Waylaid (9 page)

Warmth ran through me, encasing my heart. What I felt for Addy was edging past like and attraction to something much deeper. “Aww, thanks.”

She gazed up at me. “So what happens now?”

“Since the truck is inside the fence, we can close the gate.”

A long, loud moo came from a Guernsey who had been scared away from the fence by the truck.

Addy turned toward it and frowned. “Oh shut up!”

I lost it.

Eyes wide, Addy took a half step back, and I was laughing too hard to even stop her.

Addy

When the doorbell
rang, I hurried to answer it before my mom could get there. I was expecting Graham and couldn’t wait to see him. I honestly didn’t think I could ever get enough of that man. Was that part of falling in love? Always wanting to be with that person no matter what?

I opened the door with a great big grin on my face. Then the happiness melted away. Oh no, it couldn’t be!

“Adelaide! My beautiful darling!”

Ali stood just on the other side of my screen door. Why oh why was he here? “Uh, hello.”

He reached out as if to open the door. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asked in his heavily accented voice.

I scanned the street behind him for any sign of Graham’s truck. Not here yet, but he usually showed up on time. Just this once, couldn’t he be late? The thought of him seeing Ali here made my stomach lurch. “Sure.” I opened the door and stood back, not wanting to come in contact with Ali.

He stepped inside, all decked out in his designer suit and what appeared to be Italian boots. The man had no lack of money, that was for sure.

Ali took my hands in his, running his gaze from my face down. He stopped a little too long, openly staring at my bare legs. I was wearing shorts, but it was summer, after all.

I tried to tug my hands away but he held firm. “Adelaide, why are you dressed this way? Any wife of mine needs to be modestly covered.”

Finally, I yanked hard enough that he let me go. “Ali, I’m not going to marry you. We talked about this.”

“But I want you. Therefore, you shall be mine.”

“It doesn’t work that way in America.”

“But you won’t be living in America for long, my princess.”

“Stop calling me that.”

Footsteps came from around the corner. My dad walked in and then stopped short. “Ali?”

“Ah, Mr. Lafollette. How fortunate I am to see you today.”

Dad glanced at me and then stepped forward to shake Ali’s outstretched hand. “What brings you here? To America?” After he let go of Ali’s hand, Dad put his arm around my shoulders. Was he trying to protect me?

Ali’s dark eyes stared at me so hard, I started to squirm. He switched his gaze to Dad. “Mr. Lafollette, when we spoke in the past, I made you quite a generous offer of fifty-one camels for your daughter.”

I rolled my eyes.

Dad tightened his hold on me. “And I told you that she wasn’t for sale. It doesn’t work that way here.”

I bit back a grin.
Go Dad!

Ali shook his head slowly. “Now then, I’ve come to make you another offer. A better one. My father has authorized me to offer you fifty-two camels! You cannot refuse.”

Dad let me go and moved closer to Ali. “Listen, you’re a very nice man—”

“I’m a prince.”

“Uh, prince, but no, I won’t be accepting your offer. Now if there’s nothing else?” Dad raised his eyebrows.

Ali frowned. “But—”

The doorbell rang.

No. Not now!
I glanced at Dad and hurried to answer it.

Graham stood on the outside of the screen door, smiling. He pointed behind him to the driveway. “Did you know there’s a limo parked in your drive, Addy?”

I swallowed hard and let him in. He smiled at me and then peered behind me. With a questioning glance to me, he tilted his head toward Ali.

I really,
really
didn’t want to have to introduce them. But I took Graham’s left hand and led him across the room. I introduced him to Dad first and they shook hands, though Graham didn’t let go of mine. I wondered what my dad thought of that.

I knew that Ali seeing me touching Graham would upset him. That’s the main reason I did it. Plus, I just liked touching Graham. “Ali, this is Graham Stewart. Graham, this is Ali Ahmad.”

Ali’s face darkened. “Adelaide, how many times have I reminded you that I am to be addressed as Prince Ahmad and—”

Dad interrupted him. “Ali, I think I’ve said all I needed to say on the matter we discussed. Have a nice day.” He smiled at Graham and gave me a wink before leaving. Before, it was as if he’d been trying to protect me from Ali. But as soon as Graham showed up, something changed. Was he passing me off to Graham? Giving him permission to take care of me?

Wouldn’t that be a kick? My own dad liking a guy I brought home enough to trust me to his care? Not that I needed to be taken care of. I was leaving soon for college, after all.

Ali gave Graham the evil eye and tried to stand up taller. Did he think he would intimidate Graham? I nearly snorted.

Graham stared hard at Ali. “So, Mr. Ahmad—”

“That’s
Prince
Ahmad.”

“Whatever. What brings you here?”

“I’ve come to claim my wife.”

“Oh? And who might that be?”

“The woman you are so disgustingly touching at this moment.” Ali’s angry gaze flew to our joined hands.

Graham glanced at me. “Addy? You planning to marry this guy?”

I shook my head. “No. And I’ve told him that. More than once.”

Graham dropped my hand and took a step toward Ali. “You heard her. She doesn’t want to marry you. I think it’s time you climbed back into your limo and left.”

Not to be deterred, Ali frowned. “Mr. Stewart, you don’t appear to have a— what’s that awful American expression— a pot to piss in. I on the other hand can give Adelaide everything she could ever want or need. You saw my limousine parked outside? It’s one of fifty that are in my father’s fleet. I had it flown here from Saudi Arabia so I could have my driver bring me to Adelaide’s home in proper style.”

Graham shrugged. “How nice for you.”

“Yes, it’s very nice. Being a prince has its advantages.” He switched his gaze to me. “Advantages that I fully intend on bestowing on my new bride.”

I huffed out a breath. “Now wait a minute—”

Graham gently touched my shoulder. “I’ve got this, if you’re good with that…”

I nodded. “Go for it.”

Without ever laying a hand on Ali for which I was grateful — no use starting an international incident — Graham took another step toward the smaller man. Ali had no choice but to retreat and tip his head back in order to see Graham’s face.

“Now see here, Ali.” Graham’s hands fisted at his sides. “Addy has told you repeatedly that she doesn’t want to marry you. I’m guessing she doesn’t even want to see you at all.” He glanced at me and I nodded. “So it’s time for you to leave.” Graham went over to the door and opened it. And waited. He never took his steady gaze off of Ali, who stared back.

Oh perfect. An international pissing contest.

Ali broke eye contact first. His face reddened and a small ridge along his lower cheek flexed as he clenched his jaw. “This is not over.” He stormed from the house, down the front steps, and hurried into the limo through the open door that his driver held for him.

As soon as the limo had backed out and careened around the corner, my shoulders relax. I hadn’t realized how tense I’d been. I grabbed Graham’s hand and pulled him to the couch. We sat down, with me turned sideways so I could see him better. “Thanks. I see you’re still rescuing me.”

“Like I said before. It’s what I do.” The corners of his mouth rose, but it didn’t last. “Addy, who was that, anyway? Was he really a prince?”

I brushed some hair away from my face. “’Fraid so.”

“And how does a small town Indiana girl meet up with a prince from…?”

“Saudi Arabia.”

“Ah.” He watched me and waited.

I sighed, not really wanting to have this particular conversation with Graham. I had hoped that the issue would never come up. “Last year, Mom and Dad and I took a trip to the Holy Land. Dad got a really good deal because he was helping a pastor friend lead a tour group. Anyway, our seats on the plane weren’t together. Well, Mom and Dad’s were, but I was seated six rows behind them. Ali had the seat next to me. And it was a very long flight.”

“So, there was lots of time to talk, right?”

“Yep.”

“And… how did that go?”

“At first it was fun. Meeting someone from another country and getting to talk to them at length is pretty exciting. Not many people get the chance.”

He nodded. “Sure.”

“But the longer we talked, the more he asked some personal questions.”

“Such as?”

“What I liked in a man, what I thought of getting married at my age.”

“I see. And did you ever consider—”

“No! Never.” I shuddered. “Believe me, the thought never entered my mind. I tried to let him know in a nice way that I wasn’t interested in getting married, but he didn’t pay attention. He just kept talking about it. About how wonderful it would be for me to meet his father and see the palace. By the time the flight was over, I was ready to deck him, though I didn’t think that it would be a great idea. One, because we were on an airplane and two, well the whole culture thing. Who knows? Ali might have thought a woman slugging him was a kind of foreplay.”

Graham chortled. “Well, that would be different, I’ll give you that.” He took my hand in his. “So if you’d already told him that you didn’t want to marry him, why was he here?”

“Ali doesn’t like to take no for an answer. He’s sent me texts, emails, and called me. Now I wished I hadn’t given him my number. I had no idea he had marriage on his mind when he’d first asked for my number. It just seemed like it would have been cool to have a friend on the other side of the world. He’d seemed really sweet when I first met him. But this is the first time he’s actually come here. I don’t know what to think.”

“I do.” Graham flexed one hand into a fist and back out. “Like you said, he’s not giving up easily.”

“I was afraid of that.”

“Seemed like your dad kind of…”

“Handed me off to you? I know. Did that make you feel weird?”

“No.” He reached up and touched my face with his finger, gently stroking my skin. “It felt right somehow. You?”

“Yeah, me too.”

He smiled. “Wanna go for a drive, Addy?”

The tension was already easing, and I nodded. “Let me get my purse and shoes, okay?”

Graham glanced down. “I like you in bare feet.”

“You do? Why?”

He shrugged. “Don’t know. Just seems to fit you somehow.”

“Barefoot? Like a hillbilly?”

“Not exactly.”

I smacked his shoulder and giggled. “Then what?”

“You’re just so down to earth. Going without shoes is so
you.”

“Now you know my secret.”

“Secret?”

I grimaced. “I hate shoes.”

“But I thought most girls loved shoes. Had a closet full of them.”

“I’m not
most girls
.”

“That’s a good thing.” He winked.

“Glad you approve, Mr. Stewart.” I heard a
mew
and turned. “Oh, there you are.” My black and white tuxedo cat leaped up onto my lap, turned in a circle and lay down, purring all the while.

“And who might this be?”

“This handsome gentleman is Romeo.”

“With a name like that, should I be jealous?”

“Nah. He sleeps with me but we’re just friends.” I gave Graham a sly grin. “Do you like cats?”

“Love ’em.” He grinned. “My mom has always had some around the house and there are lots at my uncle’s farm, of course.”

I ran my hand down Romeo’s back. “I didn’t see any cats at the farm.”

“I think you were too preoccupied with the
cows
.”

I shivered. “Cows are scary.”

“Cows are just nosy. They wouldn’t hurt you.”

“You didn’t see the gleam some of them had in their eyes when they stared at me. I’m pretty sure they were plotting something.”

“Like what?” Graham ran his thumb across the fur between the cat’s ears.

“One of them whispered to another that no one would have you but
her
. I think she planned to do me in, Graham. Death by cow glares.”

He sputtered out a laugh. “Well, I wouldn’t worry too much about that.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not into multi-colored cow hair. I like brunettes.” He reached out and tugged on a lock of my hair. Romeo took notice and batted at the hair with his paw.

“Ow! Romeo’s claw is stuck in my hair. A little help?”

A deep sigh came from Graham. “I think I’ve found my new full-time job.”

“And what’s that?”

“Rescuing you.”

“It’s much appreciated. Though it doesn’t pay very well.”

“Trust me, Addy. I’ll get payment from you.” He gently unwound my hair from the cat’s paw.

I sat up and smoothed my tangled locks. “And just what kind of payment are we talking about?”

“Remember when you said you couldn’t tell me your full first name without some kind of guarantee? So I wouldn’t tell anyone else?”