by Cara Albany
Abby blinked and shook her head, groaning in disbelief at the sheer brazenness of his proposal.
He'd said the words.
Our family.
He wanted her to become wife and mother. An instant solution to all their problems.
"I can't do that," she said sharply.
"Why not?"
"It's too much to ask," she breathed. Shaking her head, she took a few steps away from him and wrapped her arms around herself. "You've gone too far, again, Taliq," she said turning around and glaring at him. "You know that, don't you? Maybe you haven't so much, after all. You're still doing crazy, impulsive things."
He shook his head. "There is no other way, Abby. It makes perfect sense. Can't you see that?"
"Perfect sense for who? You?"
Again he shook his head. "Not just for me. But for us."
Abby took a step toward him. "There is no "us", Taliq. Can't you see that? We've been apart far too long for there to be anything left between us."
His gaze softened. "You know that's not true."
"It is," she stated boldly, hoping that her emphatic tone would put a stop to him. But, in the next instant, she saw that it had only encouraged him even more.
"If not for us, then do it for the children," he said, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice.
"I don't know them," she said. "And I'm a stranger as far as they're concerned."
"They need someone, Abby."
Abby narrowed her eyes at him. "They do? Or isn't this all about you, Taliq? As usual."
He shook his head emphatically. "I'm not that kind of man, anymore," he declared.
"Why don't I believe that?" she snapped, lifting a brow sharply.
"You can believe whatever you want," he retorted. He moved closer, but she held her ground, peering at him defiantly.
"You're asking me to become a mother to them," she said. "I can't do that."
"Why not?"
She glared at him. "You really haven't changed at all have you? It wouldn't be fair on them."
"They'll get used to the idea quickly," he stated.
"Is that how you see this? Some kind of neat idea?"
He shook his head. "No. It's more than that. It's crucial to their happiness. And I can't think of anyone more perfect than you. You'd make a perfect mother to them."
She wasn't sure she liked the sound of that word. She couldn't even begin to think about what it would mean to become a mother to those children.
"Please consider what I'm saying carefully," he said. There was a determined look in his eyes.
She shook her head. "Any marriage between us would be doomed from the start."
"How do you know that?"
Abby frowned at him. "Really? Don't you remember how we finished. It wasn't exactly on the best of terms."
"This time it will be different."
"How?"
He lifted his gaze toward the palace. "Because of who's in there, right now."
Again the children, she told herself. Was he going to use that as leverage over her? Had he already sensed how much she had been charmed by the children?
But, that didn't mean she could ever be a mother to them. That was a step too far, she told herself.
No. More than that.
It would be a thousand mile journey she'd never finish. And one she couldn't even think about setting out on.
Taliq came to her, but she gave him a look that made it clear she didn't want him touching her. The memory of the kiss was still fresh on her lips. If she let him close again, she knew that her resolve might weaken.
He had such power, such a capacity for primal desire. She knew how persuasive that could be. How easily her defiance could turn into submission. And, right now, she needed to defy him with every part of her being. Because she wasn't going to give into the proposal.
The marriage proposal.
No. It wasn't so much a proposal as a deal he'd offered her.
He gestured to the seats. "Let's sit down and talk about it," he suggested.
Abby shook her head. "No. There's nothing to talk about."
He frowned. "You're refusing to consider my offer?"
Abby stared at him for a long moment. She knew that if she did refuse point blank, that his pride might mean he'd never make the offer again. And then where would she be? Right back at square one with no way out for her parents.
She didn't move a muscle, her gaze steady and unflinching.
Taliq ran hand through his dark hair. The light caught on it, the sheen highlighting the smooth waves. A treacherous memory flirted into her mind. She'd always loved snaking her own fingers through his hair.
Why was it still the case that there was still some part of him that captivated her attention, holding her somehow in his control? No matter what he said. No matter what he asked of her.
"I think I'll go back inside," she said. "It's getting cool."
She felt herself shiver slightly. Was that nerves or just the emotion he'd stirred up in her? She couldn't tell. All she knew was that she wanted to get away from him. Back to her room with the door locked firmly. Anything to keep him at bay. Anything to get a chance to clear her mind and think about what he'd just proposed.
She went back into the palace and made it to the bottom of the staircase before she realized he was behind her. She turned sharply and glared at him. "I want some time to myself." Her voice echoed in the cavernous hallway.
She saw the sudden frustration on his face on hearing her demand for privacy. He lowered his head. "Of course."
Then she turned away from him and strode up the stairs, eager to get to the quietness and solitude of her room.
Inside her room she pushed the door shut firmly behind her and leaned back against the door.
How could he do such a thing? Didn't he realize what he'd done? She took a few step into the room and wrapped her arms tightly around herself, trying to force herself to think.
He'd asked her to marry him!
It was unthinkable.
Worse than that.
Impossible.
She drew in a deep breath and tried to calm her racing pulse. She felt her pounding heart. She took a seat on the sofa, clasping her hands tightly, realizing that they were shaking.
He had always known how to get under her skin. Always known how to drive her insane with his demands. But, last year, none of his demands had come close to this. He was asking her to take on a huge responsibility. Didn't he know that her life would be turned upside down if she agreed?
Of course he did.
And it would change his life forever, too, she told herself. She wasn't even sure he was ready for that. She hadn't been here long enough to tell if this was a new Taliq Al Kharif. Or if he was just putting on a very good performance for her benefit. Because he clearly wanted to use her to solve a very serious problem in his own life.
But, wasn't that what he'd offered to do for her parents? Solve a problem that threatened to turn their lives upside down. Just as his had been turned around by the passing of the childrens' parents.
Abby stretched back against the sofa and gazed up at the slowly revolving ceiling fan. Everything had come around to this, she reflected. He hadn't planned this. How could he have? She had been the one to contact him.
But, he must have thought fate had handed him a golden opportunity when she had come back to him. She wondered how long he had been considering asking her. Maybe from the minute she'd put down that phone.
The only thing that mattered now was what she was going to do. Her parents were relying on her.
With that in mind, she realized it would still be early enough in the day back in the States for her to call her mom.
Abby took her cell phone and pressed the number. A few rings later, she heard her mother's voice at the other end of the line.
"Hi, Mom," Abby said.
"You arrived safely then," her mother said. Abby thought her mother sounded tired. Normally there was a brightness to he
r mother's voice, but right now, that natural energy was missing.
"How's Dad?" Abby asked.
"He's laying down, just now," her mother said. "He's been busy today?"
"Doing what?" Abby asked.
Her mother sighed. "You know your father, Abby. He's been on the phone, making calls."
"To who?"
Her mother made a tired-sounding noise. "You know. The usual people. He's still trying to get some answers."
Abby frowned. "Doesn't he know there's no use doing that until things get sorted out."
"You know your father, Abby. He won't let anything go."
Abby knew her mother would have gone on to say what she always said in conversations like this one. That her father blamed himself for being careless, even stupid. But, Abby knew her mother didn't hold him responsible for their predicament. They'd been married too long for that to happen. Abby had been a late child for them, and they'd had plenty of years before she came along to build a solid relationship. They'd need every bit of that solidity in the times to come, Abby told herself.
"How is your friend?" Abby heard her mother ask. She almost laughed at the diplomatic way the question had been spoken.
"My friend is fine."
"It was nice of him to invite you for a little break," her mother said. Abby hadn't explained everything about the purpose of the visit. She hadn't wanted to worry her parents or give them a chance to object. She wondered what they would say if they knew what Taliq had asked Abby a short time ago.
"It's an amazing place,"Abby admitted. "Such a beautiful country."
"I know you told me your friend is quite well off," her mother said tentatively. The thought occurred to Abby that her mother was probing. Natural curiosity, no doubt.
"He is kinda rich, mom," Abby agreed.
"Rich? That sounds interesting," her mother said.
Abby smiled, relieved that her mother couldn't see her face. "He is a very interesting man. But, I told you about him last year, didn't I?"
Once again, Abby's mother made a noncommittal sound. "You told me a few things about him. Not much, though."
"I told you we were good friends. And that's why he's asked me over here."
"How long are you going to stay there?"
Abby thought for a moment, unsure how to answer that. On her way here, she had decided to stay no longer than it took to get an answer from Taliq. But, now that he'd made that proposal to her, Abby wasn't sure just how long it would take to sort that out.
It might take one night. Or it might take a lot longer.
"A day to two," Abby said finally.
"Try and have some fun, dear," her mother said. "You know you deserve a break. You've been working hard recently."
If only her mother knew the truth, Abby told herself. The only thing Abby had been able to think of these past few weeks had been her parents. Work had taken a back seat. She'd been given a few days off, but she wasn't sure how much longer she'd get if she didn't return from Qazhar soon.
Abby settled her head back against the sofa. "You and dad aren't worrying too much are you, mom?"
There was a long silence at the other end of the line. When her mother spoke, it was with an obviously artificial breeziness. "Of course not, Abby. You know what I said to you before. Everything's going to be fine."
Abby's heart tightened upon hearing this words. Of course it wasn't going to be fine. Nothing would be the same again if she didn't find a solution. Like so many times in the past, Abby was filled with awe and admiration at her mother's courage in the face of this trial.
Abby felt emotion well up inside her and her eyes moistened with tears. "It will be, mom," she agreed. "Just you wait and see."
Then she said goodbye to her mother and disconnected the call.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Taliq liked to say goodnight to the children each night. And this night would be no exception, in spite of what had happened downstairs on the terrace with Abby.
As he did almost every evening, Taliq went first to Aisha's room and found the servant making sure that Aisha was comfortable in bed. Taliq bid her goodnight.
"Is Abby leaving tomorrow?" Aisha asked, pulling up the comforter to her chin and peering mischievously at Taliq. As he'd done earlier, Taliq had forced himself to merely smile at Aisha. "I don't know yet, Aisha," he replied. "Maybe we'll find out tomorrow over breakfast."
Taliq had smiled at Aisha. "You sleep well and don't trouble yourself about Abby," he'd told her. "Everything is going to be fine."
Aisha had seemed reassured by that.
Taliq quickly made his way out into the corridor and to Kamil's bedroom. He found the boy still up, playing a video game. When Taliq walked into the room, Kamil peered at Taliq and then quickly put down the controller and switched off the huge, wall mounted television.
Taliq decided to say nothing, in spite of his previous instruction to Kamil that late-night sessions on the game console were not what he wanted to see Kamil doing so close to bedtime.
Taliq paused at the door, deciding not to enter the room. He watched as Kamil came to him and bowed, a cool gesture with which Taliq had become all too familiar. It seemed that they both knew that Kamil had broken a promise he'd made to Taliq. But, for now, nothing would said or done to deal with that, Taliq told himself.
He wished Kamil goodnight and left the boy to ready himself for bed.
Taliq walked along the hallway, toying with the notion of going to Abby's room and trying to continue the conversation from where it had been left off. But, he immediately rejected that idea, sensing that she had made it perfectly clear she needed time to think. He didn't want to seem as if he was pressuring her.
He laughed wryly as he thought that. Hadn't he done enough by asking her to become his wife?
She had asked for time to consider, and that was what he would give her. As far as he was concerned, she could have all the time she needed.
Walking toward his own room, Taliq told himself that had to be encouraging. The very fact that Abby had chosen to delay giving Taliq an answer surely had to be a good sign, didn't it?
Taliq entered his room and went to the drinks cabinet, pouring himself a tall glass of mineral water. He stood by the open doors which left out onto his terrace and breathed in the cool night air, sipping his drink.
He thought about what he'd done downstairs. For a moment, he shook his head in disbelief.
It was simple, really.
He'd asked Abby to become his wife. Asked her to become mother to the children. His children. He'd asked her to take on one of the biggest responsibilities anyone could assume.
A week ago that would have seemed inconceivable. A year ago, the whole thing would have seemed like something out of a dream. However, right now, the situation was a harsh reality that demanded decisive action.
Making the proposal had been just about the most difficult thing he'd ever done, Taliq reflected. He'd had to use every ounce of his courage to force himself to utter the words.
But, he had done it. And he'd felt a surprising excitement as he'd spoken them. He realized that there had been some part of him, deep down inside himself, that had always wanted to ask a woman that question.
He'd come close on a few occasions. But had always backed off for some reason or other. He had never found any woman with whom he could imagine spending his life.
But, Abby was not just any woman, he told himself. She was special. He'd realized that within a short time of her arriving. If anyone was perfect to become his wife, it was Abby.
And all that remained was for him to await her answer.
He thought about the way she'd reacted. At first, he'd seen shock and genuine disbelief. He couldn't blame her for that. It must have seemed as if the proposal had come out of the blue. And in a sense it had.
Discovering what she needed to help her own family, the solution to his own family problems had offered itself to Taliq with an ease he had found shocking, but curiously satisfying.
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Taliq was a great believer in fate. He had long ago been convinced of the power of destiny. There had even been a time, a year ago, when he had played with the notion that perhaps Abby was the woman he was fated to be with.
But his foolishness, his fears, his own insecurities had prompted him to discard that possibility. With consequences for them both.
He realized now that he'd been a fool. Maybe fate had thrown him a second chance.
Back then, his sudden withdrawal, his return to cold indifference, had forced Abby to confront him. She was a sensitive woman, as well as someone with a feisty personality of her own. She had detected the change in him, and had accused him of turning his back on her because he was frightened of commitment.
Maybe she'd been right, Taliq reflected, taking a sip of cool water. But that had been then.
Now, life was very different. For them both.
Did it not make complete sense that they should join forces? That they should put right the mistake they'd made a year ago when they had given up on each other?
He was sure it was the best thing to do. The only rational solution.
But, there was one problem with all of that reasoned argument.
He'd discovered something since Abby had arrived. Something that threatened to add complication to what should have been a convenient marriage arrangement. One that could make a marriage deal impossible.
It was the simple truth that every moment he was near Abby, every time she looked at him, every time she spoke to him, a fierce desire took hold of Taliq. He craved her. Wanted her. His need was urgent and almost impossible to hide.
He knew he had to disguise it. If she discovered how her mere presence back in the palace had triggered such powerful need in him, he was sure Abby would probably go, running away from him as fast as she could.
Taliq had tried to mask the feelings which had coursed through his body with every passing moment he'd been in close proximity to Abby. Perhaps he'd succeeded. He wasn't sure.
But, he hadn't been encouraged by her reaction to his proposal. Maybe too much time had passed, and her feelings for him had faded into a pale shadow of what they had once been.