‘I will if you will.’
‘Already done.’
‘Nope.’ Zach glanced at his feet. ‘Must have left the bells in my rooms.’
‘Dammit, Zach, I gave her a choice and she chose him. You want to rub my nose in it, you can go to hell.’
‘Hang on a minute, buddy.’ Zach surged forward in his seat. ‘I’m not rubbing your nose in anything. I’m saying you might be wrong.’
‘I’m not.’
‘Then let me ask you this. Are you currently sleeping with her?’
Nadir stared at him, hard. ‘You continue down this line of thinking and I can tell you it won’t end well.’
‘Just hear me out.’ Zach threw up his hands defensively. ‘I’m not trying to get a blow-by-blow description of your love life, I’m trying to say that I know women.’
Nadir scoffed.
‘Scoff all you like, but I do, and I don’t know many that would sleep with one guy while they were in love with another.’
Nadir eyed him coolly. ‘They’re out there.’
‘Okay, sure, so what you’re saying is that Imogen is one of those—’
‘No, she’s not. She would never play with people’s emotions like that.’
‘Right. So stop being a horse’s arse.’
‘Look, Zach, I know you’re trying to make me feel better but you don’t have to concern yourself. I’m good.’
‘Bro, I’m not trying to make you feel better; I’m trying to talk you down off a ledge.’
‘I’m not on a ledge.’ Nadir’s jaw hardened. ‘The fact is I had no choice but to let her go. I forced her to come here. I forced the idea of marriage onto her and I wouldn’t take no for an answer.’
‘Like the old man.’
‘Yeah.’ Nadir blew out a rough breath. ‘Just like the old man. Hell.’ He stared at Zach bleakly. ‘When did I turn into him?’
‘You didn’t.’ Zach frowned. ‘Admittedly, you’re stubborn and a little on the arrogant side but you don’t take advantage of people and you’d never step on someone else for your own gain.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong.’ Nadir stared at him bleakly. ‘I stepped all over Imogen.’
Zach shook his head. ‘I doubt that’s true but if you did then go apologise and make nice. Tell her how you feel. See what happens.’
The thought of that made Nadir’s gut pitch. He never told anyone how he felt. It was easier and no one got hurt that way. Least of all him. ‘Hell. I love her.’
‘You think?’
Nadir shook his head. ‘I know you think you’re pretty clever but frankly I wouldn’t wish this sick feeling in my gut on anyone.’
‘I would love to care for a woman as much as you do yours. Instead, I have to figure out how to stop myself from being shackled to a living, breathing fire-eater who would as soon run me through with a kanjhar than look at me.’