“We’re celebrating the fact that we haven’t killed each other.” His lips quirked again and it was as if a string was pulled inside her. The feeling wasn’t unpleasant. And then a strange thing happened, a bubble of laughter emerged from somewhere deep inside of her. She didn’t know who was most surprised. She blushed. Another new experience.
“Come on,” Xander said with a smile. “Let’s push out the boat and find some sparkling water to celebrate something else.”
“What?”
Xander ducked his head close to hers and for once those eyes held something other than cool separation. “Your smile,” he said. “It’s something to behold.” He pulled away. “And somehow I doubt many people have beheld it.Thatis definitely worth celebrating.”
It seemed easier to follow him outside. Besides, it was cooler there, she persuaded herself. And she desperately needed something to take the heat out of her blush.
She took a deep breath and followed him to the evening bar where the kings went to relax at the end of a day. It was an ancient castle, and fitted out to meet the exact requirements of visiting royalty, but no one lived there. It was too important. It was positioned dead center of Havilah, and the only place where all three Havilahi countries met. It was also a half-way point between Sharq Havilah and her own country of Tawazun.
The bar wasn’t manned and Xander rummaged in its cupboards and withdrew a bottle of sparkling water and two glasses in triumph.
“Now the barisa place I am familiar with,” he said, pouring them both a glass.
“I’m sure,” she said, accepting the glass. And she was—there was no doubt he looked totally at home in this social space, in a way that she never was.
He indicated a barstool and, despite protestations gathering in her mind, she sat. As he took a seat next to her, his leg brushed hers. She stared at the bubbles popping in her glass.
“So, Ela, what do you normally do on a Friday night?”
She frowned, her attention still on the effervescent liquid. It was easiest. She felt out of her depth. “The same as I do every other night. I work, I read, I pray, and then I go to bed.”
He let out a low whistle. “You really know how to enjoy yourself.”
She bristled, and turned to him. “I am queen. There is no time for frivolity.”
“I had assumed there would be more.” He took a sip of his mineral water and grimaced. “I certainly wouldn’t have taken this job on, if I thought I could no longer enjoy myself.”
“That is because you are a dilettante. You were not born to be king, and unless you take your new role seriously, you will notcontinueto be king.”
To her chagrin, he gave a slow lop-sided smile, and took another leisurely sip of water. “You really know how to flatter a guy.”
“Ireallydon’t,” she said in a tone echoing his own. “And Ireallydon’t intend to.” She raised herself up on the barstool, in as regal a position as she could and glared at him. “Flattery is for the weak. And I am not weak.”
He still didn’t appear perturbed by her response. He simply shook his head and thrust his fingers through his short hair. He gave a gruff laugh. “I can see I’m going to have my work cut out with you.”
“Work?” She frowned as a flurry of suspicions jostled for space in her mind. She settled on the obvious one. “Did Roshan suggest all of this?” She studied his reaction intently and realized she was correct. “He told you to flirt with me, didn’t he?” The more guilty Xander’s expression became, the more steely her resolve grew. “Well, you can tell him from me, that I am not a woman to be flirted with.”
“You don’t say,” said Xander wearily.
“Idosay. So why don’t we talk business instead.”
Xander sighed and shifted around to face her.
“What I think you fail to realize, Ela—”
“Don’t call me Ela.”
“Is that I am not some lackey who you can order around. In case you didn’t realize it I am also a king, who you need, whether you like it or not. Now, I understand you have not the first idea how to talk to me, but I suggest you learn, fast, because we have to work together. And I, for one, would prefer to make this a pleasurable experience.”
She hadn’t heard him speak so much in one go about things that weren’t related to business. Arguments sprang into her mind that would contradict his words, but none of them would do because she realized he was right.
A smile glimmered on his lips. “You know, for all your sternness, when you are confused I can see your thoughts as clearly as the stars at night. It’s quite sweet really.”
“Now you’ve gone too far. I’m not, and nor will I ever be, sweet. But I do accept the fact that we need to work together. And…” She hesitated as she groped to find the correct word. “I suppose that, despite appearances I, too, would prefer an orderly meeting.”
His smile turned into a broad grin. He lifted his glass to hers. “If I can’t get fun, then orderly will do. It’s a start. I’ll drink to orderly.”