'You told her that she should go into the desert alone?'
'No, of course not!' But Avery felt a stab of panic as she realised how her words could have been interpreted. 'I just suggested that sometimes it's empowering to do something that scares you. That you learn you can cope with it and you come out stronger.'
'Or you come out dead. Do you realise how dangerous the desert is for someone with no experience or expertise in desert survival?'
'Yes! And I don't know why you're blaming me!' Her voice rose. 'I did not tell her to go into the desert alone.'
'Then let's hope that isn't what she's done. She would last five minutes.' Anxiety stamped into his features, Mal pulled out his phone and made a call, talking rapidly to his security team while Avery stood there, an agonized witness to his obvious worry and feeling hideously responsible for the part she'd possibly played.
What if Kalila really had taken her literally and gone into the desert alone?
Surely she wouldn't have done anything so foolish. Would she?
Her brain argued it back and forth and eventually she pressed her fingers to her forehead as if by doing so she might be able to shut down her thoughts. 'Look, maybe I can-'
'You've done enough. Thank you for your help. You've told me all I need to know.' He was chillingly formal. There was a hardness to him that she didn't remember ever seeing before. He was tough, yes, and she knew that most people found him intimidating, but she never had. And he hadn't found her intimidating either. Unlike many men, he hadn't been daunted by her success and that had been so refreshing.
'This is not my fault.' But her voice lacked conviction because deep down she was afraid that it was at least partially her fault. Had she unwittingly put the idea in Kalila's head? 'And if that is what she's done, then maybe it isn't such a bad thing. Maybe this will build her confidence in herself. I think it was very brave of her to go into the desert if that is what she's done … ' Her voice tailed off as he turned on her savagely.
'Brave?' Contempt dripped from him. 'Will you think she's "brave" when she's been bitten by a scorpion? Caught in a sandstorm? Drowned in a flash flood?'
Guilt ignited her own temper. 'Maybe she'll surprise you. And maybe the experience will be the making of her. Maybe it will give her the courage to stand up for herself and tell you what she wants. And whether it does or doesn't, you should ask yourself why she finds the prospect of those things less scary than marriage. She's run into the desert to get away from you, Mal!'
The truth earned her a fierce look. 'You are assuming that her disappearance is some sort of statement about our relationship.'
'Well, that's how it looks from where I'm standing.'
'She agreed to this. She wanted this marriage.'
'How would you know? Did you even ask her? Or did you "assume" like you always assume. Maybe she didn't want this marriage and she was afraid to tell you.' Avery knew she should stop talking. Stop now, before something was said that couldn't be unsaid, but she couldn't help herself. 'Maybe marriage was the last thing she wanted.'
'Not every woman sees marriage as captivity to be avoided at all costs.' His eyes clashed with hers and her heart started to race because suddenly they weren't talking about Kalila.
They were sparring, as they'd always sparred. The only difference was that this encounter wasn't going to end with their mouths and bodies locked together. And he was clearly thinking along the same lines because a tiny frown appeared between those bold black eyebrows and his eyes darkened dangerously.
The air was stifling.
Avery wondered how the conversation had shifted from safe territory to unsafe territory. Had that been her fault or his?
'We were talking about Kalila.' She snapped the words and then hated herself for appearing anything other than calm in his presence.
'Yes. Kalila.' His voice was thick and it was clear he wasn't faring any better than she was with the direction the conversation had taken.
'All I'm saying is that maybe she expressed her opinion in the only way she was able. She voted with her feet. I don't know anything about the politics of this situation, nor do I want to, but you asked me what I thought and-'
'No, I didn't. I already know your position on marriage so I would never ask. Our opinions on that subject are in direct opposition, as we both know.'
Why did he keep bringing the subject back to her when it should have been his bride-to-be that they were discussing?
'As you rightly point out, I am unlikely to have the faintest clue what Kalila is feeling. But it's obvious she's panicking about the wedding.' And now perhaps she was lying in the desert, gasping with thirst or worse … Perhaps she was already unconscious, her frail body being pecked by giant birds.
Crap.
'What is obvious to me is that she has indeed followed your advice and gone into the desert. It would explain why we can find no trace of her in the city.' Anger shone in his eyes. 'I suppose it's too much to ask to expect you to know exactly where she went? Was there a particular place that you recommended as perfect for her to "face her fears"?'
Avery squirmed. 'No! But maybe I could-'
'You've already done more than enough.' He strode towards the door. 'Thank you for your time. I know how precious it is, so feel free to bill me.'
So that was it. He was leaving.
The pressure in her throat increased. 'Mal-'
'I have to go. I do not want to leave this innocent girl out there at the mercy of the desert and the capricious whims of the man who she is unfortunate enough to have as a father. She is extremely vulnerable.'
Avery felt something twist inside her. She felt an irrational spurt of jealousy for the woman who had dragged such tender feelings out of a man known for his lack of sentimentality. Mal was tough. A soldier and a skilled diplomat, used to dealing with the toughest of adversaries. She'd never seen him reveal any soft, sensitive feelings before. The fact that he was doing so now for another woman made her insides ache.
Whatever his reasons for marrying Kalila, it seemed he did care for her.
Any tension between them had been burned away by that exchange and now he was chillingly detached. 'I will let you know if the wedding party is likely to proceed. In the meantime you can put your arrangements on hold and invoice me for any costs incurred to date.'
'For goodness' sake, stop talking about money! I don't care about the money. I'm worried about Kalila, too. Wait!'
'I have a desert to search.'
'Then I'll search it with you.' The words came tumbling out of her mouth and she didn't know which one of them was the more surprised. He turned to face her, incredulity lighting his eyes.
'I beg your pardon?'
Avery took a step backwards but the words were out there now and they couldn't be withdrawn. She couldn't believe she'd actually said it. A moment ago she hadn't been able to wait for him to leave and now she was suggesting travelling into the desert with him? What the hell was she doing? When their relationship had crashed she'd almost lost everything. Everything she'd worked so hard to build. What they'd shared had been so intense, so powerful, and here she was volunteering to risk exposing those raw tender feelings again, and all so that she could help him marry another woman.
Avery wanted to pull the words back but her conscience wouldn't let her. 'If Kalila had thought she could talk to you, then she would have talked to you. If you do find her-'
'When I find her-' His eyes promised all sorts of dire punishments if that didn't happen and Avery swallowed.
'Of course, that's what I meant. When you find her, you'll need to have a proper conversation, but what if she won't talk to you? She's never managed to talk to you before, has she? Why would she talk to you now? She's more likely to talk to me.'
There was a long, throbbing silence.
'Let me get this straight-' dark lashes shielded the expression in those ebony eyes '-you're offering to help find my bride and then talk her into marrying me?'
'Absolutely.' Avery forced the words out and he stared at her for a long moment as if he were trying to peel away the layers and see beneath the façade she presented to the world. 'Why not?'
Her question was greeted by prolonged silence and then he straightened his shoulders. 'I thought maybe-' his voice was rough '-it might be difficult for you to see me marrying another woman.'
'Difficult?' She hoped her laugh sounded more convincing to him than it did to her. 'Why would you think that? Our relationship is in the past, Mal. No one is more enthusiastic to see you married than I am. How else am I going to organize an after-wedding-party and bill you for shedloads of money? Let's get this done.'