by Holly Rayner
As soon as he said it, Khizar realized that it wasn’t true anymore. So, he took a chance and added what he truly felt.
“At least, I hadn’t, until I met you.”
He met her eyes, and saw that she wasn’t furious anymore. Her expression had softened and was more understanding. Khizar comprehended now what he’d been missing all along: he never had a chance of being happy without opening up and trusting someone.
But before he had another chance at being happy, he needed to admit that he’d messed up.
“I am so sorry for hurting you, Jacqui. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that I knew Bill Bauer, and that you were related to him. I’m sorry I made such a hash of our relationship.
“For what it’s worth, once I met you, I really did want to make you happy. And I wanted to protect you, or at least help to make your life a little better. I may have started out with a plan, but somewhere along the way, once I got to know you, my plan stopped being important.”
He lifted one shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I would like to help you finish what we started by finding out what Bill left for you.”
Khizar sat still as Jacqui watched him. He knew the next few minutes would determine his future, and although he didn’t deserve her mercy, he hoped.
Chapter 19
Jacqui
Jacqui wasn’t sure what to say. She was furious and hurt, but she understood. Losing someone so close to you was hard; it fundamentally changed a person.
She’d been lucky, finding two people who wanted to adopt her. The Danvers had made a family with her; she’d always felt like they were really her parents, just a second set of them.
If she hadn’t found them? Who knew what would have become of young Jacqui. She might have grown up hardened and untrusting.
And yes, Khizar had his parents, but losing a sibling had to be just as devastating. She could appreciate that he had also lost the ability to trust others. But that didn’t excuse his actions over the previous month.
“I understand that you didn’t want to get close to me. Why didn’t you just ask me about my great-uncle?”
Khizar sighed, which to Jacqui sounded like he didn’t know how to explain.
“Bill never mentioned you, but then, he never mentioned any family. I didn’t know why, and I thought it prudent to learn more before bringing him up. By the time I proposed, I thought I was in too deep to simply ask.”
“If Bill never mentioned me, how did you know so much about me?”
Khizar shifted uncomfortably.
“I have an investigator on staff and he did some research into your background.”
Jacqui’s eyes widened. “You had someone investigate me?”
“It’s standard procedure when we’re looking to acquire an asset,” Khizar said.
Jacqui slowly tilted her head. “Excuse me? An asset?”
Awareness dawned on Khizar’s face and he held out one hand in supplication.
“Not you. The mine. Bill’s mine. More specifically, the Bauer Diamond, which I thought was connected to the mine. Bill had given his entire fortune away, and when he agreed to sell the mine, I thought it was because he needed the money. I had offered to buy the Bauer mine because I had hoped Bill would tell me more about the diamond. When he died—before the sale could be completed—I had research done into who would inherit the mine, and the diamond. That information led me to you.”
“So, this whole time you’ve been looking for the Bauer Diamond?” Jacqui asked.
Khizar nodded. “I’ve wanted to buy it for several years now. It would be a great asset.”
“And again, I have to ask, why didn’t you just tell me you were looking for the diamond?”
“The diamond is a legend. Bill hid it away because too many people wanted it, and he wasn’t willing to sell. If you did know about it, I assumed you would have the same caution Bill did. I didn’t think you’d just tell me.”
“So, you decided to make me fall in love with you, and then propose? And when I said yes, you figured I’d just tell you about my great-uncle and his diamond.”
Khizar half shrugged. “Yes? And that plan kind of worked.”
Jacqui glared at him. “Not helping your case any.”
He nodded. “Sorry. Look, it was an awful plan. I should have just asked you.”
“Is that why you bought everything in the bakery to give away?” Jacqui asked, determined to hear the whole sorry tale, as much as it hurt.
“It’s why I bought everything in your bakery. I do engage in charitable giving; that’s something my parents taught me at an early age. I don’t generally do it in such an ostentatious way, but it seemed like a good way to impress you.”
“And the dates and the trip to Hawaii?”
“I enjoyed your company. And yes, Hawaii was meant to impress you, but I also wanted to do something that made you happy. I found that I enjoyed seeing you smile, and sharing my extravagant lifestyle seemed to be a fun way to do that.”
“And the proposal?”
Jacqui hated how small her voice sounded when she asked that question.
“I had built my plan around it, and had already set things in motion. I thought I had to go through with it,” he said, and then hesitated.
Jacqui sat and waited for him to continue. She wasn’t sure there was anything he could say, but she would listen.
“Getting to know you has been one of the greatest honors of my life. It’s also been more fun than I could possibly have imagined. I found that I liked spending time with you, and I found myself attracted to you. I pushed that idea down and refused to give it any credence.
“The first time we kissed, on the beach at sunset in Hawaii, I was more affected than I looked. And over the following weeks, I found myself thinking of you more and more, not as a means to an end, but of how much I liked you.
“As soon as I proposed, I regretted that it wasn’t for real. And then I realized that I wanted it to be real. I wanted to be the man you thought I was.
“I don’t know exactly when it happened, but I fell in love with you, Jacqui. My feelings for you have been growing since we met, and I’m sure that if we had taken things slower, we would have ended up in the same place.
“I want to marry you, to build a life with you. I wish I had done things differently, but I don’t regret proposing. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I’m a better person because I met you. If you don’t want to go through with our engagement, I understand. I don’t deserve another chance.”
“Do you want another chance?” Jacqui asked.
She wasn’t sure how she felt just yet, but part of her reveled in the fact that Khizar was finally being open and honest with her.
“Yes. We can start over, if you like. Or, we can go from here. But I’d like very much the chance to win your trust and love.”
Jacqui nodded. She stood, and when Khizar started to follow her, waved him back down. She paced in a slow arc around the edge of the pond, wanting a moment to think.
She’d known that something was off. Maybe it was her parents mentioning it, maybe it was some other instinct, but it had seemed too good to be true. Jacqui recognized that she’d ignored those whispers of concern, caught up in the whirlwind of Khizar’s courtship.
Still, she’d really had fun. It wasn’t just being treated like a princess or the luxury she wasn’t used to, it was that she laughed with Khizar; that she genuinely loved being around him.
Plus, he’d treated her with respect and kindness. Except for that one not-so-little lie that their relationship was founded on. Did it all balance out in the end?
There was no doubt in her mind that Khizar was telling the truth now, or that he sincerely regretted his actions. And she was in love with him. Even with everything he’d done, she couldn’t deny that fact. But was it enough?
Jacqui walked back to the bench and sat down next to Khizar.
“I don’t know what to do.
”
Khizar nodded. “I understand. You don’t have to decide anything tonight.”
“Thank you,” Jacqui said softly.
“I do have something for you. I’d like to go ahead and give it to you, if that’s okay.”
Jacqui nodded and Khizar reached into his jacket, pulling a small box out of the inner pocket. The box was silver and metallic, with a thin red ribbon wrapped around it and tied in a curly bow.
He held the box out to her, and she took it tentatively. She turned it over and felt something shift inside.
“You’re not going to propose again, are you?” she asked, her eyes filled with mirthful tears.
“Not today,” he smiled. “I tracked this down when we were in Milwaukee, before I proposed, actually. Whatever happened, I wanted you to have it.”
Jacqui was curious now, and carefully pulled the ribbon off the box. She slowly pulled the lid of the box up and off. There was a layer of silk cloth, folded; she picked that up and laid the silk inside the top half of the box.
Inside the box, sitting on a layer of plush, folded velvet, was a pocket watch. The newly-polished gold gleamed in the soft lantern light. With shaking hands, Jacqui slowly removed the watch from the box, holding the round object like a treasure, letting the chain drape over her fingers.
She turned the watch over and found the word “Always” engraved on the back, right above her parents’ names and the date of their wedding.
Jacqui gasped through tears, one hand held to her mouth and one holding on to her father’s pocket watch for dear life.
“Where did you…Khizar, how did find you find my father’s watch?”
He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug.
“The investigator I have on staff is very good. Plus, this watch is a piece of true craftsmanship. This is my world. It took some digging, but he and I were able to track it down.”
“You found it before you proposed?”
“I found out where it was, but it required a trip out of Milwaukee to get it. I retrieved it right before I flew back to the city. I wanted to polish it and make sure it was in working condition before I gave it to you, and I didn’t have time to do that before our dinner that night. When you were napping today, I took it to my best jeweler, who is an expert at cleaning and repairing watches, and it didn’t take him long to make the watch perfect for you.”
Jacqui clutched the watch in both hands, holding them to her face as she cried. She’d lost so much of her parents, and Khizar had tracked down this precious object that was dearer to her than anything else. He hadn’t needed to do that. She’d said yes to his proposal without it, with no expectation of even asking him to find it.
But he’d listened when she’d said it was important to her. And he’d taken the time and effort to track it down. That meant something.
It was an act of love.
Jacqui brushed her tears away and studied him. He had been more open since their trip to Alabama. He’d introduced her to his parents, and shown her his city and his home. He’d apologized, sincerely.
They still needed to talk about things, but Jacqui no longer felt any of the uncertainty she’d felt before.
“Thank you, Khizar.”
She moved before he expected it, throwing her arms tightly around his neck.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her. “I love you, Jacqui.”
She pulled back just a little and smiled at him. “I love you, too, Khizar.”
Khizar narrowed his eyes. “Does this mean you forgive me?”
Jacqui laughed, and ran one hand across her eyes again.
“It means I forgive you.”
Khizar lifted his hand to her face and wiped away a tear that she’d missed. He left his hand on her cheek, and she leaned into his warmth. He shook his head once, like he couldn’t believe that she was there, and leaned his head down to kiss her.
Their lips touched and Jacqui thought it was the sweetest kiss she’d ever experienced. They knew each other now, and with no barriers between them.
And she knew they would be happy together.
Chapter 20
Khizar
Jacqui slept in the next morning, and when Khizar woke up, he laid there and watched her.
She looked peaceful again. He’d messed up so badly that the fact she was still there felt like a miracle. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, and so whatever they found today, he was committed to making sure that Jacqui was happy.
This kind of quiet moment was new to Khizar; he found that he liked it. Jacqui stirred and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Khizar watching her, her lips curled up into a smile.
“Good morning,” he said and reached out to smooth her hair with his fingers.
He did it again because he liked touching her hair, and she smiled again.
“Good morning,” she replied.
“Do you still want to see Bill’s mine today?”
Jacqui pushed herself up so that she could sit cross-legged under the covers.
“Yes. I think we should go this morning, if we can.”
Khizar nodded. “Then we shall. I’ve arranged for a car and driver. We can leave whenever we’re ready.”
“How about breakfast first?”
“And hot chocolate?”
Khizar grinned at her, having learned of her preferences for the drink instead of coffee.
“Please. Or maybe both. I slept well, but I think I could use the extra kick to get going this morning.”
Khizar leaned over and kissed her.
“Whatever you want. Your wish is my command.”
Jacqui laughed and pulled his head back down to hers. “In that case…”
The kiss was full of promise, and Khizar’s head was spinning by the time he let her go. Jacqui’s smile was all the kick he needed that morning, so he kissed her one more time, quickly, and then leapt out of bed.
“Breakfast and your carriage await, my love,” he said, holding a hand out to her.
Less than an hour later, they were standing outside Khizar’s building where a rugged four-wheel drive vehicle waited for them. The SUV was a little beat up, but sturdy looking.
The driver got out of the front and walked over to greet them.
“John, thanks for coming along with us today,” Khizar said as he shook the man’s hand.
“No problem. You all ready?”
Khizar nodded. “Let’s go.”
Jacqui gave him a look that asked who their driver was, so Khizar explained as he helped her climb into the vehicle.
“John handles security for my company. I asked him to accompany us today. I don’t believe anyone is still out at Bill’s mine, and to my knowledge, no one knows we’re looking for the diamond. I simply wanted to take every precaution.”
“That makes sense. Thank you for thinking of it.”
Khizar smiled at her.
“Plus, I can show you some more of the countryside as John drives.”
John turned his head over his shoulder as he pulled the SUV out into the bustling city street.
“The drive should take about an hour, boss. The roads look pretty clear all the way out, as least as far as there are roads.”
Jacqui raised an eyebrow at that remark.
“Where we’re going there’s no road?”
John laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”
They drove out of the city, the tall buildings turning into shorter buildings, and then gated communities. After half an hour, they were well into the desert.
Jacqui looked out the window at the passing scenery.
“I’ve never been in a desert before. I didn’t realize there would be trees.”
Khizar nodded.
“In this area, yes. One reason Bill’s mine was so productive is that this area used to be a giant river bed. You can see where the water carved out the hills in the distance.”
Jacqui looked in the direction he was pointing.
Khizar added, “Unlike bigger deserts, thi
s area is more of a high plateau. We’ll get to the endless sand shortly, though.”
True to his word, after a bit more driving, they crossed into an area that was mostly sand dunes.
John pulled the car off to the side of the road.
“Either of you need to stop for anything? This is the last point I’d suggest getting out of the car for a while.”
Khizar looked to Jacqui, who shook her head. “I’m good. Let’s go.”
Khizar lifted a hand and pointed. “Onward, then.”
John nodded and turned back to face forward.
“Okay. We’re going to head off-road here, and cross the dunes. It’s a more direct route, but also one that most people wouldn’t take.”
John put the vehicle back in motion and after driving a few more minutes down the road, turned off into the sand.
Khizar was used to this kind of travel; he’d been out this way to Bill’s mine once or twice before. He turned his head to check on Jacqui. She grinned at him as they both bounced as the SUV rolled over the bumpy sand.
“I thought sand was a lot smoother than this, too!” she said.
She’s having fun, Khizar thought happily. And I am, too, he realized. Although he’d done this trip before, and had certainly spent much time in the desert, seeing it through her eyes was new.
He pointed out the window at certain landmarks as they drove. Jacqui asked questions, interested in all of it. This was one of the things he loved about her—she was curious about everything, and she wasn’t afraid to ask. He shared that spirit of adventure.
They were going to have so much fun together, he thought, and reached over to squeeze her hand.
A few miles out from the mine, John slowed down. They hadn’t seen anyone, but Khizar knew the man wasn’t going to take any chances.
Jacqui stared out the window as they approached. The actual mine was hard to see until you got close, Khizar knew. Right now, it was all outbuildings where equipment had been stored, and single-story office buildings where Bill’s overseers had run day-to-day operations.