be grateful you didn’t succeed.’
‘Grateful?’ Avery let her hand fall from his shoulder. ‘But you wanted this marriage! I know you wanted this marriage.’
He turned his head and the look in his eyes made her heart stutter in her chest. His mouth twisted into a cynical smile as he observed her reaction. ‘You consider yourself an expert on what I want, habibti?’
The look in his eyes confused her. Were they still talking about Kalila? ‘You have a wedding planned. We’ve just chased across a desert to find your bride. It seems reasonable to assume this is what you wanted and yet now that she’s broken it off you’re not putting up a fight and you don’t seem remotely heartbroken.’
There was a strange light in his eyes. ‘Heartbroken?’
Exasperated and confused by his lack of emotion, Avery held back her temper. ‘OK, so obviously you’re not heartbroken because you don’t have a heart. Silly me.’
‘You think I don’t have a heart?’ Under the sweep of thick dark lashes, something dangerous lurked in his eyes and Avery felt as if she’d just jumped into the ocean and found herself way out of her depth.
How had she ever become trapped in this conversation? They were supposed to be talking about Kalila.
‘All I know is that you don’t seem to be fighting to keep her. Is it pride?’ And she knew all about that, didn’t she? ‘Because honestly I think you should try and get over that. She’s perfect for you in so many ways. Go back in there now, give that muscle-bound wimp his marching orders—and by the way, she needs a new bodyguard because that one definitely isn’t fit for purpose—and talk some sense into her.’
Her words were greeted by a prolonged silence.
Just when it was becoming awkward, he breathed deeply. ‘Are you really that desperate to see me married to someone else?’
‘Yes—’ Her heart was bumping and she trod through the conversation like someone walking on quicksand. ‘Yes, I am.’
There was a hard, humourless slant to his smile. ‘Would that make it easier?’
It would have been a waste of time to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about. Their eyes locked for a brief moment but it was long enough for her to know that she was in trouble. ‘Let’s not do this, Mal.’
But of course he didn’t listen. His hand slid beneath her chin and he forced her to look at him. ‘We’re doing this.’ This time his tone was harsh. ‘We’ve wasted enough time and taken enough wrong turnings. Just because we made a mistake once doesn’t mean we have to do it again.’
‘For crying out loud—’ the words were shaky ‘—five minutes ago you were engaged to marry another woman.’
‘That wasn’t my choice. This is.’
That didn’t make sense to her. Despite duty and responsibility, he was a man who chose his own path.
‘What the hell are you saying? Mal—’
‘Tell me why you were so determined that I marry Kalila. Tell me, Avery. Spell it out.’
‘Because you’re the marrying type and because she’s perfect for you and because—’ she choked on the confession ‘—and because I thought it would make it easier if you were married.’
Emotion flared in his eyes. ‘And did it?’
‘No.’ The words came out as a whisper. ‘No. It didn’t. Nothing does. But that doesn’t stop me hoping and trying.’
‘You don’t have to do either.’
Yes, she did. ‘Nothing has changed, Mal—’
That clearly wasn’t the answer he wanted and he looked away for a moment, jaw tense. ‘No? If that’s true then it’s just because you are the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met. But I can be stubborn too.’ Without giving her a chance to respond, he closed his hand over hers and pulled his phone out of his pocket. After a brief one-way conversation during which he delivered what sounded like a volley of instructions in his own language, he hung up. ‘Is there anything in your bag that you need? Because if there is, tell me now.’
‘Need for what? Who were you phoning?’
‘Rafiq. You remember my Chief Adviser?’
‘Of course. I love him. I would have offered him a job on my team if I’d thought there was any chance that he’d leave you. So what completely unreasonable request have you placed in the poor man’s lap this time?’ As the words left her mouth she heard the sound of a helicopter approach and looked up, her brows lifting as she saw the Sultan’s insignia. ‘I see you and discretion have parted company.’
‘There is no longer a need for discretion. There is, however, a need to get the next part of the journey over as fast as possible.’
‘You’re leaving in style, Mal, I have to hand you that.’
‘We’re leaving in style.’ His grip on her hand tightened. ‘You’re coming with me.’
It was a command, not a question.
Avery’s heart stumbled but whether that was because of his unexpected words or the feel of his fingers locked with hers, she wasn’t sure. ‘What about Kalila?’
‘Can we stop talking about Kalila?’ His tone was raw. ‘She has my protection and I will do my best for her, but right now I don’t want to waste any more time thinking about it.’
‘I really ought to get back to London. I have the Senator’s party to run and I can’t just take time off.’
‘Of course you can. You’re the boss. You can do whatever you like. Call Jenny and put her in charge for a few days.’
‘I couldn’t possibly do that.’ Her mouth was dry and her heart was pounding. ‘It’s out of the question.’
‘Really? The advice you give others is to face your fears—’ ebony eyes glittered dark with mockery ‘—and yet I don’t see you facing yours.’
‘There’s nothing to face. I’m not afraid.’
‘Yes, you are. You’re terrified. So terrified that your hands are shaking.’
‘You’re wrong.’ She stuffed her hands in her pockets. ‘So if you’re such an expert you’d better tell me what it is I’m supposedly afraid of.’
‘Me,’ he said softly. ‘You’re afraid to be alone with me.’
MAL was braced for her to throw a million arguments why she couldn’t do this but she simply lifted her chin in the air and walked briskly by his side to the helicopter and he allowed himself a smile because although she would have hated to admit it, she was totally predictable.
