Desert Rogues Part 2 (85 page)

She sighed. “How typical. You haven't seen each other in nearly six months and still you band together to side against me.”

Her words were serious, but Rafiq saw the sparkle of amusement in her eyes.

“I'm not willing to make a claim for your safety until I'm sure,” he said.

“Very sensible,” his father told him. “Speaking of which, who is this girl you want to marry. What do you know about her?”

“Enough,” Rafiq said, knowing their few moments of rapport would end now.

Nasri frowned. “There are many well-qualified young women you have yet to meet.”

“Yes. I'm sure you have a list.”

“We do. If you're interested.”

Phoebe took her husband's hand and squeezed. “Now don't get all huffy and regal with Rafiq. I'm sure he's chosen well.”

“Yes, but
who
is she?”

“Who was I?” Phoebe asked.

“Someone I adored from the moment I saw you.”

“A nobody,” she reminded him. “I had no family, no connection to anyone powerful. I hadn't even gone to college.”

“That was different,” he said, and lightly kissed her.

“This is different, too,” she told him. “If Rafiq loves her, then that is enough.”

The conversation reaffirmed Rafiq's decision that Kiley should wait to meet his father at the house. Far better for her to be relaxed and for Nasri to voice his concerns out of her earshot. Besides, it didn't matter what his father said. He and Kiley
would
be married.

The prince looked unconvinced. “She is of good character?”

Rafiq nodded. “Intelligent, caring, loyal and very kind. She will be a good mother to my sons.”

“And your daughters,” Phoebe said with a sigh. “What is it about you men and your sons? It's very annoying. Rafiq, I assure you, your father loves his daughters as much as his sons. You need not fear that they're ignored.”

“I am relieved,” he said, keeping his thoughts to himself. With Phoebe there to watch over her children, he had no doubt his father participated in their upbringing.

But it had been different for him. Prince Nasri had disappeared from his son's life and had rarely returned. Rafiq could remember months passing without a word. Birthdays and holidays were frequently spent in the company of nannies and tutors. When he'd been old enough to go to boarding school, most of his vacations had been spent there. It wasn't until he'd turned thirteen that his father had decided it was time for Rafiq to learn about his future duties.

They drove up the driveway. Phoebe smiled.

“I love this house. It reminds me a little of Lucia-Serrat, and yet it's completely different. You have the best of both worlds here.”

“Is that why my son and heir chooses to stay away for so long?” Nasri asked with a grumble.

Phoebe shook her head. “Be nice. You promised. Part of the reason your son stays away is you're an old grouch most of the time. You're not yet fifty, but you have the temperament of a man close to eighty.” She glanced at Rafiq. “Except when he is with the girls. Then he is happy and carefree. I suppose it's the responsibility.”

Arnold, the driver, opened the rear door and she slid out.

“You will be a big help when you return,” she told Rafiq as she stood on the driveway and smoothed her long, blond hair. “We are both looking forward to that.”

“As am I,” Rafiq said, speaking the truth. He missed Lucia-Serrat. Now that he would marry Kiley and start a family, he found himself ready to return.

The front door opened. Kiley stepped out and smiled.

“Hello,” she said. “It's lovely to have you here.”

Rafiq saw the terror in her eyes and knew that she would rather be anywhere but here. Still, he doubted Nasri or Phoebe noticed.

She'd dressed in a pale-blue dress that fell loosely to her calves. Her makeup was light, her jewelry conservative. She hadn't discussed her clothing with him, and he was pleased by her choice. She looked exactly right for the occasion. He could also imagine her brushing close and whispering to him that she wasn't wearing any underwear.

“You must be Kiley,” Phoebe said, stepping forward and holding out both her hands. “I'm delighted to meet you. At last someone has captured Rafiq's heart. I'd begun to lose hope.”

Kiley laughed as the two women hugged. “He sure has dated a lot. I like to think he got it out of his system.”

“Nasri did the same thing,” Phoebe said in a mock whisper. “I believe it makes him appreciate me more.” She turned to her husband and drew him near. “Here she is. Don't you adore her right away?”

Rafiq moved next to Kiley and put his hand on the small of her back. “Kiley, this is my father, Prince Nasri Majin of Lucia-Serrat.”

Kiley offered a very impressive curtsy. “It is very much an honor to meet you, sir.”

Rafiq watched as his father looked her over. He wasn't concerned—family opinion mattered little to him—but he wanted the meeting to go well for Kiley's sake.

At last his father smiled. “Welcome to our family, Kiley.”

“Thank you.”

Rafiq started to say they should all go inside, but before he could speak the words, Fari burst through the open door and began running in circles around everyone. She yapped and spun and shook with delight.

“Oh, no.” Kiley reached for her but couldn't catch her. “She's our new puppy. I locked her up in the bedroom. How did she get out?”

Phoebe laughed. “She's a wonder.”

“She's just a puppy,” Kiley said. “And still a little excitable.”

“Here.” Prince Nasri reached for her.

“Oh, you don't want to do that,” Kiley said, sounding worried. “When she gets excited, she—”

It was too late. Nasri picked up the puppy and brought her to his chest. Fari licked his chin and promptly peed down the front of his shirt.

K
iley and Phoebe sat out on the deck the following afternoon. Fari stretched out at Kiley's feet and dozed in the sunlight.

“It's beautiful here,” Phoebe said. “The first time I saw pictures of Rafiq's house I remember thinking that he'd wanted to keep a piece of Lucia-Serrat with him. While the view is different, the essence of the place is very similar.”

“He misses the island,” Kiley told her. Not that he talked about it that much, but she had a strong sense of his need to return home.

“And we miss him.” Phoebe smiled at her. “I adore my stepchildren. They're all so wonderful. And they seem to like me, which is great. I would have hated to be wicked and live up to that horrible stepmother cliché.”

Kiley laughed. “I'm not sure you could be wicked if you tried.”

“Probably not, but I do a great crabby. Just ask my husband.”

Kiley knew that the princess was in her early thirties, but she looked much younger. Perhaps it was the air of contentment that seemed to surround her, as if she had everything she'd ever wanted.

“Do you miss your girls?” she asked.

Phoebe nodded. “That's the only bad part of traveling. We were going to bring them, but there was a very special sleep-over planned, and that seemed much more interesting to them. Plus, I wanted to have time to get to know you, which wouldn't have happened with my girls around. They're very energetic.”

Kiley felt a whisper of envy. She wanted children and soon. Would Rafiq be happy if she got pregnant right away?

“The island is a wonderful place to grow up,” Phoebe said. “There's so much for children to do, yet everything is so safe. I couldn't have picked better if I'd tried.”

“It sounds lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing it firsthand. Although maybe as a tourist rather than a future princess.”

Phoebe's expression turned sympathetic. “A little nervous?”

“More than a little. There's so much to learn. I had to quit my job because it would have been too weird to be engaged and working for Rafiq. I was terrified I wouldn't have anything to do. Instead I'm busy all the time. I'm studying the history of the island so I understand the people. Then there's all the protocol, customs, expectations. It's a lot to take in. I want to be a good wife. I want Rafiq to be proud of me.”

“I can see that and I admire your energy. But isn't loving him going to be enough?”

“You'd think,” Kiley said, wishing it were. “It's my problem, not his. Rafiq has never asked me to learn anything or change.” But she was afraid he would be disappointed if she wasn't the perfect princess.

“You're lucky,” Phoebe said. “You won't be the wife of the crown prince for many years. That will give you a certain amount of freedom.”

“I know. It must have been difficult for you to step right into that role.”

Phoebe shrugged. “I was young and so very much in love. I would have done anything for Nasri. By the time I knew enough to be scared, I knew enough to get by. Then I got pregnant, and once I became a mother, the rest of it didn't seem so important.” She touched Kiley's arm. “Don't worry. You'll do well, and Rafiq will be there to guide you.”

“Thank you.” Kiley did trust that Rafiq would be a help. “You're being very kind.”

“I have an ulterior motive.”

Kiley couldn't imagine what she could have that the other woman wanted. “Which is?”

“I want to know if Rafiq has said anything about his father.” She held up a hand. “I know I'm prying and it's terrible of me, but I do so worry about those two. They've never been close and I know that hurts them both. I kept thinking that as Rafiq got older their differences would fade away, but they haven't. There is a distance between them. I'm sure you've noticed it.”

Kiley nodded slowly. She didn't want to be having this conversation. As much as she liked Phoebe, she wasn't going to betray Rafiq by sharing what he'd told her about his father.

“I know Rafiq enjoys his work,” Kiley said carefully. “And he looks forward to returning home.”

Phoebe smiled. “It's all right. In your position I wouldn't have said anything, either. I just wish…” She stared out at the ocean. “I wish things had been different. Nasri was so young when Rafiq was born. Still only seventeen. He wanted to go off to university in England, to grow up and have a life. He had the means to hire staff to look after Rafiq and so he did. He never saw the importance of being a father. He didn't think about a young child left alone.”

Kiley didn't want to think about it, either. It broke her heart to imagine Rafiq as a small boy, abandoned by both his parents.

“As Nasri grew, he fell in love and married. I'm sure his first wife tried with Rafiq, but soon she had children of her own. After she died, Nasri lost himself in grief. By the time he surfaced, Rafiq was away at boarding school. There was never a good time.”

“Perhaps the prince should have made time,” Kiley said before she could stop herself. “He was the father.”

“I agree,” Phoebe told her. “As does Nasri. He sees the mistakes he made, but they are in the past and impossible to rectify. I wish I could make you see how much he wants to be close to his son.”

Kiley didn't like being put in this position, but before she could protest, Phoebe shook her head.

“Enough of such seriousness. At least the cycle will be broken. Rafiq will be a better father to his children and you will be there for them as well. I can already feel the love between you.”

Kiley smiled. “Does it show?”

“You light up when he walks in the room, but isn't that as it should be?”

She thought about how happy he made her and knew she wouldn't change anything. “Yes, it is.”

 

Kiley did her best not to look at herself in the mirror. Seeing herself in formal clothing would only make her more nervous.

“How did they do it so quickly?” she asked, not really expecting an answer. “It's a formal event. Shouldn't that take weeks?”

“Phoebe is very good at putting parties together.”

“Lucky us.”

Kiley concentrated on her breathing and did her best not to throw up. Telling herself she shouldn't worry, that this was exactly like the big fund-raiser she'd attended with Rafiq only a month ago, was a big fat lie. It wasn't the same at all. Then she'd been one of a hundred guests. Today she was one of two guests of honor, as the party was to celebrate her official engagement to Rafiq.

There was too much to think about. What she was supposed to say when she greeted people. How could she remember the words to the national anthem of Lucia-Serrat? Or to make sure to keep smiling because everyone would be watching? She also had to worry about what she was going to wear for her official portrait, and the wedding planner, who was arriving in a matter of days, and the fact that they were leaving Fari alone for the whole evening and who knew what trouble she would get into.

“I should stay here with the puppy,” she said.

Rafiq stepped out of the bathroom. He wore a tailored tuxedo and looked so handsome, he took her breath away. He crossed to her, took her hands in his and kissed her fingers.

“I'm afraid I can't allow that. People would not understand why my fiancée wasn't at my side. It would cause a scandal.”

“I guess.”

“You will do well,” he told her.

“Do you promise?”

“Yes.”

If only she could be as sure. “You're used to this sort of thing. For me it's all very nerve-racking. I think I need to lie down.”

He chuckled and pulled her close. “You make me very happy.”

“You say that now, but after I say something inappropriate you're going to be giving me a stern talking-to.”

“Relax, Kiley. There is nothing to worry about.”

She drew in a breath, then released it. Staring up into his dark eyes she said, “You know I'm only doing this for you, right? You believe that I have no interest in the actual princess thing.”

“You've made that very clear.”

“And you know that I love you.”

His smile never wavered. “I know you give with your whole heart and that you mean what you say with all that you are.”

Some of her tension eased away. “Okay. Good. Sometimes I worry that you can't really bring yourself to trust me or anyone.” She shrugged. “I talked to Phoebe a little about your father. I think he wants to improve the relationship he has with you.”

Rafiq released her instantly. “Did she say that? Did you listen and agree to discuss this with me?”

“No. It wasn't like that. I didn't take her side. Actually, I didn't say much of anything. But I couldn't stop thinking about what she said, and it makes me sad that the two of you aren't close. He's your father, your family. We'll be moving back to Lucia-Serrat in a few years and you're going to be working with him. Wouldn't that be easier if you got along?”

Rafiq turned his back to her. “You don't know what you're talking about.”

“I don't know the details, but I understand the circumstances. He was wrong. Very wrong, but he was also young. Just seventeen. How smart were you at that age?”

“Do not involve yourself in things that are not your concern,” he said, his voice a low growl.

“This is my concern because I love you. I hate to see you hurt by this.”

He spun to face her. “I am not hurt. None of this touches me. You are wrong if you think I mourn a relationship we never had.”

“I don't believe you.”

“Then you are a fool. We will not speak of this any longer.”

He stated the command as if he fully expected her obedience. He had never been angry with her, and while she didn't like it, she wasn't going to let him dictate to her.

“You don't get to decide that,” she said softly.

His gaze narrowed. “What did you say?”

“You don't get to say what we will or will not talk about. That's a joint decision and I think this is an important conversation.”

“Then it is one you will have with yourself because we will not speak of it again.”

He turned to leave, but before he got more than halfway across the room, Sana appeared.

“The car is here,” she said, “and your parents are waiting.”

Rafiq nodded his thanks, then turned to Kiley. “Are you ready?”

Just like that? They weren't going to finish their conversation?

She collected her purse and followed him through the house. A part of her wanted to insist they continue talking, but she knew this wasn't the time. Not with his parents waiting and an official state party to attend. But it made her uncomfortable to have unfinished business with him.

The drive to the hotel was uncomfortable for her, mostly because she was aware of how much Rafiq
wasn't
speaking. But Phoebe and Prince Nasri chatted and Kiley did her best to relax.

When they arrived, she was unprepared for the number of photographers lined up outside of the hotel. There had to be close to a hundred. Panic seized her, making it impossible to breathe.

“We'll wait for the bodyguards,” Prince Nasri said.

Phoebe shook her head. “I don't understand the fascination. On a day-to-day basis, my life is very normal.”

Kiley gave a strangled laugh. Normal? Phoebe was a princess. They were royalty. And she was so not ready to be a part of that.

Rafiq glanced at her. “Are you all right?”

“No,” she croaked, barely able to form the word.

“Nerves?”

She nodded.

“I can cure them.”

He bent down and pressed his mouth to hers. The kiss was hot, long and very demanding. She felt her anxiety fade away as passion took its place. His tongue claimed her and taunted her until she could only think of her need.

He shifted and pressed his mouth to her ear.

“I want you.”

Desire made her shiver. The rear door of the limo opened and the night exploded as dozens of flashes went off, but all she could think about was Rafiq.

The walk into the hotel ballroom passed in a blur. When their party stepped inside, the orchestra immediately began playing the Lucia-Serrat national anthem, followed by the one for the United States. At the end, Prince Nasri stepped up to the microphone and welcomed everyone to the event.

Later, when they were at last free to escape to the dance floor, Kiley smiled at Rafiq. “You rescued me.”

“The situation can be intimidating. You'll get used to it.”

“I doubt that, but thank you, anyway.” She bit her lower lip. “Does this mean we're no longer fighting?”

“We never were.”