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“Oh, dear.” She cuddled her head beneath his chin. “I’m sorry. That must’ve been so hard for you.”
He sighed. Best to get this over with now before letting her go would be even harder. “Things will be harder for you too, if you stay with me.”
“What?” Ani sat up then and he missed the heat of her immediately. “What are you talking about?”
Reluctantly, he pulled out his phone and brought up the tabloid websites his sisters had shown him at dinner. Garish headlines filled the screen, accusing them of everything from an illicit affair to kidnapping and bondage. He handed her the device then slid his legs off the bed so that he was sitting on the edge. He couldn’t bear to see her face when she reached the interview her sister had done earlier that day.
“What the hell?” Ani said, her voice tinged with anger and betrayal. “How did they get these pictures of us on your yacht?”
“I’m guessing the staff took them.” Rehaj shrugged, having been through it all before. Usually, once the media got ahold of his relationships like this he ended them, to avoid another incident. But this time he wasn’t ready to let Ani walk away. Not yet. “There’s more. Remember that night that you filmed us at dinner?”
“Yes.” She gasped. “Oh, God. I’d forgotten all about that stupid video camera. Don’t tell me they sold that to the tabloid too?”
“Afraid so.” He exhaled slowly and pushed to his feet to pace the room. “Apparently a reporter from one of the Middle Eastern tabloids also contacted your sister back in Texas today, asking her what she knew about us. She’d been shocked to say the least and said the family hadn’t heard anything from you about it. The press now knows about your family and their charity work though. I’m sorry. I tried to keep it all secret for you as best I could, but it seems I’ve failed. Again.”
She scoffed. “I don’t care about that. What I do care about is the fact they’ve got us practically engaged. Did you see this article calling me Mrs. Rehaj? I mean I like you and all, but…”
Her words were like a dagger to his heart. He’d heard that before too. Women signed on to be his girlfriend, for a few good times and some laughs. Then the glare of the media spotlight kicked in and his family pressures increased and they couldn’t run for the hills fast enough. Damn, he was such an idiot. Why hadn’t he been upfront with everyone from the start? He should’ve just announced who Ani was to his family the moment they stepped from the limo and been done with it. That way his gossiping sisters could’ve handled damage control f
or him while he’d been in that meeting, instead of speculating right along with all the nosy reporters they’d talked to during the cabinet vote. Hell, he’d lay good money the marriage rumors had started directly with them. Seemed his four sisters couldn’t wait to see him walking down the aisle.
Rehaj’s shoulder slumped and he took a seat on a chair in the sitting area, facing Ani who was still on the bed. “I like you too, Anastasia. Very much. But I completely understand that this is not what you signed on for. You came here to Djeva with me for a few more weeks of rest and relaxation, perhaps to spend a few nights together, do some sightseeing. I know that you have a robust life of your own back in Texas. You spoke of your family’s charity and your extensive travel around the country as your mother’s assistant. Some of those articles on the Internet also spoke of friendships you have with various celebrities and their children through your work. In many ways, you are a celebrity in your own right. I have no right to ask you to stay here with me, in hiding until all this blows over. It might be best for you to contact your family in the States and make arrangements to return home at your earliest convenience.”
Ani blinked at him a moment then got up and walked over to where he sat, kneeling down before him and taking his hands in hers. “Do you want me to go?”
Rehaj shook his head, not trusting his voice. Honestly, he never wanted her to leave, but now was hardly the time to tell her that. Bad enough some of the tabloid sites were calling him an old-fashioned curmudgeon who’d more likely kidnap a woman and hold her against her will than date her.
“Good. Because I’m not going anywhere,” she said, the conviction in her tone lifting his spirits a bit. “Not for a while anyway. Listen, I don’t know why you brought me here, but I can tell you why I came. I came to Djeva to spend more time with you, in the real world. To see what your life was really like and to perhaps see if I might have a place in it beyond our fling at the retreat. I like you Rehaj. More than like you, truth be told. But after what happened with Marcus, I don’t want to get trapped in a bad relationship again. I’m skittish. I’m worried that you’ll be too busy for me, but I’m willing to take that risk if you are. Most of all though, I’m starving. I expected you to come back and have dinner with me after the meeting, but then the servant told me you went with your family, which is fine. But my stomach’s empty and I’m told I can be a bit…bitchy when I’m hungry. So I suggest we raid this palace kitchen of yours so we can all stay happy, eh?”
Laughter bubbled up inside Rehaj before he could stop it. Ani really was incredible. Here she was, in a foreign country, splashed all over the media and in a spot where most women would turn tail and run, and what did she ask of him? Dinner. He grinned at her then pulled her in for a quick kiss. “Have I told you lately how very glad I am that you’re here with me now?”
Ani made a show of thinking about it. “Can’t say that you have, no.”
“Then let me say it now.” He kissed her again, deeply this time, then pulled back to cup her cheeks. “Now, let’s see about satisfying this craving for food of yours, so that we can come back here and satisfy our other cravings later.”
9
Over the next several days, Ani felt pretty good about most of the things happening between her and Rehaj. And yes, he was more closed-off then he had been with her at the island, at least emotionally, but then that was understandable, right? After all, he was a prince and a government official. He had an image to maintain. And she was still helping him with his speeches. They spent at least two hours every night going over them. The rest of the time in the evenings, though, was just for them. Talking, laughing, making love or just holding each other. She just enjoyed spending time with him. They’d fallen into a somewhat predictable pattern since coming to the palace—not boring at all, just comfortable.
Of course, the leaked footage of their departure caused some tension. And the new rumors swirling that Rehaj had found himself a new girlfriend put a bit of a strain on things too. The media were speculating on how long it would be before the Nazrani royal family announced an engagement of their second son to an American and rather than just brushing them off as she did, Rehaj seemed increasingly unnerved.
A strange bubble of hope fluttered inside Ani before she quashed it. Could Rehaj be thinking about a long-term future with her? It seemed remote at best. Even with all the time they’d spent together the last few weeks, there was still so much they didn’t know about each other. Important things like birthdays and religious preferences and kids. Did he want them? How many? Was she prepared to give up her life in the States to join him here in Djeva? Because no way could he leave his homeland and his family obligations behind for her. It was a lot to think about and a lot to take in.
Then there was the problem of her appearance. Never exactly confident about her looks, Ani had started to realize just how out of place she really was here in Djeva’s royal palace. And while Rehaj and his brothers were working to Westernize the country, there were still areas where progress was lagging behind for the locals—and dress was one of them. Ani had stuck mostly to her private rooms since her arrival, mainly because she didn’t really know anyone other that Rehaj and he’d been too busy to really show her around or introduce her to anyone else. But she’d gotten word through the servant who’d been taking care of her suite that today she was to dine with Rehaj and his sisters for breakfast.
The thought of meeting them both thrilled and terrified her.
She and Gwen, her younger sister, had a great relationship—open, trusting, respectful. Well, except for the whole sending Ani to the island of no technology. But Ani knew Gwen had only had her best interests at heart and, in the end, it had turned out great because she’d met Rehaj.
But would Rehaj’s sisters be as wonderful as Gwen?
Ani wasn’t so sure. She’d had a friend once in school who’d married into some obscure European royal family and they’d promptly set about making her change pretty much everything about herself to fit in with their strict rules and lifestyle. Ani might not be the most confident person in the world, but she kind of liked who she was and didn’t want to change that drastically.
An hour later, she’d dressed in her most demure white pantsuit and applied her armor of makeup and hair products and was ready to face whatever battle might greet her in the dining room. If only Rehaj were there with her, she’d feel more secure. But he’d sent word that he wouldn’t be able to join her today. More meetings with his brothers and the cabinet advisors. More meetings she wasn’t invited to observe, even though she’d been helping him with his speeches.
Sighing, Ani followed the servant through the maze of hallways and back into the grand foyer she remembered from the first day she’d arrived here at the palace. Still impressive. Her heels clacked on the marble floor as they walked across the foyer and down the hall opposite them. Soon, the smells of freshly baked bread and fried foods had her stomach rumbling. Ani wouldn’t necessarily call herself a morning person, but man she was hungry.
The servant left her at the open entrance to a stately-looking dining room with a long table stretching through the center. From inside the sounds of animated female chatter echoed and Ani swallowed hard. She could do this. Would do this. Because these people were important to Rehaj and Rehaj was the man she cared for. A lot. More than a lot.
