For a start, she hated the dress she wore. Responding to her concerned queries as to appropriateness, her personal shopper had assured her that Dahar’s court was very western these days and the outfit would be perfect for a cocktail function there. But although it was elegant, it was also far too revealing for Lily’s liking and left far too much skin on show. But she wore it anyway, because she refused to allow the feelings of exposure and vulnerability to have power over her.
Except, for some reason, she hadn’t felt either of those things out by the fountain when the Sheikh of Dahar had looked at her. Strange. Because Dan had looked at her the way Isma’il had. Oh, not when he’d first been her coach. But later, soon after she’d turned sixteen. His eyes had lingered on her whenever she’d pulled herself out of the pool, following the line of her body. She’d hated it.
She should have hated Isma’il’s gaze too. Especially considering the edge of darkness that had bled into those turquoise eyes of his, a glimpse of something dangerous underneath that charming exterior. Was that darkness an echo of his violent father? The whisper of Sheikh Khalid’s brutality in his son?
A shiver went through her. Because, though that darkness was frightening, she also found it utterly compelling. Like confronting a beautiful tiger, knowing it could rip you to shreds at any second, yet wanting to touch the softness of its fur anyway.
Electricity whispered over her skin, a strange burst of fizzing excitement igniting in her blood. She didn’t understand her response.
Lily shook her head. She didn’t want to think about that. Or Dan either. Not now. Not here. She wasn’t that naïve sixteen year old girl, who thought all men were as trustworthy and as wonderful as her father. Not any longer. She was armored now. Invulnerable.
The crowd shifted around her as Isma’il introduced her to yet another group of hostile looking men. He didn’t stand too close to her, yet the physical awareness of him that had begun in the limo that morning only seemed to heighten.
Since this was a western function, he wore western dress. A tuxedo. The black suited him. He was a compelling presence, dominating the room with an intoxicating mixture of authority and outright charm, and it was clear his people viewed him with a respect bordering on awe.
Lily tried to keep her mind on what she was doing and not let herself get distracted by him.
She’d reviewed the information on Dahar’s business customs that afternoon before the function, and her father had given her a couple of pointers in his phone call, plus a healthy dose of encouragement. But, flirting and charming men didn’t come naturally to her. For the past six months she’d been the CEO, taking charge, giving orders, dealing with issues or problems in an authoritative manner, because she couldn’t afford to look indecisive or weak.
Standing around making polite conversation made her impatient to get to the business at hand and she had to fight her natural tendency to hurry things along.
“So what does your husband think of all this?” One elderly robed minister asked her in excellent, cultured English.
“I’m not married.” She could feel Isma’il’s sharp blue gaze on her. It made her want to grasp at the edges of the suit jacket she wasn’t wearing.
“Not married?” The man looked shocked. “But you are a beautiful girl. Why not?”
Lily quashed her instinctive irritation at the term ‘girl.’ She wanted to tell him that in fact she never intended to marry, that the company was all she needed. But the Daharans revered marriage and such a response wouldn’t be what the sheikh would be looking for she guessed.
She smiled at the minister. Tried to make it genuine. Tried to be ‘charming.’ “Thank you. Perhaps, it’s just because I haven’t found the right man yet.”
This prompted a round of smiles from the little circle of men.
“You would need a strong man, I think,” said one, nodding meaningfully. “In Dahar we have many such men.”
Flirt with them. Charm them.
Such behaviour went against ten years of being one of the boys. Making herself an equal. Making herself into a man to overcome the disadvantage of her femininity in a male dominated industry. And it was a disadvantage. A very big disadvantage.
Keeping her smile firmly in place, Lily made an effort. “Yes I can see that. Perhaps there are a few potential candidates in this very room.”
They laughed at this and she became conscious of a small feeling of triumph. Maybe this wasn’t so hard after all.
“If I was not already married I might put myself forward,” the minister said with a wink. “You are a prize indeed, Miss Harkness.”