Callum’s head fell back. “Thank god that’s over.”
“We are deeply appreciative, Your Highness.” Rory was a little in awe of the sheikh’s devious mind. He certainly hadn’t thought of that and he should. “With regard to the tabloids, you should know I will ruthlessly protect my family with everything I have and I vow to learn from you. I don’t care what they think. I’m going to be happy and they can shove it up their tight arses if they don’t like it. I’m done playing by their rules. The people who care about me will accept the relationship.”
“After a while, we’ll be boring,” Callum explained. “Rory here will lose his hair and no tabloids will take pictures of that.”
His brother could really get on his nerves. “As you can see, my brother has plans.”
Talib smiled, the first genuine happiness Rory had seen since they walked into the room. “You should replace his shampoo with Nair. I did this to Kadir once. It was very amusing. It’s good to see you behaving as brothers should.”
“Oliver was once the joker,” Callum said quietly. He shook his head as though clearing it. “Sorry, it’s hard not to think about who he was before his last visit to the palace. I worry a bit that one of the reasons he won’t admit he wants Tori is because she’s so connected to this place. I don’t think he’ll ever walk through these doors again.”
Rory worried the same thing. “One day, Cal. Your Highness, we’re formally asking permission to court your sister-in-law. Do we have it?”
“As long as you promise you will never tell her this meeting occurred,” Talib said, getting to his feet. He strode to the small bar he kept near his desk. “Tori can be very independent. The idea that a group of men sat in an office drinking incredibly expensive liquor while deciding her future would likely rankle. Scotch?”
“Please. After the two-hour interrogation by your airport security, I need it. Did you know they set bomb-sniffing dogs on our private jet?” Rory gratefully took the tumbler.
“And drug-sniffing dogs. One of the German shepherds buried her head in my crotch. I was fairly certain I would lose my manhood then and there,” Callum admitted.
Talib threw back his head and laughed. “You have Rafe to thank for the greeting. He took great joy in torturing you. Now, I have something to tell you. Oliver is here.”
Rory sat up straight. “What do you mean? How?”
“By plane, of course.” Talib passed Callum a drink and made one for himself. “Though he came on a commercial jet. He arrived yesterday and asked my forgiveness for the manner in which he treated Tori. I knew what you were going to ask me because he’s already pleaded your case. He intends to talk to Tori tonight and ask her forgiveness as well.”
Oliver was here? Rory had to take a moment to wrap his mind around the fact. “He didn’t tell us.”
“I doubt he wanted you to know. Tori has no idea. He’s sequestered in a private room, and I don’t think he’s left, so only Rafe, Kade, and I know he’s here. I’m actually about to tell my cousin I want her to speak with him.”
“Alea.” Rory remembered the kind princess. They had met when they were younger, before Oliver married Yasmin. “He always liked Alea.”
“Should we talk to him, too?” Callum asked. “I don’t want to surprise him. He doesn’t like surprises. Well, not anymore.”
At one point, adventure had been Oliver’s middle name. Before Yasmin, he’d been the one to try everything. Rory had to pin him down to get him to work because he’d wanted to see the world. Rory had taken care of most of the day-to-day operations of the company and he’d definitely held the purse strings. He’d always wanted less responsibility, but the reasons Oliver had finally assumed responsibility had always bothered him. Oliver used the job to hide. “I don’t think it would do any good. Our presence here might unsettle him.”
“I think you should meet with him. However, I will leave it up to you. He claims he simply wants to talk to Tori and will then return home. I believe he’s trying to be a good brother. He doesn’t understand that the sacrifice is unnecessary. It’s up to her to teach him. It’s something a man learns from a woman or not at all. I hope Tori can get through to him. As for the two of you, I suspect you have an uphill climb. She’s not happy with any of you. What’s your plan?”
Rory knew what his plan was. “We corner her at the ball and show her how good it can be to have two men who care for her.”
“But with respect,” Callum said.
“God, I hope not too much,” Talib said with a groan. “Really, you should bed her as soon as possible. Courtship is overrated. Get her into bed, muddle her mind with pleasure, and before she knows it she’ll find herself with a ring on her finger. It’s the best plan of action. You’ll find your bedrooms are fully stocked with everything you could possibly need. A woman like Tori has to stop thinking and feel. That is your job. And if you don’t marry her quickly… Well, it’s been a while since we’ve had an execution.”
Yes, this was going to be his brother-in-law. He was glad he fully intended to treat Tori like a queen. “Thank you for everything.”
Rory looked to Callum. His brother sent him a hopeful grin. Tonight they claimed their woman.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Callum took a deep breath and knocked on the door, hoping this wasn’t going to end in blood. Lately, all of his encounters with Oliver seemed to culminate in someone throwing a punch.
He wouldn’t do that today. Well, he wouldn’t throw the first one, at least. If Oliver punched him, naturally he would be forced to defend himself.
And then he would ruin his perfectly good tux. Maybe he should have changed for the gala after this meeting.
The door opened, and Oliver reared back, eyes wide. “Well, I suppose I should have expected this. Rory is here as well?”
“Indeed. He’s getting dressed for the ball.” When Oliver stepped aside to admit him, Callum entered. It looked as if Rory wasn’t the only one running behind in his preparations. Oliver had apparently shaved and showered already and had dressed in slacks and a snowy white shirt. His tie hung loose around his neck. He’d slung his tuxedo jacket negligently over a chair. “I was surprised to learn you were here.”