"Well, you should have. That might have put a stop to this before it even started." Salim's expression was grim.
"Why?"
"Did she just come back from the States after a failed marriage?"
Quasar sat up. "Yes. How did you know?"
"Salalah maybe be a big city by Omani standards, but it's a small town by anyone else's. We all know each other's business."
"Isn't Mohammed Hassan the guy who sued you over that waterfront property?" Elan sipped his coffee.
"Yes. That's her father." Salim stared at Quasar. "Twelve years in the courts. That's why my lawyer's keeping tabs on the family. I don't know Daniyah personally, but her father is like a pit bull. The case still isn't resolved. Though it will be before we break ground next year. Count on it."
"Why don't you resolve it amicably?"
Salim blew out a breath. "That land is ours. Our father paid three thousand rials for it in 1976. I have the paperwork to prove it."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Old Hassan insists that his father, who sold the land, was sick and under duress and was badgered into selling it. He claims the handshake contract is null and void, and he wants the land back." Salim crossed his arms. "Not going to happen."
"I'm guessing the land is worth a lot more now?"
Salim snorted. "Add three zeros and you're still not close. Hey, the old man needed the cash and he made a deal. I'm sure we'd all be wealthy as kings if we could renegotiate some of the bargains we made at the wrong time. Besides, it's not like he's starving. Hassan is one of the best-known engineers in the country, and he has two intelligent sons. Some people should learn to count their blessings."
"Dani's not involved in any of that. I doubt she's even aware of it. She's here to regroup after her bad marriage."
"And you're helping her out with that?" Elan crossed his arms.
"Out of the frying pan, into the fire..." Sara whispered with a wink.
"You do realize that here in Oman you basically need to marry a woman in order to kiss her." Salim leaned back in his chair, arms still crossed. "You can't carry on like you're back in L.A. Especially not with the divorced daughter of a man who's battling us in court."
Quasar regretted mentioning Dani. "We're just getting to know each other. There's nothing to even be discreet about."
"Good. Then you can break it off and no one will know." Salim arched a brow.
"Salim, you should understand from personal experience that it's not always so easy to break off an unsuitable relationship." His wife's eyes twinkled with humor. "You dumped me twice and still ended up married to me."
"That was different." His gaze, so filled with love, made Quasar want to shake his head over the transformation of his stolid brother. "We loved each other. Quasar can hardly be in love with a woman he met two days ago."
"Three days." Quasar ate a sticky date.
"Not that you're counting." Sara winked. "Are you falling in love with her already?"
"All I know is that I enjoy her company and I want to spend more time with her." He couldn't explain the powerful feelings she brought out in him. He wanted to protect her, nurture her, make her smile. He wanted to chat with her about little things and see her eyes light up.
"I heard a rumor that her husband was abusive. She may be psychologically damaged." Salim regarded his brother coolly.
"It's true about her husband. He sounds like an ass. There's nothing wrong with Dani, though, except that she's a little wary."
"As well she might be with a lothario like you on the prowl." Elan grinned.
"She doesn't know anything about me."
Sara laughed. "Believe me, women can tell a ladies' man. You're far too good-looking for your own good, for one thing."
"But you still want to set me up with your sister?"
"I know you're a good man at heart. You just need the right woman to steady you."
"And Daniyah Hassan is not that woman," growled Salim. "A divorced woman can have a hard time finding her way in our traditional society. If word gets out that she's had an affair?" He shrugged. "Do the right thing and let her be."
"I can't believe you're worried about her reputation if her father is your sworn enemy."
"Are we the Three Musketeers? I don't have sworn enemies. I have business rivals. And her father doesn't even qualify as one. He's a mere...insect buzzing in my ear."
Quasar laughed. "Then what I do with his daughter doesn't really matter, does it?"
"The Al Mansur family has a reputation to protect."
"You work on your reputation as a ruthless and brilliant hotelier, and I'll tend to my own as an international playboy." Might as well make light of the situation. Attempts at genuine discussion were getting him nowhere. "Now, isn't it about time for me to read the kids a bedtime story?" He raised his voice so the children, who were still running around the table at full tilt, could hear him.
"Yes, Uncle Quaz! Please do!" The resulting flurry of activity was just the distraction he needed. Quasar vowed never to mention his love life to his family again. He also decided not to mention the dispute over the land to Dani. It was sure to spook her and it really had nothing to do with them. When the time was right he'd approach her father and find a solution that would make everyone happy. In the meantime, all that mattered was making Dani happy.
* * *
"It's not that far away, only thirty minutes or so. It's in the foothills."
Dani held the phone away from her ear as if removing the source of Quasar's voice would reduce its powerful effect over her. Every cell in her body yearned to say yes. She could picture the mischief sparkling in his dark blue eyes, see the arrogant and sexy cut of his cheekbones, imagine the sunlight dancing in his tousled hair.
She wanted to bury her face in his shirt and inhale the rich masculine scent of him.
"I can't."
"Of course you can." Quasar obviously wasn't the type to take no for an answer. "I can pick you up at your house. Or any clandestine location you prefer. I'll have you back by four."
"My youngest brother was home when I arrived today. He noticed my jeans were wet. I can't take any more chances." She'd been cursing herself ever since. She was listening at the door in a panic when her father came home, wondering if Khalid would say something and expose her to inquisition-style questioning. She had no business whatsoever disappearing for another tryst with Quasar.
"Are you trying to tell me that you'll never see me again?"
Her heart seized. Is that what she meant? It seemed too awful to imagine.
"Because if that's what you think, you're dead wrong. I haven't achieved the success I've found in business by giving up easily."
She wanted to laugh. She found his persistence sexy and appealing. But then there was the other side of the story. "You freely admitted that you quickly grow bored and move on. I can't afford a casual affair. My emotions are too fragile and if that wasn't enough, my reputation is in tatters already and I can't risk it getting any worse."
"Your reputation will be as safe as the sultan's treasure. Besides, you might find the place interesting. It's an old farmhouse. I have no idea how old but possibly a thousand years or more. There are twelve frankincense trees on the property. It's a window into an earlier time."
She hesitated. History was an intoxicating drug to her. A thousand-year-old farmhouse and Quasar? Hard to resist. "That does sound rather intriguing."
"Ten o'clock, then. At your house?"
"No! The neighbors might see." She wanted to go, though. How could she resist? "I'll be at the market again." The neighbors might see her there but somehow it seemed less likely. Her temperature rose at the prospect of meeting Quasar again. It was embarrassing how her resolve flew right out the window at the mere sound of his voice.
Much as it had when she'd first fallen for Gordon, against the protests of her girlfriends that he was too old for her, and too possessive. She'd been so sure of her heart. Only to watch it be trampled and left bloodless and empty.
Quasar had already hung up. Probably he was on to his next activity of the evening, barely thinking about her at all. And she faced another sleepless night of fitful dreams mixed with colorful fears and scary anticipation.
* * *
As usual the drive sped by. Quasar was so easy to talk to. He knew so many things and had been to so many places but never made her feel inadequate by comparison.