It made her realise how much she craved positive reinforcement, after the tough time she’d had back home in Australia. Her family had said she’d taken on too much personal blame for events she couldn’t have prevented. She didn’t agree. But maybe she’d been too hard on herself since such a simple compliment felt so important.
‘Thank you. And I like the factyoudon’t prevaricate. You say what you’re thinking.’
Even though his straight talking sometimes tested her patience, like when he found fault with every one of the women she’d brought to Dhalkur.
But how would she have coped if he’d taken a shine to one of them? Rosanna tried to imagine herself watching him woo and possibly seduce another woman and her stomach tied itself in knots. Something sharp jabbed her chest, twisting deep, and she had a horrible feeling it was jealousy. For something that hadn’t even happened!
‘So you want me to be straight with you?’
‘Of course.’ This was no time for guessing games.
Salim nodded. ‘We can’t go back to the way we were and the way we are now—’ his hand tightened on hers ‘—isn’t sustainable long-term. Agreed?’
‘Agreed.’
Because if this relationship continued long-term it would make Rosanna his mistress. The idea was anathema to her. She had no desire to be a convenient lover on the side, especially when he married. Rosanna respected marriage vows and hoped one day to find the right man with whom to spend the rest of her life.
She’d thought Phil was that man. Her disillusionment at her mistake had put her off dating ever since.
‘Then I can think of only one solution. We become lovers for a short time.’
Salim’s thumb stroked across her wrist and onto her palm, creating ripples of erotic delight that made her breath stall. Or was it the idea of being his lover?
‘How will that make a difference? It would just complicate things.’
Nausea churned in her stomach. She couldn’t imagine working daily to find his perfect spouse then spending each night in his bed.
‘We’d have to put your work on hold. It wouldn’t feel right, continuing that while we shared a bed.’
Rosanna looked into his sternly sculpted face and felt relief flutter through her with each heartbeat. Relief and enthusiasm at the idea of them as lovers.
She’d wondered if he shared her scruples. It was good to hear that he did. The thought of finding him his perfect match while they were intimate had a distasteful edge to it. As if she really were some disposable mistress and what they shared meant nothing to him.
‘I’m glad you feel that way. I couldn’t do this—’ she gestured to the lavish bed ‘—and be your matchmaker at the same time.’
Strange that it hadn’t even occurred to her to say no to becoming his lover. But Rosanna wasn’t into self-delusion. She couldn’t turn her back on this, no matter how she tried. He was right, the genie was well and truly out of the bottle. How much harder would it be, being around him, trying to work, when all the time her thoughts were veering to sex?
‘It would be wrong to ask that of you. I’ve already found it too tough trying to do justice to the women you’ve brought forward while my thoughts are focused on you. It feels deceitful both to them and you.’
Rosanna put her hand over where he held hers. ‘Thank you, Salim. I’ve been tying myself in knots over this. It’s a relief to know you have the same concerns.’
Their eyes met and something powerful passed between them. Understanding. Relief. Respect. All that and more.
Slowly his taut features eased into a hint of a smile that sent warmth easing through her. ‘So we’re agreed. Now we just need to do something about it.’
Rosanna didn’t miss the eager glint in his eyes. ‘But I don’t see how an affair will solve our problem.’
‘It’s the only solution. We have a short, intense affair and this attraction will burn itself out.’
‘But will it? How do you know?’
He tilted his head as if to read her expression better. ‘It’s what always happens with an affair. Passion and fun and pleasure, then it fades and we move on.’
‘Really?’
‘Of course. Surely you’ve found the same.’
Rosanna thought of not answering but this was too important. Besides, it wasn’t anything to be ashamed of. ‘I’ve never had an affair before so I don’t know.’