Kateb nodded slowly. “An impressive plan.”
“You wish you’d thought of it yourself.”
“The idea has merit, although living in the desert as I do, I am well out of the king’s reach.”
“Lucky you.”
Kateb took another drink. “You do realize the game may have consequences.”
Qadir thought about his encounter with Maggie that morning, in the garage. If those were the consequences his brother was talking about, he would welcome them.
She had been all sweet fire in his arms. Her body yielding, her moans telling him she was as aroused as he had been.
“I am not concerned,” Qadir told him. “I know what I’m doing.”
“As you wish.”
“Are you here to discuss the nomination?” Qadir asked.
Kateb shrugged. “I am not sure there is anything to discuss.”
“They will name you and then what? Our father will not be pleased.”
“I have never been able to please him.”
“If you accept, you face him as an equal.”
Kateb smiled. “The king will not see things that way.”
Years ago, Qadir and his brothers had been sent into the desert, as was tradition. Young royal sons were taught the old ways, living with the nomads who roamed the deserts of the area. Qadir had endured the time but Kateb had loved it. As soon as he had finished university, he had chosen to make his home in the desert.
Tradition stated that every twenty-five years a new leader was nominated. As Kateb had become one of them, he was expected to be named.
But he was already an heir to Mukhtar’s throne. Not the first in line, but still close to being king. For Kateb to accept the nomination of the desert people meant abdicating his rights to the El Deharian throne.
“What do you want?” Qadir asked.
“To stay where I belong. I am unlikely to be king here. Walking away from what will never be mine is not a hardship.”
But if it was so easy, wouldn’t Kateb have already made the decision?
“Apparently the kind of flowers matter,” Kayleen said with a sigh. “There are rules.”
“Ignore the rules,” Prince As’ad told her. “You are to be my bride. Do what makes you happy.”
“So imperious,” Kayleen said, although she smiled at her fiancé. “It’s easy for him to tell me to break the rules, but he doesn’t have to face the wedding planner.” She leaned toward Maggie, her eyes wide. “Do you know the president of the United States has been invited? I nearly passed out when they told me. Fortunately he can’t come. They’ll send someone else, which is great. I couldn’t help fainting if I knew the president was there.”
As’ad touched her cheek. “You are far too strong to faint.”
“Maybe, but I’ll sure be thinking about it.” Kayleen shook her head. “I’m sorry. Hearing all this talk about the wedding must be really boring for you.” She smiled. “Qadir especially.”
“You are so lovely that any topic is interesting,” Qadir told her.
Maggie had to press her lips together to keep from laughing. As’ad glared at his brother.
“Do not use your charm on my fiancée or you will suffer the consequences.”
Qadir only looked amused. “Are you so unsure of her affections?”
Kayleen rolled her eyes. “They get like this from time to time. Sort of a royal way of letting off steam. We can pretty much send it in any direction we want. You could get insulted that Qadir is pretending to make a play for me or I could be flattered he thinks I’m worthy or we would ignore them altogether and just talk about something else.”
Maggie had been nervous about the dinner with As’ad and Kayleen. She didn’t know either of them and an intimate setting would require a lot of conversation. She had wondered how it would be possible to keep her fake relationship with Qadir seeming real.
But she found herself enjoying the evening very much. The other couple was easy to talk to. Kayleen especially bubbled about the wedding. They hadn’t asked any awkward questions and seemed to totally accept her. Life being what it was, that made her feel a little guilty.
“Let’s ignore them,” Maggie said. “Tell me about your three girls. That’s a lot to take on when you’re just getting married.”
“I know,” Kayleen said, sounding totally thrilled. “But the girls are the reason As’ad and I are together. He adopted them—it’s a long, complicated story. Anyway, I was their nanny and we sort of, well…”
“Fell in love,” Maggie said, seeing the truth in her eyes.
“Yes. It was wonderful. He’s wonderful.”
Maggie watched Kayleen look at her fiancé. There was so much love between them. So much caring. She felt a flicker of envy deep inside. A strong desire to have the same for herself.
She tried to remember if she’d ever felt that kind of connection before. Had it existed with Jon? She realized she wasn’t sure. That their love had evolved slowly. How much of it had been proximity? Had they fallen in love because they’d both been together all the time?
She didn’t have an answer, but as she considered the question she realized she wasn’t sad. That thinking about Jon didn’t depress her anymore.
She probed more deliberately. Didn’t she miss him? Didn’t she want them to get back together?
The answer came quickly. No. She still liked him and admired him, but the longing was gone. Even the simple need to talk to him burned much more quietly.