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“Right.” Melinda shook her head slowly from side to side. “What could possibly go wrong with this plan?”
“Come on, Mel. You know what I’m like. I just want to have fun.”
“Uh huh,” she was far from convinced though. “Just look after yourself. You might have most of the world sold on this whole tough-party-girl image thing, but I know you better.” Her words held a warning. “This guy can never be more than a fling. Do not do something stupid like fall in love with him, or you are going to get hurt. Badly.”
Cassie laughed. “As if. How dumb do you think I am?”
7
Days blended together with the sweetness of night as their bridge. Cassie was a diligent employee and she worked as hard as ever at her job. But her mind was no longer obsessed with work. She had a new focus. A new passion. And just the mental image of Layth Sati was enough to send her into sensory overdrive.
For all that she went through the motions of her work, she was simply e
xisting until that sweet moment when she could fall into Layth’s arms.
But she was only borrowing him; keeping him warm for when he took a wife.
A wife.
His marriage had been a subject they’d avoided, by unspoken mutual consent. And yet she wondered endlessly. When would he decide? Had he met with the women? Had he made a decision?
Her growing dependence terrified her, and so she did everything she could to be strong against it. Several nights after the agreement they’d come to in the embassy, she found herself studying Layth from beneath shuttered eyes.
“How was your day?” She murmured, her heart thudding in her breast.
“Fine.” He looked up at her, his lopsided smile showing that he was completely at ease.
She lifted her brows, silently prompting him to continue.
“You seem to have a question in mind. Why do you not ask it?”
Her eyes were wary but she nodded slowly. “Did you meet anyone interesting today?”
He set his newspaper aside and crossed one leg over the other. “If you are asking about my possible brides, then yes. I met one today.”
Her stomach felt like it had a huge knife driving through it. She had known this moment would come. After all, it was the purpose of his time in London. She plastered an inquisitive smile on her face. It felt all kinds of wrong, but she was pretty sure he wouldn’t know that.
“And?”
He scanned her face thoughtfully. “Do you really want to talk about this?”
“Sure. Why not? We’ve already decided I’m not wife material, so why would it be weird to talk about? It’s not like I’m vying for the same role as these ladies.”
Her apparent nonchalance left him with a sour taste in his mouth. “Fine. She was … acceptable.”
“High praise,” Cassie said with a lift of her eyes.
“I’m reserving judgement.”
“A prudent move. I always think people should meet all their possible future spouses before committing to one.” To her own ears, her laugh sounded strained. “So what’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing,” he shrugged. “She was fine. Beautiful, cultured, intelligent. A perfect princess.”
Now the knife was digging in and out, sending her body into a spasm of pain. “Sounds good.”
“Yes, perhaps.” His eyes roamed her face. “I do not want to think about other women when I have you here.”
“I guess I should be flattered by that.”
