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Numair inclined his head. “You’re absolutely right, Prince Aal Ghaanem. I am far more than that. With anyone but Jenan.”
It was clear Najeeb got Numair’s message loud and clear, that he was foremost among the anyones who should dread and avoid him. From Najeeb’s nonchalance, he was answering with his own unspoken “Anyone but me, buster.”
Out loud he said, “You’re saying you’re changing your ways for her? Or that you’re different with her?” Najeeb turned to her,
his eyes reproachful. “And you fell for that?”
In one of those imperceptible moves, Numair was sitting on the edge of his seat, like a crouched panther seconds from a neck-gouging attack. “I said you talk to me. I won’t say it again.”
“How about you keep your threats to anyone who might actually give a damn about them, Mr. Al Aswad?”
“If you don’t, Prince Aal Ghaanem, then you don’t know what I really am as well as you think you do.”
“And it’s clear you know nothing about me if you think you can get away with threatening me.”
Having heard enough, Jen surged to her feet. “Okay, my neck is really starting to hurt watching your delightful volleys.” She planted her fists at her waist. “May I interject with a tiny reminder that you gentlemen are on the same side?”
Numair and Najeeb turned to her in surprise and not a little affront at her suggestion.
An incredulous chuckle burst from her. “Ya Ullah, you’re both so busy posturing and being macho and trying to wrestle each other under the table that you didn’t stop to realize that.” At their darkening scowls, she sighed. “I hate to break it to you, but you are. You both want to stop Hassan’s nefarious plot and help Zafrana get out from under his thumb. And most important, you both want what’s best for me.” At their stubborn irresponsiveness, she prodded. “You do both want what’s best for me, right?”
“You know that I...”
“You know that I...”
As soon as both men realized they were chorusing their response, they flung each other furious glances.
And she burst out laughing. “See? You not only want the same thing, you’re saying the exact same thing, too.” At their continued belligerence, she sighed again. “If you both do want my best, promise me you’ll stop making me worry you’ll tear each other apart the moment I turn my back. Do I have your words?”
Najeeb again surprised her, being the one who nodded first. She’d expected it would be Numair who’d rush to give her what she wanted. It seemed his antipathy toward Najeeb was messing with his priorities. Weird.
But he at last nodded, his voice bottomless, his gaze filled with unfathomable things as he said, “For you.”
His response was still disturbing in every way possible, but it was enough for her current purposes. She knew he’d abide by whatever word he gave her.
She looked at each of them. “Since I’m the one with the most at stake here, in every way possible, how about you let me steer this conversation?” They both nodded at once this time. Her heart lifted at the progress. Wishing those two would realize they should be allies, she grinned from one man to the other. “I know both of you planned to be the one to resolve this crisis, so how about we discuss how you intended to do that? Maybe you can jointly devise an even more efficient way?”
“My plan doesn’t need any boosts in efficiency,” Najeeb said. “I’ll force my father to back down.”
Numair looked at Najeeb, his lips twisting in irony. “What a coincidence. That is exactly my plan.”
Jen’s laugh rang out again. “See? You two are so alike, you’re almost twins.” As their faces darkened again at her assertion, she placated them. “Not that either of you can see or admit it now, but one day you’ll realize I’m right. And boy, will I enjoy saying I told you so. But since we have more pressing issues at hand, and you at least admitted you share a common goal, how about you share the specifics of your plans to force Hassan to back down?”
* * *
Neither man ended up sharing the specifics of his plan. Or made any promise to work with the other, either.
But at least the hostility that had erupted between them had subsided.
At least it had on Najeeb’s side. As for Numair, it seemed as if an impenetrable shield had come down around him, stopping her from reading his thoughts or sensing his feelings, leaving her wondering what their truths were. But she couldn’t ask. Not because Najeeb was around, but because she’d never probe into private stuff Numair didn’t volunteer.
Najeeb, on the other hand, was a totally different matter. She’d insisted he stay and share their dinner, and he’d accepted her invitation, gradually relaxing in their company. Shedding his confrontational attitude, he’d asked Numair informed, in-depth questions about his work, seeming genuinely interested, then impressed. He had even ended up asking if Numair could use his unique experience and influence to collaborate with him in his humanitarian efforts. Numair had seemed reluctant to give any answer. She felt it was not because he didn’t want to help, but because it would involve him with Najeeb. But Najeeb was a master negotiator and had somehow managed to extract a promise from him.
By the time she’d seen Najeeb out alone, as Numair had taken an important and long call, Najeeb had given her his verdict on Numair.
He was big enough to admit he’d been wrong. Both his opinion of Numair and their relationship had changed radically. He’d said he knew men, could sense any sign of sleaze, exploitation or mistreatment a mile away. And he’d seen and sensed only respect and consideration in Numair’s treatment of her. He’d also felt how passionate Numair was about her, and how protective.
Before he’d crossed to the massive clearance where the helicopter had been waiting to take him back to the airport, Najeeb had laughingly said it looked like the Black Panther of Black Castle had finally found the one to tame him. He’d always heard that the most dangerous predators, once tamed, made the best lap cats.
