by Leslie North
She should not get hung up on Yaseen. Their marriage wasn’t a real relationship, and it wasn’t meant to be one. It was far more prudent to keep her feelings contained and at a neat distance from Yaseen. Her body, however, had other plans. Every inch of her wanted more of his touch. She found herself leaning toward him almost unconsciously and straightened, focusing on his face. Another mistake. Yaseen’s face was a masterpiece—strong jaw, fiery dark eyes, and full lips. She knew exactly how those lips felt against hers. She wanted those lips against hers. Maybe she could focus on the buttons of his shirt. No, that only drew her attention to his muscles. He had an impressive set of muscles. Very impressive.
Kara swallowed hard. The man in front of her was so different from the man who had worked her over in bed six months ago. If it weren’t for yesterday’s kiss, she’d think he was a completely different person.
As if he sensed her thoughts, he looked at her. Kara shut out the thought of his ripped, muscular body moving above her own. What had they been talking about? She had no idea.
“It’s time.” Yaseen placed a hand on the small of her back to guide her into the helicopter. That single touch ignited all her memories, bringing them roaring back to the forefront of her mind.
She took a deep breath and settled into her seat. Now wasn’t the time. The helicopter lifted off, taking them soaring above the site.
“You’ll notice that there are several ruins at the outskirts of where the complex will be.” Below them, a small team of people were marking the boundaries of the lot with flags. “The ruins will be incorporated near the entrance. Everything else about the facility is modern.”
“Is there an extra cost to incorporating the ruins?”
“More than a building on a blank lot, yes,” said Cid. “But the costs would have been the same for any other site with natural features.”
“So the spend on those designs won’t be an obstacle to recouping the investment?”
“A little harder,” said Cid. Kara wanted to reach out and put her hand over his mouth. “The thing that will take us into over-budget territory is the interior design. The building itself will have top-of-the-line security features, and the complex can double as a shelter in case of an emergency.” Cid peered down through the window on the other side of the helicopter. “Even so, with the agreed-upon specifications in mind, the project is at the lowest feasible costs. We should consider a higher margin of overruns. Or…you two should.” He glanced between Yaseen and Kara.
“Is there enough money in the city to turn any profit?” Yaseen sounded thoughtful, but Kara knew there was more to this than simple musings from the sheikh. “I mean, does Mennah have the population to support the operations once the facility is built?”
Cid paused. Don’t say it, thought Kara. Just don’t say it. Say anything but what you’re going to say. Come on, Cid.
“Not at first.” It took everything in her body to keep from sagging in her seat. “The complex isn’t going to turn a profit right away. Maybe a few years in. This project—”
“—wasn’t designed purely for profit,” she interjected. “This is about improving things for the community long-term. It will have a positive impact from the moment it opens, even if that’s not measurable in dollars right away.”
Yaseen looked at her, skepticism written on his face. Don’t say “we’ll see,” thought Kara.
“We’ll see,” said Yaseen.
“The other thing I wanted to bring up while we’re meeting is road access,” said Cid. The helicopter turned in a wide arc, giving them another view of the construction site. At the edges of her consciousness, she heard Yaseen ask another question. This one had to do with revenue. Was he really this focused on making money? Could he honestly not see the bigger picture?
Kara frowned. She didn’t like the profit-obsessed side of him. It had been on full display from the moment they first sat in that meeting room together.
She became aware of Cid asking a question too late. “What was that?” Kara tapped her headphones and shook her head. “I didn’t hear.”
“I said, was there anything else? We can circle the site again if you need to, but otherwise, I’m ready to move on to the 3-D model.”
Cid thought he was going to be leading the presentation. And up until now, Kara had thought that was a perfectly sensible idea. But it wasn’t. She’d never been so certain of anything. Cid would only agree with Yaseen, and the two of them would decide together that the sports center wasn’t viable after all. If not that, some other disaster would work its way into the project.
Kara needed to take matters into her own hands.
Luckily, she was very good at that.
They convened in a small meeting room in a rented space in downtown Mennah. The office looked out over the city’s main boulevard, which even at noon was less busy than some of the quieter moments in the capital. Yaseen settled into a chair on one side of the meeting table and waited for Cid to stand at the head to give his presentation.
“Cid. Wait.” Kara’s voice at the door made him turn his head. For a moment she stood framed there, a silhouette in the sunlight coming from the opposite windows, her hand on Cid’s arm. Jealousy flared in him, pure and strong. She was only touching his elbow to stop him from coming in, but he wanted—foolishly, desperately—for her to be touching his elbow, and only his. Yaseen snapped open the portfolio on the desk and took out his pen. What could she possibly have to say to Cid that Yaseen shouldn’t hear? He took a deep breath and got himself under control. Soon, Cid would start speaking, and they could all move on.
But Kara stepped to the head of the table and flicked the switch on the small projector there. Cid took a seat across from Yaseen. A pleasant surprise washed over him in stark relief to the envy that had threatened to engulf him moments before. He’d rather listen to her speak. Even if it made him think of kissing her at the ruins yesterday. She’d made a little sound against his mouth, a small sigh...
“Mennah was chosen by the committee because this city stands to gain the most from the construction of the sports center.” Kara clicked the remote that controlled the presentation, and a shot of Mennah filled the screen. “Mennah doesn’t have a sports complex or a community center, but it’s home to many schools and a vibrant population.” More pictures—a local school, the marketplace in full swing, a mother walking with her son. “We know from the research that engaging in recreational activities reduces stress. It helps kids improve many different skills, and it boosts their self-esteem. The center is built with the entire family in mind—moms who need to gather with other moms, dads who want to teach their children sports, and even young children, who might not be ready for organized sports. That’s why we included a nursery, several play spaces, and a lounge. That’s why we didn’t stop at the indoor gym.”
Yaseen’s mind warred with him. He had never wanted to watch her more in his life. Kara’s maternity dress was meant to be a simple sheath for work, and here his body came, acting as if it was a sultry dress for the club. Detail photos of the building’s blueprint flashed up on the screen, providing a backdrop for her, her, her.
“This complex will also encourage sports tourism, foster stronger community ties, and improve the quality of life for the people of Mennah. And it will do that right away.”
“You haven’t mentioned profitability.” He could not afford to earn his family’s attention only for them to see that he was willing to stake part of their fortune on the woman he’d had a fling with, even if she was now his wife and the mother of his child. Yaseen had a reputation for making good business decisions. He wasn’t going to start taking on losing propositions now, no matter how much he wanted Kara. “That’s been completely left out of this presentation.”
She acted as if he hadn’t spoken. “During construction, the residents in Mennah will benefit from the construction jobs. We’ll have dozens of people working in the initial phases, with plans to add more as construction progresses.”
“And the profitability when it comes to the center itself?” He leaned back in his chair, heart beating fast. Tension snapped between them. Kara’s blue eyes pierced his, and she pursed her lips. Across the table, Cid shifted in his seat.
“This is a multi-use complex.” Her voice was soft, deadly. “It includes areas for track and field, soccer—sorry, football—and cricket.” Yaseen could not take his eyes from her lips. Kara wore a bright red lipstick. He couldn’t help it. “We’ll be able to host tournaments of the three most popular sports in Raihan.”
“And do you have a plan for how much admission we should charge in order to break even, say, in the first year?” He couldn’t quite place the impatience that rolled under his skin. Was he irritated with her because of her focus on community benefit to the exclusion of everything else? Or was he impatient with being in public, with being separated from her bare skin by so many articles of clothing?
“Seating capacity is ten thousand.” Kara stabbed a thumb down on the remote. “But of course we haven’t only focused on sports. There are multipurpose rooms that can serve as conference rooms and a community center, which means that Mennah will be able to play host to virtually any kind of event. Groups from across Raihan can—”
“You’re not hearing my question,” he cut in. “How long will it take—”
“You’re not seeing my vision.” Tit for tat, interruption for interruption. Yaseen’s heart thundered in his chest, angry, defensive, resigned. All traces of relief he’d had from the wedding scattered. Is this what their marriage of convenience would be? Arguing until the bitter end? “This is a different type of investment, Yaseen,” Kara insisted, her tone softening. She bit her lip, white teeth on red, and for the first time, he thought he saw her confidence slip a little.
Yaseen got to his feet. A quick glance at Cid told him that the man would rather be anywhere else on the planet than in this meeting. Cid stared resolutely down at the portfolio in front of him, pretending to scribble out a note. “For me, there is only one type of worthwhile investment—one that has a substantial financial payoff for my family and the royal treasury.”
Kara straightened up, eyes flaring. “If only the royal family were the only people in Raihan. We need to build wealth and stability on the ground in the communities first. That’s the only way you’ll see long-term wealth for your own family. The two go hand in hand.” Maybe he’d been mistaken about her losing her confidence. Her voice rang with it, and from the corner of his eye he could see Cid nodding along with Kara’s points. Kara locked her fingers together. “Think of the people of Raihan as an essential part of the royal family’s success. If you can do that, you’ll see that the investment you’ll make in the center will come back to you a hundred-fold. It just might not be in hard dollars. It just might not be in the way you expect.”
“I see you have it all planned out.” Kara did have it all planned out. She had the blueprints. The construction firm stood ready, just waiting the go-ahead from him. The complex itself would be wonderful, but it wouldn’t win him the regard of his family or advisors. They would, as they always had, see him as the middle brother without much of a purpose. “This meeting is over. I’ll see you back at the villa.”
Yaseen turned and went out—through the hall and down the stairs and to the street where the SUV waited for him. He closed the door behind him and leaned his head back. Every inch of him longed to tear off his dress shirt and slacks, and more than that, he wanted to do it in the bedroom with Kara. Instead, he’d been cockblocked by a business meeting.
“Take me back to the villa,” he told his driver without opening his eyes. “Call for the second car to pick up Kara. I have to get out of here.”
5
It had taken Yaseen a full twenty-four hours to regain his equilibrium after the previous day’s fiasco, and he’d excused himself from the morning tour of the site. Now he stood in the foyer of the villa waiting for Kara to return from the tour. It was the only item on their work agenda for the day. Yaseen had planned it that way, in fact. He’d seen how hard she pushed when it came to work. She wouldn’t listen to him about slowing down, taking a little more time in light of her pregnancy. So he’d taken the matter of the schedule into his own hands. Of course, he didn’t plan to tell her that. Yaseen had a feeling it wouldn’t go over well. But while they were in Mennah, whether he told her or not, they’d have afternoons free.
No—not exactly free. He had a plan for this afternoon.
Kara breezed in, her curves accentuating her natural grace. She gave a wave to the driver, called “Thank you!” and turned to find him standing there. Her hand flew to her neck.
“Yaseen. Hi. I didn’t know you’d be ready to go this early.”
“I’m ready. Are you?”
Kara’s eyes flickered to the floor. “A quick change, and then I should be set to go.” She frowned. “Is there anything in particular I should wear?”
He hadn’t told her the specifics of their afternoon excursion. Anything, he thought. If possible, I’d love for you to wear nothing. Stay here with me. Forget about the sports complex, forget everything else—
“I haven’t planned anything incredibly formal. Something comfortable.”
Kara winked at him, and heat lit up his chest. “I’ll be right back. Not wearing a ball gown.” She laughed. “I don’t even think I packed any fancy gowns.”
“I had the staff pack everything you could conceivably need,” he said, the words sounding flirtatious and sultry even to him. “You might find a gown in the walk-in closet, if you’re in the mood. But you won’t need one for our trip.”
She brushed past him, her scent trailing behind—coconut shampoo and sunscreen, and the hint of something floral. While she changed, Yaseen focused on not letting that scent get the better of him. He kept his feet firmly planted in the foyer.
“Ready,” called Kara. She reappeared in a twin of the blue sundress, this one in a pale pink that reminded him of roses. She spun around—a little carefully, he noticed. “Think this’ll do?”
His words stuck in his throat. Want. Pure and strong, it burned at the center of him. Yaseen wanted to run his hands up under that dress, feel where the thin layers of underthings met her skin. He wanted to unbutton them all, undo the tiny hooks and let them fall to the floor. But he only gave her a nod. “You look lovely. Come to the car with me.”
Kara followed him out to the front, where a JEEP capable of handling the countryside outside Mennah waited. Kara gripped his elbow.
“You’re driving?” Her eyes flashed with delight.
“I wanted to feel the wind in my hair.”
She laughed out loud at that. “I can’t picture you wanting to be windblown.”
“Why not? Doesn’t it sound nice?”
Kara paused, as if she might come back with a retort, but instead she smiled at him, lips pressed together. “Show me your driving skills, Prince Yaseen.”
On the drive around the outskirts of Mennah, he took a deep breath and spoke into what seemed like a comfortable silence between them. “Mennah has been home to many of Raihan’s most famous artisans, including my great-aunt,” he told her. Out here in the rolling hills, the city looked like a haven. An oasis rising from the landscape, with shining white buildings. He stopped to let a swell of nostalgia and longing float away on the breeze. “It’s a place to celebrate all the best things about our people.”
Yaseen kept his eyes on the road. He steered capably, strong hands confident on the wheel. Kara couldn’t look away. He spoke about Mennah so carefully, but so easily, as if he’d spoken about it all his life—which he probably had. She thrilled at the prospect of seeing another side of Yaseen. This was another side of Yaseen. Love shone in his eyes and his voice as he spoke. Pride shone in his voice. “My aunt chose to live here even when it was more fashionable to live in the capital city,” he said, a smile lighting up his face. “There were times when I was younger that I didn’t understand it. Who would want to be
away from all the activity? Now I understand it. I don’t get to visit nearly as often as I’d like.”
The memory of the friction between them in the meeting room prickled at the back of her mind, but Kara couldn’t help herself. “Why is it—” She took a moment to search for the right words. “Why hasn’t the royal family invested more in Mennah when it’s given so much to Raihan’s culture?”
“What makes you think we haven’t invested in Mennah?”
Kara stared at him from her seat. “Well, it took Community Connections getting involved to conceive the sports center. Are there investments here that I’ve missed?”
Yaseen’s eyes flicked to hers, a dark heat burning there that she felt down to the center of her core. Energy crackled between them. For an instant she thought he might concede the point. “Mennah has given much to Raihan, but every part of Raihan has contributed to what the country has become. Our country is successful because the government has made good investment decisions along the way.”
Exasperation warred with attraction, and she looked back out the window. No—she wouldn’t just stay silent and go along for the ride. That wasn’t why she had come to Raihan. And her time as Yaseen’s wife would be the best chance she had to make a lasting difference. She sat up straight and angled her body back toward Yaseen.
“But that’s exactly why I want to build the community center here. Why we want to build the center here. It will provide jobs and improve health and wellness for local families. It’ll give the children a boost to their self-esteem and a safe place to practice their social skills. It’ll improve everybody’s standard of living. Fifteen or twenty years down the line, you’ll see Mennah—and Raihan—reaping the benefits.”