by Leslie North
Wow. Just wow.
She walked back into the bedroom and found a garment bag laying on her bed. That hadn’t been there before, but she hadn’t heard anyone enter or leave either. Tentatively, Laura walked over and picked up the note attached to the garment bag.
Thought you could use a clean change of clothes. We’re about the same size, I think.
Najma.
Laura unzipped the bag to reveal a lovely silk ensemble in shades of gold and deep red that wouldn’t clash with her redhead coloring. She ran her fingers over the precious material, savoring the cool soft fabric against her skin. There was a set of palazzo pants, a flowing top, and a scarf for around her head, all traditional Arabic garb. She hated to impose on Raheem’s sister’s hospitality, but a quick look down at her sandy, dusty clothes showed they weren’t fit for the grocery store now, let alone an important breakfast filled with dignitaries from all over the globe.
Before getting ready though, she tried her cell phone one last time and at last found a signal, though her battery was dangerously low. Not wanting to risk a lengthy phone call at this point, she shot off a quick text to her boss instead.
Got lost and spent the night in the desert.
At royal palace now. Will explain later.
L
Once she hit Send, Laura clicked off her phone and laid it on the desktop charging pad on the nightstand, then shrugged out of the wrinkled clothes she’d worn for two days and headed for the bathroom. An hour wasn’t long to make herself presentable and she wanted to make sure she was ready when Raheem’s staff arrived to take her to the breakfast.
5
Raheem was busy greeting guests and schmoozing officials when Laura finally arrived. It was the strangest thing, how every cell in his body seemed to come alive whenever she was near. Damned inconvenient too, given that if things worked out and she accepted his assignment to help with his tourism project, they’d be working together. And he had a firm no-sleeping-with-co-workers policy. Not that she’d given him any indication that she was interested in him romantically anyway.
Still, as she stood in the doorway to the massive state dining room, looking around uncertainly for a familiar face, Raheem couldn’t ever remember seeing a more beautiful sight. Her long red hair was pinned atop her head and she’d worn a deep red scarf around her neck. The scarf matched the rest of her outfit and the rich scarlet hue set off her creamy complexion and sparkling green eyes to perfection.
Despite his wishes to the contrary, Raheem felt his body harden in response.
More to keep his libido in check than anything else, he chugged an ice-cold mimosa then strode across the room to greet her. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of him dressed in his country’s traditional robes and if he wasn’t mistaken, Raheem saw a flicker of feminine interest and heat in her gaze. Masculine pride welled within him. So maybe she was attracted to him after all.
“Thank you for arriving promptly, Laura,” he said, slipping her hand around his arm to lead her to their table at the front of the room. As they walked the air carried the scent of her floral shampoo and the spicy anise and clove infused lotion that was supplied to all the guest rooms in the palace. Images of her smoothing the cream into her skin, over her long limbs and down her chest and breasts filled his head and Raheem damned near tripped over his own feet.
He quickly shoved those dangerous thoughts aside. He had no business thinking about Miss Bliss that way. None at all. Now if someone would just let his traitorous, twitching cock know the program, he’d be all set.
He led her up onto the dais where the honored guests and speakers would be sitting and couldn’t help but smile as she stared around the room, wide-eyed.
“Holy cow, this place is packed,” Laura said, her voice quiet. Raheem leaned in closer to hear her, then instantly regretted it as her warmth penetrated the fine linen of his robes, setting his pulse racing anew. “Is that the Secretary of State I see over there?”
“Yes.” Raheem held her chair for her, ignoring the jolts of awareness that zinged up his arms as his fingers brushed the backs of her silk-covered shoulders. He’d have to thank Najma later on. He’d asked his sister to help out in the wardrobe department, but Laura looked beyond gorgeous in the outfit his sister had chosen. He took the seat beside her and gazed out over the crowd. “I believe that your country sent an entire delegation to our breakfast today. Keeping relationships friendly between our countries is a top priority for the West. Most of the European Union and Great Britain have representatives here too.”
Pretty pink color flushed Laura’s cheeks as she placed her napkin across her lap. “And you really think I can help you and your country attract money from these people?”
“That’s my hope.” He nodded to a server who placed plates full of fragrant stacks of freshly baked fiat bread, small bowls of salty, white goat cheese, and a selection of black and green olives before them. There was also labnah—a thick cream cheese drizzled with olive oil to dip their bread in. Once their glasses had been filled with water and sweet tea poured into their cups, the server left and he continued. “You have not said yes yet though. Nor have you named your terms of employment.”
She exhaled slowly and a bit of tension seemed to leave her shoulders. “I just don’t know. What about my production company? I can’t afford to lose that job and this is only temporary. And I don’t think I’ll have time to do both. We’re only here until the end of the week. My boss is going to be angry enough when I get back to the hotel.”
“This boss of yours, he is a fair man?”
Laura snorted at this and damn if even that wasn’t adorable. Raheem forced his gaze back to his food and not at the graceful way she moved and talked and held herself. This was getting ridiculous. She was just another woman. A beautiful, intelligent, talented woman, but still.
“Ben is…ambitious,” she said slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. “He spends most of his time looking out for himself. Like yesterday. The only reason I was stuck scrounging around the desert looking for some stupid sand dune that didn’t exist is because he took the better scouting job for himself. He spent the day poolside at the hotel, sipping coconut water while scoping out interior shots for the film.”
Sudden anger flared white-hot within Raheem. How dare a man, especially one with power over this lovely creature, wield it with such disregard. In his family women were treated with the upmost respect and granted the best of everything, even if it meant the men suffered. That was the way of things in his world and to hell with any other opinions on the matter. He gripped his piece of toasted fiat bread so hard it shattered all over his plate. With a muttered curse, Raheem wiped his hand then took a long drink of water to douse his ire. “That is shameful. A man of honor takes care of the women in his protection. Your boss sounds like an insufferable ass.”
“That’s about right.” Laura grinned at him and his whole world brightened. “But ass or not, I still need the job. My hope is that soon I’ll be promoted to full location scout by the production company and I won’t have to work under Ben anymore.”
Raheem swallowed a piece of dry toast, then met her gaze. “How much are they paying you?”
“By the job, you mean?”
“No, for the entire year.”
She was silent for a moment. “Oh, uh. I don’t really know. I mean, I’m paid by the job most times and it just depends on the roster of films we have coming up for the season. My pay tends to fluctuate.”
“That must make budgeting hard.” Raheem frowned. “Give me a ballpark then. Knowing your personal expenses and cost of living, what do you need to make in a year to cover everything?”
“Well, let’s see.” Her auburn brows knit as she concentrated, and Raheem once again felt the insane urge to lean closer and kiss those tiny lines away. He stopped himself through sheer force of will. “With rent and utilities and food and insurance, I’d say forty thousand at least.”
“Good.” Raheem felt that sam
e rush of adrenaline he got when he closed a major business deal for Djeva. “You agree to stay here for another two weeks and I will pay you a hundred thousand dollars for services rendered. Is that satisfactory?”
Laura choked on her orange juice. Raheem patted her back and rubbed small circles to soothe her until her breathing became normal again. Then he left his hand on her back just because it felt so good to touch her. Finally, she straightened and his hand slipped away. He missed the heat of her immediately.
She took a sip of water before answering him. “I’m sorry. I thought you said you’d pay me a hundred grand to stay here another two weeks and work with you.”
“That’s correct.” Raheem sat back as the server took his empty plate away. His speech was scheduled to start soon and he wanted her answer now so he could make the announcement to the assembled. “Is that not enough? Let’s make it five then. My final offer.”
“Five-hundred-thousand. That’s half a million dollars. No! Wait, please.” She placed her hands on her cheeks and shook her head. This couldn’t really be happening, could it? “Seriously. Five hundred grand is more money than I’ve ever had, like ever. But I can’t just up and quit the production company.”
“Why not?” Raheem was getting impatient. He saw the host trying to catch his eye near the podium and he needed to close this deal fast. “You just said that your boss behaves like a boorish ass. He has no respect for you or the work you do. He gives you the worst assignments while taking the best for himself and the company pays you only the bare minimum to survive. I’ve just offered you far more than what you said you needed to cover your expenses for a year. After the two weeks you spend with me, you’d be free to travel, find a new job, do whatever you wanted for the next twelve months and beyond. Are you going to tell me you’ll turn that down out of some misguided sense of loyalty?”
“But why me?” Laura asked, her frown deepening. “I’m sure you could find a hundred people better qualified or with more experience in travel and tourism than me. I’ve never worked in this sector before. You barely know me.” She narrowed her gaze. “And I’m telling you right now that if this is some ploy to get me to go to bed with you, I won’t do it. Understand?”
This time, it was Raheem’s turn to be taken aback. Much as he’d love to explore every single inch of Laura Bliss, that thought hadn’t even entered into his plans for hiring her as his locations specialist for this project. He stood and pushed his chair in, rising to his full height of six two to tower above her, royal bearing on full display. “You insult me deeply with such accusations. I have not now, nor will I ever seduce an employee to further my business goals. Now this offer I’ve made is nearly off the table. I will need your answer now, Miss Bliss, or the money and the job offer are rescinded.”
It was a risk, yes. But one Raheem was willing to take. His instincts told him Laura was the perfect one to help him reach his country’s goals and unlike her, he put much stock in such things as intuition and fate. He liked to imagine his father was looking down upon him now from heaven, blessing this transaction. For Raheem, for the family, for Djeva.
His poor deceased father might never have been suited to rule, but he’d loved his country all the same. Raheem would do this for his family, for their legacy. And he would have Laura by his side through it all, one way or another.
“Sheikh Raheem, sir,” the host said, coming up to them. “We must get started.”
“Your answer?” Raheem said to Laura. “Time is up.”
She exhaled slowly then looked up at him, strength and determination in her emerald eyes. “I accept.”
6
That afternoon, Laura couldn’t have said what Raheem had talked about during his speech or even the names of the people she’d met after the breakfast. All she could think was that she’d agreed to take on Raheem’s assignment and that she was leaving the safety of the production company and Ben’s selfish behavior behind. It was both thrilling and terrifying.
She strolled down the hallway lined with windows and out into the sunny courtyard gardens she’d spied earlier that morning. Nature always helped ground her and clear her head and the exercise would do her good too, after sitting in that long breakfast this morning listening to one dignitary after another.
As she stepped off the flagstone deck and down onto a yellow stone path leading deeper into the gardens, the sun warmed her skin and she slipped the scarf off her head. A slight breeze stirred, carrying with it the smell of jasmine and soil. She’d given her word to Raheem to help him with his tourism project and her pride wouldn’t let her back out now, even if that would be the wise choice. After all, she was a location scout, not a PR expert. The only real skill she had was knowing what would make a pretty picture.
Laura rounded a large potted palm then stopped short at the sound of voices ahead, though she couldn’t see anyone. A man and a woman, both sounding familiar. Raheem and Jess.
Not one to spy on others, Laura considered turning back, but she was so enjoying her time outside and it wasn’t like she’d purposely snuck over here to listen to their conversation. Besides, she probably wouldn’t even know what they were talking about, since she’d only known them briefly. Then she heard her name mentioned and curiosity got the better of her. Laura inched nearer to the palm and listened intently.
“I just don’t think this is a good idea,” Jess said, her tone tight.
“Why?” Raheem said. “What’s the worst that could possibly happen? Laura fails to help with my project and I’m forced to hire someone else. That is hardly catastrophic.”
“So you’re on a first name basis with her now too?” A hint of accusation leaked into Jess’s question. “Are you sleeping with her?”
“That’s none of your business, sister.” Raheem sounded affronted enough for both of them. “And if I were I wouldn’t tell you. How dare you question my judgment.”
“Oh, please. I’m your elder sister and our mother’s proxy. It’s my responsibility to take care of you and guide you in making the right decisions.”
Raheem snorted. “Since when? Last time I checked, Jess, your track record in the love department isn’t exactly praiseworthy. I think I’ll trust my own instincts here and tell you to go away.”
“I live here too. I’m not going anywhere. Besides, it’s always easier to handle someone else’s romantic problems than your own. So there.” The sound of her heels clacking against the stone walkway moved closer and Laura squeezed herself behind the potted palm for cover. There was a flapping of wings as a turtledove took off from the top of the tree and must have dive-bombed right over the hedge behind Laura, if Jess’s startled shriek was an indication. This was followed in short order by a gasp then a low curse. “Oh no!” Jess said. “Is it dead?”
Raheem sighed. “No, just stunned, I think. You didn’t have to swat it with that big handbag of yours.”
“It flew at my head.”
“It was frightened and trying to get away. Something near its roost must’ve scared it.”
Laura’s eyes widened and she held her breath. If they came around the corner to look, she’d be found out. And wouldn’t that just be a wonderful way to start her new job. Bad enough she still had to contend with quitting the production company and listening to her boss’s tirade about her inconveniencing him. If Raheem discovered her lurking in his bushes, spying on his conversations, he could easily rescind his offer and then where would she be? Homeless and starving, that’s where.
Thankfully, no one came searching.
“I need to get back to my rooms and change,” Jess said, her voice growing more distant by the second. Laura hoped that meant she was walking away in the opposite direction. “I have errands to run in town this afternoon. But I’m warning you, brother. Keep an eye on Miss Bliss. She could be trouble for you, if you let her.”
Silence fell for so long that Laura wondered if Raheem had gone inside as well. Carefully and quietly, she extricated herself from behind the palm and br
ushed off her clothes before peeking slowly around the corner of the hedges. What she saw made her heart skip a beat.
Raheem was still there, crouched beside the dazed turtle dove. With extreme gentleness, he cupped the frantic and panting bird in his hands then straightened, cuddling the poor creature against his chest. For a crazy minute, Laura wished she could switch places with the dove. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had cared for her so tenderly. Raheem was cooing to the bird in soothing tones and stroking its head to calm it.
As if drawn by an invisible cord, Laura found herself walking around the hedges to stand beside Raheem. If he was surprised by her arrival, he didn’t show it. Didn’t miss a beat at all, really, just continued to pet the dove’s head, a small smile gracing his gorgeous face.
“Will it be all right?” she asked finally, her words emerging more breathlessly than she’d intended.
“I believe so, yes.” Raheem glanced up at her then, his warm golden eyes alight with a hint of amusement. “I wondered how long you were going to hide in the palm tree.”
Stunned, Laura opened her mouth to deny it, then snapped it closed. What was the point? Heat prickled her cheeks as she stared at the dove. “I wasn’t hiding. I was admiring its beauty.”
“Uh-huh.” He sounded unconvinced. “Who knew you were such a nature enthusiast.”
Tentatively, she reached out a finger to stroke down the bird’s feathers. “I could say the same about you. Rescuing injured doves and all.”
“Seeing as how my sister was partially to blame, I couldn’t very well leave him here, could I?” Raheem held the bird up to his face level and smiled. “His wing is most likely broken from the swat Jess gave him with that ridiculous purse of hers, but I think we can patch that up for him.” The dove cooed back, as if in agreement. “Yes, we can.”