Disclaimer: I don't own RK

Chapter 4

It was scorching hot.

She's never experienced this kind of heat before. She's had vacations in places where they have warm climates, but it wasn't anything like this kind of dry, draining heat that tended to sap your strength.

Kaoru bent over the motor of the rental car again. This was awful. She had no idea what she might be looking for among the black and greasy metal parts. All she knew was that she had to stop when she saw the white billowing smoke leaking from beneath the automobile about 30 minutes ago. After she pulled over and inspected the car, it wouldn't start again. It was easy to call herself a dunce. An hour ago, a trip down an American highway to go to the picturesque town had been a grand adventure. Now it sounded like the height of stupidity.

No driver, no bodyguard, no car phone. Her parents would be terribly distressed if they found out. But didn't seem so foolish when she had the idea. She was so tired of being followed, escorted, and fussed over everywhere she went. This had seemed the perfect time to see how it felt to be normal.

The thought of what Kenshin would say if her were here only dampened her mood. He would think she was a silly girl who'd been sheltered from the real world all her life. She could see the dismay in his eyes when he looked at her. She was going to pray that Kenshin never finds out about this. Then again, why should he? When he'd slammed out of her suite last night, she was sure that she will never see him again.

Far down the road, she saw something that distracted her from her thoughts. A truck! And it's coming toward her. Her stomach quivered and she wiped a drop of sweat from her temple before it could trickle down her cheek. The truck was drawing to a stop beside her car now and she squinted in the sun to clearly see the driver that stepped out. She forced her dry mouth into a welcoming smile. Until she recognized the Prince of Hiten Mitsurugi walking toward her.

Curses. This was rapidly becoming the worst day of her life. She closed her eyes and hoped the image was a mirage, but when she opened her eyes, the man was still there.

His expression could be classified as one of bone-deep rage as he strolled toward her. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked. "Well hello to you too, Mr. Himura. How coincidental that you would be traveling the same road as I." Kaoru tilted her chin up, determined not to let him see her squirm.

"You know perfectly well that this is no coincidence. I came here after you. You have no business traveling around an American desert without an escort." Kenshin would have lectured her further but he saw her close her eyes and sway toward him.

"Kaoru!" She felt his hands catch her elbows.

"You may address me as 'Your Royal Highness' –" She stopped speaking as Kenshin scooped her up in his arms and swung her around toward his truck. She clutched his shoulders as dizziness stole over her. "Put me down!" she demanded.

By the time her protests were done, he was already putting her down inside his truck where he left the air conditioner running. She immediately felt the cool interior through the lightweight dress she was wearing. She resisted the urge to whimper in delight as her skin started to cool down and she began to feel sleepy. She lay her head against the back of her seat and blotted her forehead with a tissue from her purse.

"What's wrong with the car?" Kenshin asked.

"I don't know, I was driving dwon the road fine until I saw smoke coming from beneath the hood." She answered. "Well, it could have been steam coming out but let's not worry about that now." Kenshin said. "Put your seatbelt on." He slammed the passenger door with more force than necessary, making her wince.

She watched through the windshield as he walked back to her rental car and retrieved the keys before locking its door and coming back to the big truck. Today he was wearing jeans again, jeans that caressed the muscled contours of his legs like a lover's hands. She remembered the feel of those strong limbs against hers, the heat of his skin and the rough texture of the hair liberally sprinkled over it. The feminine core of her tightened with pleasure, but she reminded herself that their encounter was simply a single one, that the Prince of Hiten Mitsurugi had made it clear that she was going to be no part of his life.

Kenshin slid easily into the driver's seat and fastened his own seatbelt before backing the truck up and turning a wide circle in the highway.

"Wait! I want to go to Catalina." She said. "Tough luck. You're coming back to Phoenix and going to the doctor, then you're going to lie down and rest." He replied.

"To the doctor? I don't need a doctor." She said. "I want you to be looked over anyway," he said. "You were mighty close to heat stroke back there." He handed her a bottle of water. "Drink. You didn't even bring a bottle of extra water with you." He said in an accusing tone.

"I'm not used to the climate here," she said with quiet dignity. "I'm aware that you think I'm a brainless fool, so you can stop rubbing my nose in it."

"Princess, I haven't even started. What in the hell were you thinking, running around here without a bodyguard?" He said. "I don't need a bodyguard," she said through clenched teeth. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. And anyway, the hotel assistant and the concierge knew my destination."

"They wouldn't have been much help if you'd spent hours out here in the sun." He said. The only answer to that was silence, and then Kaoru turned her head to gaze out the window, closing her eyes to shut him out.

When Kaoru awoke, they were entering the outskirts of Phoenix. Hastily, she straightened in her seat, hoping he hadn't noticed.

"Have a good nap?"

So much for wishes. She didn't answer him.

"Why were you going to Catalina?"

She was growing sick of his constant interrogations. "I wanted to visit the next of my many lovers to see if he could be the father of my child," she snapped.

There was a moment of silence in the truck, a silence that nearly vibrated with electricity.

"I apologize," he said with a low growl. "I know it's my child."

He did? Momentarily stunned, she turned her head to look at him. He glanced over at her and his violet eyes were dark and sober. He looked nearly as shocked as she felt.

He believed her. That one thought kept running through her mind, and she wondered what convinced him. Yesterday he'd appeared to doubt her claim. The memory of her naivete made her wince inwardly, and she took a deep breath to stave off the tears that wanted to rise again.

She'd promised herself last night that Kensin Himura was never going to make her cry again. She'd been stupid and she'd learned a lesson from her stupidity. Several, in fact.

"How do you feel?" Kenshin's voice broke into her thoughts, gruff and deep and distinctly noncommittal.

As if you care, she thought.

"Fine, thank you." She made her voice as chilly as possible while still being scrupulously polite.

"You're not used to this climate. You'll have to be doubly careful of the heat, especially in your condition." He advised.

"Thank you for the advice. I'm sure it will prove invaluable."

His mouth tightened and she was pleased to see that she was annoying him. He didn't speak to her again, but picked up the phone installed in the truck and punched in a number, then rapidly issued instructions to the person on the other end of the line for an appointment with an obstetrician in Phoenix. His voice sounded sensual and he was smiling broadly at whatever the person on the other line was saying.

Jealousy ripped Kaoru. Then the words appointment this morning, penetrated her absorption and she was startled into looking at Kenshin again.

"No! I don't need a doctor."

He ignored her.

"I won't go." She tugged at his forearm to get his attention. A mistake. Beneath her fingers, his bare flesh was hot, and the hair that grew along his arm was silky in texture.

"Make the appointment for Kaoru Himura." He said to the person on the phone.

Her fingers clenched on his arm. Then she realized she was still holding on to him and she snatched back her hand. Again his eyebrow slid up into a bold dark arch as he threw her a questioning look. But before she could find her voice, he'd concluded the call and hung up.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Making you a doctor's appointment," he said easily. "I want to make sure you and the baby are alright after spending the morning standing in the sun."

"I don't need a doctor. Go back to your girlfriend and leave me alone." She tried to infuse the words with a command but even to her, she sounded weak and cranky.

"My girlfriend…" he shot her a smug grin. "That was my secretary on the phone. She has twin grandsons, so she's not exactly competition."

"I'm not competing." So there. "Why didn't you use my real name?"

"Would you rather I give your real name?" he asked.

She drew in a sharp breath as his words penetrated, then slumped back in the seat. "No," she admitted in a muted tone. "My parents don't know yet."

"Mind if I ask how long you were going to wait?" He sounded more that slightly shocked.

"I wanted to tell you first," she said quietly. "When I get home, there won't be any reason to delay."

"You're going home soon?" he asked.

Did she imagine a slight sharpness in his tone? She shrugged. "As soon as my business here is concluded, which is already done so I'm staying for a day or two more to take in the sights and then I'm leaving."

A/N: Done! Whew! I feel like this chappie's boring so I'll be updating sooner for the next chapter…

Thanks to the people who reviewed my story… your comments are greatly appreciated…. Hope you like the story so far… Enjoy!