by Holly Rayner
“You’re clearly an outsider,” she said. “On the other hand, I’ll be blending in.”
Her fingers went back to her necklace, which she worried again.
“What if we had an adventure to look forward to?” he asked.
“Like what?”
“Sailing. Horseback riding.”
She cocked her head in interest. “You have something planned?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.” He laced his hands in his lap, mighty proud of himself.
Since they would be in Sharrain for at least a few days, he’d figured it would only be right to make the best of their time there. He’d booked a sailing lesson for one afternoon and horseback riding on the beach for another. If ClayFuel negotiations or kissing up to the king got in the way, those outings could be rescheduled.
“What?” Her face brightened.
He shrugged. “A little of this. A little of that.”
“Come on.” Leyla’s laugh was musical. “Tell me!”
“I don’t know if I should.”
“You should…” She jabbed a finger at him. “Because you just said an adventure to look forward to would make me feel better. You can’t go back on that!”
“Do you like horses?”
“I love them.” She leaned closer, her floral perfume wafting over him.
“Have you ridden before?”
“It’s been a number of years.”
“It’s like riding a bike. Once you get back into the saddle, it’s like you never left.”
“Hm.” Her eyes squinted in doubt. “This is coming from the rodeo champion.”
“Right. I forgot about that.” He winked.
“Speaking of getting back into the saddle…”
“Uh-huh?” He took a sip of his cocktail, not minding at all the lingering pause. It was nice, the way their conversation was switching paces.
It reminded him of their first date when things had been easy and new. Before all the weight of his planning had arrived.
“When are you gonna do another rodeo?” she asked.
“Ah.” He looked into his drink. “I don’t know. Maybe never.”
“What? But you’re so good! And the crowds love you.”
“You gathered that last part from my trophies?”
Her cheeks went red. “I, ah, I watched some videos of you online.”
“Really? How many videos?”
The thought of her internet stalking him sent a thrill through his veins.
“A few.” She fussed with her hair and looked away.
“You mean all of them?” he teased.
Leyla pursed her lips.
For really the first time, he wondered if her feelings mirrored his own. Since she’d accepted those first two dates before his business offer, he’d assumed she’d been at least mildly interested in him.
But he’d imagined that any burgeoning romantic inclinations had been squashed once he’d dropped the bombs at the barbecue joint. How could she be into a man who—it probably seemed to her—only wanted her for the business deals she could help him acquire?
Never mind that that wasn’t the truth at all. Not that the truth was a current priority.
“Didn’t you mention doing some rewrites on your script?” he asked, eager to change the topic. “Did you finish those?”
Leyla bit into her bottom lip. “Oh, yeah. I did.” She ran her finger across condensation on her glass.
He got the sense she had more to say and so stayed quiet. A moment passed. Then another.
“Has anything progressed with getting it made?” he pressed.
“Thanks to you, I have the funding for it.”
“Good.” His chest warmed. “Was it enough?”
“What? Oh, my goodness, yes.” Her eyes went and stayed wide.
“Do you have a plan for filming it? I can help, if you like. Have my assistant look into production companies.”
“Oh, no,” she was quick to answer. “You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s no problem.”
“But you really don’t need to. You’ve done a lot already,” she said stiffly.
For some reason, the topic was making her uncomfortable. Or was she mad at him?
“If you change your mind,” he said, “let me know.”
“Thanks.” Her tenseness hadn’t subsided.
“I guess I’ll go ahead and get some work done.”
She nodded once. Kane pulled his laptop from the bag and powered it on, but found it hard to concentrate.
He couldn’t explain it, but if Leyla needed even the smallest thing, he wanted to be the one to give it to her. Seeing her happy had an effect on him that was akin to a drug. He kept coming back for more.
Her not wanting his help stung more than he’d ever admit. Things were complicated between them already, though, and overthinking the matter would do no good.
Checking a sigh, he dove into work and focused best he could. The hours dragged by, with Leyla watching a movie on the TV mounted in the corner, then thumbing through a book.
Though she didn’t engage in much conversation, he could tell she was still antsy. Every once in a while, her face pinched, and she constantly chewed on her bottom lip.
Over halfway into the flight, they closed the blinds and tried to rest. Though Kane had slept on the plane dozens of times, he found it hard to do so, and couldn’t help but think Leyla’s presence had something to do with that.
He’d hoped time spent together would quell his feelings for her. Unfortunately, he was only becoming more infatuated.
When they weren’t together, he thought about her all the time. The second she came into his view, without exception, he was overcome with the need to please her.
He’d never been in love… and this couldn’t be it.
Right?
Because they’d only known each other for a few weeks, if even. And it seemed too cruel a twist that the first woman he fell head over heels for, he couldn’t have.
Pulling the blanket over his head, he turned his face into the seat. What he needed was to increase his focus on other areas in life.
Well, the only other area that was active.
Work.
The trip to Sharrain, should it go well, should provide a boost of vigor.
With that in mind, he drifted off into a light sleep. When he woke some time later, Leyla was stretched across two seats, her hands tucked under her cheek. Her shoulders rose and fell with her breaths, and her blanket lay on the floor.
Reaching over, he picked it up and tucked it around her sleeping form.
“Mr. Kane?” came a whisper from the front. The flight attendant approached. “We’ve entered Sharrain, sir. It’s time to secure for landing.”
“Thank you.” Touching Leyla’s shoulder, he shook her gently. “Leyla. We’re here.”
“What?” She started and jerked to sitting.
“We’re about to land. Buckle up.”
Pushing hair from her eyes, she got her seatbelt in order then opened the window blind. Light poured into the cabin.
“Look at that,” she said in amazement.
Kane leaned over. Below them, the city-state of Sharrain sparkled in multiple ways. Diamonds glittered in its ocean, and skyscrapers reflected a magnitude of light that made them hard to look at.
The little airplane angled down, aimed for the airport.
“What’s first?” she asked.
“I’ve arranged for a driver to meet us and take us to the hotel to get settled.”
She nodded slowly. Best guess was her long-lost family sat heavy on her mind.
“Hey.” Kane waited until she looked at him to continue. “Have I told you yet today how amazing you’ll do?”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. “Thank you.”
“I mean it.”
Her grin melted away. “Oh,” she said, a little breathy.
“I wouldn’t have gone through with this if I didn’t have complete fa
ith in you.”
She lowered her face and looked up at him through long lashes. “You mean my acting.”
“Sure, but that’s not all. We’re going to be together a lot, and you’re the kind of person that I could spend endless hours with.”
Leyla turned back to the window. “Thank you,” she said to the view. “For this opportunity.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
He meant it, with all his heart.
Chapter 13
Leyla
She wasn’t sure if it was the hours spent on a plane or her nerves, but Leyla’s legs shook like jelly as she walked to the chauffeured car Kane had arranged to pick them up.
Sharrain. Her homeland!
She’d imagined many times what it would be like to visit, and now that she was there, she felt oddly numb. Like none of this was really happening.
“Where’s the hotel?” she asked as they left the airport and joined a steady stream of traffic flowing into the city’s heart.
“Not far from the palace. About a ten-minute drive.” Kane studied her face.
He’d been doing that a lot since they got on his plane. Looking for her reaction to things, she supposed.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. On one hand, it felt nice to have the attention of someone who had snubbed her.
Maybe “snubbed” was a strong word. Kane had never really been into her at all. He’d only used it as a front to get her interested in his engagement proposition.
Since they were stuck together, now, it probably did make sense to try to be friends, though.
“And do they know we’re coming?” Leyla asked. “The king and his sister?”
It was hard to say their names.
“Yes. I have a meeting with Mabrouk this afternoon. He knows that I brought my Sharraini fiancée with me, but I didn’t mention you’ll be coming to the palace today.”
Leyla bit the tip of her tongue. Popping a surprise on a king didn’t seem like the best idea, but she was no expert on the matter.
Let Kane handle all the details. She had two big things to focus on: seeing her family and making her movie.
She’d almost told Kane about the DeHaan offer on the plane. Every time she’d started to formulate the words, though, she’d ended up feeling like she was about to throw up. Eventually, she’d let the whole thing go.
For the time being.
He wouldn’t like the idea of a documentary. Even if he wasn’t in it.
Until she came up with some spin to put on the project, it was probably best if she said nothing at all. Once she found a way to convince Kane the documentary would be good for the both of them, she’d bring it up.
“It’s really a beautiful place.” Kane gestured at the park they were passing. Kids played in the spray of a big fountain while adults picnicked in the nearby grass.
Sharrain, though tiny, was an incredibly advanced and progressive city-state. Women and men were treated equally, and all children had access to the best education. Even though most of its citizens lived packed into its city limits, greenery was prioritized. The car had already passed at least four parks.
“Where would you drill?” Leyla asked, suddenly realizing it didn’t seem there could be any room for such an activity.
Kane set an ankle on his knee, revealing bright red socks that perfectly matched his tie. “About thirty miles from here. At the edge of Sharrain. It’s an area rich in resources, where hardly anyone lives, and most of the land is government-owned. It’s perfect.”
She nodded, wondering how the Sharraini people would feel about drilling. Poverty was low in the country. It didn’t seem Sharrain was in need of outside help boosting its economy. It made sense that King Mabrouk had turned down Kane’s previous advances.
“Here’s our hotel.” Kane gestured ahead of them.
The building was white with a red roof and several floors. At first glance, it seemed modest, but the valet and doormen out front revealed otherwise.
A man came and opened the car door for Leyla, and she took her first step into the city, feeling even weirder about the whole experience. What would people think of her if they knew she was a member of the royal family?
She wasn’t sure she’d like anyone to know that little tidbit. If people in Sharrain viewed royalty the way they did in other countries, she’d pass on the attention, thank you very much.
Inside was even more opulent, with a marble floor and a fountain in the middle of the lobby. A woman in a tight bun and pencil skirt came forward right away, before they even had a chance to approach the front desk.
“Mr. Kane. A pleasure to have you.” Her accent was thick, but her English perfect. “We have your rooms all ready. Please, this way.”
Leyla shot Kane a sidelong look, but he didn’t so much as blink. Apparently, he was used to the special treatment.
Even the elevator had a staff member working it. Along with the porter and their host, who was probably the manager, he took Leyla and Kane to the third floor. The elevator opened onto a short hallway with three doors.
“This is the entrance to your suite,” the woman said, taking the room key from her pocket and unlocking the door at the very end of the hall.
Leyla’s heart beat into the base of her throat. That’s right. She and Kane were “engaged.” Did that mean they were expected to share a room?
Certainly, after they were married and traveled together, they would need to. People would think it weird if they didn’t.
How exactly would that work? Wouldn’t it be the most awkward thing in the world if they had to sleep in a bed together?
Maybe they could discreetly take an air mattress everywhere they went.
Still worrying about it, she followed the manager into the hotel room—which turned out to not be a “room” at all. It was a foyer they entered, with a big bouquet of fresh flowers on a table.
Past that, cozy couches and a chandelier populated a living area. Several doors open to the sides revealed two bedrooms and a bathroom.
It wasn’t a hotel room. It was an apartment.
“Wow,” Leyla said.
Looked like the sleeping matter had already been resolved.
While Kane discussed details with the manager, Leyla inspected the rooms. The bedrooms both had king-sized beds, TVs, and French doors that opened onto balconies. From one of them, though, a massive building on top of a hill could be seen.
Lingering on the balcony, she studied the building. Made of stone, it had rolling, green lawns. She thought she could make out a tennis court, as well as a flash of bright blue that was likely a pool. Tall, sturdy gates surrounded the entire property.
If this wasn’t the palace, she didn’t know what could be.
“Enjoying the view?”
Kane’s voice made her startle. He hadn’t made a noise coming out.
“It’s nice.” She gripped the railing and turned her attention to the sea, in the opposite direction of the palace.
He leaned against the railing, eyes squinted in the light. The wind made his hair flutter against his forehead, and Leyla knew she had to stop staring at him, but just one moment longer…
His gaze found hers. “Are you nervous?”
She broke eye contact. “I’m sure I will be soon. I’m still in shock over all this, though. A month ago…”
She caught her breath and her words. A month ago, she was sitting in her apartment, flipping through TV channels and feeling sorry for herself. Only work, which she’d just returned to, had gotten her off the couch and out the door. Other than that, she’d basically lived in a dark hole.
“You deserve this.” He said it with so much conviction, it made her heart throb.
His hazel eyes settled on hers, no words needed. Though London and other friends had been there through both her mom’s sickness and death, they could never really understand.
But Kane did. He’d lost a parent, too.
That alone made them comrades.
“What
about you?” She blinked to keep back tears. “Are you excited? You’re so close to your deal.”
She expected a smile or a happy sigh. Anything but the way his lips turned down.
“What?” she pressed.
“Nothing.” With a head shake, he straightened up and stepped away from the railing. “Can you be ready to leave in twenty minutes?”
Twenty minutes! Panic fluttered in her chest, but she nodded.
“Sure.”
“Great.” He went inside, and she realized he hadn’t answered her question.
Everything for the trip to the palace had been planned in advance. Opening her suitcase, Leyla took out the long, emerald green dress she’d bought just for the visit. It was the perfect blend of American and Sharraini, with delicate demi sleeves and a long skirt that grazed the pointed tips of her heels.
Brushing out her hair, she let it hang loose, then touched up her makeup. The puffiness under her eyes that came from flying for so many hours couldn’t be completely covered, but there was nothing to do about it.
Somehow, Kane managed to look like he’d just woken up from a ten-hour sleep. Meeting in the living room, he offered his arm and they took the elevator to the ground floor.
There, their car and driver from earlier waited. As Leyla lifted her skirt to step inside the vehicle, she noticed her hands shook.
When Kane, sitting next to her, put his hand on hers, she didn’t resist. In fact, she turned her palm over and squeezed his hand. Maybe they weren’t in a real relationship, but they were joined together in a way no one they knew could probably understand.
She’d been right about the stone monolith being the palace. After what seemed no time at all, they arrived at a security checkpoint, where they had to show their passports.
Once admitted, the car began a slow ascent up the hill, passing more manicured bushes than Leyla could have counted. She wondered briefly how many full-time groundskeepers it took to keep such a place looking perfect.
The palace turned out to be made up of more buildings than she’d noticed from the balcony. In addition to the main one, there were several other large ones clustered nearby. Through a break in the trees, she noticed a sunny field with horses.
The place had everything.