Chapter 20
Amit relaxed, relieved that she wasn’t going to pursue that stupid comment he’d made eight years ago. Apparently, his stupidity had wounded her too deeply for her to forget that bungle. Still, Marianna was here now. She was his guest for however long it took to stop his idiot cousin’s ridiculous coup attempt. Of course, Amit still needed to find the bastard!
While his security forces were turning over rocks to find the pathetic cockroach masquerading as his cousin, Amit had an opportunity to get to know this lovely, intriguing woman better. Really get to know her. He knew that he wasn’t great at courting women. Hell, he’d never needed to. The women who entered his world were never shy about their intentions.
But it had been Marianna who had found a place in his heart and never left. Now he had time to figure out what made her tick, what excited her and, if he was very lucky, how he could convince her to stay with him.
That word startled him. “Stay”? He wanted her to…stay?
Yes. Yes, that was exactly what he wanted. He wanted, needed , Marianna to stay forever.
He looked at her, noted that she was still waiting for an answer. “Now, you relax. Eat. Sleep. Do whatever research you need to, however, I would ask that you not post anything to your website until this is over. We want my cousin to think that you’re still tucked away somewhere. In fact, I’m going to have my cousin visit, just so I can question him.”
That startled her and she straightened in outrage. She glared up at him. “You’re going to have the man who had me drugged, kidnapped, and stuffed into a filthy trunk, come here, to your home?”
Amit nodded slowly, understanding her fears. “You won’t see him, Mari,” he assured her, his voice firm. “He won’t be allowed into this area of the palace. I never allow Jadwat to stay in the family wing when he visits. I will only call him to my office for a conversation.” He moved closer, gently wrapping his fingers around her upper arms. “I will ask him questions and watch for his non-verbal responses. I have to see him in person to find out if he’s really the one who orchestrated your capture, Mari.”
She stood there, stiff and angry. But slowly, he felt her relax. Then she nodded slowly. “Okay,” she said, shifting on her feet. “As long as he won’t come anywhere near me.”
“You’ll stay here? In my apartment?”
Marianna looked around, smiling at the shimmering pool. “Who could resist this level of luxury?”
Reluctantly, Amit dropped his hands, wishing that he had a reason to pull her into his arms, to feel her melt against him. But he didn’t have that right.
Not yet!
“I highly doubt that you’ve endured serious hardships at your brother’s palace,” he chided.
Marianna laughed softly. “I don’t have a private pool,” she pointed out. “Wait! What happened to Stella?”
“Stella?” he repeated, baffled by the sudden topic shift. “Who is Stella?”
“My horse.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe you should call your brother and find out?” His own phone buzzed at that moment. He glanced at the message and sighed. “I have to go.” He looked at her, questions in his eyes. “Will you be okay here? The servants are loyal to me. They will provide you with anything you need. Just ask.”
“I’ll be fine,” she told him, smiling and obviously relieved to have a phone so she could connect with the outside world.
Speaking of the outside world, he turned back, hesitating. “Mari, about the phone–” He started, not sure how to tell her not to call anyone else.
She lifted it in her hands and smiled, wanting to reassure him. “I remember. Only my brothers and no one else, right?”
He relaxed and nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
Her smile disappeared. “Amit, I do understand. If your cousin is behind this, then he kidnapped me in the hope of destabilizing the friendship between our countries. He’s trying to undermine your rule and that’s not good for Lativa or Uftar.”
Amit nodded, ignoring the pang of regret he felt at her words. She didn’t understand. This was personal because if his cousin was behind the kidnapping, then he had tried to steal someone precious to Amit. Jadwat had tried to hurt Marianna.
He was going to destroy Jadwat for this!