then he pulled back and studied her before lowering his lips to hers. She accepted the kiss, flushing slightly at the thought of the security guard watching them. She concentrated on the statue still in her hand, running her thumb gently over the cat as Sayed pressed his lips to hers.
    Behind them, someone cleared their throat. She assumed it was the security guard, but as Sayed raised his head and turned, she saw Heath standing in the doorway, leaning against the post, arms crossed.

Chapter 11
    Sayed looked at her, amused, before walking up to the other man and nodding. “Dr Roberts.”
    “Dr Kamel.”
    Sayed walked out.
    She cast Heath an exasperated look. He studied her, unsmiling, then dropped his eyes to the figurine in her hand. “Is that it?” he asked. She nodded and he walked over to her. “May I?”
    She glanced over at the watching security guard, whose face was impassive. Saying nothing, she passed it to Heath, who turned it in his hands, studying it. “It’s beautiful.”
    She smiled. “It is, isn’t it?”
    “It’s like the Gayer-Anderson cat.”
    “I thought the same.”
    He nodded. “Late Period, then?”
    “Around 550BC, I thought.”
    “Hmm.” He studied the winged scarab. “What did you pay for it?”
    “I’m not telling you that!”
    “Were you part of the deal?”
    Her smile faded. “That’s none of your business.”
    “No, you’re absolutely right.” For the first time, amusement lit his eyes. “I’d just like to know whether I need to order the chocolate sauce or not.”
    She stared at him and then turned away, walking to the door. The busy foyer hummed with people, but Sayed had gone. Alexander had probably retired by now too, she thought.
    What should she say? Her heart thumped. She remembered the way she’d searched for Heath on the dance floor, worried he’d left. She didn’t want to get involved emotionally. But if it was just about sex, there wasn’t a problem, was there? He’d told her, no commitment, no risk. No strings attached. How could that be dangerous?
    She turned back to him. He’d placed the figurine back