And maybe put her jeans back on.
But Aliyah hurried over, all smiles, and tugged at her sleeve. “Come join us.”
Should she protest? Right now she didn’t have the energy. And Aliyah seemed rather sweet and shy and she didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so she followed her, no doubt digging her way further into Amahd’s bad graces.
Aliyah led her right to the grand table, where foreign dignitaries were taking their seats next to each other, and pointed out some of the key players. Sheikh Hamed of Akar was very tall with a long gray beard and a tall, horse-faced wife who never smiled. They reminded her of the classic American Gothic couple, except in long dust-colored robes. She was suspected that the handsome thirtyish man in blue was Sheikh Enbrit Fallal of Satya. Darud the Twelfth must be one of the many older men who looked like they’d wandered out of the Arabian Nights.
There were several smaller tables, probably for their attendants, ladies-in-waiting, etc. But no, she had to sit at the big one, where Osman and Zadir were already holding court, making the guests laugh. She wondered where Gibran was, but decided it would be indiscreet to ask since he was probably involved in top-secret surveillance of their guests.
Luckily Sam sat on the other side of her, so she didn’t have to initiate conversation with any foreign royals who didn’t speak English. “Isn’t this lovely?” asked Sam, answering her own question. A handsome attendant brought them a bowl of fat green grapes. “And you fit right in. This was all new to me a short time ago, too. My parents liked to throw parties when I was a kid, but never on this scale.”
“The biggest party I’ve been to was my cousin’s wedding. I think there were about fifty people.” She ate carefully, feeling self-conscious at this elegant gathering.
“Nonsense, you were at my wedding.” Sam smiled conspiratorially.
“I’m surprised you remember me among all those people.”
“You stand out in a crowd, with your gorgeous red hair. And I noticed that you hit it off with Amahd. He’s such a prickly workaholic much of the time that I couldn’t ignore that.”
Mac tried not to choke on her chicken. “We did dance together.” Had Sam seen the kiss? “He was very polite.”
“Which cannot always be said of him. Was he scolding you about something just now? I saw him looking rather regal.”
Mac couldn’t help smiling. “He asked me why I’m dressed like this and said it was unsafe.”
Sam laughed. “You two think alike, obviously.”
“He said he’d have to speak to you about interfering with my duties.” Sam was so easy to talk to. Mac could tell she wouldn’t be offended. And she wasn’t.
“Of course he did. He’s so serious. He needs to be shaken out of his boring comfort zone. All work and no play makes Amahd rather dull.”
There was nothing dull about the way he kissed, Mac pondered, hoping her thoughts didn’t show on her face. “He’s not always dull. We went riding the other day. He’s quite reckless about galloping across open spaces.”
“I’ve heard that. These Al Kilanjar men are a danger to themselves and others on the back of a horse. I suppose it could be worse; they could be flying planes or something.”
“True. One of my cousins built himself a small plane. It only flew half a mile before crashing, though.”
Sam shuddered. “Don’t tell any of the Al Kilanjar men about that. Building and flying a plane sounds right up their alley. And we’ve had enough bad luck with planes around here in the last few months. Ronnie and Zadir actually met when their plane crash-landed in the Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia. They’re lucky to be alive.”
Sam spoke softly, glancing around the table, as if wondering if one of their guests might be behind the dangerous acts. Everyone was eating, smiling and talking like the best of friends. “And someone blew up the plane Ronnie was supposed to fly home to the states in. We’ve had the culprit in custody ever since and he won’t reveal who he works for.”
“I hope you’re able to get to the bottom of it soon.” She was nervous for Maddy. And herself—who would take care of Maddy if she got hurt?
“Me, too. I’m sure some people would think we’re nuts for inviting potential danger into our midst, but there’s something frustrating and infuriating—not to mention scary—about living with the threat of violence day in and day out. We’re all ready to seize this bull by the horns and turn the situation around.”
“I didn’t even know there were problems before I arrived here.”
“We’ve kept it very quiet as we don’t want it leaking out into the outside world to invite interference.”
“Or scare off potential employees,” Mac teased. “I’m not sure I’d have volunteered to bring my four year old daughter here if I’d known something exploded every month or so.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “You have a daughter?”
“Yes, she lives with me in the housing at the oil field, and is in the day care there right now.” Sam obviously had no idea she was a single mom. The news would probably scupper any plan to hook her up with Amahd, despite his resistance.
But if Sam was appalled, she did a good job of hiding it. “I’ve heard the day care is excellent. I convinced Osman to hire an expert to get it right. And the village they built there is lovely, especially for something that went up almost overnight.” She could see Sam’s mind working a mile a minute behind those cool blue eyes. “You must have been nervous bringing your daughter so far away from home.”
Mac nodded. “I can’t lie, it was scary. But the salary was too good to turn down.” She decided not to mention her plan to return to the states in two years. They might not like that. “And so far it’s been quite an adventure.”
“Not too much of an adventure, I hope.”
“I did rodeo in high school, so not much can rattle me.” She attempted to look carefree and relaxed.
“How’s your daughter settling in so far?”
“It’s too soon to celebrate, since everything’s so new, but she likes her teachers at day care and our apartment is really comfortable. I think she’ll be fine.” She was trying to convince herself as much as Sam. A servant poured her more rose-scented lemonade.
“I’ll make sure they don’t keep you here too late today. People can get carried away when there’s an important event going on, but there’s nothing as important as being there for your child.”
Sam would probably be horrified to know that Mac went back to work when Maddy was two weeks old. She didn’t have a choice. Money to feed them both wasn’t growing on trees. She’d also worked more overtime at her last job than she’d care to admit, mostly because she was afraid of being fired if she didn’t. Lucky Sam wouldn’t have to deal with those kinds of problems.
“I work a lot but I make sure that when I’m with Maddy we play games and read stories and really spend time together.”
“That’s awesome. You have a demanding job and there must be days when you just feel like collapsing.”
“Yup,” she admitted. “But she won’t be young for long and right now I’m the only person she has.”
“I couldn’t have had a child at all with my old job as a TV producer. I was freelance so my income was …uh…unpredictable.” Sam grinned. “And I traveled constantly. I sometimes wondered if I even needed an apartment since I was rarely ever home in it. I spent most of my time on location.”
“Sounds exciting.”
“It was. And I’m still doing it, but in a more limited way now that I have other fun things going on.” Sam glanced down at her belly, which really wasn’t that big. She was probably one of those women who look slim and athletic right up until the ninth month.
“Do you find it hard to adapt to life here in a conservative and traditional country, where people expect you to dress and behave a certain way?” Mac was curious about how independent and successful women like Sam and Ronnie could make the adjustment.
“To a certain extent Ubar is having to adjust to me,” sh
e said with a grin. “And Osman, Zadir, Gibran and Amahd all went to school abroad, so they’re rather Westernized as well. That’s why we first assumed that the violence was initiated by traditionalists who resent the modernizing influence they bring. I think the biggest change is that I now live in a palace with staff everywhere. That would take some getting used to in any country, even the U.S. It’s so weird that I never have to vacuum or even make my bed.”
“Hey, I could get used to that,” teased Mac. “I’m not that great at making my bed.”
She noticed Sam was staring at something behind her, a tiny frown on her smooth brow.
Mac turned to see what she was looking at. Then she quickly turned back.
Amahd was behind her, smiling and talking with a glamorous looking woman in black and silver, her eyes heavily outlined and her hair ornamented with a glittering silver tiara-like thing.
Her heart pounded. Which was insane! Amahd wasn’t hers. Not even a little bit. He’d never have kissed her if she hadn’t initiated it. There was no future for them.
But even knowing all that she felt green claws of jealously digging into her.
“Who is that stunning woman?” she asked, as brightly as possible.
“I’m not sure. I think she’s from Satya. That’s the way women dress there. She might be one of the king’s daughters. I think he has six of them.”
“Do they marry them off when they’re still children?” she asked hopefully. While cursing herself for being an idiot, of course.
“In the old days they’d get betrothed very young, but usually wouldn’t actually leave home until sixteen or so. These days the children of the wealthy often go to college or travel the world and don’t get married until they’re in their twenties.”
“Ah.” So the woman behind her was probably single, available, and eminently suitable to be a royal bride. Perfect. Now she could put Amahd behind her and forget all about him. “I really should get back to work.”
“I suppose you should,” said Sam, with another glance over her head at Amahd and his new friend. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
Mac excused herself and hurried away from the dining area, making sure not to even glance at Amahd. Hopefully now Sam was over her silly idea of hooking them up. She’d probably never have attempted it if she’d realized Mac was a single mom. Amahd likely didn’t know either. Maybe he’d be shocked and disapproving that she’d had a child outside of marriage. She certainly hadn’t planned to, but then most of her life had happened without a plan so far and she was doing just fine.
Two white peacocks wandered along the mosaic-tiled hallway in front of her, calling plaintively. Probably wondering where they were and why, and wishing they were back home with their friends.
“Mama, can I have a sister?”
Mac blinked. She and Maddy were eating dinner at the tiny round table—sized for two—in their apartment. Dinner wasn’t impressive, Kraft mac and cheese with frozen peas, but it was a taste of home.
Her gut clenched a little. She’d always wanted to have a large family, but she’d learned not to make plans beyond the next six months. She spent her days around men but wouldn’t want to take any of them home. They were hard working, but mostly rough mannered and brash, often with broken marriages behind them and unattractive opinions about their ex-wives. On the rare occasions she did meet a decent, kind and reasonably good-looking guy, he was always married to his high school sweetheart who was at home painting the white picket fence and tending to their two-point-five children.
She sighed. “Maybe one day, sweetheart.”
“How about a little brother?” Maddy said with a frown, pushing macaroni around her plate. “I want one now.”
“You have friends to play with at day care. Besides, it takes nine months to make a baby.”
“Then you should start.” Big blue eyes stared at her, her expression almost as serious as Amahd’s.
Ack! Why was she thinking about Amahd?
“It doesn’t work like that, honey.” She couldn’t explain to her daughter how Mama needed to meet the right man and fall in love, get married, etc., first. Then Maddy might protest that she hadn’t done that the first time. Her daughter was so precocious sometimes she never knew what would come out of her mouth.
“When the time is right, my love. Right now we have each other, and I love spending time with you.”
“I love you too, Mama. But I would like a sister. Or a brother.” She frowned. “And a daddy.”
“I’d like those things too, sweetie, but we can’t always get what we want. You know how sometimes you want ice cream before dinner?”
“Uh-huh.” Maddy nodded knowingly. “But if I eat my dinner, then I get ice cream.”
“So sometimes you just have to be patient.” She hoped her smile looked reassuring. Would she ever meet a nice man who would love her—and Maddy—as they deserved? She wasn’t going to hold her breath waiting. That’s why it was so important for her to earn enough to provide herself and her daughter with a comfortable lifestyle by working hard and being sensible.
Maddy’s face brightened. “And sometimes I get a cookie, too.”
“See?” Mac wished she could protect her daughter from every tiny bit of hurt and disappointment life would ever throw at her. “You never know what will happen if you wait patiently.”
CHAPTER NINE
Mac dropped Maddy off at day care earlier than usual the next morning, trying not to feel guilty. She was doing this for both of them. Then she sped to the palace where today she was charged with setting up and checking all the equipment for the contest that would start tomorrow: timers, sensors, electronic targets—everything you might need for a high-tech medieval joust.
When she arrived, shortly before seven, the staff had set up several arenas, one with targets, another with poles that looked similar to ones used for pole bending, human-shaped dummies in a third and more. The fields of play were deserted, bathed in pale early morning sunlight, except for one person, probably Wedul, the senior staffer charged with managing the games.
Striding the distance between a start line and a target in his long white robe, he cast a tall shadow across the sandy soil. A little intimidated by meeting yet another new person, who may or may not speak any English, she gritted her teeth and headed toward him.
“Morning,” she called, not wanting to startle him. She’d parked inside the palace and come out here on foot.
The man turned and she instantly realized it was Amahd. He stared at her for a long moment, during which she managed to keep walking forward even though all the blood in her body suddenly rushed around like rapids.
“What are you doing here?” He didn’t ask particularly nicely.
“Setting up the equipment.”
“Hmph.” He frowned at her, the morning light picking out his imposing features. “I believe all the electronics are tested and working.”
“That makes my job easier, then,” she said cheerily. “I’ll check everything over.”
She felt his eyes on her as she turned and walked toward the nearest timer, set up to be tripped by two sensors on either side of the starting line.
“Wedul already tested them yesterday evening.”
“Great.” Did he expect her to just leave? Maybe her presence here made him feel awkward. “I’ll make sure they’re still working. The morning dew might have affected the electronics.”
There wasn’t all that much dew in the desert—if there was even any—but she was hardly going to abandon her duties to please one testy royal. If something didn’t perform as expected during the much-planned contest it would be her head on the chopping block, because she was the newest hire, as well as the only female mechanic.
“I would like to ride the courses, to see if everything functions correctly.” His voice was so deep it sounded like distant thunder.
“Sure, go ahead. That would be a good test.”
He cleared his throat. “More than one person mus
t ride each course at a time. That’s how the contest will run.” He waited, watching her. From where he stood right now his face was in shadow and she couldn’t make out his expression. He seemed to expect some kind of answer from her.
“Okay,” she said hesitantly.
“Perhaps you could ride the course with me.” His gruff question sounded more like a command.
“Uh…” she wanted to protest that she should give the equipment a once-over first, but he was the boss. The ridden contests didn’t actually start until tomorrow. Today everyone was being taken on a guided tour of Ubar. “Okay.”
“Good.” He walked toward her, frowning. Her heart hammered faster. Why couldn’t she act and think normal around this man? Lucky thing she wore jeans and boots this morning, not that silly getup they put on her yesterday. She did bring the blue outfit along in case she was asked to wear it later, but she felt a lot more comfortable in her own clothes, even if they did cause people to stare disapprovingly.
“The horses are all groomed and ready. You can pick yours.”
They walked around the palace walls and in through an arched gateway that led to the stables. Bright eyes stared at them over the stable doors and excited nickers welcomed them.
“They’re excited.” It was sweet how happy they were to see Amahd.
“They enjoy their job.”
“Lucky them. I guess that’s ideal.”
“Do you enjoy your job here?” He asked it casually, without looking at her.
His question jolted her. “Sure. Of course I do.” He was her boss. What else would she say? “I mean, I haven’t been here that long but I enjoy being a mechanic so I’m pretty sure I’ll like it.”
“Did you always want to be a mechanic?” Now he did look at her, curiosity burning in his gaze.
She hesitated. “I didn’t plan to become a mechanic but it paid a lot better than anything else I could do. I got my first job right out of high school with a friend of my grandpa’s, maintaining the equipment at his dairy. From there I got a better paying job in the oil industry and I’ve been at it ever since.”
Desert Kings Boxed Set: The Complete Series Books 1-6 Page 69
