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His gaze narrowed. “Loosen up?”
“Yeah. That’s the only thing I noticed, when I was outside on the deck. Your tone sounded quite stiff and formal. Then when I came in here and saw you pacing, your body language said the same. People want to follow a confident leader. Relaxing will make your image match your words.”
“Hmm.” He exhaled slowly and tapped his toes on the hardwood floor. “Relax how?”
“Take some deep breaths. Roll your shoulders.” She grinned as he did both. “Good. When I was growing up and watching my mom give her speeches she had a trick where she’d imagine everyone in their underwear. Maybe try that.”
Rehaj chuckled. “Mahbubi, if I picture you in nothing but lace, public speaking will be the last thing I’ll get done.”
“Oh, well…” She looked away, reveling in his compliment. “Then maybe just the breathing for now. Try it again.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind listening?” He gave her a dubious stare. “I’m sure it’s not interesting at all for anyone unfamiliar with Djevian politics.”
“Go for it. I just got my Zen on at meditation.” She settled more comfortably in her chair. “I’m open and ready for communication.”
“Right.” Rehaj took another deep breath and the thought that he might be nervous and want to impress her, endeared him to her even more. “Here goes.”
Her tricks helped. This time his words flowed more smoothly, with more passion and force behind them. She listened as he spoke of making his country an economic powerhouse, of consolidating their sprawling bureaucracy into a more centralized, efficient hub, and why he would be the logical choice to lead such an endeavor. By the end, she was ready to vote for whatever he was proposing.
He finished in front of her, gazing down at her with a heart-stopping mix of uncertainty and determination that left her breathless. If anyone doubted this man loved his homeland and wanted to make it the best place he could, all they needed to see was him, now—fierce and brave and driven to succeed for what he believed in.
Ani found him completely intoxicating.
Her applause rang through the quiet villa and she pushed to her feet. “That was…wow!”
For once, Rehaj seemed shy. He stared down at his feet and shuffled the papers in his hands. “Really? You found it convincing?”
“More than convincing. It was riveting. Electrifying.”
Rehaj snorted. “Don’t go overboard. I just need to be good enough to show my brother Feraz that it is in his best interest to let me lead his advisors. I want to show him that I’m capable and ready to do the job.”
“And you will.” Unable to stop herself, Ani cupped his cheeks and raised on tiptoe to kiss him gently. She rested her forehead against his for a moment before leaning back slightly. “I found it totally amazing. You’re amazing, baby.” She stroked the hair from his forehead and winked. “So much so that you can ‘consolidate your power’ with me anytime you want.”
“Is that so?” At her suggestive words, Rehaj’s full lips curved into a wicked smile. He tossed his papers over his shoulder then swept her up into his arms to carry her into the bedroom. “Then I’ll take you up on that offer and seize my opportunity immediately.”
* * *
The following afternoon, Rehaj was relaxing in a hammock strung between two palm trees on the stretch of beach in front of his villa while Ani was off doing another of her yoga meditation classes. For the first time in recent memory, he felt relaxed and rejuvenated. A big part of that had to do with the woman who’d occupied his bed for the past two weeks.
Anatasia Brightbridge had turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, in more ways than one. She was smart, funny, breathtakingly beautiful, and a shockingly good coach for his public speaking. Rehaj chuckled, remembering their last practice session the day before. She’d laid into him again for not being himself on stage and this time, she’d even managed to talk the front desk into lending her one of their video cameras again to tape him.
Seeing the footage of himself finally convinced him she was right. On tape he’d come across as cold and stilted, the exact opposite of what he wanted to convey. He’d hoped to get across his passion for his homeland and his sincere desire to help steer Djeva onto a more successful course for the future. Rehaj supposed his years of shunning the media probably had something to do with his unfavorable presentation. He’d become too set in his ways, too detached from how others might perceive him.
Thankfully, Ani had no qualms about telling him about it.
“Stop acting like a robot!” she’d yelled as he’d paced back and forth in the living room of his villa, papers in hand even though he’d long since memorized every word. They were a prop now, giving him something to do with his hands while he talked. Ani had set aside her camera and stalked over to yank his speech away from him before taking it back to the sofa with her and sitting on it.
“Start again,” she’d said, turning on the camera again.
“You think I cannot get those papers back from you?” He’d given her a narrowed stare. “I can and will hoist you over my shoulder and retrieve them by any means necessary.”
“You don’t scare me, baby.” She’d shrugged and stuck her tongue out at him. “Besides, we’ve got plenty of time for that later. Now get on with this speech so we can eat.”
Rehaj grinned and stretched in his hammock now, remembering just how he’d gotten those papers back from her afterward. It had involved a bubble bath and champagne and the biggest strawberries he’d ever seen, dipped in chocolate.
Delicious.
Things with Ani felt so comfortable, so easy. So wonderful. He wasn’t sure how he’d go back to his lonely existence after this retreat was over. He sighed. Much as he hated to admit it, his sisters had been right. This trip was exactly what he’d needed to reawaken the man he truly was inside. The man Ani brought out in him—warm, caring, occasionally witty. He liked that version of himself. He liked who he was when he was with her.
