Pretty Hot (The Pretty Trilogy Book 1) (28 page)

‘They’re lovely.’ I’ve never seen anything like them before. ‘Would you call them installations?’ The high screens adorn the room, artistically lit to cast geometric shadows across the floors and walls.

‘Traditionally,
mashrabiya
would screen windows, allowing air into the rooms, days pre-air-conditioning, of course. They would’ve also aided in shielding the women of the house from view, probably from their quarters upstairs.’

‘How very
upstairs, downstairs
,’ I reply, wryly. ‘Menfolk on the ground floor, the trouble and strife upstairs, or would that be the trouble and strife’s plural? Probably multiple wives, right?’

He ignores my idiocy. ‘There would be a
Majlis
, or reception area, on the ground floor. Men would greet visitors here, protecting women from potential exposure to any unrelated males. No, not that kind of exposure, kitten,’ he adds, responding to my giggles.

Still sniggering, I cast my gaze around, processing another difference in our worlds. I decide on a change of subject instead. ‘I love the garden, it’s so green.’

We reach the inner courtyard as a peach-coloured sun sets in watermelon hues. The garden, fragrant with the scent of jasmine, houses
more greenery than I’ve seen since my arrival in Dubai. Palm trees hang heavy with actual fresh dates as bougainvillea trails over pale walls.

‘The garden wouldn’t have originally looked like this, but see how the windows face toward the courtyard? There aren’t any windows looking to the outside. All windows face inwards for privacy. Here.’ Plucking a champagne flute from a passing tray, he feeds it into my hands. ‘You look overwhelmed. Relax, we won’t stay too long.’

‘I’m fine. I am relaxed,’ I answer too quickly, glancing at the milling guests
.
Women in flowing black silk
abaayat
mingle with stunners in sequinned cocktail dresses. Attendance is pretty heavily biased towards women, but there are a fair number of men here, too.

Twirling the delicate stem between my fingers, my eyes remain fixed on Dubai’s glitterati. ‘They’re a very well turned out bunch.’

‘Yes, very attractive. If augmentation and artifice are your thing.’

I stifle a giggle as an Amazonian blonde saunters by, gravity-defying bikini-stuffers almost spilling from her tiny dress.

‘I hope she wasn’t charged for those by the kilo,’ I say with a giggle. ‘What’s tonight all about? Why are we here, I mean?’

‘It’s a fundraiser. My mother is patron of an orphanage in Bangladesh.’

Mother? I don’t remember that part of the bargain being mentioned.

‘You have family here tonight?’ I try to regulate my voice, succeeding only in sounding like a strangled duck.

‘Probably,’ he says with a secretive smile. ‘Arab families are quite extensive, you could say almost a tribe.’ His hand touches my shoulder, my skin reacting with a pleasurable kind of pang. ‘Don’t worry,’ he whispers, bowing his head to my ear. ‘I won’t feed you to the lions.’ His hand glides down my arm, fingers entwining tightly with mine. ‘I’m the only one allowed to bite.’

‘Darling!’ Nerve endings still shimmering, my eyes spring open to a woman approaching us with outstretched arms. Immaculately dressed and slightly bohemian looking, the gallery’s lighting glinting from the diamonds draping her wrists.

‘Mother.’ Kai greets her warmly, European kisses are exchanged before is hand returns to mine. ‘May I introduce my friend, Kate Saunders. Kate, this is my mother, Mishael Al Khalfan.’

‘What a darling dress!’ Hands against my shoulders, she kisses me on each cheek. ‘This is a pleasant surprise. I get to meet so few of Kai’s friends, and certainly none as pretty as you.’

She definitely does look delighted. And beautiful. And at second glance, less bohemian and more chic. A sleek caramel bob accentuates Slavic cheekbones and brilliant blue eyes. I can see where Kai inherited his bone structure from, though his eyes are another matter. It seems the gene mixing palette hit jackpot; blue and brown didn’t mix to make amber last time I checked.

‘My goodness,’ I reply, coming over all
Pollyanna
for some reason. ‘It’s wonderful to meet you, too!’ From behind his mother, Kai chuckles.

‘An Australian. How delightful.’ Her eyes positively shine as she studies me. It’s more than a bit unnerving.

‘Settle down, Mother, you’ll frighten Kate off.’ Kai pulls me closer to his side.

‘Nonsense. Kate looks like the capable type, and that’s just what he needs,’ she adds conspiratorially. ‘Someone to keep him on his toes.’

My mouthful of champagne goes down the wrong way. As I cough, I try desperately not to snot it all over her. Keep
him
on his toes? More like the other way around and definitely less metaphorically.
Thankfully, she doesn’t appear to notice my reaction, distracted by someone’s arrival, excusing herself in a swirl of skirts.

‘Do you want to join me in the gym in the morning?’ Kai’s amber gaze is still amused.

‘Are you trying to get me to snort more bubbles? Anyway, who says I’m staying with you tonight.’

‘Of course you are. It’s a great start to the day, getting hot and sweaty,’ he whispers, pulling me closer. ‘I wonder what kind of noises I could get you to make, pushed to your peak in public?’

‘You’re not about to find out, kinky.’ I giggle and squirm away, reaching for a morsel from a passing tray.

‘Dirty girl. I didn’t mention sex. I simply meant how loud you’d be, worked over
really
hard
.’

‘Sure
you didn’t, and shush, your mum’s coming back. And I so don’t exercise.’

‘Fuck the
hors d’oeuvres
,’ he growls. Taking the tartlet and glass out of my hand, he discards them to another passing tray. ‘Let’s get straight to dessert.’

‘Are you hungry, darling?’ Mishael’s smile is bland, except where it reaches her eyes. I get the feeling there’s nothing wrong with her hearing. ‘Look who I found.’ Turning, she rests a hand on the forearm of a man dressed in a gleaming white
kandura
robe. Strikingly tall, the man’s eyes flick to Kai.

Kai’s forehead shows signs of a developing frown. ‘Essam.’

‘Kais.’ Kais, not Kai, the initial sound delivered from the back of his throat. Drawing himself taller, the newcomer adds, ‘
Keef haluk
.’

‘I’m fine,’ Kai grates out. ‘Thank you for asking.’

The pair bear more than a passing resemblance, though Essam is taller and thin rather than lithe. And without the sharpness of cheekbones, he’s a pale imitation of Kai. He does have fantastic eyes, though. Any more almond-shaped and he’d be part cat.

Mishael places her hand under my elbow, intent on steering me away. ‘Let me introduce you to my friend Sameera and leave the men to talk shop.’ When out of earshot, Mishael’s voice drops to an apologetic tone. ‘Excuse me for dragging you away, but Essam is devoutly religious. I thought it best to spare you both the discomfort of an introduction.’ I don’t so much answer as vaguely nod. ‘My nephew would mean no offence. He’d be dreadfully disturbed if he thought he’d upset you by his manner. Perhaps next time you’ll meet him with his wife, Maryam, things would be less awkward then. They’ve just had their first child. What a darling little girl; she’s so adorable. I’ll admit to a little pseudo granny lust.’ Her words trail away in a peal of laughter.

Several overwhelming introductions later, I excuse myself to find the bathrooms, mainly to grab a few moments to myself. Lost in the labyrinth of stairs and outdoor corridors, I find myself suddenly behind Kai and his cousin as they stand on the stone patio, facing the garden.

‘
. . . 
introducing her to your mother. That has to be a first.’

‘Is it?’ Kai uses a bored tone, raising his glass to his mouth. ‘You’re quite the expert on my life, it seems.’

‘
Wallah
, I swear not!’ Essam’s shoulders move rapidly with his chuckle. ‘Though she . . . 
this
is very different. I take it your father knows.’

Kai’s shoulders lift and fall once, insouciant. ‘What is there to tell?’

My heart slips to my Vampanado’s.

‘Risky, with what he has in mind, I hear.’

‘If you have a point, get to it, would you.’ Kai sounds almost bored.

‘Just, if it’s over with Sofia . . .’

With a breath of laughter, Kai turns to his cousin. ‘Wouldn’t that be overextending, even for you?’ Too late, I realise I have nowhere to hide. I’m stood like a sneaky eavesdropper as I’m spotted by Kai.

‘Kate.’ In three strides, my hands are in his, his expression having morphed to tender from bland.

‘Aren’t you going to introduce us?’ Essam asks, sounding quite pleased with himself.

‘No.’ Kai doesn’t turn, rather steering me away, his hand at the base of my spine.

‘What was that all about?’ I ask, glancing back at Essam, his cold gaze and a gleam of teeth following our retreat.

‘A difference of opinion.’

‘Yeah?’ I ask, doubtfully. ‘Your mum said he was deeply religious.’

‘He plays his part well.’

Engaging Kai in conversation right now is like trying to milk bricks, and his features, much like his responses, give nothing away.

‘And his wife has just had a baby?’

‘I expect she’ll be the first of many.’

‘Do they want a big family?’

‘I meant the first of many wives, Kate.’ His tone is as dry as sticks. Despite his hand on my back, propelling me along, I grind to a stop.

‘I thought you could only have four wives?’ Four wives as in
only
—just mad!

‘Marriage may be a dying institution in much of the world but here, for some men, quadruple the number still isn’t enough.’

‘You can bend the rules?’ I ask, incredulous. ‘How?’

Kai’s hand slides from my back, fingers raking through his hair. ‘There are always ways. Some divorce, take temporary wives, and then there’s good old fashioned adultery.’ His mouth curls in a gesture of irony. ‘For those willing to risk their eternal soul.’

‘Temp—no. I don’t think I want to know.’

‘Why anyone would want to be tied to another by marriage, I’ll never understand.’ His tone is blithe, but his words no less telling. A can of worms I’m not interested in opening as his hand finds mine. We begin to walk again.

‘Sofia sounds like a popular girl.’

Crap
. Sometimes I wonder if my mouth is at all connected to my brain. He’ll definitely think I was listening in now.

His expression is disconcerted, his hand loosening from mine as he turns as though to speak.

‘My goodness!’ With a beaming smile, Mishael joins us quite suddenly again, preventing his response. ‘I’m afraid it’s that time, darling.’ She touches Kai’s arm before turning toward the stage. ‘He’ll be back in a jiffy. We really must chat more.’

As she turns away, Kai stares down at me, eyes now grave. ‘You and I need to talk. Can we continue this after?’

‘I’ll be here.’

Lights from the garden set him in silhouette, darkening his face as his fingers touch my cheek.

‘Promise?’

‘I’m not going anywhere.’ Not yet, anyway.

On a small stage set against a backdrop of palms, Kai approaches the podium and the noise of the crowd dies away.

‘Ladies and gentlemen.
As’salaam Alaikum
. Welcome to the fifth annual
Al Bayt
Charitable Trust Evening.’

There follows a small ripple of applause, people drifting nearer to the stage. Small groups gather around me, one figure paused almost at my elbow. A woman. Viewed from the corner of my eye, she looks almost familiar. Chestnut hair falls sheet-like almost to her waist, and she’s tall; legs up to my chest, at least. She seems to have that effortlessly stylish look of someone famous, but I suppose it would be effortless if you paid a stylist to pick your clothes. Dark painted nails match her tiny rock-chic black dress and ankle-boots.

My heart suddenly sinks as I realise where I recognise her from. She was with Kai at brunch, his supermodel date.

‘Have we met?’ Her question is vague, her eyes only briefly lighting on me as she twists a lock of hair around her thumb.

‘Nope. Don’t think so.’ Quick, my answer is almost a bark.

Shrugging, she flicks the dark sheet of hair over her shoulder before
really
looking at me. Her eyes make a slow progression from my feet to my face, her expression part amusement, part sneer.

‘You’re the girl,’ she drawls. ‘Sofia.’ She holds out her hand, almost in a position to be kissed. ‘Kais and I
 . . .
’ She wriggles the fingers of her other hand in the air, a gesture that could mean anything or nothing. But I know exactly what she means. And Kais again, not Kai, with the slight inflection of an accent. Odd that I note these differences, accent and diction, as the actual context screams in the back of my head.

‘Kate,’ I answer, filling the word with a boat load of get fucked and ignoring her hand.

Reduced to covert glances her way, she gazes at the stage with a sycophantic smile, the lock of hair back between her fingers. ‘You know, it never lasts with Kai.’

‘And you’d know from bitter experience?’ I don’t turn, just bark again.

She shrugs with indifference this time, the crowd around us laughing at something said from the podium. I can’t help feel
I’m
being laughed at. Just look at her, look at me. Standing beside her, paling into insignificance
.

Kai shakes his head almost imperceptibly, his gaze fixed on mine. Is there supposed to be some meaning in that?
Don’t talk to her? Don’t listen? I don’t know who the fuck she is?