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Did it even matter? Twelve years of silence, then appearing when she needs something. Just like Mother—
‘So, you brought a guest?’ The head of the nomadic Zinabir clan and one of his regional advisors enquired, mercifully drawing Tahir from the bitter thought of his mother.
Without removing his gaze from Lauren, he answered, ignoring the curiosity in the older man’s words. ‘It was an unavoidable situation.’
‘And is thissituationto remain in the aircraft for the duration of your stay or do you wish her relocated?’ Faint amusement now laced the old man’s words. ‘To your quarters, perhaps?’
The knot in Tahir’s gut hardened.
Once upon a time, he would’ve given those very instructions, would’ve taken pleasure in introducing this woman to this part of his kingdom. He would’ve relished seeing her interact with his people.
Then when they were sated with food and wine and healthy debate, he would’ve taken pleasure in seeing her spread out on the priceless Jukrati rug that decorated the foot of his wide divan bed, her eyes wide and her body open and willing as they pleasured one another.
Perhaps thereafter, he would’ve sought out her thoughts on his way of life and his rule—the ways favoured by his grandfather that blended a modern parliamentary system with regional semi-autonomy that his own father hadn’t favoured. Ironically, it was spending time in the desert that had prompted Tahir into returning to that system when he ascended the throne. A way he’d discovered was welcomed and actually worked.
So, perhaps Lauren was to be credited—
No.He halted that train of thought in its tracks, dragged his gaze from her to address his advisor. ‘Have her shown to the guest tent and meet me in the council tent.’
‘As you wish, My Sheikh.’
Striding away, he headed for one of the larger tents to the north of the oasis.
Lauren Winchester would be dealt with soon enough.
Lauren breathed a sigh of relief an hour later once the cheery women left and she was alone in the tent.
Those wild, curiously excitable minutes earlier when she’d clashed gazes with Tahir still hadn’t subsided. On the contrary, with each passing second, she felt as if the invisible sword of Damocles were swinging closer, and not even her usual pragmatism had grounded her.
That gaze had spelled out that he had a plan for her. One that most likely had nothing to do with her own reasons for being here...
From the avid stares and whispered, lyrical Arabic she’d been subjected to, it was clear Tahir hadn’t divulged why she was here.
The last thing her parents wanted was for Matt’s situation to be made public. Not that it could be kept a secret for ever, she thought bleakly.
She went to the low coffee table where her bag sat. With more hope than expectation, she pulled out her phone and touched the screen.
As expected, the bars were flat, phone signal non-existent. She couldn’t get in touch with her parents yet, but she could compose her thoughts and jot down everything that’d happened so far, starting with her arrival in Jukrat. That way the moment she got the service returned, she could set the information wheel in motion.
And while she was at it, she could draft a few speeches for when Matt’s predicament became public knowledge.
As communications adviser and special aide to her father, it was what she was good at, after all.
Crossing one of the four exquisitely woven floor rugs, she perched on the edge of the low divan. She was in the middle of composing her thoughts when she sensed his keen scrutiny.
Her head snapped up.
He stood tall and proud; laser-beam eyes fixed squarely on her.
Lauren scrambled upright, more disturbed by being the subject of his regard while sprawled all over the divan than by apprehension of his presence. Especially when they were alone. And the air hummed with emotional undercurrents she didn’t really want to examine.
Her gaze darted to the tent opening, and the outline of a guard just beyond the doorway.
‘I wasn’t aware knocking wasn’t a thing in Jukrat.’
She was sure she’d imagined the faintest twitch of his lips when his stern facade hardened a second later. ‘Technically there are no doors to the tents. But my presence was announced. You didn’t respond,’ he stated imperiously.
‘So you just let yourself in?’
