Page 17 of Her Sensual Protector

The woman sighed. “And you can’t go to the police,” she shook her head sadly.

It was true. Both women knew that it was very likely the police would take the man’s side.

“What can I do to help?” The woman asked.

“If I can change from Western clothes?” Daisy asked hopefully. “Perhaps one of your beautiful parahaans and tombaan sets, and left the store in disguise…?” She let her voice trail off as she looked around the store she saw the exquisitely handmade trousers and overdresses in subdued and bright colors, all with coordinating scarfs. If she wore the scarf low enough, she should be able to disguise herself.

The woman gave Daisy a thorough once-over. “It might work. We would have to get you the right shoes as well, and you could put your purse into one of the shopping bags.” Now the sales clerk was getting into the project.

She hustled Daisy into a cramped fitting room, where she was met by many women laughing behind different curtains. This was obviously a fun outing for the ladies.

Before she had a chance to take off her blouse, the woman thrust three different garments into the fitting room. Daisy looked around to see where she could put them, finally seeing a hook. She snorted when she saw the price tags. The woman might be willing to help her, but it was definitely going to cost.

It was just as well. She needed to fit in at the Intercontinental Hotel, so high-end clothing was for the best. All of the clothes that the woman had picked out were rich and vibrant and beautifully made. Daisy chose the deep purple, and it fit like a dream.

Perfect. I’m outta here.

When the woman tried to thrust some more clothes into the dressing room, Daisy stepped out.

“I choose this,” Daisy smiled.

“Excellent choice. I will get the shoes and chaddar to cover your hair. We can pin it here, so you will be unrecognizable.”

Within five minutes, Daisy had just spent more on her credit card than a night at the Ritz Carlton in New York. Thank God Leo had paid for lunch.

“No, no, no. The chaddar is still not right,” the woman said again. For the third time, she re-pinned Daisy’s scarf, until none of her hair showed, and it flowed softly around her face.

The saleswoman looked at her critically. “You’ll do.”

She shoved Daisy’s clothes and red purse into shopping bags. “Go out with a group of women, you’ll be less conspicuous that way.”

Damn, she was really getting into it. Maybe the Afghani woman wanted to be James Bond too.

Daisy stayed close to the entrance looking at a rack of clothes. When three women started to walk out, she walked close behind them, followed them to the left, and down the escalator. She looked up and saw the man in the windbreaker still standing in front of the women’s clothing store.

I did it!

She glanced at her watch. It was six-twenty. She’d be cutting it close.

As soon as she was on the ground floor of the mall, where all the food shopping was, she hurried to the south exit. How in the hell was Rayi going to recognize her when she got to the hotel?

One problem at a time, Daisy. First, just get your ass to the hotel on time.

When she got outside, she yanked her red purse out of the shopping bag and held it over her head.

Many drivers shouted at her to give her a ride.

“Miss Squires!”

She turned her head to the young man waving at her. He even looked like Malek. She hurried over to his car and got in.

“The Intercontinental Hotel.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

His tires actually screeched before she had a chance to put on her seatbelt. After she got it on, Daisy reached for her St. Christopher’s medal around her neck and held on.

* * *