by Holly Rayner
“Not technically. Mabrouk is the king.”
“Mm-hmm.” There was a ping on London’s end and she looked over at something on her bedside table. “Hold on. MJ from work just sent me something. She says it’s immediate.”
“It’s like two in the morning there.”
“She’s a night owl, too,” London mumbled, picking up her laptop. Her eyes widened. “Oh, my gosh.”
“What?” Leyla’s heart raced. “Is everything okay?”
“You say you’re not royalty?” Propping her phone on the bed, she turned the laptop around so that Leyla could see what was on the screen.
It was a series of photos of two women walking down a sidewalk. Something about it seemed oddly familiar, but…
London clicked to enlarge a photo.
“What?” Leyla said.
It was her and Maryum, walking for their car earlier.
“How did that get online so fast? That was, like, an hour ago.”
“Beats me.” London put the computer down. “The headline calls you ‘Maryum’s beautiful and mysterious friend,’ and then underneath, there’s the suggestion that you guys might be related because of how similar you look. I’ll send it to you.”
Leyla’s pulse still hadn’t slowed. Was she on her way to being famous? At least, in Sharrain?
What a strange thought. She couldn’t properly wrap her head around it.
“Weird.”
“I know,” London said. “But you look amazing.”
“Thanks.”
Sharkie woofed in his sleep, making the women laugh.
“I guess I should hit the hay.” London stifled a yawn. “I’m opening the salon in the morning.”
“Okay. Get some sleep. Thanks for calling.”
“By the time I wake up, your day will be ending. I can’t wait to hear what’s happened by then.” London winked. “Oh, by the way. How is that studly cowboy?”
Leyla recoiled. Not because she didn’t like hearing Kane referred to in that way, but because it was true. He was the studly, untouchable cowboy of her life.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “He seems uncomfortable with all of this.”
“Why? Isn’t he getting what he wanted?”
“I think so.”
If only getting that thing you thought you wanted equaled supreme happiness.
“I’ll talk to you soon.” Leyla blew a kiss. “Love you both.”
After hanging up, she walked into the massive bathroom to check her makeup. Digging in her makeup bag, she found some concealer and dabbed it under her eyes. The skin there was still slightly baggy.
Catching her reflection, she was shocked to find her eyes red. And sad.
So freaking sad.
Her lips started to shake. Pressing them together, she left the bathroom.
Kane wasn’t the only person who’d gotten what they wanted. She should have been celebrating right now, except she couldn’t stop thinking about what she was giving up.
Namely, love.
She had a best friend. Family. But it wasn’t enough.
Maybe it had been a mistake to agree to the marriage. Kane couldn’t give her what she really needed. Unfortunately, she’d figured that out too late.
Romance was off the table.
Taking in a shaky breath, Leyla lifted her chin and unzipped her backpack. Well, fine. She’d find other ways to fulfill herself.
Drawing the DeHaan contract from her bag, she set off for the office down the hall. It had a fax machine in it, and she had a distribution deal to send.
Chapter 18
Kane
The sun warmed Kane’s shoulders. With a mere closing of his eyes, he felt like he was back in Texas, hanging out on his ranch.
“What are you thinking about?”
Cracking a lid, he looked at Leyla sideways. She sat atop a horse like an expert, that same air of confidence that had originally drawn him in floating off of her.
It made sense now—she had royal blood in her.
“Texas.” He took up his reins and started his horse at a walk.
“I miss it, too.” Leyla brought her horse alongside his. Together, they ambled down the beach.
“I was thinking about my ranch. I haven’t spent as much time as I’d like to, there.”
“You’ll get the chance to. Eventually.”
He studied her. Back straight. Wind tossing hair around her face. She was the most beautiful woman on the beach.
No, in all of Sharrain.
Hell, screw it. She was the most beautiful woman in the whole world.
“I’ll take you there sometime.”
She turned to him with unfiltered surprise. “Oh.”
“What?”
“Um, nothing.” Clearing her throat, she looked straight ahead.
It was the way a lot of their conversations went, now. They’d been in Sharrain for several days, and it felt like they only grew further apart with each passing day.
The wedding planning and his working remotely were partly to blame, but that wasn’t all of it. He didn’t know how to navigate his relationship with her. She was everything he wanted and what he couldn’t have.
And she seemed, for the most part, to want little to do with him.
This horseback ride on the beach was for show. Getting out and doing couple things was mandatory. Kane almost wished he could stay in his temporary office in the palace and plow through work, but that wasn’t an option.
He had to be out here, struggling with those annoying feelings.
“What’ll…” Leyla paused as a group of people walked past them, a few of who gave her a second glance. “What’s our exact plan for after we’re married? You know, what about my apartment?”
“Right.” He’d given a good deal of thought to this. “It would really be best if you moved in with me. My penthouse has plenty of space. It’s four bedrooms. And I’m hardly ever there. Plus, there’s the ranch. You can spend as much time there as you like.”
She took a while to answer. “Okay. That makes sense. It would look strange if we’re not living together.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m used to roommates. I had them for years.”
“Again, you might not even see me most days.”
“But we’ll have to go out together sometimes,” she reminded him.
“Yes.”
And they could never date other people. That had already been established and didn’t need repeating.
Not that Kane ever thought about other women anymore.
“I suppose you’ll be getting back to your regular work schedule right away?” she asked.
“Yes.” He had nothing else to do.
She made a noise of acknowledgment. “I’ll get busy with my stuff, as well.”
“The movie?”
“Yes. About that…” She stalled.
Before Kane could encourage her to continue, a group of people appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
“Leyla!” one of them cried. “Leyla, are you Maryum’s sister?”
“She looks just like her!” a man in the group added.
Leyla gasped. “What?”
They started taking pictures of Kane and Leyla and crowding closer.
“Hey.” Kane spoke as forcefully as he could without shouting. He didn’t want to spook the horses. “Give us space. No pictures.”
If they heard him, they didn’t acknowledge it. They moved in even closer.
Leyla’s horse snorted in alarm. With little warning, he reared onto his back legs.
Shrieking, Leyla slid from the saddle. Her back and head hit the sand behind the horse with a smack.
An animalistic growl flew from Kane’s throat. Quick as a whip, he was off his horse and taking both sets of reins in hand. The horses tossed their heads and stamped their feet, filled with the urge to flee down the beach.
It seemed to be the hint the gaggle of people needed. They dispersed, retreating in various directions.
“Leyla.”
His pulse roaring in his ears, he looked over his shoulder to check on her.
She sat up and cradled the back of her head. “I’m okay.”
“Don’t try to stand. Stay where you are.” Leading the horses across the sand drifts, he tied them to the boardwalk and then ran back to Leyla.
Ignoring his advice, she was in the middle of getting to her feet.
“Hey, now.” He slipped an arm around her waist.
“I’m okay,” she said again.
“You’re dazed. You hit your head pretty hard.”
“On sand.” She smiled, but then cringed.
“Come on. Walk real slow.” With his arm still around her, he guided her to the boardwalk the horses were at.
Anger rolled through his chest. What the hell was wrong with some people? What made them think it was okay to come up and assault Leyla like that? She could have been hurt worse. Someone could have been trampled by a horse.
“Sit down.” He eased her onto one of the steps. “I’m going to call for help.”
“What? No. I’m okay.”
He fixed her with a look that said the matter was nonnegotiable.
“Fine.” She dropped her hands to her lap. “Scout’s honor. I won’t move.”
The stable they’d rented the horses from was a good mile down the beach. Luckily, the little boardwalk led right up to a shop. There, Kane grabbed a bottle of water and placed a call to the palace.
“A doctor is coming to look at you,” he announced, taking a seat next to Leyla and handing her the water.
“Seriously? That’s not necessary.”
“Why are you fighting it?”
She shrugged and uncapped the water bottle. “Thank you.”
“Those people were…” He bit back the curse word and settled with balling his hands into fists.
“They didn’t mean to startle the horse. It was an accident.”
“It’s more like they weren’t paying attention when they should have been. They shouldn’t have come up to you in the first place.”
“Yeah. I guess they were excited, though.”
He caught her eye and saw honesty there. Forgiveness.
It wasn’t that easy for him. After years in the public eye, he’d developed a low tolerance for invasion of personal space.
“We should consider a bodyguard,” he decided.
“Are you serious?” Leyla laughed, then cringed.
“Here.” Carefully, he turned her head and inspected the back of it. There was no mark, but she could have a concussion. Calling for a doctor had been the right move.
“We’re not Maryum and Mabrouk.”
He took the water bottle from her hand and pressed its cold side to her skull. “Better?”
“Yeah.” Her shoulders relaxed. “That feels nice. And we don’t need bodyguards.”
“They’re not just for fighting off bad guys with bullets. They send a message. A message that someone shouldn’t be bothered.”
“Exactly. That seems harsh.”
“It’s realistic.”
“Cold,” she said. “I don’t want to come across as cold.”
“I get that, but you can’t be a pushover either.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes narrowed on him.
Kane sighed. “You’re not a pushover. Lord, you’re not. I shouldn’t have said that. I only… I’ve been through this kind of thing, okay? And I’m just some CEO. It’s gonna be worse for you in Sharrain. From what I’ve seen, people are really into the royal family here. And they haven’t even released a statement yet saying that you’re related to Mabrouk and Maryum. What happened just now was a result of hearsay.”
He could have gone on, but he’d said a ton already and forced himself to stop talking. Leyla stared at the ocean, seeming to consider his words.
“It is all new to me,” she said after a couple moments. “And I value your advice, but I also want to do things my way.”
Despite his almost overwhelming concern for her, Kane also felt some pride. Leyla was her own person, unwaveringly so.
“That’s what I love about you,” he said.
Her eyes lit up in surprise.
“I mean, uh…”
Darn it. He’d really stuck his foot in his mouth.
“Leyla!”
They turned at the sound of Maryum’s voice. She jogged down the boardwalk, her bodyguard and a woman with a black bag who had to be the doctor in tow.
Saved in the nick of time. Maybe Leyla would forget all about what he’d said.
“Are you well?” Maryum knelt next to Leyla and cupped her face. “Kane said a horse threw you.”
“I fell off. It didn’t really throw me through the air or anything.”
Kane scowled. “Some… people… were taking pictures of Leyla. They spooked the horse and it tossed her.”
Maryum’s face pinched. “Yes. Everyone has been speculating since the photos from the other day.”
He wanted to have an in-depth talk with Maryum about taking precautions to protect Leyla’s privacy and safety, but that would need to wait till another time.
“I’ll take the horses back,” he said, standing.
Leyla gave him a grateful look. The doctor had already crouched down next to her and was feeling her pulse.
“Be back soon,” Kane promised.
Hauling himself back into the saddle, he took hold of the other horse’s reins and led it back down the beach. So much for the quiet, romantic horse ride. Another small group was forming, people coming in from the boardwalk and the nearby road. Maryum’s bodyguard blocked most of their view with his beefy abdomen.
That’s exactly what Leyla needs. Someone constantly looking out for her.
If he had his way, they would never be apart and her well-being would become his responsibility. But they had their separate lives. He couldn’t keep an eye on her every minute.
After returning the horses, he jogged back to the boardwalk, keeping his face down. Still, the number of people who stared had him suspecting his picture could be circulating through Sharrain as well.
At the boardwalk, Leyla stood up, talking quietly with Maryum. The doctor was nowhere to be seen.
“What’s the verdict?” he asked, in between catching his breath.
“She appears fine,” Maryum answered. “Although, there is the possibility of a concussion.”
Leyla waved her hand dismissively. “I’m okay. Let’s just go, if that’s all right.”
“Fine by me,” Kane grit out.
The number of onlookers had grown while he was gone, and bordered dangerously on being granted crowd status.
The car that had brought them to the beach waited in the nearest parking lot, likely thanks to Maryum. Kane held Leyla’s elbow as they walked for it and glared daggers at anyone who dared get too close.
It wasn’t until they were in the car that he felt like he could relax a bit. The vehicle Maryum had arrived in pulled out of the parking lot, and theirs followed behind.
“This is really embarrassing,” Leyla said.
“It’s not your fault. It’s theirs.”
She grimaced. “Do you hate being famous?”
He sighed. He wasn’t even really famous. He’d call it more “well-known.”
“I think I told you before,” he said. “I like my privacy. I don’t need or want anyone knowing my personal details.”
She looked down and nodded, suddenly appearing meek.
“Hey.” He touched her shoulder. “You okay?”
Had he said something that bothered her?
“Yeah. Totally.” She looked up and offered a smile. “I feel a little shaken, after all. I guess I did fall harder than I thought.”
“We’ll get you resting as soon as we’re back at the palace.”
“Great.” Turning away from him, she rested her cheek against the seat and looked out the window.
Chapter 19
Leyla
A knock on the bedroom door made Leyla open her
eyes. Rolling over, she peered at the bedside clock. Twenty past eight.
Unfortunately, even a week and a half in Sharrain hadn’t done much to reset her body clock. She still felt tired at the worst times, and sometimes it took hours to fall asleep.
Not that her anxieties over marrying a gorgeous man she couldn’t touch had anything to do with that.
Nope. Not at all.
“Who is it?” She sat up in bed.
“It’s Kane.”
A thrill went down her back and arms. Tossing the blankets off, she ran a hand over her hair. Yep. It was a tangled mess.
But screw it.
She opened the door anyway. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” His gaze briefly dipped down the length of her body. A half-second later, and he looked into her eyes again.
She fought the urge to cover herself with her arms. Despite liking to dress up during the day, sexy nighties had never been her thing. They weren’t comfortable enough.
She’d fallen asleep in an oversized T-shirt and gym shorts. Kane was probably cringing inside. Not the ideal royal image.
In contrast to her, he was ready to meet the day, with slicked-back hair, ironed dress pants, and pointy-toed boots.
“You look nice,” she said. “Where are you going?”
“I’m getting fitted for my suit.”
“Oh.” She blinked. Kane’s attire was one aspect of the wedding she hadn’t given much thought to.
Even with the ceremony happening in three days, things didn’t yet seem real. Leyla kept thinking she would wake up and discover the whole last month had been a dream.
“What’s it look like?” she asked.
“Aw, come on. You can’t know that.” He winked.
“I’m pretty sure that only applies to my dress.” She laughed.
He shrugged. “Anyway, Maryum asked me to see if you were up.”
“Oh.” Her heart sank a little, and she instantly hated herself for it.
“She’s at the breakfast table.”
“Okay. I’ll get down there. Thanks for telling me.”
“See you later.”
“Yeah,” she said. “See you later.”
With a nod, he stepped back. Fighting the desire to watch him walk down the hall, she closed the door.
