with a nod, leaving another empty space behind. She was pining. She was pining so hard it was difficult to draw breath. She forced herself to stand where she was instead of running out into the hallway behind him.
Would he turn around if she did? Would he run back to her, take her in his arms, and take her to his bed?
And even if she did, could the arrangement ever fulfill her needs?
Her heart beat one word, half hope and half fear:
Maybe.
Zayid’s brothers had gathered in his office to discuss wedding matters. Not quite wedding plans—those, they’d left to the staff, like they always did. He’d called the meeting himself, jittery after leaving Laila’s room. Who was to say that Yaseen’s marriage would even begin? He could end up in a situation just like Zayid, going along with the force of habit and tradition despite imminent failure.
“Yaseen,” he said sternly. “How are things with your bride?”
His brother evaded his eyes. “She’s not...completely on board with the wedding plans yet. But she’ll come around.”
This caused a tight anxiety to knot at the back of Zayid’s neck. “There isn’t much time until you’ll be standing in front of the entire kingdom, saying your vows. You might want to make sure she’ll say hers.”
“Of course I will,” shot back Yaseen. “I’m giving her time. You have to approach these things delicately.”
“Just imagine needing such a delicate approach to get a woman to marry you,” said Nadim, their youngest brother, with a laugh. “I thought she was pregnant because you were such an attractive prospect.”
“Enough from you, Nadim.” Yaseen frowned at his brother. “You have no idea what it’s like to even think about marriage.”
“And thank god. Thank our parents, for having me last and best, so I don’t ever have to get married.”
“Please,” scoffed Zayid. “Once Yaseen and I are married off, they’ll be hounding you next. Don’t think you can escape it just by being the youngest.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Nadim’s eyes twinkled. “Speaking of escaping marriages, how is yours going, dear brother? Are you ready to call it quits yet?”
Zayid shot a glare across his desk at his brother, but he couldn’t maintain it. “It’s going well. Endless thanks to you for asking.”
The joking look on Nadim’s face faded to something resembling sincerity. “I’ve heard good things about her. And she’s an excellent conversationalist at every single dinner. You really picked a woman who knows how to light up a room.”
“I did. And she lights up every room. Even in the market. Even teaching children.” His praise for her poured out of him, an unstoppable stream until he discovered his brothers were staring.
“Wow,” said Yaseen. “This is more than convenience now, isn’t it?”
“No,” he said instantly. “I admire her, that’s all.”
His brothers exchanged a knowing look.
“Did you hear that, Yaseen? He admires her.” Nadim looked hard at Zayid. “Look at your face. You’ve fallen hard. Have you told her this? Yaseen’s wedding is in a matter of weeks.”
That deadline rang in the air like a bell. If he didn’t tell Laila how he felt, she’d be ready to divorce him the very moment the baby was born. “No,” Zayid said miserably. “I haven’t. She—” He didn’t want to admit this, didn’t want to speak it out loud, but here they were. “She and I have had a disagreement lately about her role in our marriage, and the way I—the way I approach things. She thinks I only care about Raihan and not her.”
Yaseen gaped at him. “And you haven’t told her otherwise, I suppose.”
“I tried to show her by visiting her in her room and making my requests for the next state dinner in person, but—”
Nadim groaned. “Zayid, this is pathetic. Tell her how you feel. Show her how you feel, and not with some boring state dinner invitation. Leave no doubt in her mind.”
Fire blazed through Zayid’s veins at the thought. Leave no doubt in her mind. If he wanted to keep her, then Nadim—Nadim, of all people, his playboy youngest brother and the man who never took anything seriously—was right. Laila had to know how he felt. And she had to know now.
17
Laila was reaching for the handle on the guest suite door, ready for her morning session in the studio, when a knock made her jump. A loud knock. She pulled open the door to find none other than Zayid waiting on the other side. Her heart skipped a beat at the flawless, clean-cut sight of him—but there