by Sarah Morgan
Layla felt her mood lift for the first time in days. Maybe even longer. ‘That makes sense.’
‘Of course it does. I only ever talk sense—as I’m forever telling my husband. Now, drink some tea and tell me about your sister.’
At the mention of her sister Layla felt her happy mood evaporate. ‘She’s still missing.’
‘Yes.’ Avery’s expression was sympathetic. ‘Everyone is looking for her. And Salem is exactly the right person to be in charge of that.’
‘Everyone says that, but he didn’t look particularly friendly when I saw him.’
‘I didn’t say he was friendly.’ Avery swept a sheet of blonde hair away from her face. ‘No, he definitely isn’t friendly. Dark. Moody. A bit scary, I suppose. But in a totally hot way. Exactly the right person to find your sister.’
‘Why? Why does everyone keep saying that?’
Avery put her cup down carefully. ‘You don’t know?’
‘All I know is that Raz seems to trust his brother with his life.’
‘As well he would. Salem isn’t just his brother—he’s ex-Special Forces. After everything that happened in their family he left to set up his own private security firm. He handles our security—although I’m convinced that’s just Mal trying to monitor my movements when I’m buying shoes.’
Layla laughed, but her mind was picking over what she now knew of Salem. On that first night he’d stepped in front of his brother to protect him, even though Raz was obviously well able to defend himself. ‘He hasn’t been in contact.’
‘He’s a man.’ Avery selected a date from the bowl on the table. ‘Men never call when they’re supposed to, and Salem keeps everything close to his chest. Which isn’t a bad place to be, I have to say, because he’s all muscle and very sexy.’ Catching Layla’s expression, she grinned. ‘Sorry, I’m trying to cheer you up. I honestly do believe that Salem will find her. He’s the best.’
‘But if she were alive surely he would have found her by now?’
‘Maybe he has. Maybe he’s lying low for some reason—such as the fact Hassan is a crackpot and no one knows exactly where he is.’ Avery nibbled the date. ‘Is she a resilient girl?’
Layla thought about her sister and everything she’d endured. ‘Yes.’
‘Shy? What would she do if she were picked up by a Bedouin tribe, for example?’
‘Talk them to death?’
Avery’s brows rose. ‘It sounds as if Salem will have his hands full when he finds her. You don’t know him, so you’ll have to take it from me that he’s very serious. And everything he does is top secret so he’s not much of a talker.’
‘Then how do you know so much about what he does?’
‘Just one of the perks of being married to the boss, sweetie.’
Layla sifted through the information at her disposal. ‘But if Salem is really as serious as you say he is going to strangle my sister.’
‘Yes, it does sound like an interesting match. I predict that she will be a pleasant interruption from his usual life. Now, have some more tea. And eat something. Because it’s ages until dinner and I’m always too busy mingling to eat much at these things.’
Avery topped up the cups and Layla breathed deeply.
‘I have no idea what is expected of me tonight.’
‘You’re our guest. All we expect of our guests is that they enjoy themselves. In fact I insist on it or I’ll assume my party is a dismal failure.’ Seeing the expression on Layla’s face, she gave a warm smile. ‘Just enjoy the time with Raz. Sounds as if the two of you haven’t had much time to get to know each other outside of a crisis situation, so this is a perfect opportunity to explore a whole different side to your relationship.’
‘But I knew what was expected of me in the crisis. I knew I had to stop the wedding, find Raz, find my sister—it was stressful, but there was a purpose to it. I don’t understand the purpose of a party. That isn’t what our relationship is about.’
‘Maybe it should be. Maybe you just don’t know how to relax because you’ve never been allowed to. The purpose of tonight,’ Avery said, ‘is for you to spend time together. Be a couple.’
‘I’ve never been part of a couple. I don’t know what I’m doing.’ Layla’s desperation to talk to someone overrode her natural shyness about the topic. ‘Raz is—experienced. I’m worried I’m not the woman he needs.’
Avery stared at her for a long moment and then gave a slow smile that transformed her face from beautiful to pure seductress. Suddenly Layla saw exactly why the Sultan had fallen so hard for her. She was strong and independent, but never at the expense of her femininity.
‘Trust me, you are all the woman he needs,’ Avery said.
Layla gave a helpless shrug. ‘I don’t know myself anymore. I thought I had such a clear idea of who I was and what I wanted, and then suddenly it turns out I’m wrong.’
‘Not wrong, but people change and adapt according to their circumstances.’ Avery sipped her tea. ‘People grow and learn. Or at least the people worth knowing do. For the record, I’m glad Raz found you. He deserves someone like you. And you deserve him.’
‘He was forced to marry me.’
‘Stop saying that! Did he marry you kicking and screaming? I didn’t think so. Now, finish your tea—we’re going to make sure that by the time you and Raz make it back to the bedroom tonight he is going to be a desperate man.’
‘I won’t be comfortable wearing anything too revealing.’
‘Don’t worry. The true secret of allure is not to show all but to hint at what you are hiding.’
Layla gave a choked laugh. ‘You want him to unwrap me?’
‘Well, that’s one alternative.’ Avery stood up. ‘Personally, I have a preference for a scenario where you unwrap yourself and make him watch but not touch. The theme of tonight’s ball is Desert Nights. It has so much potential, don’t you think?’
CHAPTER TEN
RAZ PACED THE length of the royal rooms that had been allocated to them for their stay and glanced at his watch for the sixth time in as many minutes.
Of Layla there was no sign, and he wondered how she’d coped with being plunged into the centre of a big working palace with people she didn’t know. From the little he’d learned about her past he knew she’d had little exposure to glittering social gatherings such as the ones run by the Sultan and his wife. And he’d known Avery long enough to be sure she would have extracted every last scrap of detail from Layla, and suddenly wondered if it had been unfair of him to leave them together for so long.
The Desert Nights Ball—an annual event organised by Avery as a fundraiser for disadvantaged children—was about to begin and their presence was expected.
He pulled out his phone and was about to call Avery when Mal appeared in the doorway of his suite, flanked by his security team.
‘I have been sent by my wife to tell you that they will meet us downstairs.’
Raz slid his phone back into his pocket. ‘I expected Layla to be here.’
‘She’s spent the day shopping and lunching with Avery, so expect to find her exhausted.’ Mal dismissed his guards with a discreet gesture and walked into the guest suite, closing the door behind him. ‘Apparently they want to surprise you. And by that I mean that my wife has taken over, as always. I hope that isn’t a problem?’
‘I appreciate Avery’s help. Layla isn’t used to large social gatherings and she’s quite shy. I’m worried she’ll find it overwhelming.’
Mal gave him a speculative look. ‘You care about her?’
‘Does that surprise you?’
‘Does it surprise you?’
‘Yes.’ Seeing no reason not to be honest with his friend, Raz paced over to the window. ‘Yes, it surprises me. She is nothing like I expected her to be. I admit it. I m
ade an assumption about who she was based on what we know about the rest of her family.’
‘Most people would have done the same.’
‘Perhaps, but it isn’t something I’m proud of.’ He knew now how desperate things must have been for Layla to choose to ride a strange horse into the desert with no fixed destination. She was careful, cautious—and with reason. Those were the qualities that had kept her alive. ‘I suspect her life was hell.’
‘Now, that comes as no surprise to me.’ Mal’s voice was hard. ‘If you want my honest opinion, she is lucky to now be married to you and is probably feeling nothing but relieved.’
Was she? He realised he knew very little about what she was feeling because she kept her thoughts to herself. Except for that single occasion when she’d lost control and spoken out about the secrets he’d kept from her, she’d made no comment on her new life. He knew that much of what she did was driven by her desire to please him, to compensate in some small way for the sins her father had committed.
‘She is very brave. She rides even though she hates it, and although she is scared of the dogs she insists they are allowed to roam free. She refuses to be beaten by fear.’
‘Then hopefully it will not be long before she realises that with you there is nothing to fear.’
‘I think tonight might be stressful for her.’ And he realised he didn’t want it to be. He didn’t want it to be another task she had to endure, another challenge. He wanted her to relax. He wanted her to have fun and enjoy herself without constantly looking over her shoulder.
Mal was watching him. ‘And what about you? This is the first time you have made a public appearance with another woman.’
It was something else that hadn’t occurred to him. ‘I don’t care what people think, but she will care.’ And people would be speculating about their relationship, his feelings about being married to the daughter of his enemy.
‘We will all ensure that she is protected as much as possible. She will receive a warm welcome from all of us and that will help.’
But would that be enough?
‘She isn’t used to crowds.’
‘If you sense she is bothered by it then of course you must leave early,’ Mal said immediately. ‘No one will be offended. Come up here and spend some time alone. My staff will serve you dinner—anything you need, just ask. You are like a brother to me. I hope you know that.’
Quiet words, but spoken with such sincerity that they unlocked something inside him.
‘I do know that. For the past decade you’ve—’
‘You would have done the same for me.’ Mal cut him off before he could express his thanks. ‘I am glad you’ve found Layla.’
‘She’s never danced before. Can you imagine that?’ His tone raw, Raz lifted a hand and pressed his fingers to his forehead. ‘Her life was nothing like I imagined it to be.’
He thought of two small girls, huddled together while they listened to the dogs approaching. Had an image of the scar on her arm where those dogs had come too close. Knowing how hard it had been for her to share that with him, he had no intention of sharing it with anyone else.
‘Having met both her father and Hassan on a few occasions I prefer to forget, I have no trouble believing you.’
‘She has no idea how to enjoy herself. I don’t think she knows who she really is.’
Mal hesitated and then reached out and squeezed his shoulder. ‘Give her time. Her life has changed overnight. She has lived with people she couldn’t trust, so it will inevitably take a while for her to realise she can trust you. It must be a relief to her to be living with you after the life she has led.’
Was it? He realised that since this whole thing began he’d barely thought further than his own needs. ‘I have no idea how she feels about living with me,’ Raz said honestly.
Mal raised an eyebrow. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you underestimate your qualities. Not that I claim to be an expert on the minds of women, as my wife is always swift to point out.’
His wry tone made Raz smile. ‘Your wife is an amazing woman.’
‘She is pregnant.’ Mal spoke the words in a rough tone tinged with male pride and then gave a half smile. ‘I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone that.’
‘Congratulations.’ It was Raz’s turn to reach out. ‘I’m pleased for you both.’
‘I’d rather you didn’t—’
‘I won’t mention it.’
‘Good, because I would be in serious trouble. There will be a public announcement in due course.’
‘I shall look suitably surprised.’
Mal glanced towards the door. ‘I am the host. I should go downstairs and greet the early arrivals. Join me?’
They walked into the opulent ballroom together and Avery immediately walked up to Raz and kissed him on both cheeks.
‘It’s good to see you, my friend.’
Dressed in ivory silk, she looked stunning and Raz smiled. ‘And it is good to see you. Thank you for looking after Layla.’
‘I love her,’ Avery said simply. ‘She’s the kindest, most sweet-natured person. And very, very beautiful—but of course you’ve already noticed that because you’re a man. She’s nervous, so please say the right thing when you see her. And if you need help working out what that is, don’t be afraid to ask.’
Raz didn’t respond. He was looking over Avery’s shoulder to Layla, who was dressed like something from the Arabian Nights. Her dress was midnight-blue shot with silver, high at the neck, cut narrow at the waist. Her hair fell in a smooth sheet, dark as ink over the shimmering fabric. Her beautiful eyes were accentuated by subtle make-up.
‘And just in case you’re that guy who never asks for help, the word you’re looking for is stunning,’ Avery murmured, and then took Mal’s arm and guided him towards the arriving guests, leaving Raz alone with a shimmering, dazzling version of Layla.
She looked at him through the dark sweep of those thick eyelashes that had caught his attention from the first moment he’d seen her.
‘Did your meetings go well?’
She sounded composed but he saw the uncertainty in her face and knew that Avery was right about her being nervous.
His mouth on those lips, Raz struggled to focus. ‘Very well. And I see you and Avery had a busy afternoon.’
‘We had fun. We talked and then we shopped.’
Her eyes sparkled and there was an excitement in her expression he’d ever seen them. It was as if someone had switched on a lightbulb inside her. She had a new confidence. She carried herself differently. He wondered what had brought about the change.
Was it just the dress?
‘You look stunning.’
‘She told you to say that. I heard her. But thank you, anyway.’
‘I said it because it’s true. And I would have done so without prompting.’ He looked into her eyes and then reached out and drew her against him, his hand resting on the dip of her narrow waist.
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Anything.’
‘You mentioned dancing—’ Her gaze slid to the dance floor, which shimmered and sparkled under clever lighting. ‘I’d really like to try it.’
Hiding his surprise, Raz took her hand. ‘Then let’s try it.’
Intrigued by the change in her, he led her towards the dance floor, exchanging only the briefest of greetings with people as they moved through the crowd, all his attention focused on her.
He noticed Avery in the centre of the dance floor with a man Raz recognised as the French ambassador while Mal was deep in conversation with the man’s wife.
When she spotted them Avery immediately escorted the dazzled ambassador back to his wife before grabbing Layla by the hands.
‘Don’t you love this song?’ She swirled a
nd shimmied, arms above her head, and Layla watched her curiously for a moment and then joined her, following Avery’s lead as she danced, her movements more subtle, more discreet as she learned to match the flow of her body with the beat of the music.
It was a skill that seemed to come naturally too her. Raz felt tension throb through him as he watched her move with sensual grace, her long hair flowing like liquid silk around her shoulders as she discovered a love of dancing. Her happiness at that discovery was evident from the smile on her lips and the unselfconscious way she twirled with Avery, her enjoyment as infectious as the rhythmic beat of the music.
Raz watched her, hypnotised by the change in her, knowing he was witnessing the transformation from unsure girl to sexually aware woman.
Avery caught his eye and gave him a knowing look before twirling Layla into his arms.
She landed against his chest with a gentle thud, off-balance from the dancing and laughing in a way he hadn’t heard her laugh before. And he found himself smiling too, because it was impossible not to smile with her eyes sparkling into his and her arms wrapped around his neck as she tried to balance herself.
‘I’m dizzy.’ Her fingers closed over his biceps. ‘Did I embarrass you?’
Was this the first time in her life she’d done something for herself without thought to others? ‘No.’ His mouth was close to hers, his gaze locked on hers. ‘You could never embarrass me.’
By chance, or more likely because the ever-observant Avery had organised it, the rhythm of the music changed from loud and throbbing to soft and smooth and Raz drew her against him, his hand pressed low on her back.
He felt her body relax against his, knew people were watching curiously and tightened his grip on her protectively, hoping she didn’t notice the interest and lose that sudden burst of unselfconscious enjoyment that he was finding as addictive as a drug.
