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The thought of Ani leaving him damn near gutted Rehaj, but she had her own life, her own responsibilities, and they didn’t include him. What they’d shared was passionate and fiery and all the more precious because it was fleeting. She’d been through enough in her life already without him adding his burden of public responsibility to it. She’d given him no sign that she wanted to stay and make things more permanent with him, and he wouldn’t ask that of her. Not without some indication that’s what her heart desired.
His own heart squeezed with guilt and sadness at the thought of saying goodbye. But that was his own fault. Feraz was right. He should have been more careful. He’d been wary that night she’d started filming, and then he’d gotten intoxicated by the dessert and her company and hadn’t thought twice about that stupid camera again. Served him right for being such an idiot.
“I believe that you need to address these issues publicly, my brother. Put an end to them once and for all. If these things are nothing but speculation on the media’s part regarding your relationship with Miss Brightbridge, then you need to say so. You have a press conference already scheduled on Friday, yes? Do it then and be done with it.”
“Fine.” Rehaj said, pushing to his feet. All he could think about right now was getting back to Ani. She’d been dining with his sisters this morning and should be back in her rooms by now. He wanted to talk to her about the footage, about where she saw them going forward and perhaps just hold her again. It felt so good with her in his arms.
He left Feraz fiddling with his phone once more and headed back to Ani’s suite across from his. Steps lighter than they’d been all day, he knocked on her door. No answer. Tried again, but still no luck.
At last he peeked inside to find a note on the nightstand in Ani’s loopy handwriting.
Gone shopping with your sisters. See you later.
Already she was leaving him behind. He sank down on the edge of her bed, shoulders slumping. He shouldn’t care. They weren’t in a relationship, weren’t committed to each other. And it was only shopping with his family. He should be happy.
So, why then did he feel so bereft?
10
By Friday afternoon, Ani looked like a different person on the outside, but she was no closer to making a decision about Rehaj on the inside. With her departure in just a few hours looming large, her sense of urgency about their relationship—or lack thereof—reached an all-time high. Between her staying busy with his sisters shopping or going to the salon, or out to lunch and dinner, and Rehaj spending most of his time working, they’d lost a few of those precious evening hours. She was feeling small and insecure and way more vulnerable than she liked. It was silly, she knew. She was strong, confident, had her own life and goals to get back to, but still. She missed Rehaj and wanted to get back to their cozy nights in bed together, just the two of them, for as long as he’d have her.
She feared letting her armor slip, even though her heart ached for him. He’d liked her because she’d been a confident woman, poised and smart. She didn’t want his last memories of her before she headed home to be of a lonely, miserable woman, crying and creatin
g a scene because she didn’t want to leave him behind.
Cala had mentioned to her that more footage from her time with Rehaj on the island had been leaked to the media and Ani could only imagine what that must feel like for a private guy like Rehaj. She’d long ago learned that being a public figure meant a constant risk of exposure. She'd hoped to share more of that wisdom with Rehaj during their time together, but now it wasn’t to be. Her chest squeezed anew at the thought of leaving.
Enough.
She squeezed her eyes shut and straightened her new deep purple silk dress she’d bought at one of the local shops. Not totally as restrictive as what some of the more traditional Muslim women wore in the stricter countries, but a far cry from the shorts and halter mini-dresses she’d packed to wear at the resort. The dress covered her from neck to ankles, with three-quarter length sleeves and a scoop neckline. Somehow, though, with the luxurious feel of the fabric against her skin and the gorgeous color, she felt just as beautiful in this simple garment as she ever had in all her designer duds. She’d even bought a pair of hand-embroidered satin flats in a matching hue to wear with the dress to the press conference later.
Rehaj was so busy, she didn’t expect to see him beforehand, but she hoped he’d like her new look. Cala’s hair dresser at the salon had given Ani a trim and styled her hair back into a sleek chignon at the nape of her neck and it highlighted her slender throat. In her earlobes gleamed a set of diamond studs Gwen had given her last year for her birthday.
Ani sat in a chair in her room and picked up her laptop. She’d not checked her messages yet and was expecting an email from Gwen about picking her up at the airport early the next morning when Ani’s flight arrived back in Dallas.
She glanced at the opulent palace surrounding her and swallowed around the lump forming in her throat. Hard to believe just a month ago she’d been heartbroken, stuck in the past with a bad breakup she’d wanted to forget. She’d balked at Gwen buying her that trip to Recover Love Rehab, but damn if it hadn’t worked out after all. She’d met someone new, fallen in love. And even if Rehaj would never love her back, it had still all been worth it. She would never forget him. She would never stop loving him. Every breath she took in the palace seemed to carry his scent, and she imagined she saw his gorgeous, smiling face around every corner.
Browser open, Ani brought up her inbox and sorted through assorted junk mail until she found Gwen’s response. Instead of the quick note that she’d be there to pick Ani up on time, there was a longer message, questioning whether leaving Djeva and Rehaj behind was really the right thing.
Flummoxed, Ani shut down her laptop and picked up her phone instead, hitting the button for her sister’s number on the speed dial.
Gwen picked up on the second ring. “I wondered how long it would take you to call.”
“Seriously? After that message?” Ani snorted. “You think I should stay? You haven’t even met this guy.”
“No. But I’ve seen the footage. It’s all over the Internet.” Gwen sighed. “Ani, I know how hard that whole mess with Marcus was on you and I just want you to be happy again. I want you to find someone again. Someone to love. That’s why I sent you on that trip to begin with. I don’t know this Rehaj Nazrani, that’s true. But it’s plain as day how happy you are with him, in that footage. You’re glowing, Sis. I haven’t seen you like that since before…” she sighed. “Well, for a long time. All I can say is, if this guy makes you feel that way, then that’s something worth exploring.”
Ani closed her eyes and let her head fall back. “He’s really wonderful. I think you’d like him a lot. Mom and Dad too, if they ever get a chance to meet him.”
“Do you love him?” Gwen asked, never one to beat around the bush.
“No.” Yes. “Maybe.”
“Then stay there, with him, until you both figure this out.”
“But he hasn’t asked me.” Ani shook her head. “I’ve barely even seen him this week. He’s got this big press conference coming up right before I head to the airport and I don’t want to end up in another situation where I’m with a guy who’s not as into the relationship as I am. Been there, done that. Not going back.”
“Marcus was an ass,” Gwen said. “And selfish, and manipulative. He never deserved you. You told me once you felt less than when you were with him. Is that how you feel when you’re around Rehaj?”
