Her Desert Knight (7 page)

Dani could stand it no longer. She tugged open her bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway. “What are you doing here?” she heard herself ask Quasar. She stood, staring at him. He looked oddly regal in traditional Omani attire—it was the first time she’d seen him in it—but she was furious with him for going against her wishes.

“You are a respectable Omani woman, and I am a respectable Omani man, and it is customary for me to meet your father and ask permission to court you.”

“Permission is
not
granted!” growled Dani’s father. “And I do not give you permission to place your accursed feet in my house. What do you have to say for yourself, Daniyah? Have you encouraged the attentions of this reprobate?”

She swallowed. “I...”

“She has done nothing whatsoever to encourage my attentions. I simply noticed that we both share a taste for books, and a brief discussion suggested that we have some interests in common. I would like to get to know your daughter better.” Quasar turned his gaze to Dani, and those deep blue eyes seemed to hold her in a trance.

“I didn’t ask you.” Her father scowled at Quasar. Then he turned his attention to her. “Daniyah, have you spoken with this man?” She’d never seen her father so angry. His eyebrows stood on end like little furry animals, and his lips had grown white.

“Yes, Father. I have spoken with him.” If he had any idea what else she’d done with him, he’d probably have a heart attack on the spot. She couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t either incriminate her or enmesh her in a lie she’d later regret.

“Your daughter’s conduct has been unimpeachable.”

Dani stood rooted to the spot. That was a very subjective view of her conduct, which by any traditional standards was shocking in the extreme.

“If you don’t leave my house right now, I’ll call the police.”

“Sir, let me beseech you. I’m happy to simply exchange a few words with your daughter here in your house, under your watchful eye.”

Quasar seemed totally unfazed by her father’s apoplectic rage. If anything she thought she saw a twinkle of humor in his eye. Which, under the circumstances, really ticked her off. He’d taken no personal risk coming here. If her father hated him, who cared? He was going back to the States and would soon forget the whole affair.

She, on the other hand, would have to live with the repercussions of this ill-starred visit for the rest of her life. “You really should leave.” She found herself speaking coolly, looking directly at Quasar. How could he have totally disregarded her wishes? She’d told him not to come. Who did he think he was?

“If Daniyah wishes for me to leave, I shall leave.” He swept a bow in her direction. The chivalrous gesture would have excited her if she weren’t almost as angry as her father. Quasar nodded to the older man and apologized for alarming him, muttered a traditional goodbye and left, striding confidently in his long white dishdasha.

Dani wanted to sag with relief as he disappeared out of sight, leaving the front door open to the gathering dusk. Instead, her instincts told her to turn and run.

Her father calmly and quietly closed the door. “What is the meaning of this, Daniyah? You are not in Hackysack.”

“It’s Hackensack.”

“I don’t care what it’s called. You are in Salalah now. You can’t strike up a conversation with any Tom, Dick or Harry who happens to stroll past you in a shop! You must have encouraged him to give him the confidence to come knock on my front door. Do you have any idea who this man is?”

She shook her head mutely. She didn’t, really. It was hard to believe she’d never even asked his last name. It hadn’t been relevant. And maybe she hadn’t wanted to know. It would have made their relationship seem more real, and then it would hurt more when it turned out to be a dreamlike interlude, as she knew it ultimately would.

“Quasar Al Mansur is the youngest son of Hakim Al Mansur.”

The name sounded vaguely familiar. She’d never paid much attention to local society gossip but she suspected he was some kind of oil-rich sheikh.

“Hakim is mercifully no longer on this earth, but his sons continue to refuse to recognize our family’s ownership of the old Fabriz property. They tricked my father into selling it for a few thousand rials when it was simply a mediocre fishing spot. Now it’s worth millions as prime waterfront investment property, and they’re maintaining that the pathetic deal he was forced into is valid.”

“If it was his father’s doing, Quasar probably wasn’t involved at all.” After she’d spoken she realized she sounded as if she were defending him. Her best course was to pretend she barely even recognized him.

“I’ve had a lawsuit pending against the Al Mansur family in one form or another since the eighties. I haven’t won yet, but I haven’t lost, either. Salim Al Mansur has been itching to build one of his accursed hotels on that property for years, but he hasn’t been able to because the title is clouded by my lawsuit.” A look of satisfaction crossed his face for a moment. “It’s only a matter of time until my rights are legally recognized and the property is returned to our family. Your brothers deserve to reap the riches that can be sown there, not those grabbing Al Mansurs, who already have more land and money than they know what to do with.”

Dani blinked. She’d known the family was wealthy and powerful, but it was just her luck that the first man she fell for would be her father’s sworn enemy.

She wanted to go back, lie on her bed and continue crying. But that wouldn’t solve any problems. “I won’t see Quasar behind your back.” The resolution was easy to make. He’d deliberately ignored her plea that he not come here. He obviously didn’t care about what she thought and had run roughshod over her own thoughts and wishes just like her ex-husband would have. She was done with him.

“But I won’t marry Samir Al Kabisi, either.” She screwed up her courage. “I’m not ready for marriage again, Father. It’s too soon. I’m sure he’s a nice man but I’m also sure that any attempt to match me with him would lead to disaster for myself, disappointment for him and further damage to my reputation. I’m sure you don’t want that.”

“Indeed I do not.” His eyebrows were starting to subside a little and color was returning to his pursed lips. He sighed. “Things were so much easier in the old days when a girl listened to her parents.”

* * *

The next morning Dani woke with a heavy weight in her chest. It was all over. She’d known her affair with Quasar couldn’t last forever, but she’d secretly hoped for a couple more weeks of romantic bliss. Last night had put an end to that. She’d promised her father she wouldn’t see him in secret, and she meant it.

She’d done an internet search on Quasar’s name and the results had been alarming. There were more stories about his love life than his many business triumphs. While she looked at the seemingly endless stream of photos of him, accompanied by an assortment of gorgeous women at movie openings, nightclubs and celebrity parties, it sank in that she really was just another notch on his bedpost.

The day stretched ahead of her like the barren desert. She could do some shopping for food, but even the cleaning was taken care of by a kind older woman who’d been alarmed by Dani’s offers of help, probably fearing she’d soon be out of a job.

She resolved to stay under the covers in her bed and read until she regained her equilibrium. After about five minutes, though, she grew restless. She was not going to lie around and wait for life to happen to her. She needed to make it happen, and right now that meant finding a job. Maybe one of her brothers’ schools could use an administrator? She decided to visit their offices, and showered and dressed conservatively in a dark green ensemble with that intention. She was arranging her hair when she heard a knock on the door.

She glanced at her watch. It was ten o’clock. The time she’d previously arranged to meet Quasar.

She stood staring at her shocked reflection in the mirror. Could he really have just shown up as if nothing happened?

Another knock, this time more insistent, stirred her to action. If it were Quasar, she had to get him off her doorstep before one of the neighbors saw him. She hurried down the hallway and peered through the peephole. The sight of Quasar’s handsome face made her breath catch, as it always did. She braced herself against the effect he had on her and opened the door. “Come in, quick.”

Already she was breaking the promise to her father, but it was to prevent further gossip, so hopefully he’d approve.

Quasar stepped over the threshold, his face more serious than usual. “Good morning, Dani.”

He bent down to kiss her, but she ducked back, heart thudding. “You shouldn’t be here. I told you not to come.”

Quasar had the decency to look a little wistful. “I was hoping to make a good impression. I thought if I could talk to your father, he’d see what a nice fellow I am, despite any rumors to the contrary.”

She wanted to laugh. Or cry. “And now you can see how wrong you were. I told you not to come and you totally ignored me. Did you know he’s suing your brother over some piece of land?”

He shrugged. “I did know. I was hoping to find a resolution to that problem as well.”

She fought the urge to growl. “You’re so arrogant! Charm can’t fix everything. In fact it probably can’t fix anything at all, ever. I can’t believe you knew our families were at odds and you didn’t even tell me. I was so clueless and naive I never thought it was important to know your last name. Even I’ve heard of the Al Mansurs.”

“So if I’d told you my name from the get-go you would have run a mile in the opposite direction?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then discretion was the better part of valor.”

“Hardly. Now my father is furious and doesn’t trust me. If he had any idea what we’ve already done together he might throw me out on the street. I probably deserve it.”

By Omani standards she’d been the worst kind of loose woman. At least she wasn’t sleeping with a married man, but beyond that the situation had no redeeming features. “You need to leave.”

“I came to see your father because I really care about you, Dani.” Quasar’s gaze fixed on her with the intensity of a laser. “I didn’t want to sneak around like we’re having some meaningless dalliance. My brothers warned me that if I came to see him he’d think I meant business.” He frowned. “And I do.”

Dani’s heart was beating so fast she couldn’t think, let alone speak. Did he mean that he wanted to marry her? No, he hadn’t said that. She cursed herself for even being foolish enough to think it. “You have to go. The neighbors might have seen you arrive.”

“I’m not leaving unless you come with me.” He seized her hands and held them. Her hands were so cold inside his. “Don’t tell me you don’t have feelings for me.”

Nameless emotion flared in her chest. “I have feelings all right. I’m angry with you. You deliberately did something I told you not to.”

“Come with me and let’s talk about it. At least allow me that much.” His slate-blue gaze implored her.

Common sense warred with much stronger feelings as he held her hands and kept his eyes locked on hers. Could she really just make him leave without an explanation? Her heart said no. “Okay, we’ll just talk. Nothing more.” If his car was parked outside, she wanted it gone. “Let me get my shoes.”

Once outside the house, she glanced furtively in both directions and dived for his silver Mercedes. She prayed no one had seen it. At least it was such a popular car here in her affluent neighborhood that it didn’t say a whole lot about its owner. She climbed into the passenger seat and donned a pair of dark glasses that were sitting on the shelf above the glove compartment. “Quick, drive away before someone sees us.”

“You’re making me feel like I’m in a spy movie.”

“You’ll be in a very different kind of movie if my father discovers that you came here again.”

An infuriating smile played around the edges of Quasar’s mouth. “Why? What would he do to me?”

“He did threaten to call the police. He’d do it, too. His cousin Ahmed is the chief of police.”

“Ouch. I’d better keep my head down, then.”

She sank back into her seat as they pulled out on to the main road. She hadn’t seen anyone she recognized. On the other hand, she was now heading who-knew-where with Quasar, when she’d sworn to stay away from him.

Adrenaline fired through her. “I can’t believe you totally ignored what I told you. You decided to take charge of my life, regardless of what I think. Just like my ex.” She stared right at him as she said the last part, daring him to argue with her.

He turned to look at her, and she was gratified to see contrition in his eyes. “I didn’t think of it like that. I’m sorry.”

“You should be. The last thing I need is another man telling me what to do. Or even worse, not telling me! It was not a pleasant surprise to hear your voice in my hallway.” It felt good to voice her feelings. She’d been afraid to do that for so long.

“I thought that if I talked your father around, you’d be happy about it.”

“Your confidence is both awe-inspiring and infuriating. Who knows my father better, you or me?”

He shrugged and looked sheepish. “You. I confess I’m not used to waiting around. I prefer to get up and make things happen.”

“Typical male.”

“I suppose so. Do you think you can forgive me?” Already she saw the twinkle of familiar humor creeping back into his annoyingly seductive gaze.

“No way.” She focused her gaze on the windshield. It was dangerous looking at Quasar. He was far too handsome for his own good, or anyone else’s.

“What am I going to do with you?”

She decided that his seductive tone was only going to fuel her anger. “Say goodbye to me for good, and drop me home.” She snuck a sideways glance at him, just long enough to see if she was immune to his charms.

The answer was no.

He turned to face her again, a mysterious glow in his eyes. “I have a much better idea. Come meet my family.”

Seven

D
ani’s response was immediate and came straight from her gut. “That’s a terrible idea.”

“I disagree. You’ll like them.”

“If you meeting my family was an unmitigated disaster, what makes you think me meeting your family will go better?”

“I’m willing to take a chance.” Quasar had already steered the car in the direction of the ocean.

“You’re obviously more of a risk taker than me. But that’s hardly a surprise since you like extreme sports and I like reorganizing my bookshelves. We have almost nothing in common.”

“Nonsense. We have something very important.”

“Chemistry?”

“Something bigger than that. Call it a life force. Something you can’t ignore.”

“Says who?” Dani noticed with alarm that they were now driving past the palaces of Salalah’s wealthiest citizens.

“Me. And I’m right more often than you’d think.”

“Not about love. I did a Google search of your name last night, now that I finally know it.” She watched for his reaction and wasn’t surprised when a muscle twitched in his cheek. She didn’t say more. She was curious to see what his response would be.

“What did you learn about me?”

“That you’re known as a fickle maverick entrepreneur in the business world, and that you’ve dated a large number of beautiful women.”

“I can’t deny either accusation. I have been fortunate to enjoy the company of some wonderful women.” His smile was barely apologetic. “But none of them outshone you.”

Pride and embarrassment threatened to heat into a blush. What a flatterer! She shouldn’t take his words to heart. “Did you march over and meet their fathers?”

“No. That should prove to you that what I feel for you is different.”

They drove through a tall archway with scrolled gates that opened before them. Panic flashed over her. “Wait. You can’t just drive in here. I haven’t agreed yet.”

“Too late. We’re here.” Salim drove calmly along an avenue of date palms.

“A man who tells me what to do is my worst nightmare.” She wiped her now-sweaty palms on her forest-green dress. At least she’d gotten dressed up today. Was he really going to drag her in to meet all his
über
-successful relatives?

“A woman I’m crazy about who tells me never to see her again is my worst nightmare. So at least we’re even.” He smiled. “Relax. Don’t worry about impressing them.” He must have seen her fiddling with her scarf. “They’re very nice, really.”

“Like you?”

“I actually think I’m probably nicer than both of my brothers. They’re a little scary, at least when there’s business involved. Both of my sisters-in-law are lovely, though. They’ll put you at ease.”

“Even though they have no idea I’m coming! What if they’re busy?”

“They’re not. I know they’re planning to spend the day relaxing on the beach with the kids. Everyone’s on vacation right now.”

“I’m not exactly dressed for the beach.”

“Don’t worry about that. They’ll have everything you need in the hotel shop. And don’t try to pretend you wouldn’t feel comfortable in a swimsuit. I’ve seen your gorgeous body with my own eyes.” The wolfish look he gave her should have sent her fury into overdrive, but instead it had the far more irritating effect of making her aroused.

“What if I don’t want to meet your family?” His arrogance was almost unbelievable. This whole escapade was further proof that he was all wrong for her.

Quasar steered the car into a large circular driveway with a spectacular fountain in the middle. She’d heard about this hotel before. It was insanely expensive and very exclusive. It looked like a sultan’s palace. Further proof that Quasar Al Mansur was out of her league in every possible way.

As well as being a total jerk.

He parked the car and took her hands in his. “Dani Hassan, I like you very much. Getting to know you better is important to me, and I want you to get to know me better as well. If you then decide that you hate me, I can handle it.” That familiar sparkle of amusement lit his eyes. His hands warmed hers and softened the frigid wall of reserve she’d tried to build around herself. “But please do me the honor of meeting my family. It would mean a lot to me.”

Her heart swelled when he spoke with such apparent sincerity. Of course this was probably how he’d behaved with all those beautiful women in the gossip column photos. But who was she to think she could resist him any more than they could? If an A-list actress hadn’t been able to say no to Quasar, she didn’t stand a chance. “Okay.”

Before she could gather her thoughts, a bellhop—wearing a uniform the exact same green as her own clothes—opened her door, and she stepped out into the bright sunlight. Quasar immediately rounded the car and threaded his arm though hers, as if hoping to forestall her escape. She glanced around nervously. What if the family felt much more strongly about the land dispute than Quasar, and considered her their enemy?

Even if they were friendly, what if one of her father’s associates were here? Or a neighbor? Or almost any ordinary citizen of Salalah who might gossip at the souk about who they saw on Quasar Al Mansur’s arm?

She tried to calm herself with the thought that she’d been in the United States since she was a teen so people weren’t likely to recognize her. And most of the guests looked foreign, judging from their scanty attire.

“They’re probably still having breakfast. That’s where they were headed when I left them less than half an hour ago. Things tend to move very slowly when the whole family is gathered together.” He led the way into a grand lobby with tall arches and rich mosaics on the walls, and through it to a series of sunlit dining rooms. In the farthest one, a veranda with a view over the beach, she saw a group of people laughing around a large round table. The two blonde women must be his American sisters-in-law. They both glowed with good cheer and the effects of the Omani sunshine. Four children, ranging in age from two to about six, wriggled in seats next to them, finishing the remains of pastries and scrambled eggs. Two tall and handsome men sipped their coffee and looked with calm indulgence over their rather messy offspring.

“I’m so glad you’re all gathered in one place.” Quasar’s deep voice immediately commanded the attention of the group. “I have someone very important for you to meet.”

Dani blanched as he said her name, wondering if they’d react with hostility or disdain. Their warm smiles and greetings soon put her at ease, though, as Quasar made his way around the table introducing each one. The taller blonde was Celia, the landscape designer, who was married to his oldest brother, Salim. Her husband looked more than a little forbidding in his dark pinstriped suit, but he made her promise to make herself at home at the hotel. She was relieved that he didn’t even mention the lawsuit.

Muscular Elan looked much more casual in jeans and a white T-shirt. He laughed when Quasar apologized for dragging her here, and consoled Dani that the Al Mansur men do need some retraining at first. Elan’s wife, Sara, was sweet and welcoming and said that she was just getting to know the vast hotel complex herself and still got lost here sometimes.

A waiter brought two new seats and baskets of fresh pastries and fruit, as well as another pot of coffee, and to her surprise she soon found herself and Quasar making easy conversation with them about life in America versus life in Oman. She relaxed a bit as it became clear they did not consider her to be their enemy simply because of her father’s lawsuit.

“Quasar pretends he lives in the States but lately he spends as much time here as he does there,” teased Salim. “He even has a house out in the desert because staying at my hotels isn’t homey enough for him.”

Dani froze. They obviously had no idea she’d seen his house in the desert and tested the firmness of the mattress.

“I like to enjoy the best of both worlds. I come here to relax and unwind and step back to a simpler time. Now if only I could find someone trustworthy enough to look after a falcon for me when I’m in the States, my life would be complete.”

“You should have seen him hunting with the falcon he had as a kid.” Elan leaned forward and looked warmly at Dani. “He caught and trained it himself and he would spend all day out there in the middle of nowhere in pursuit of some imaginary quarry.”

“You’d be surprised how many rabbits we brought home for Mom’s cooking pot. All it takes is patience.”

“Most people don’t have that kind of patience. To look at your life now, I wouldn’t have guessed you did, either,” said Salim. “I can’t believe you just sold another promising business that you could have taken to the next level.”

“It was time to move on.” Quasar sipped a glass of berry-colored juice.

“See? You’re always looking for the next big thing.”

Quasar frowned. “Maybe that’s what I’ve been doing wrong lately. Too much rushing, not enough waiting.” He looked at Dani and the expression in his eyes made her breath catch. “It’s possible that I got off track and now I’m finding my way back. I can be as patient, steady and persistent as the Al Hajar Mountains themselves when I need to be.”

She blinked and swallowed, then looked away. Did his whole family know about their relationship? She couldn’t believe he was speaking so intimately in front of them. She felt as if he were trying to convince her he could be the kind of reliable, steady man she could count on. On the other hand, maybe he was just talking about falconry.

“Lately Salim’s taken up sailing,” said Celia. “He said it’s both humbling and awe-inspiring learning to work with such powerful forces as the wind and the currents.”

“Yes.” Salim raised a brow. “I don’t think I would have been ready for it if Celia and Kira hadn’t already quietly demonstrated to me that the world doesn’t revolve around me, I’m simply part of a much bigger picture.”

Sarah laughed. “I think the Al Mansur men attract energy like a vortex. You all have to learn to use it wisely.”

“And perhaps that is best accomplished with the help of a good woman,” said Quasar softly.

Everyone looked surprised, perhaps that he was speaking so frankly in front of Dani. She wasn’t sure he’d even mentioned her to them before. She pretended to be busy tugging apart a croissant. Did Quasar really have such strong feelings for her? It was a little intimidating. She hadn’t let herself dare to imagine that he might feel anything beyond attraction and lust. They hadn’t known each other long enough.

And her father hated the whole Al Mansur family with a fiery passion.

“Dani, is your father Mohammed Hassan?”

She felt her eyes widen at Salim’s question. Apparently the time for niceties had passed and he was going to bring up the lawsuit. “Yes.”

“Our father paid for that land fair and square,” Salim continued. “There’s no written contract because...”

“Because my grandfather couldn’t read or write.” She’d heard the sob stories about an illiterate fisherman being cheated out of his legacy. And his brilliant, self-educated son—her father—devoting his life to getting it back.

“Exactly. But that doesn’t invalidate the deal. A handshake was as good as an iron-clad legal document back then. Still is, to men of honor.”

She bristled. Was he trying to say her father wasn’t a man of honor? He wasn’t the warmest person in the world, but he’d worked hard to provide an excellent life for his family. Right now she felt guilty at not always appreciating the sacrifices that must have involved. “I confess I don’t know much about the matter except that my father feels very strongly about it.”

She glanced at Quasar, wondering what he was thinking. It was quite rude of his brother to bring the matter up. Was he hoping she could convince her father to drop the suit?

“Hardly anyone in Oman could read or write before 1970.” Quasar shrugged. “We were still living in much the same way we had in the Middle Ages. Sultan Qaboos started a slow revolution that has created an educated populace and modern infrastructure, but kept the heart of our traditions. I’m pretty sure he would think a handshake contract is binding.”

“Why don’t you ask him next time you’re riding one of his spectacular cavalry horses?” Elan sipped his coffee. “Quasar became buddies with him a few years ago when he sold him a little gray mare he’d trained for tent-pegging. They go riding together around his estate.”

“I doubt he’d be interested in a piece of empty coastline. He likes to talk about emerging technologies. I swear I thought he was going to buy that networking software company I sold three years ago.”

Dani was speechless. Quasar rode with Sultan Qaboos? She’d seen the sultan in parades and he always seemed like a figure from an ancient myth, not someone you could have a ride and a chat with. More proof that Quasar lived in an elevated realm far above hers.

“Of course the original contract is binding,” murmured Salim. “Money changed hands. That in itself is a contract. And although it appears a small sum now it was quite reasonable at the time. It’s provoking that this lawsuit is clouding the title when I’m now ready to develop the property.”

Dani frowned. Her father’s lawsuit was actually preventing the Al Mansurs from going ahead with their plans? A cold shiver ran through her. Was it possible that Quasar had actually brought her here with the ulterior motive of putting pressure on her to get her father to abandon his suit?

Maybe all along he knew who she was and he’d approached her with the explicit aim of winning over her father. That would explain why he came to the house to press his claim on her, even when she’d asked him not to. Her croissant stuck in her throat and she tried hard not to search their faces. Were they all in on some conspiracy against her family?

“Why can’t you pay Mr. Hassan enough money to buy his good graces?” Quasar suggested brightly, as if the idea had just occurred to him.

“Don’t think I haven’t thought of it.” Salim sighed. “But I find in business that when you offer an olive branch like that it can be turned against you as proof that your original claim on the property wasn’t valid. It’s usually better to hold one’s course until the storm is over.”

Celia caught Dani’s eye and shrugged. She looked embarrassed. At least someone was. She couldn’t believe they were discussing this right in front of her as if she weren’t there. Unless it was part of some plot. Why hadn’t Quasar intervened to stop the conversation?