by Holly Rayner
How weird that in a few days, they would be man and wife, and yet their relationship didn’t represent anything that kind of union should. For instance, honesty.
That was nowhere to be found.
Leyla still hadn’t told him about the DeHaan deal—which, by now, was set in stone. She’d signed the agreement and grudgingly agreed to set up a meeting between Kane and DeHaan once they got back home.
She’d been specific about needing to bring the matter up with Kane herself, though. The last thing she needed was someone from the distribution company contacting him and telling him all about the documentary before she got the chance.
Since it seemed like Maryum was in a rush, Leyla skipped the shower and instead splashed her face with water. A ponytail, jeans, and a T-shirt did the trick. If she left the palace later, she’d come back up and get properly dressed.
A couple days after the incident on the beach, Maryum and Mabrouk had released a statement telling the public that Leyla was a cousin of theirs. Of course, thanks to the engagement photos, it hadn’t taken long for Sharrain’s populace to figure out who Kane was.
The wedding, it turned out, was shaping up to be a really big deal. Every day, someone texted Leyla another online article about it.
Pulling on sneakers, she jogged downstairs and into the breakfast room. There, Maryum was on her tablet, going over the morning news, which she did every day.
“Leyla.” With a smile, she put the tablet down. The hour never affected how good Maryum looked. Her hair was always smooth, her makeup fresh.
It was likely a skill perfected over decades in the spotlight.
“Good morning.” Taking the seat next to Maryum, Leyla poured herself coffee from the steel carafe.
“You look tired. There are bags under your eyes.”
“Yeah. Wedding stress, I guess.”
“Do not worry. Everything will go beautifully.”
Leyla nodded and sipped the steaming liquid. It was mostly the lonely marriage after the wedding that she feared.
“Guess what?” Maryum gasped happily. “Your dress will be here any minute.”
“Awesome.” She faked happiness by mirroring Maryum’s smile.
It didn’t work.
“Are you sure everything is well?” Maryum touched Leyla’s arm.
“Absolutely.” She was getting so used to lying. It was reflexive at this point.
Maryum drew her hand back, the pursing of her lips showing how unconvinced she was. “I think I know what this is about.”
Leyla’s breath hitched in her throat. “Really?”
“Yes. Your mother.”
Tears stung Leyla’s eyes. She’d been doing a pretty good job of not thinking about her mom, but did she want her only parent at her wedding? Of course.
She’d also love to be marrying into a real relationship, but, you know…
“It’s still hard,” Leyla admitted.
“Perhaps it is time I tell you the story of why Maira left Sharrain.”
That made Leyla sit straighter. “She never told me anything. I couldn’t figure out why.”
“Nothing at all?”
“No. Every time I asked, she got really quiet. I learned early on that the topic made her sad, so I stopped bringing it up.”
“And your father?”
“Nothing. She never talked about him.”
Leyla found it hard to regulate her breathing. She felt like she sat on the precipice of something monumental. Maryum held the truth that she had stopped asking for.
“I can understand it,” Maryum sighed. “That was a hard period for her, and no one made it easier.”
“What… what happened?”
“You must understand that it was a different time. Uncle Halil, he was very… what is the word? Conservative.”
“Okay.”
Had Leyla’s mom been kicked out of Sharrain? Was that why she had never even wanted to talk about the place?
“Maira was very involved in art. She managed a gallery downtown.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.” Maryum nodded.
“She didn’t even tell me that. Why didn’t she tell me that?” Hurt stung Leyla’s heart.
“Because it was the past, dear. Sometimes, it is easier to close doors and forget about what is gone completely.”
“I guess,” she mumbled.
Maryum tucked a loose strand of hair behind an ear. Her hand shook the slightest bit.
“It was at the gallery that Maira met a man. He came from Spain, and he was very charming and handsome. He and your mother had a sort of… exciting romance. It did not last long. A few months. After he went back to Spain, Maira discovered she was pregnant with you.”
Leyla’s mouth had gone dry. “And did she tell him?”
Maryum hesitated. “Yes. She did. He did not take it well. He wanted nothing to do with her.”
“Because she was royalty?”
“There were some questionable things about him. The way Maira told it, he was in trouble for something like tax evasion. He did not wish to do anything that would garner attention.”
“Like father a child with a royal.” Leyla deflated, her shoulder blades hitting the back of her seat. “Right.”
“She was not heartbroken. She felt she had made a mistake with him, but the good to come from it would be you.”
Leyla felt her heart crack in two, the result of bittersweet news. Her mom had always told her she was the best gift she had ever received.
“But then why did she leave Sharrain?” she asked.
Maryum made a face like she’d tasted something sour.
“Halil was furious. He ordered Maira not to keep you. Of course, she disobeyed. None of this made it to the media, you see. Thirty years ago, it was easier to keep things secret. Not like now, with the internet and everyone taking photos on their phones.”
“And then what happened?”
“She worried about what Halil would do. Maira felt that the only way to ensure your happiness and safety was to leave Sharrain. Halil had spoken of forcing her to give you up for adoption, and that was not an option to her.”
Maryum’s eyes glistened with tears.
“She didn’t tell anyone where she was headed. I begged her to let me know, to give me an address so that we could stay in touch, but she felt it was too dangerous.”
With a cloth napkin, Maryum dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
“Things have changed in Sharrain since then, you must know. It was different for women, then, but Mabrouk is with the times and forward-thinking.”
“I can tell he’s a good man.” Leyla touched Maryum’s shoulder. “And this seems like a wonderful place to live.”
“Yes.” Maryum sniffed one last time. “There are still changes to be made, but we are getting there.”
“Thank you for telling me about this. I’ve wondered my whole life.”
Falling silent, Leyla stared into her coffee. There was nothing shameful about the story. Her mother could have told her all of that.
Perhaps Maryum was right, and it really did come down to pain. Some doors were better to remain closed.
“I always wanted a daughter.” Maryum’s gaze lingered on the table. Slowly, she lifted it to Leyla’s. “I cannot tell you how much of a blessing your arrival in my life is. As you can tell, I have no children of my own. I discovered in my twenties that I medically could not. To have you here is the best thing I could ever imagine.”
“It’s the same for me,” Leyla whispered. “My whole life, I dreamed of meeting my family. When Mom died, I figured that possibility died with her.”
“And yet, it did not. Fate intervened.”
“Yeah,” Leyla murmured. “I guess it did.”
“I wish to honor Maira’s memory by caring for you.”
“Oh, Maryum. Thank you. I’m an adult, though. I don’t really need caring for.”
The older woman cupped Leyla’s cheek. “If that is how you feel, then
I see things you do not.”
Leyla worked her jaw, unsure of how to answer. Yes, it could be that she acted stronger than she felt. But only because she’d learned that was how you got by in life.
“I know you have Kane,” Maryum said, “but now, you have me as well.”
Leyla couldn’t hold eye contact. Dropping her head, she stared at her lap.
“Leyla?”
Swallowing hard, she looked up. “Yeah. Yes. You’re right. And thank you. I’m really lucky to have you.”
A strange look had entered Maryum’s eye. “And Kane?”
“Him, too.”
God, she didn’t even sound convincing anymore. What had happened to the acting skills that had opened the door to this situation in the first place?
“Leyla, I do not want to do this, but I feel I must ask… Why are you marrying Kane?”
Leyla’s laugh was shaky. “What? Because we’re great together.”
Maryum’s lips turned down.
Leyla felt like she might throw up. Maryum and Mabrouk were her only family, and she was lying to them. If they knew the “romance” had only been concocted in order to secure an oil deal, they’d be disgusted.
She couldn’t blame them. Leyla was already disgusted with herself. In between her fake relationship and the film deal she’d signed behind Kane’s back, she didn’t even know herself anymore.
“Do you love Kane?” Maryum asked.
The question was a punch to the gut.
Yes.
But she shouldn’t.
“I…” Leyla looked into her cousin’s eyes.
How could she answer?
Chapter 20
Kane
Sneaking up to the tailor’s window, Kane cast a wary glance up and down the street. Best he could tell, no one had followed him to his suit fitting, but you couldn’t be more careful.
The attention in Sharrain was too much. Though it was kind of nice being on a semi-vacation, he longed for his ranch and the normalcy of life in Texas. Once they got back there and settled into a routine, things would be better. He and Leyla would be less awkward around each other.
Hopefully.
As he watched, the palace car that had brought him to the fitting drove up to the curb. Face down, Kane burst through the building’s doors and beelined for the car.
He’d ditched Stetsons and cowboy boots days ago, since those made him stick out like a sore thumb. Still, tall and light-haired as he was, people tended to take notice. He got recognized most times he went out.
Settling into the back seat of the car, he exhaled with relief. Suit down, cake tasting to go.
No sooner had he buckled up then his phone blared. Drawing it from his pocket, he checked the number.
His mother.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Kane. How are you?”
“I’m good,” he said automatically.
“Good, good. And Leyla?”
“She’s good.” Another robotic answer.
“I have to tell you, I was hurt to receive an invitation in the mail. You couldn’t tell your own mother directly about your wedding?”
Closing his eyes, Kane pinched the bridge of his nose. Here came the headache.
“Mom, you know it’s… different.”
He glanced at the partition separating him and the driver. It was soundproof, but he didn’t trust it completely.
“I know.” She made a displeased noise. “Still, it’s my only son’s wedding. I’d like to enjoy it some.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been caught up with everything here. Leyla and I have been busy. I’m just leaving my suit fitting, and we’re about to taste some cakes.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm?” he repeated.
“Last we talked, you said you were leaving all the wedding decisions up to her.”
He shifted in his seat. “I am. She gets the final decision. I’d like to be a part of it, though.”
“Ah.”
Kane shook his head, both annoyed and amused. Knowing his mother, she was working on formulating a heavy opinion but wouldn’t give it to him until she was good and ready.
“You’re sending the jet back for me?” she asked.
“Of course. I hope it’s okay if you’re flying with Trick.”
“Oh, you know how much I love him. Such a sweetie.”
“Yeah, he sure is.”
He checked his watch. Fifteen minutes till he was supposed to be at the cake tasting. Since he didn’t know Sharrain at all, he had no clue how close to the bakery they were.
“And which cake do you think you’ll pick?”
“I dunno. Leyla is making the decisions, remember?”
“That’s what you said.”
“It’s true.” He laughed, but the truth was that he was annoyed. Life was currently stressful enough. It didn’t help any that his own mother didn’t believe him.
“And what about after you get back to Texas?” she asked. “What’s your plan, then?”
“I’m hoping Leyla and I can get away to the ranch for a while. Make that kind of our honeymoon. Unless there’s somewhere else she wants to go, of course. We haven’t talked about that yet.”
“Hm.”
Kane sighed in exasperation. “Mom. What? Why do you keep making those noises?”
“Do you really want to hear what I think? It’s going to be honest.”
“Yes. Of course.”
“You’re not talking about Leyla as if she’s the means to the end you’ve claimed she is.”
“Uh. Okay.”
“It seems she’s much more than that.”
“Again. Okay.”
He suspected he knew where she was headed with this.
“Kane, are you in love with her?”
He blew out a heavy breath. “Listen, Mom. I really don’t have time for a big feelings talk right now. We’re about to pull up to the cake tasting.”
“That’s convenient.”
“Mom.”
“Kane. You’ve never talked about a girl the way you talk about her.”
“I don’t talk about girls.”
“Exactly.”
Kane scrubbed his palm over his face. He couldn’t win. “I really do have to go. I’ll see you in a few days. Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetie. I can’t wait to meet Leyla.”
They hung up, Kane feeling like he could be sick. Yes, he’d fallen for Leyla. Not that it mattered. He’d die before he admitted he’d finally come face-to-face with something he couldn’t have.
Abruptly, the car pulled into a parking lot. It turned out he’d been telling his mom the truth without knowing it. They really had arrived at the cake tasting.
The SUV with tinted windows parked at the front of the bakery was one of the palace’s. No doubt, a bodyguard sat in it to keep an eye on the exterior of the building, while another bodyguard or two were inside.
At Maryum’s insistence, Leyla had started being trailed by a security team. The mess at the beach had only been the start of things. With news of the wedding and Leyla being royal swirling around, Sharrain had gone crazy for her.
A security team was a good idea. He’d already looked into hiring one back in Texas. Additionally, he planned on getting the Austin penthouse and the ranch fitted with more security cameras and alarms.
The bakery had been shut down for the cake tasting, but once the guard manning the door from inside saw Kane, he opened it up. The place was decorated in cutesy colors. Pink and purple.
Definitely not the kind of spot he would ever go to by himself.
At a table in the center of the room, Leyla and Maryum sat talking quietly. At the sight of Leyla, Kane’s heart flipped.
Waking her up earlier that morning, he hadn’t been prepared for the effect she’d have on him. Without a doubt, he’d already known she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
But when she’d answered her bedroom door with tousled hair and eyes tired from sleep, he’d nearl
y fallen over. A plain T-shirt, makeup-free face, and bare legs had never been so sexy.
What was happening to him?
“Hi,” Leyla said.
Placing his hand on her upper back, he kissed her cheek. Her lips called out to him, but he didn’t let himself go there. The boundaries needed to be respected as much as possible while still keeping the facade going.
“How is everything?” Kane took the seat next to her. “How many cakes are we tasting?”
“Ten,” Maryum said.
“Ten?” He gawked at her, incredulous. “Are there that many flavors?”
Leyla giggled, but Maryum frowned.
“It is more than simple flavors. There are combinations. Vanilla and strawberry. Chocolate and strawberry...”
“Right.” Kane forced a smile. He couldn’t let his bad mood show.
He was supposed to be on cloud nine, getting prepared for the best day of his life.
“How was your fitting?” Leyla asked.
He shrugged. “Good. The suit will be ready just in time, it sounds like.”
“My dress came in.”
“Really?” That got his attention, and he turned more in his seat to face her.
“Mm-hmm.”
“You’re not gonna give me a clue about it, right?”
“Kane!” A giant smile showed all her teeth. “You’re the one who was talking about bad luck. If you can’t tell me about your suit, I definitely can’t tell you about my dress.”
“Give me a hint, huh? How about that?”
“Sure. It’s white.” She made a scene of turning away from him.
Kane chuckled. “Fair enough.”
He would have loved to keep kidding around with her, maybe see if he could get her to crack and reveal a little more about the dress, but the bakery owner came out with an assistant and a cart loaded with slices of cakes.
“Aesthetics is important,” Maryum said as the first piece, chocolate with a buttercream frosting, was passed around. “We should consider how the cake fits in with the rest of the decor.”
Since Kane couldn’t remember anything about the rest of the decor, he nodded. The cake tasted good. He liked chocolate. That’s about as far as his knowledge and opinions went.
“Let’s do that one next.” He pointed at a coconut one with sliced strawberries in its layers. Leyla had been eyeing it since the cart came out.
