of the diner sign above them brought out the bright evergreen hue of her eyes. Well, the one that wasn’t nearly swollen shut anyway. The poor woman probably couldn’t wait to get upstairs and lie down.
Unfortunately, she would have to wait a bit longer. Several more moments passed. Greta pressed the button at least half a dozen more times. Ray wasn’t any more reassured as they continued to wait.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the sound of shuffling feet could be heard approaching as a shadow moved closer to the opposite side of the door. When it finally opened, they were greeted by a groggy, disheveled woman who was even older than Greta. She didn’t even look fully awake yet.
It was settled. There was no way he could leave an injured woman with the likes of these two ladies. His conscience wouldn’t allow it. Especially not when he was partly responsible for said injury to begin with.
“I’m glad that’s over with.” Saleh started the SUV as soon as Ray opened the passenger door and leaned into the vehicle. “Let’s finally get to our hotel, then. I could use a long hot shower and a tall glass of something strong and aromatic.” He reached for the gearshift before giving him a quizzical look. “Why aren’t you getting in the car?”
“I’ve decided to stay here.”
Saleh’s eyes went wide with shock. “What?”
“I can’t leave the young lady, Saleh. You should see the older sister who’s supposed to watch Mel with Greta.”
“You mean Greta’s the younger one?”
“Believe it or not.”
“Still. It’s no longer our concern. We’ve done all we can. She’ll be fine.” He motioned with a tilt of his head for Rayhan to get in the car.
“I’m going to stay here and make sure of it. You go on ahead and check us into the hotel.”
“You can’t be serious. Are you forgetting who you are?”
Ray bit down on his impatience. Saleh was a trusted friend. But right now, he was the one close to forgetting who he was and whom he was addressing.
“Not in the least. I happen to be part of the reason that young lady is up there, sporting all sorts of cuts and bruises, as well as a potential head injury, which needs to be monitored. By someone who can actually keep an eye on her with some degree of competence.”
“Your Highness, I understand all that. But staying here is not wise.”
“Don’t call me that, Saleh. You know better.”
“I’m just trying to remind you of your position. Perhaps I should also remind you that this isn’t an announced state visit. If these ladies were to find out who you are, it could leak to the rest of the world before morning. The resulting frenzy of press could easily result in an embarrassing media nightmare for the monarchy. Not to mention Verdovia as a whole.”
“They won’t find out.”
Saleh huffed in exasperation. “How can you be sure?”
Ray ignored the question as he didn’t really have any kind of adequate answer. “I’ve made up my mind,” he said with finality.
“There’s more to it. Isn’t there, Rayhan?”
Ray knew exactly what his friend meant. The two had known each other their whole lives, since they were toddlers kicking around a sponge soccer ball in the royal courtyard. He wouldn’t bother to deny what his friend had clearly observed.
“I saw the way you were looking at her,” Saleh threw out as if issuing a challenge. “With much more than sympathy in your eyes. Admit it. There’s more to it.”
Ray only sighed. “Perhaps there is, my friend.” He softly shut the car door.
Ray was asleep on Frannie and Greta’s couch. Mel popped two anti-inflammatory pills into her mouth and then took a swig of water to swallow them down. Her borrowed nightgown felt snug against her hips. It belonged to Greta, who could accurately be described as having the figure of a very thin teenage boy. A description that didn’t fit Mel in any way.
The feel of her nightwear wouldn’t be the only thing bothering her tonight, Mel figured. The man lying in the other room only a few feet away would no doubt disrupt her sleep. Had she ever felt so aware of a man before? She honestly couldn’t say, despite having been married. He had such a magnetism, she’d be hard-pressed to put its impact on her into words. Everything about him screamed class and breeding. From the impeccable and, no doubt, expensive tailored clothing to the SUV he and his friend were driving around in, Ray was clearly not lacking in resources. He was well-mannered and well-spoken. And judging by what he’d done earlier tonight, he was quite kindhearted.
Ray had feigned being too tired to travel with his friend to their hotel across town and had asked the Perlman sisters if he could crash on their couch instead. Mel wasn’t buying it in the least. First of all, he didn’t seem the type of man to lack stamina in any way. No, his true intention was painfully obvious. He’d taken one look at Frannie, studied Greta again and then perused Mel’s battered face and decided he couldn’t leave her in the care of the elderly sisters. None of them questioned it. Sure, Ray was barely more than a stranger, but he’d had ample opportunity if his motives were at all nefarious.
Besides, he hardly appeared to be a kidnapper. And he definitely wasn’t likely to be a thief looking to take off with the Perlman sisters’ ancient and cracked bone china.
No, he was just a gentleman who’d not only made sure to take care of her after she’d got hurt, he’d insisted on hanging around to keep an eye on her.
She crawled into the twin bed the Perlman sisters kept set up in their spare room and eyed the functional sleigh-bell ornament taken off the diner Christmas tree that Greta had handed her before going to bed. She was supposed to ring it to arouse their attention if she felt at all ill during the night. As if either sister had any chance of hearing it. Frannie hadn’t even heard the much louder door buzzer earlier this evening. No wonder Ray had insisted on staying.
She felt oddly touched by his thoughtfulness. Not every man would have been so concerned.
She tried to imagine Eric going out of his way in such a fashion under similar circumstances. Simply to help a stranger. She couldn’t picture it. No, Ray didn’t seem at all like her ex. In fact, he was unlike any other man she’d ever met. And his looks! The man was heart-stoppingly handsome. She still didn’t know where he was from, but based on his dark coloring and regal features, she would guess somewhere in the Mediterranean. Southern Italy perhaps. Maybe Greece. Or even somewhere in the Middle East.
Mel sighed again and snuggled deeper into her pillow. What did any of her speculation matter in the overall scheme of things? Men like Ray weren’t the type a divorced waitress could count among her acquaintances. He would be nothing more than a flash of brightness that passed through her life for a brief moment in time. By this time next week, no doubt, he wouldn’t give the likes of Melinda Osmon more than a lingering thought.
“So did she even find a dress?”
“I guess so. She says she lost the shopping bag ’cause of the accident, though.”
“So no dress. I guess she definitely isn’t going
