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One man was too intent on her to notice anyone else. “You look lonely, sweetheart.” He grabbed at his crotch. “I know just how to make you feel loved.” He guffawed at his own joke before his mouth clapped shut and his eyes widened at finally seeing the huge man who guarded her.
“No offense intended,” he mumbled, before he and the other men stammered out apologies and staggered into the casino.
Yasmine nodded and smiled at her bodyguard, her shoulders loosening slightly. She’d never been more thankful for Jamal’s insistence to have someone looking out for her in public. A pity the same couldn’t be said for her personal life. Her father was a leech capable of sucking blood from a stone.
But if her dad was even aware of the men who’d approached her he didn’t let on. He had selective hearing when needed. Instead he continued to reinforce to her how badly the funds were needed before she finally ended the call with, “I’ll see what I can do.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jamal was only half-focused on his game. He was too busy observing his wife through the huge glass doors as she stood outside talking on her cell. Even from a distance he noted her taut posture, her body stiffening further when a group of inebriated men piled out of their vehicle before leering at her suggestively.
When one of those same men had the nerve to approach and speak to her, Jamal had already left the gaming table behind along with his stack of chips. He stalked past slot machines and other gaming tables, ignoring the many gamblers to focus on the men entering the casino’s huge lobby, their bleary-eyed focus straying back to Yasmine.
They were clearly reluctant just yet to leave her alone.
Jamal approached the man who’d spoken to Yasmine. Grabbing hold of his jacket lapels, he pushed him against the wall. “You dare to make suggestions to my wife—your sheikha!—and treat her with such disrespect?”
The man shrank back and his friends dispersed like rabbits down a warren. He swallowed hard, his drunken state no doubt sharpening as adrenaline surged. “My sincerest apologies Sheikh Jamal, I h-had no idea she w-was your wife. Please forgive me for my mistake.”
Though rage continued to burn through him, Jamal resisted throwing a punch at the man and instead released him. Two more of Jamal’s bodyguards closed in to assist him, and he waved them back to focus on the now sober man in front of him. “Perhaps next time you might treat a woman with the respect she deserves.”
“Of c-course, you’re right Sheikh Jamal, m-my profound apologies. It won’t ever happen again.”
Jamal exhaled harshly, his hands fisting at his sides. “Then go—now,before I change my mind and make you pay for your vile insult.”
The man took off running and disappeared into the crowd, no doubt hoping to become just another anonymous face.
Jamal wouldn’t ever forget him.
He shook his head. He had better things to focus on now. He continued toward the glass entrance doors and they opened silently as he stalked through them, stepping outside just as Yasmine ended her call to her dad. Cocking his head to the side, Jamal repeated, “You’ll see what you can do?”
She started at his voice, then laughed shakily. “Jamal, I didn’t see you there.”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Her voice cracked and she averted her gaze. “Of course I am, why wouldn’t I be?”
“You mean aside from those intoxicated men, one of whom appeared to harass you?”
She blinked as she looked back at him. “You don’t miss much, do you?”
He stepped closer. “Did they frighten you?”
She shook her head. “No, your security scared them off.”
He nodded at the security man who’d faded back discreetly the moment Jamal had approached. “Good work, Yusef. I’ll see to it you get a bonus.”
Yusef bowed. “It’s my honor, Sheikh Jamal.”
Jamal drew his wife against him, breathing in her delicious vanilla and freesia fragrance. The back of her gown featured a cutout heart-shape, and he ran one of his hands along her bared skin while his other hand cupped her butt.
That she was trembling detracted him from anything deeper though than concern. He drew back and looked down at her, her blue eyes wary as she lifted her head to hold his gaze.
“You’re shaking,” he said gently. “If those men did or said anything to offend you—“
“No, they were harmless enough. I think they were more scared of Yusef than I was of them.”
“So your father’s phone call upset you?”
