Читать книгу Desert Rogues Part 2 - Сьюзен Мэллери, Susan Mallery - Страница 8

C leo eyed the long tables laden with wrapped presents. Each gift looked beautiful enough to be in a display window, and accompanying each was a letter, a blank form and pages of documentation.

“I’m going to bet there’s not a blender in the bunch,” she murmured.

Zara carried the first package over to the only empty table. Several chairs had been pulled up around it, along with a stack of file folders.

“If you think this is bad, you should go check out the other gift room. It has the official gifts offered by various governments and heads of state. I’m not even allowed to open those. Apparently, there’s an entire protocol staff to see to them. However, after a series of lectures, they finally trusted me to open and log in the private gifts.” She smiled at Cleo. “Still want to help?”

“Sure. But first I want to know the difference between ‘official’ and ‘private’ gifts.”

Zara handed her the blank form. “You need to be filling this out while I open. When you get bored, we’ll trade. As to the difference, I’m not sure. It’s how they’re sent or something. I’m just hoping no one gives us a pair of elephants.”

Cleo started to laugh. “You’re not talking about matching statuary, are you?”

“Nope. The king keeps swearing it’s a time-honored gift to a marrying couple. Something about fertility or long life, or maybe both. I could handle a small dog or a bird, but I don’t want to be responsible for any elephants.”

Cleo reached for the paperwork. “This one is from a former U.S. president.” She started writing on the form, filling in the spaces for who the gift was from and the date opened.

Zara wrestled with the box. “It’s heavy,” she said, tearing off wrapping paper.

Cleo watched her, again thinking how different their lives had become. Although while she might envy Zara her relationship with Rafe, she couldn’t envy her her princess status. Cleo didn’t think she could handle being a part of the royal family.

Don’t think about that, she told herself. Just one more on a long list of things she couldn’t think about. Like the fact that last night she’d nearly given in to Sadik, and that while he still wanted her in his bed, he had no interest in her as a person.

“This works,” Zara said as she pulled the top off the large white box, then withdrew a stunning crystal bowl. The elegant piece glittered in the daylight like a massive diamond.

“Ohh, I’m going to have to borrow that one,” Sabrina said, as she breezed into the gift room. “Am I too late? Did I miss the elephants?”

Zara laughed and turned to greet her half sister. “No elephants. I’m trying to convince myself there aren’t going to be any.”

The two women hugged, then Sabrina turned to Cleo. “I’m so glad you’re back,” she said, hurrying over and hugging Cleo, as well. “Your last stay was far too short. You must stay longer this time.”

Cleo nodded because she couldn’t speak. Her throat tightened as she stared at the two women. Both tall, slender brunettes with the same wide eyes and smiling mouths. Anyone looking at them would know they were sisters.

Sabrina took the bowl and held it up to the light. “Seriously, this is gorgeous. And I happen to know they make matching wineglasses.”

Zara laughed. “I thought I’d just steal yours.”

Cleo smiled, but her heart felt heavy. Obviously, in the past four months Sabrina and Zara had become close. It was bound to happen. Although they’d just met, they were in fact related by blood. They were both princesses, and Zara was marrying Sabrina’s husband’s second in command. They would be living in the fabled City of Thieves, several hundred miles from the Bahanian capital.

Sabrina set down the bowl, then pulled up a chair next to Cleo and grabbed the clipboard. “I can’t believe she’s put you to work already. So like her.”

“Hey, I torment my baby sister whenever I can.” Zara winked at Cleo.

Sabrina sighed. “I wish I’d grown up with a sister. I envy you two that.”

Cleo looked at Zara and Sabrina. Not only did they look alike, but they were dressed alike in expensive slacks and silk blouses. Cleo wore a loose cotton dress she should have tossed out the previous summer. “You’re the sisters. I’m just someone Zara’s mother took in. Not a relative at all.”

Sabrina shook her head. “You’re sisters in the truest sense of the word, and I’ll admit to wanting to be a part of that.” Her expression turned serious. “Cleo, I hope that we can all be close. I’d really like that.”

While Cleo was touched by her sincerity, she also felt a little uncomfortable. “This is where I remind you I’m the only nonprincess in the group.”

Sabrina playfully bumped her shoulder. “Maybe we can change that. I saw you dancing with a certain prince last night. Things looked intense.”

Cleo could feel heat flaring on her cheeks. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but that’s so not going to happen. I’m not in the market for an arrogant prince, no matter how handsome he might be.”

“Oh. So you think he’s handsome.”

Cleo pressed her lips together. Trapped by her own stupid words. “He’s okay.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.” Sabrina laughed. “Zara, we might have to do a little matchmaking with this one.”

Cleo thought about how Sadik was so hot to get her into bed now but hadn’t once bothered to get in touch with her after she’d left. In four months there hadn’t been a word from him.

“No matchmaking for me. Like I said, arrogant princes aren’t my style.”

“Too bad.”

Sabrina scribbled a few notes about the bowl, then helped Zara collect the wrapping paper and throw it in a trash container at the side of the table. The bowl, along with the letter and the paperwork, went onto a display table. Zara brought over another box.

Sabrina studied the accompanying letter. “This one is from the crown prince of Lucia-Serrat. It’s an island in the Indian Ocean. The crown prince of the island is a cousin of the king of Bahania.” She waved a hand. “Don’t ask, it’s complicated. But this guy is good-looking and a widower with four sons.” She glanced at Cleo. “He needs a wife.”

“Too bad I’m not looking for a husband.”

“You will be eventually. Although now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’d want to recommend my brothers. After all, our father was a bit of a playboy.” She frowned. “He was devoted to your mother, Zara. And he loved Reyhan and Jefri’s mother, at least that’s what I’ve been told. Of course Sadik has been faithful in his own way.”

Zara opened the package. Inside the box was a flat jewelry case. She opened it and caught her breath. “Can I accept this?”

She pulled out a stunning diamond necklace. Hundreds of glittering diamonds dangled, forming a vee shape. There were matching earrings and a bracelet, as well.

Sabrina touched the earrings and sighed. “Someone has fabulous taste. And, yes, you can accept it. If he’s related to Dad, he’s family, remember?”

Zara looked at Cleo. “At times like this I think about running for home.”

“This is your home now,” Cleo reminded her. Although she had to admit the necklace intimidated her, as well. But she had more important things on her mind.

“Sabrina, what did you mean about Sadik being faithful in his own way?”

Sabrina put the earrings back in the jewelry case. “Just that he’s continued to mourn Kamra all these years.”

Cleo was glad she was sitting down. The room tilted suddenly and her stomach began to flop over. “Kamra?”

“Sadik’s fiancée.” Sabrina sat back in the chair and picked up the clipboard. “They were engaged. It was an arranged match, but they seemed to get along well. She was killed in a car accident about three weeks before the wedding. Sadik took it pretty hard.”

“Cleo, are you all right?” Zara asked.

Cleo forced herself to keep breathing. “Fine. So you want to keep the necklace or is it going in the discard pile?”

Her question had the desired effect. Zara was distracted. When the next box turned out to be a half-dozen camel bridles from one of the nomadic tribes, Sabrina explained that there were actual camels to go in them. That sent the two women off into a discussion as to whether camels were a better or worse gift than elephants.

Cleo tried to participate. She nodded and occasionally added a word or two. She even managed to smile. But inside, she felt numb, and just beyond the numbness was a gaping pit of intense pain and betrayal.

Sadik had loved another woman. That woman had died and now he mourned her. No wonder he only wanted Cleo in his bed. He’d already given his heart to someone else.

She’d always known there couldn’t be anything serious between them, but somehow finding out that he had never been available made the situation worse. All her life she’d dreamed of being the most important person in someone’s life. It was her private fantasy. And now she knew it was never going to happen with Sadik.

Until that moment she hadn’t realized she had secretly hoped he would fall in love with her.

She pressed her hand to her stomach and felt hopelessness well up inside. As much as she’d thought about keeping the baby from him, she knew it wasn’t possible. Not only was he likely to find out, keeping him from his child was wrong. Which meant at some point she was going to have to come clean. And then what? Would he try to take her child away from her? How could she possibly come to terms with the royal family? How could she stay in Bahania and share in the upbringing?

Everything was going wrong. She should never have come back here. Then she looked at Zara and saw the happiness on her face. This was Zara’s time. Cleo couldn’t ruin it. Not by refusing to show up or by running off. Somehow she would have to get through the next week. Once the wedding was over, she would have time to think and figure out what she was going to do.

Cleo escaped into the gardens. When she was outside, she finally felt as if she could breathe again. She ached inside. She supposed that a sensible person might have figured out that Sadik had loved someone else, but then a sensible person wouldn’t have gotten involved with him in the first place. She felt well and truly trapped.

Worse, she still wanted him. Not just in bed, either. Even as her heart was ripped apart by the knowledge that he would never love her, she wanted to feel his arms around her.

“You need therapy,” she said aloud as she crossed the garden and sank onto a bench. She breathed in the scent of the flowers and tried to find peace in the beauty all around her.

The sky was a brilliant shade of blue. The scent of the sea blended with the sweet scent of hundreds of blossoms. She touched the edge of a late-blooming rose. Her finger caught on a thorn, and she yelped as a single drop of blood formed.

“Figures,” she muttered.

If only, she thought sadly. If only there was a way to change her feelings or change Sadik. But even if she was princess material, which she knew she was not, she couldn’t compete with a deceased fiancée. Kamra would be ever perfect in his mind—never growing old or looking tired or snapping back. No woman could compete with a ghost.

Cleo swallowed, then suddenly surged to her feet. Her stomach rebelled against all the emotion—or maybe just against her overly large breakfast. She barely had time to bend over one of the bushes before she vomited.

In an unfortunate quirk of timing, King Hassan chose that moment to take a stroll in his garden.

She didn’t know he was there until she straightened and he pressed a handkerchief in her hand.

Cleo didn’t know what to do. She wanted to run but realized she was crying too hard to see. Tripping would not be a good idea. Not only would it lack a certain grace, she didn’t want any harm to come to the baby.

“Come, child,” the king said kindly, putting an arm around her and helping her back to the bench. “Sit and catch your breath.”

Cleo allowed him to help her because her brain was too busy figuring out how she was supposed to explain throwing up in the royal garden. The king didn’t look angry, but she suspected he would want an explanation.

He sat next to her and took her hand in his. “There is a royal physician on call,” he said. “I will summon him.”

“No!” That was the last thing she needed. “I’m fine. It’s just all the excitement.”

A pretty pitiful excuse but the best she could come up with under the circumstances.

Hassan studied her. He took the handkerchief and wiped her cheeks. “I see tears. I doubt they are from excitement. Tell me, Cleo. What makes you so sad?”

No way she could confess that, she thought glumly. Talking about Sadik’s former fiancée would only get her in trouble.

“Is it Zara?” he asked.

“No. I mean I really miss her a lot, but she’s so happy here. Plus you’re her family—this is where she belongs.”

The king continued to hold her hand. “Cleo, I repeat what I told you before. You are welcome to make this your home, as well. I would be delighted if you would stay in the palace. Or if you would prefer, you could live in the City of Thieves. Either way you would be close to your sister.” He paused, then smiled. “I have to say that I would recommend Bahania. You do not strike me as the medieval city type.”

Cleo tried to laugh but found herself crying instead. Hassan pulled her close.

“Such sadness,” he murmured. “Tell me what I can do to ease your pain.”

His kindness only made her cry harder. Part of her couldn’t believe this was happening. Hassan wasn’t just Zara’s father, he was the king of Bahania. What was wrong with this picture?

Still, Cleo found comfort in his embrace. Her father had died before she was born, and she hadn’t had the chance to know him at all. She’d never had a substitute father while she was growing up.

“My daughter,” he said, stroking her hair. “Your troubles bring me discomfort, as well. If you do not explain what is wrong, I can not fix it.”

She raised her head to gaze at him. After blinking back the tears, she managed to speak. “You said ‘my daughter.”’

“You are the beloved sister of my Zara. That makes you beloved to me, as well.” He cupped her face. “You cry as if all is lost, but I know it cannot be so.”

Cleo wasn’t sure what weakened her resolve. Hassan’s gentleness, of course, but also his willingness to claim her. She doubted he actually thought of her as a daughter, but just saying the word was enough to shatter her reticence.

“You wouldn’t be nice if you knew the truth about my past,” she said, in a last-ditch effort to gather some control.

“I know all I need to. You are a part of my family. As such, I want only your happiness.”

She desperately wanted to believe him. Ducking her head, she grabbed back the handkerchief and sobbed into it. “I’m p-pregnant.”

Hassan continued to stroke her hair. “I see. Would you like me to have the unworthy dog flogged?”

Despite her desperate situation, the visual image of Sadik hanging in chains while being beaten cheered her immensely. She risked a quick glance.

“How disappointed are you?”

The king frowned. “Why would your pregnancy disappoint me?”

Cleo flushed. “I’m not exactly a virgin.”

“My claim on you as family is not conditional, my daughter. To me, you and Zara will always be perfection itself.” He dropped his hand to hers. “Now tell me of the man who has left you so. I do not see an engagement ring, so he has not done the honorable thing.”

Propose? The idea was laughable. As if that would happen. Cleo sniffed. “He doesn’t know. I’m going to have to tell him eventually, but first I want to figure out what I want.” She smiled. “I mean, I know I want the baby, but where do I want to live and what’s the best way for us to share in his or her upbringing?”

Hassan smiled. “I’m glad you want your child.”

She stiffened. “Why wouldn’t I? Obviously, this wasn’t planned, but I will never abandon my baby. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep us both safe.” She thought of how she’d been abandoned over and over again in her life. Long ago she’d vowed that when she had children, they would know she loved them more than anything in the world.

“I see the flash of a tiger in your eyes. That bodes wells. A strong mother has strong sons.”

Typical, she thought, starting to feel a little better. “I could be having a daughter.”

Hassan dismissed her with a flick of his fingers. “Regardless. You must come to terms with this jackal of the desert, Cleo. I will stand beside you in whatever way I can.”

While she appreciated his words, they brought her back to earth with a thump. What had she been thinking, telling Sadik’s father that she was pregnant? She doubted the king would be so accommodating if he knew the truth.

“You must not mention this,” she pleaded. “If people found out…” She bit her lower lip. How to convince him? “I don’t want Zara’s wedding spoiled by people speculating about me. She is so looking forward to the event. Please don’t say anything.”

“I agree.” He smiled. “Your secret is safe with me, Cleo.” He patted her hand, then rose. “Come. You need to be in your room and resting. I will have the kitchen send you some tea to settle your stomach. You must be strong for your son.”

“Or daughter,” she muttered as she rose, but had the feeling the king wasn’t listening. She also had a very bad feeling about spilling her guts. Somehow she knew it was all going to come back and bite her in the butt. As if she didn’t already have enough problems.

Twenty minutes later Cleo lay stretched out on her bed, sipping tea. The odd-smelling concoction actually made her feel better. She put the cup back on the saucer, then set both on her nightstand. Maybe a nap would make her feel better.

But before she could even close her eyes, her bedroom door burst open. Zara stormed into the room.

“You’re pregnant and you didn’t even tell me?”