She laughed. “So tight it stretched to the breaking point. With five children to raise, my parents learned to cut corners wherever possible. I think they were relieved when I turned out to be a girl because I wouldn’t eat so much.”
He laughed. “How did they cut corners?”
“Passed down clothes—except to me,” she added. “My mother sewed a lot of mine, especially for—” She stopped and he was close enough to feel her whole body tense.
“What?”
“Nothing. It was just my activities—school dances, things like that.”
He sensed that wasn’t what she’d been about to say. Her nervousness was almost a palpable thing. “What is it, Crystal? What are you afraid of?”
“Nothing,” she said with a too-casual shrug. “I was just thinking about my mother. She’s still struggling.”
“In what way? Is there anything I can do to help?”
She shook her head. “It’s not your problem.”
“But if it troubles you, it becomes my concern. As you said, I am an understanding employer. It is in the best interest of palace accord to keep my employees happy and content.”
“I am content. I like my job. I’ve become very fond of the children, and it’s my wish to remain for the duration of my employment contract.”
Her frown belied what she said and he couldn’t help feeling he’d somehow let her down. Then the last words sank in and brought him up short. Until that moment, he hadn’t considered the fact that her time in his life was finite. It seemed she’d always been there and would continue to be. The idea of her leaving had caught him by surprise and was most unwelcome.
“And it is our wish that you remain—as long as you would like,” he added.
“I hope you continue to feel that way.”
“Why would I not?”
“No reason.” She stepped away from the railing and set her flute on the cart. “I must go to the children now.”
“But you’ve not tasted the food that was brought.”
“I know,” she said, touching a hand to her temple. “Two glasses of champagne are just hitting my empty stomach.”
“You had no supper?”
She shook her head. “First I helped Penny with her hair and—” She stopped. “She asked me to lend her moral support when she dressed for tonight. Afterward, it was time to start the children’s bedtime routine.”
He remembered her comment that being selfish wasn’t always a bad thing. He agreed. And it was time she took her own advice.
“You’ve had quite a busy evening.” He took one of the hors d’oeuvres from the tray. “It is time someone took care of you,” he said, holding the food to her lips.
The pulse at the base of her throat fluttered wildly as she took it from his fingers, then chewed. Was she affected by his nearness? He certainly was most aware of her, the curves of her body, the very female scent of her skin, the lush fullness of her lips. The musicians in the ballroom below began to play a lovely waltz.
Fariq held out his head. “May I have this dance.”
“No, I—”
Before she could complete the negative response, he settled his hand at her waist, took her fingers in his and pulled her closer. Suddenly a feeling of rightness came over him. A sense that she belonged right here, in his arms. In the grand ballroom below them were some of the most renowned beauties in the world. Certainly the type of women he’d always been attracted to. For reasons that eluded him, not one held any fascination for him. Not one intrigued him the way Crystal did.
Certainly not because she was a classic beauty. Far from it. But maybe that was her secret. Without the distraction, he’d been captivated by her wit, charm and intelligence. The form he held against him was slight but softly curved and charmingly rounded—in all the right places. Her shapeless clothes increased rather than diminished his fascination.
He slowly led her in the steps of the waltz, grateful the curtains framing the alcove partially hid them from prying eyes. The opportunity to have her to himself was rare and beguiling, he thought. He glanced down, studying the alluring line of her cheek.
“Your face is flushed,” he commented.
“I’m not accustomed to champagne.” She sounded as if she thought he was displeased with her.
“That was not a criticism. The color is quite lovely and becoming.”
She tripped, and he stopped dancing to steady her. “You’re mistaken. I’m not lovely.”
“On the contrary. I’m never wrong.” He considered her features, especially her mouth. “The shape of your lips is quite attractive. My own still remember the exquisite softness from a night that feels very long ago. It almost feels as if I dreamed it. I wish to see if memory serves me well.”
With his gaze locked on hers, he slowly moved toward her. Her eyes grew big behind the large glasses. Suddenly he wanted more than anything to see her face without the encumbrance. With regret, he removed his arms from her body, then reached out to grasp the sides of her spectacles.
“I have to go to the children.” She gasped and backed away. Turning quickly, she left before he could stop her.
Fariq stared at the space where she’d stood moments before. She was afraid, he knew it as surely as he knew the sun rose in the east and set in the west. Her fears could have something to do with her mother as she’d said. But there was more. He very much wished to know what it was. More than that, he desired to have her confide in him.
“Cinderella and the prince lived happily ever after.” Crystal sat beside Hana’s bed and closed the book. Glancing at the little girl, she saw that her eyes were closed and hoped she’d finally settled down after all the excitement. When a shadow appeared in the hall behind her, she knew who it was. She’d only left him a short time ago.
Hana’s eyes popped open. “Papa. You’re back.”
He came into the room and stopped beside the bed. “Yes. I came to check on you. You should be asleep like your brother.”
“I was too excited to sleep. Nanny read me a story. About Cinderella.”
“Did she?” He reached down and tenderly brushed the child’s hair off her cheek.
Crystal tried not to breathe in his intoxicating fragrance, but it was a losing battle because sooner or later she had to take in air or keel over and try to explain why. Sustaining a normal heartbeat when she was this close to him was next to impossible. A short while ago, she’d been in his arms. Dancing. Just the two of them. She could have stayed there forever. Then he’d gone and tried to take off her glasses. To kiss her.
As desperately as she’d wanted that kiss, she couldn’t let him see her without the spectacles. She couldn’t take the chance of blowing her cover. There was too much at stake.
“Nanny?”
“Yes, sweetie?”
“My papa is a prince. Do you think him handsome? Like the one in the story?”
“What do you think?” she asked.
The child shrugged. “I do not know. He’s just Papa.”
What was she supposed to say with her boss standing right there? “He’s definitely a prince.”
His face was bathed in shadow, but she clearly heard his chuckle. “How diplomatic.”
“In the story,” the child continued, “Cinderella was the maid and she married the prince.” Sleepily she turned on her side and snuggled into the covers. “Maybe you should marry my papa so you can stay here forever,” she finished on a wide yawn as her eyes drifted shut.
Crystal adjusted the blanket around her. When Hana didn’t stir, she turned off the light, and together they left the room.
“Good night,” she said to Fariq and started to turn toward her own bedroom.
“I wish to speak with you,” he said.
“Very well.” She followed him into the living room and he motioned for her to sit on the sofa. Was she in trouble? For something other than the way she felt about him that is. Was he angry because his daughter’s routine had been disrupted?
“I’
m sorry Hana was still awake,” she said. “I shouldn’t have allowed the stimulation of seeing the party so close to bedtime.”
“On the contrary. When she is a bit older, she and Nuri will be expected to put in an appearance at functions of this kind. It is wise to expose her to them.”
He took off his tuxedo jacket and slipped it over one of the dining room chairs. Then he removed his cuff links from his shirt and rolled up the white sleeves to just below his elbows. After loosening his black tie, he let the ends dangle. It was a good look, a sexy-dashing-masculine look. Quite simply, he took her breath away.
She couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth, the sensual curve of his upper lip with a dollop of arrogance thrown in. She had desperately wanted to kiss him again tonight. It had taken every ounce of willpower to walk away earlier. Something was going on between them, and she couldn’t rationalize any longer what it was. But she wanted to tell him the truth so they could explore this attraction. Could she take the chance of losing such a well-paying position? Was it really a risk now? He had to know she was doing a good job because the children were thriving. It was clear Hana wanted her to stay.
“About what Hana said a few moments ago,” he started. “Regarding marriage. Have you been filling her head with fairy tales?”
A surge of anger swept away her foolish, romantic thoughts. “Excuse me?”
“I believe the question was clear.”
“First of all, I read to both of the children every night, books of their choice. It’s well documented that children who are read to at bedtime become better readers and are more successful in school.”
She stopped to take a breath and control her temper. She wasn’t clear who she was more angry with—him or herself. Him for his arrogance or her for disregarding all her warnings and common sense and entertaining even the tiniest hope that fairy tales could come true. “Second, your daughter has a wonderful imagination all on her own.”
“I do not ever wish for either of my children to be disappointed. But she will have to learn that things don’t always happen as we might want.”
“Of course not.” Crystal was almost sure he’d been sending signals that he might be interested in her. Hence raising her idiotic hopes. But she’d have to be the queen idiot not to get what he was about to say. She would save him the trouble. “If Hana brings up the subject again, I will make it clear to her that there is no hope—No chance for you and me—There’s no way I would ever marry you.”
He frowned. “No?”
“No.” She folded her hands in her lap.
“Why?”
She raised her gaze to his puzzled one. “Because you’re not my type.”
“Is that so? And what is your type?” Was there the tiniest trace of annoyance in his tone?
“A man who’s not you,” she said lamely.
What else could she say that wouldn’t make him think her standards were a tad high? Because he had to know he wasn’t hard on the eyes. He was a wealthy prince, a powerful man who was instrumental in running his country. He had a quick, keen intelligence and a wry sense of humor. What’s not to like? But she refused to say any of that and feed his ego.
“Good.” He nodded thoughtfully. “I’m glad that is the way you feel.”
“Fariq, she’s a child. The good news is she’s fond of me. As I am of her and Nuri. I don’t expect anything from you. Or want it, either,” she added. “Princess Farrah made it clear when I went through the interview process in New York that I was to always behave with decorum, project a professional manner.”
He nodded. “Your job is to keep the children safe and happy. After that, your only duty is to avoid causing any disruption.”
“I know. Blend in. One doesn’t do that and expect to attract any sort of attention. From anyone. Including her boss. When my contract is fulfilled, I’m going back home.”
With luck, the money she was sending back would chase the financial wolves from her mother’s door. As far as what Crystal intended to do after she left El Zafir, she hadn’t thought that far ahead. She’d been too preoccupied with establishing herself and avoiding discovery.
She’d always believed that beauty came from within. She’d thought this was the perfect opportunity to take her philosophy out for a spin and see if she was right. And she’d felt as if he was responding to the her who wasn’t a man-magnet. That toe-curling kiss in the desert was a big clue. Another was that near-miss kiss just this evening after dancing with him. But obviously she’d been wrong.
She stood. “So, now that you know I’m clear about things—”
“Don’t go.” He slid his hands into his pockets. “I need to remind you that I will never be so foolish or so weak as to fall in love again.”
“I know. Earlier tonight I asked your aunt, and she told me what your wife did to you.”
His eyes blazed. “How could you do that?”
She folded her arms over her chest and met his gaze. “You have emotional baggage that’s affecting your relationship with your daughter. It’s my job to know about it so I can help her deal with the ramifications.”
“Such as?” he demanded angrily.
“The fact that she’s paying the price for what her mother did to you. My job is to keep the children safe and happy. It’s more than feeding, bathing and putting them to bed. They have feelings. They’re smart and amazingly perceptive. Sooner or later Hana is going to wonder what she did that made you hate her.”
He took a step forward, and his eyes smoldered. “I love my daughter. I would lay down my life for her or my son.”
“You don’t have to convince me. But actions speak louder than words. What you’ve shown her is that she’s in trouble for being a little girl, for playing dress-up. And there’s nothing wrong with being a child for as long as she can. Children learn what they live. If they live with criticism they grow up to criticize. Once she realizes you already believe her capable of such behavior when in reality she’s done nothing, what’s to stop her from becoming your worst nightmare?”
“I will not let that happen.”
“Will you crush the life out of her in the process? Will you drive her away? Like your own father is doing with his daughter?” She sighed. “I talked to your aunt because you wouldn’t talk to me. I needed to understand your past to help the twins deal with it.”
“There is nothing to deal with.” He folded his arms over his chest. “I am their father. I will never marry again. End of story.”
“And that’s the example you plan to set for them? No explanation?”
“It’s just the way of things.” He let out a long breath and held up his hand. “As you said, we must agree to disagree. You cannot know how I feel.”
“Maybe that’s good. I can be objective because I’m not emotionally involved,” she lied.
His already dark expression grew darker. “This discussion is over. It’s late and there is nothing more to say.”
He turned away and left the room. Crystal felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath, as if all the air had been sucked out of her lungs. He would never see her differently from his wife. If all her hope hadn’t died before, his last words effectively squelched it. Now she knew she’d mistaken an attraction between them—at least on his part. The only reason he’d ever been charming was to keep her happy and content. What was it he’d said earlier? A contented employee was in the best interest of palace accord.
She felt as if she’d gotten the one/two punch. One: no way would he ever want a relationship again. And she was beginning to realize falling in love with him would be as easy as single-handedly polishing off a half gallon of double-chocolate fudge ice cream on a comfort-food kind of day. Two: it would be career suicide for her to tell him the truth. If it was just her, she would come clean and leave. Because facing him day in and day out, knowing he would never care for her, not even if he knew the real her, was going to be difficult and painful.
But nothing else had changed. If she didn’t keep th
is job, her mother would be buried under an avalanche of medical bills and could lose her home. Crystal wouldn’t let that happen. She would just have to suck it up and move forward. This is where the character part of the beauty within came from.
She suddenly felt as if her boatload of character was going to sink her.
Chapter Ten
Fariq realized he’d made no move to touch his keyboard even though he’d been staring at a blank computer monitor for more than thirty minutes. Thoughts of Crystal had plagued him twenty-four hours a day for the past week, ever since the night of the charity auction. Abruptly he shut off his computer.
“Amahl,” he called out.
His assistant appeared in the doorway between their offices. “Your Highness?”
He stood up. “Cancel all my afternoon appointments.”
“Including Mr. Wellington? He grows impatient to meet with you and finalize arrangements for opening the department store.”
“It can’t be helped.” He couldn’t get Crystal off his mind and was most anxious to find out why. Unless he did, he would accomplish nothing in the office, including agreements regarding the exclusive store. “Tell Mr. Wellington I am available for breakfast tomorrow, as early as he would like. Reschedule my other appointments, as well. If anything else comes up, one of my brothers will have to deal with it in my absence.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Fariq walked past his puzzled subordinate, then out of the palace business wing. He could understand the young man’s confusion. It was extremely rare for him to cancel appointments, especially with a company that wished to bring business into the country and put people to work. But all he could think about was Crystal’s courage in taking him to task for imposing his emotional baggage on his children.
He’d also been unable to forget her spirit, the way she felt in his arms, the reality that eventually she would leave and the abject emptiness produced by that thought. It bothered him more than he would have imagined. There really was no reason for him to give it any consideration; her employment contract would keep her here for several more years. Yet he couldn’t seem to let the problem go. It was distracting him and beginning to interfere with his work. There was only one solution: he would find another way to make her stay.
To Kiss a Sheik Page 12
