A deep, smooth voice interrupted from just over her shoulder. ‘Ms MacIain is a recruitment expert.’
The rich timbre of Salim’s voice had an instant effect. Muscles clenched, heat swirled and the fitted bodice of her dress felt suddenly too snug. As if her breasts swelled. Now the brush of her dress against her skin felt like the caress of deft fingers.
Rosanna’s thoughts fixed on that night when he’d touched her. He’d captured her wrist and she’d wanted, so badly, for him to tug her close and kiss her.
‘Ms MacIain is assisting me with some personnel issues. But don’t worry, I’m paying her myself, not taking funds from your budget.’
‘Of course, Your Majesty. I didn’t for a moment want to imply—’
‘Of course you didn’t.’ Salim’s voice held a note she couldn’t identify. She wanted to turn and see his expression but it felt imperative to face this man and not risk showing her feelings for Salim. ‘Ms MacIain has a degree in psychology and considerable experience in corporate management. Perhaps she might advise your department when she finishes assisting me. I hear there were irregularities...’
Rosanna bit her lip to stop a smile as the minister flinched then fixed on a wary smile, so different from his earlier, superior stare.
‘I’m afraid circumstances were misreported. It was a trifling matter, soon dealt with.’
Minutes later, after a conversation about the sights Rosanna should see during her stay, the older man excused himself, claiming to see someone he’d promised to speak with.
‘What was the problem in his department?’ she asked softly when he left. ‘He didn’t like that one bit.’
Salim stepped forward and turned to face her. He looked tall, commanding and haughty. Every inch the powerful ruler. Yet humour lurked in his eyes and his mouth twitched in the hint of a smile that bathed her in the warmth of shared understanding.
How could that hint of expression, the tiniest indication of pleasure, affect her so profoundly?
Salim angled his head closer. ‘Nepotism. My brother preferred important jobs went to those he favoured rather than those who merited it. Some in the government took their lead from him.’ He shot a look to where the minister was talking gravely with a small group. ‘I made it clear on my accession that favouritism wouldn’t be tolerated. But some took a while to change their ways.’
‘No wonder he didn’t look happy.’
To a man who obviously valued his dignity and authority, the hint of a personal reprimand from his sheikh would be hard to swallow.
‘He’s rarely happy. I should have known he’d question you.’
‘How so?’
Rosanna had kept in the background, working behind the scenes. Tonight was the first time she’d attended an official event and that was only because some of the women she’d suggested be invited to Dhalkur were here.
Salim’s gaze moved past her as if checking if they could be overheard. ‘He likes to know what’s going on. Plus his niece is one of the women on your list.’
‘She is? I wasn’t aware of any family connection. How could he know? Only you and I—’
‘Of course he doesn’t know. But he’s one of the senior government members pushing for a royal marriage so he understands the pressure on me to marry.’
‘You think he suspects why I’m here?’
Salim’s eyes met hers again and it was like colliding with a force of nature. That direct gaze seemed to penetrate deep inside, pinioning her to the spot and making her worry how much he saw of what she tried to hide. Her lungs squeezed tight. Deep in her pelvis heat blossomed.
Now his expression wasn’t amused. ‘I doubt it. He suspects you’re here for completely different reasons.’
Rosanna tilted her head, trying to read Salim’s expression. His chiselled features looked more pronounced, as if the flesh pulled tight across his face.
‘You’ll have to explain. I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.’
One ebony eyebrow rose. ‘Why might a man invite a beautiful woman to stay as a private guest in his home?’
It took a moment for Rosanna to digest his meaning.
She’d been distracted by the fact he’d called her beautiful. She wasn’t and never had been that. She would have written off the comment as casual flattery, yet there was nothing casual about Salim now. She was close enough to feel tension emanate from him, a tension that tightened her own muscles and sinews till she felt at breaking point as his meaning sank in.
The minister suspected she was the king’s lover.