CHAPTER TWENTY
Twilight set in swiftly after the sun sank into the horizon, bringing with it a pleasant fall breeze. Grateful for the cool respite—his body was practically burning up—Khalid leaned against the brick facing. For good measure, he crossed his arms so he wouldn’t break his promise not to touch her.
His defensive tactic didn’t prevent her from wanting to rip him a new a*shole.
“Of all the nerve!” she seethed. “I can’t believe you had the gall to show up at my engagement party.”
“Do you love him?” Khalid blurted, surprising even himself with his lack of tact.
Also blindsided by the question, she floundered. “Why…w-why else would I be marrying him?”
“I wondered the same thing since you were once so averse to matrimony.” Remembering the night she’d rejected his proposal, Khalid balled his fists and shoved them into his trouser pockets. His desire to shake her was just as strong as his longing to push her up against the wall and slide into her.
Once again, she averted his gaze. “Things change.”
“And the more they remain the same.” Heart on his sleeve, Khalid pushed away from the wall. “Olivia, I—”
The sound of a child’s wail interrupted his declaration. Khalid looked up at an open upstairs window. Why would anyone bring a kid to an engagement party?
“You’ve monopolized enough of my time.”
Monopolized her time? Angered by her flippant attitude, his hand shot out and latched onto her upper arm. “You’re not going to marry him. I won’t allow it.”
“W-w-won’t allow?” she sputtered, yanking her arm away from him.
“You don’t love him, Olivia. You’ll be making a huge mistake. I—”
“Is everything okay out here?”
Khalid cursed under his breath. Interrupted again! This time by the groom-to-be. Before he wrapped his hands around the guy’s throat, Khalid shoved his hands back into his pockets.
“Everything’s fine, Nathaniel. I was about to return to the party.”
“Return to the party? Aren’t you going to check on Karin?”
Her eyes swung to Khalid and then guiltily skittered away. “Yes. I-I was about to do that as well, but I got waylaid. If you would excuse me, it was nice seeing you again, Khalid.”
***
Reentering the house, Khalid sought out his brother. He found him cozied up in the corner with a petite, sandy-haired brunette with a honey complexion. Sporting a pair of thick glasses and possessed of average looks, she was far from Iz?l’s type.
“Let’s go.”
“We just got here,” his brother protested, “plus I’m enjoying myself.” Iz?l glanced down at his companion. “Charmaine was just telling me about the women’s clinic she and Oli—”
“I’ll meet you outside in five minutes.”
Khalid intercepted Harry on the other side of the room. “Thank you for the wonderful evening, but my brother and I are going to make an early night of it.”
“You’re leaving so soon?”
“I need to ensure the team has everything in order for our departure,” Khalid lied. His team was such a well-oiled machine he would only get in the way.
Harry set his drink on the mantle and walked Khalid to the foyer, only stopping briefly to instruct his housekeeper to retrieve their guests’ hats and coats.
“Wish we could have spent more time together,” he said, holding out his hand.
“I too.” Khalid glanced around for Olivia. “Could you give your sister my love?” Khalid moved to remove his hand, but Harry held on tight.
“That’s odd,” he said, his gaze assessing. “The last time you two were in the same room you didn’t speak a word to each other.”
“Are you sure?” Khalid’s heart pounded violently. “I believe we exchanged a few pleasantries.”
“Maybe,” Harry acquiesced, finally letting him go.
There was something about the way Harry scrutinized him that shook him to his very core. Eschewing any more small talk, Khalid walked to the front door alone. Thankfully, the maid was already waiting with his hat and coat.
“Are you in love with my sister?”
Khalid glanced at the housekeeper. Eyes wide as saucers, even she was shocked by Harry’s question. Despite being caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar, Khalid decided to come clean. He needed to tell someone he loved her after being interrupted not once, but twice.
“I fell in love with Olivia from the first moment I laid eyes on her.”
A muscle ticked in Harry’s jaw, the only indication the dynamic between them had changed. “It was you, wasn’t it?”
“Harry, I—”
An anguished cry exploded from Harry’s lips and the housekeeper scuttled away with a muttered, “Have mercy”.
Khalid didn’t put up any defense, and allowed Harry to slam him against the wall.
“I considered you my brother. How could you do this to me? To her?”
Khalid remained silent. How could he explain his obsession with Harry’s sister when he couldn’t understand it himself?
“Say something,” Harry growled.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Harry pulled on Khalid’s shoulders then slammed him against the wall again, causing the hall mirror to slide to the floor and splinter into several large chunks. Hearing the commotion, half the party guests crowded the foyer. Iz?l edged around the group to stand by Khalid’s side.
“I see a quick getaway is in order.” He bent down and picked up Khalid’s hat and coat.
“Let me go! I’m going to kill him.” Frothing at the mouth, Harry strained against the three men holding onto him. One of the men was Olivia’s fiancé
Khalid wished they’d let him go. The hate in Harry’s eyes cut him to the bone, and felt worse than any blow to the head.
“Harry! What are you doing?”
Olivia stood at the top of the landing. Like before, seeing her delivered a swift kick to Khalid’s midsection. If she married another man, it would completely destroy him.
“Go back to your room, Liv,” Harry roared. “This has nothing to do with you.”
“It has everything to do with me. Now stop making a fool of yourself.”
Mouth suddenly dry, Khalid straightened from the wall. He’d been so enraptured by Olivia’s reappearance, he’d missed the bundle in her arms.
“Don’t you dare,” Harry bit out.
“I’m sorry for how I went about things,” he said, addressing both Harry and Olivia’s fiancé, “but I don’t regret it one bit and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.”
Like the Red Sea, the group parted, allowing Khalid a clear path to the stairs, which he took two at a time. Remembering the house’s configuration from his original stay, he made a beeline to Olivia’s room. Nervous, he tugged on the hem of his jacket. For good measure, he reached up and smoothed back his hair. Several curls had fallen in his face during the scuffle downstairs. Confident in his appearance, he knocked but didn’t wait for permission to enter.
An impromptu speech already running through his head, Khalid turned the door knob. The moment he stepped over the threshold, he realized the room was empty. He paused a moment, and studied the furnishings. Simple yet feminine, Olivia’s personality was evident throughout the room from the stack of books by the bed, a small doctor’s bag on the dresser, to the silver tea service on the window seat.
Khalid backed out of the room. He paused on the threshold, a flash of color in the otherwise white room, drawing his attention. On the bed lay several multicolored silk pillows resembling the ones that had decorated their tent. Had she bought them to remind herself of her time in the desert?
Heart pounding, Khalid closed the door. He strode down the hall to the next room. Door ajar, light and the sound of Olivia singing spilled into the hallway.
Khalid edged closer. Olivia stood by the window, rocking from side to side, singing a lullaby. Her approach seemed to be working. Thumb in its mouth, the baby struggled to stay awake.
Khalid leaned his head against the door jam. He had a child! He’d been a father all this time and had no clue. Wanting a closer look, Khalid lifted his hand and knocked.
“Come in,” she said, without turning around.
Khalid seized the opportunity. He slid inside and locked the door behind him. Being in such an intimate space, after months apart, all the emotions he’d held at bay came welling to the surface.
“Is he gone?” she asked.
“If you’re referring to your fiancé, he better be gone. If you’re referring to me, I’m right here.”
***
Olivia turned around so abruptly, the blanket fell away exposing her bared breast. Due to the excitement surrounding the engagement party, she’d forgotten about her daughter’s final feeding. Before the commotion downstairs, she was just finishing up and was about to put her daughter to bed.
“Boy or girl?” His eyes locked on her breasts, Khalid moved deeper into the nursery.
“Girl.” Wary of his motivation and the surge of heat spiraling in her belly, Olivia pulled her gown back into place.
Father and daughter studied each other. “She has my eyes,” he whispered in wonderment.
“She has your nose, your lips and loopy curls. She’s yours through and through, Khalid.” Olivia walked over to the crib. To her consternation, Khalid followed.
“Now, I see how Harry put two and two together. What’s her name?”
“Karin.”
He smiled, obviously approving of the name. “May I?” he asked, already reaching for her.
Olivia nodded.
Khalid took their child in his arms and cradled her against his chest.
Rocking from side to side, he cooed down at his daughter. Equally enthralled, Karin stared back at him.
Overcome with emotion, Olivia walked over to the changing table and started folding a set of clean cloth diapers.
“What’s her full name?”
Hands shaking, Olivia picked up a hand-knitted blanket. “Karin Francesca.”
“Karin Francesca what?”
“Does it really matter?” Olivia slammed the blanket on top of a stack of Karin’s sweaters.
Khalid walked over and stood beside her. “Yes because she’s my daughter.”
“Her full name is Karin Francesca Bryant.”
“Bryant?” Olivia nodded. “We’re having her name changed tomorrow.”
A pair of baby socks slipped from Olivia’s fingers. “Tomorrow?”
“If not tomorrow, then as soon as I can procure a solicitor to draw up the papers.” He walked over to the rocking chair and sat down. Being inordinately careful, it took forever for his butt to hit the seat. Olivia would’ve laughed if she weren’t so angry.
“While we’re at it we’re applying for a marriage license.”
“A marriage license!”
Khalid placed a finger over his lips, but it was too late. Like a swelling tide, their daughter’s lips began to tremble, her caramel skin turned flush and her brow furrowed. Before all hell broke loose, Olivia stepped forward and plucked her from Khalid’s arms.
With a calming hand at the child’s back, Olivia swayed back and forth. “I’m fine with changing Karin’s last name because you’re her father and it’s your right,” she conceded, “but you can’t force me to be your wife. I’m engaged to someone else, unless you’ve forgotten. I believe you were just downstairs celebrating that fact.”
“More like in agony.” Khalid sat forward, a black cloud darkening his expression. “You will break your engagement with him and marry me.”
“Marry you?” Amused by his audacity, Olivia chuckled. “Look around you. We’re no longer in the desert. Your authority over me ended when I boarded the ship to take me back to the States. And don’t even think about trying it again. I’d never forgive you.”
Silently, he stood. He reached out and cradled Karin’s head, his fingers ruffling the dark curls so much like his own. “Is that why you didn’t tell Harry I kidnapped you, because you had forgiven me?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “And because Harry loves you like a brother. I didn’t want to hurt him.”
“And I’ve hurt him without a shred of remorse. Some friend I am.” Khalid placed his hands on the folding table and bowed his head. “I’m so tired of hurting the people I love.”
Before she did something stupid to try to soothe him, Olivia fiddled with the baby powder. After all these months, she was still in love with him.
“While the papers are drawn up, would you be open to my visiting Karin?”
“Anytime you care to see her, the door is open.”
“What about tomorrow morning around eleven?”
Olivia pondered her schedule. “Meredith watches Karin during the day so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
His eyes narrowed. “You won’t be here?”
“No. With Harry’s help, I opened a low-cost women’s clinic.”
“You own your own business? What about feeding her?”
“Karin’s such a good child she doesn’t need much supervision. And since I pump enough milk for her before I leave, I don’t have to trek back and forth every three or four hours.”
To her surprise, a whimsical smile curled Khalid’s lips. “Always so efficient,” he muttered, stepping closer, practically looming over her. “A year ago, I would’ve been appalled by the idea of a young single mother working outside the home. Now, I find it quite admirable. If anyone can juggle a career and raise a child it’s you.”
His admiration touched her more than she let on as a warm rush of desire coursed through her system. Dormant for almost a year, the feeling was heady, almost making her swoon. As a precaution, she leaned up against the folding table.
“I’ve monopolized your time long enough. Good night taliat-in.” He bent over and gave Karin a raspberry, causing their daughter to erupt into a fit of giggles. “Seems she likes my kisses as much as her mother does,” he straightened and cut his eyes at her.
Even though heat simmered through her veins, Olivia corrected his assumption, “Did.”
Eyebrow raised, Khalid turned toward her. “Did?”
Heart pounding, arousal swirling in her belly, Olivia held her ground. It took months for her heart to mend. He just couldn’t waltz in here, and with a few cocky words and side long glances knock her off the wagon.
“I enjoyed your kisses once, Khalid.”
“I wonder...” He rested his elbow on the crib. His gaze bore into hers, daring her to look away. She couldn’t even if she tried, “…if I could disprove you of—”
“I’ve forgiven you, Khalid,” she interjected before he could sway her into making a fool of herself. Hands shaking and decidedly damp, Olivia reached into the crib and placed her daughter on her back. “But Karin is the only reason why I’m being civil with you. She deserves to have you in her life. Now good night, I need to get back downstairs with my fiancé.”
As if he hadn’t heard a word she’d said, or more than likely didn’t care, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Good night, Olivia.”
His breath feathered against her skin. Electrical sparks triggered her nerve endings, especially the ones between her legs. Trembling, she stepped back.
“Good night, Khalid.” Olivia cringed. Low and deep-throated, her arousal had saturated every syllable. Face hot, she lifted her chin in the face of his cheeky grin. Despite her show of bravado, her nipples hardened.
“I love it when you’re being stubborn.”
Olivia fell for the bait. “Why?” she asked.
“Because it always ends up with you begging.” His gaze lingered on her breasts. The ballet slipper satin could’ve been gossamer since the material did nothing to hide the stiff peaks.
She didn’t know what was more disturbing—the fact that he felt he could come into her home and talk to her like they were still in a tent in the Sahara, or the idea of begging him to make love to her made her salivate like one of Pavlov’s dogs.