Brides & Bargains

“We have a very busy life in London,” Sebastian added. “And we both enjoy traveling. Nasira is involved in charity work and my shipping business requires quite a bit of time.”

Fiona shrugged. “Children are definitely time-consuming.”

“And wonderful,” Nasira said, determined to get her point across to her husband. “I definitely want at least one or perhaps two.”

Sebastian regarded Darin. “Shall we begin the tour of the stables? We wouldn’t want to detain you in light of your upcoming vacation.”

Leave it to her husband to avoid the topic of children. And that gave Nasira pause. “I am very much looking forward to seeing the rest of the house.”

“Right this way,” Fiona said as she gestured Nasira forward.

They made their way through a large formal lounge with gleaming dark wood floors and several seating areas containing multicolored leather furniture and assorted club chairs.

She already felt at home surrounded by such opulence. “This is very grand but comfortable.”

“Thank you, Nasira.” Fiona nodded toward the sweeping staircase. “We have five bedrooms upstairs and our other family room, which is always a mess. So I’ll concentrate on the downstairs for now. But feel free to explore when you’re here.”

Provided they decided to stay there, though she had to admit she would love it. “We so appreciate your hospitality.”

“You are so welcome,” Fiona said as she took off at a fast clip. “The two guest bedrooms are down here.”

Nasira admired the luxury of the first bedroom Fiona showed her. It was accented in whites and grays with a plush king bed and gorgeous en suite bath. The second was equally remarkable though the color palette featured differing shades of blue. Nasira welcomed the fact that if serious conflicts arose during their time her, she could have one room and Sebastian could have the other.

“Amelia usually stays in one these rooms when she spends the night,” Fiona began, “but we’re taking her with us. Darin and I could use a little alone time, if you catch my drift.”

Nasira was not familiar with the term, yet she did understand the meaning behind it. “I have no doubt enjoying private moments with your husband must be difficult in light of the children’s needs.”

The redhead grinned and winked. “We women have needs too.”

Something Nasira had realized all too well last night. “Yes, we do.”

Fiona led her out into the corridor and waved her forward. “The housekeeper, Annie, will be in every day if you decide to stay with us. And she prepares wonderful meals.”

“That would not be necessary.”

“I insist,” Fiona said as she stopped in the great room. “Besides, Annie would be lost if she didn’t have something to do. I promise she won’t be in the way. In fact, you won’t even know she’s here most of the time.”

A phantom maid was quite a novel idea. “Well I would not want her to feel unwanted.”

“I can show you our bedroom if you’d like,” Fiona began, “or we can take a look at the kitchen.”

“I would love to see the nursery,” Nasira blurted without thought.

“Then follow me.”

They crossed to the opposite end of the house and walked down another long hall until Fiona paused at a door with a keypad. “This is the elevator to the upper floor. I’ll leave the code in case you need it.”

She could not imagine why they would. “Did I not see a staircase?”

“Yes, you did.” Fiona smiled as they continued on side by side at a much slower pace. “We use it to get to the second floor fast if one of the kids needs us during the night. Darin is usually the one who hops out of bed first. He’s a very light sleeper.”

“How did the two of you meet?” Nasira asked, overcome with curiosity.

“In a Vegas lounge,” Fiona said. “I happened to be bartending when he walked in and he thought I was someone else.”

“Someone else?”

“Yes. An FBI agent. It’s a long story but let’s just say that particular night started a harrowing adventure that led to this wonderful life full of love and chaos and beautiful children. And speaking of children, this is where the babies stay.”

Fiona opened the double doors to a large nursery that Nasira could only describe as a children’s wonderland. A majestic white canopy crib draped in sheer pale green netting to complement the gender-neutral decor had been positioned between two windows. Stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes dotted built-in shelves that also held trinkets and framed photos of the Shakir children at various points of their life. It was a remarkable place that indicated a very happy family lived here.

Fiona pointed to a small bed to their right. “Liana still sleeps there for the time being. We’ll move her upstairs to the big girl room right before the baby comes. At least that’s the plan. I’m not sure how well her daddy is going to take not having her nearby.”

Nasira could see where that might be an issue. “They seem to be very close.”

“She’s definitely a daddy’s girl. You’ll figure that one out if you and Sebastian have a daughter.”

Regret and memories washed over Nasira as she walked to the crib and ran her hand over the soft coral blanket folded at the end of the mattress. How many times had she imagined her own baby in such a precious bed? How many times had she cried over the end of that dream? Her hand automatically came to rest on her abdomen, and then the familiar tears arrived as sudden as a summer rain. Unwelcome tears that she could not seem to control.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. “Nasira, are you okay?”

Not in the least. She turned around and sniffed. “I had a miscarriage six months ago. It was early in the pregnancy but still no less devastating.”

Fiona snapped a tissue from the box on the changing table and handed it to her. “I’m so sorry, Nasira, and I can relate.”

She dabbed at her eyes. “You can?”

“Like you, I had a first trimester miscarriage between Kal and Sam. It broke my heart.”

Finally, someone who could understand and perhaps provide insight. “How did Darin react to the loss?”

Fiona shrugged. “He was extremely supportive even though he didn’t touch me for a couple of months. I think he worried I might break.”

“Sebastian avoided me for six months.”

Fiona’s green eyes went wide. “You haven’t made love since you lost the baby?”

Nasira felt the urge to confess, yet thought it best not to reveal too much. “That was the case until last night, although I am still in a quandary over how it happened. In fact, the whole evening was rather odd.”

“I’d think you would be relieved,” Fiona said. “Six months is a long time without making whoopee.”

“True, but Sebastian’s behavior was completely out of character. First of all, he arrived at Rafiq’s house uninvited and punched Mac McCallum because he believed we were having some sort of tryst, which is absolutely absurd.”

Fiona gasped. “He did not!”

“He did. I was completely shocked by his behavior yet admittedly somewhat attracted to his sudden show of machismo. Sebastian is usually so controlled.”

Fiona chuckled. “I know exactly what you mean because Darin is like that, too. But there’s no shame in wanting to jump his bones after he defended your honor, even if he mistakenly thought you were fooling around.”

Nasira had definitely wanted him, yet she had never been the aggressor in the relationship. “For the sake of accuracy, I was not exactly looking to rekindle our love life at that moment. Yet he convinced me to have dinner with him and then he virtually seduced me in the ridiculously large pickup truck he rented.”

“Welcome to Texas, girlfriend. Sex in a pickup truck is practically a sport.”

Nasira couldn’t contain her smile. “That actually came later, in the middle of the night, after Sebastian had two toddies on top of his jet lag.” She sighed. “You must think I am a complete dolt, telling you all the sordid details.”

Fiona folded her arms across her middle. “Hey, I’m a good listener, and it’s sure not stupid to want to make love to your husband.”

Then why did she feel so foolish? “I should not want him after what he has done. Or what he has not done. Not only did he avoid lovemaking, any serious communication between us has been at a complete standstill. He refuses to talk about our loss or how he feels about it.”

“Darin isn’t a great communicator, either,” Fiona said. “But I can’t imagine him completely shutting down and if he does try that, I have ways to make him talk.”

“Sebastian has not only shut down, he acts as if he no longer wants children. Maybe he never has. In fact, I had to stop taking...” She had already revealed too much. Said too much. “Again, I do apologize for burdening you with my problems.”

“Burden away, Nasira. We’re members of the miscarriage club and it’s not a good club to join.”

“No, it is not.”

Fiona’s face took on a serious expression. “If you don’t mind me asking, do you know why your husband suddenly changed his mind about being a father?”

This would be the most difficult part to explain. “Actually, we met and married very quickly and we never actually discussed it at length. I did know that his father and stepmother were adamant that he produce an heir because he is an only child, so I mistakenly assumed we would eventually have children. Yet it took years before we finally conceived.” With some regrettable deception on her part.

“If he doesn’t change his mind, what are you going to do?”

“I have no clue at this point in time.” And she really didn’t.

Fiona patted her cheek. “Stick to your guns, Nasira. It’s one thing if both parties don’t want a baby, but it’s another thing if one does and one doesn’t. Regardless, I hope you both work it out.”

So did Nasira. “That’s why we are here. I initially came to Royal to check up on my brother and gain some space, yet Sebastian insisted on following me. We have both agreed to try to compromise. Hopefully, opening your home to us will aid in that goal.”

“It’s a magical place,” Fiona said with a grin. “But just another bit of friendly advice. If he has sex on his mind, don’t make it easy for him until you know you’re both on the same page when it comes to the future. If he doesn’t want to talk, then give him a little nudge.”

If only she had mastered that tack. “What do you suggest?”

“Be a seductress, but play hard to get to get what you need. Eventually you’ll have him eating out of your hand.”

“Would that not make me a tease?”

“Sometimes we have to resort to desperate measures, Nasira. Playing cat and mouse always drives Darin insane, and I guess that’s why we have so many kids.”

They shared in a laugh and a surprising embrace before Fiona said, “Let’s go see if the men have come in from the stables.”

Nasira felt she should express her gratitude again. “Let’s. And please know how much I appreciate your candor and comradeship. You have bolstered my optimism.”

“No problem, Nasira. We girls have just got to stick together.”

* * *

The sound of feminine laughter filtered into the chef’s kitchen, leading Sebastian to believe the two wives must be getting along famously. He couldn’t exactly say the same when it came to his connection to Darin Shakir. The man spoke in brief sentences and appeared to be incapable of smiling, unless it was directed at his daughter. However, he had been a polite host during their tour of the stables, right down to pointing out where Sebastian should step to prevent ruining his Italian loafers.

As Nasira moved into the room, chatter went on around him but he tuned it out and focused on watching his wife. Even after all the years they’d spent together, Sebastian still found her grace and beauty breathtaking. He liked the way she kept her slender hands in motion when she spoke. He liked the way her dark eyes lit up when she laughed. He truly relished her breasts that were unfortunately concealed by her black hair falling in soft waves, crimped from the braid she’d worn to bed last night. He imagined those silken locks on his chest, along with her soft lips, moving down his belly and lower....

“Can I get you anything, Sebastian?”

He brought his attention to Fiona to find her sporting an odd look. “I could use a glass of water.” Mainly to pour down his shorts to preserve his dignity.

“Would you like one too, Nasira?” she asked.

His wife frowned at him as if she had channeled his dirty thoughts. “No, thank you. I suppose Sebastian and I should take our leave so we can discuss your wonderful offer for us to stay in your home.”

Darin stepped forward, the toddler still on his hip. “We will give you your privacy while we return to our packing. If you decide to stay, we will provide you with the key and the gate code so you may return at your leisure.”

Fiona set a glass of water on the marble island next to Sebastian. “Liana, tell Mr. and Mrs. Edwards goodbye.”

After Darin set the little girl on her feet, she immediately rushed to Sebastian and wrapped her arms around his legs. “Bye, bye, Mr. Man.”

Seeing the grin on the child’s face sent a spear of regret through Sebastian. He ruffled her dark hair and returned her smile. “Goodbye, Princess Liana. I am grateful to have met you and your noble steed, Puddles.”

Her grin widened as she moved to Nasira and took her hand. “Bye, bye, pretty lady.”

Nasira knelt at her level and touched the girl’s face. “Goodbye, little princess. Have a wonderful time on your trip.”

Fiona stepped forward and took Liana’s hand. “Take your time, you two. When you’re ready, just press the button that says family room on the wall by the stove and we’ll come running.”

After the couple disappeared around the corner, Sebastian faced Sira again. “Well, what do you think of the place?”

“I think it is very lovely.”

“Not too shabby, I suppose.”

“I also think your reaction to Liana was lovely as well.”

He should have seen that coming. “She’s a very interesting child though somewhat chatty. She is quite enamored of her pony.”

“She seemed somewhat enamored of you.”

“She is simply friendly.” And he simply needed to divert Nasira’s attention from the topic before she forced him to revisit his decision not to have a child. “By the way, there’s a spa on the deck next to the pool. That alone would persuade me to stay.”

“I cannot recall if Elsa packed my swimsuit.”

“Elsa never forgets a thing. And on the off chance she did, we will swim in the nude.”

She averted her eyes. “Keep your voice down, Sebastian.”

Her innocence had come out of hiding. “Why? I assume this couple knows about all things sexual considering they are well on their way to creating an entire rugby team.”

That earned him her smile and a wistful look. “You are so amusing. They have a wonderful family. They are quite lucky to have each other.”

He realized how strongly his wife had been affected by the children. Children he could not offer her at the moment. Nevertheless, he hoped to come up with a plan that he would present later. Much later. “Are you still willing to reside here with me until the end of the week?”

“Yes, with a few conditions,” she said.

He should have seen that coming. “And what would those be?”

“First, we stay in separate suites.”

Bloody hell. “Why?”

“Because we need to concentrate on our relationship without any complications that will cloud our judgment.”

Double bloody hell. “If you are referring to sex, you must admit that has always worked well between us. Why would we want to exclude that from our time together?”

She barked out a cynical laugh. “I find that somewhat ironic considering that until last night, you refused to sleep with me in every sense of the word for the past six months.”

He couldn’t provide an explanation without baring his soul completely. He had been taught by his father early in life that men did not give in to emotions. “I was simply allowing you to recover completely.”

“Have you forgotten what happened last night when you were in my bed?”

“Actually, I barely remember it.” Unfortunately.

“You do remember the birth control issue, correct?”

He had attempted to forget that, yet the possible consequences still haunted him. “Yes, I remember.”

“Well, nothing has changed in that regard. We still do not have any protection against pregnancy.”

Not yet, but he intended to rectify that with a trip to the market. And perhaps he would pick up a box of chocolates along with the condoms. “I see your point, and I agree to your terms.” For the time being.

“Second condition,” she continued. “You must promise you will engage in meaningful conversations and answer my questions with candor without any comedy.”

That would be somewhat difficult. “I promise I will try, as long as you promise to be patient.”

“I will agree to those terms.”

Simple enough. “Then I suppose we should tell the Shakirs we will be accepting their hospitable invitation.”

Sebastian could only hope that agreeing to her terms would not prove to be his downfall.

Four

Later that afternoon, when they returned to the Shakirs’ house, luggage in hand, they found a note on the door from the owners inviting them to enjoy their home, and lunch awaiting them.

After Sebastian keyed in the code to allow them entry, Nasira started for the guest wing with her husband trailing behind her. She paused in the hallway to turn and almost ran into a wall of masculine chest. “Which room do you prefer?”

“The one where you’ll be staying.”

She sighed and stepped back. “We’ve already discussed this, Sebastian. Until we have our issues settled, I insist we adhere to our initial plan.”

“I am only being honest at your request.”

And infuriating. “I will take the suite on the right and you can take the one across the hall. I assure you, they are both very nice. I will meet you in the kitchen after I have settled in.”

“Yes, dear.”

Relieved her husband had not put up much of a fight, Nasira entered the blue suite and set her suitcase and garment bag on the bench at the end of the bed. She quickly hung her dresses in the huge closet and put away her other clothes in the bureau, then returned to the corridor to find it deserted. Without waiting for Sebastian, she immediately left for the great room, all the while reflecting on his interaction with little Liana. He seemed quite charmed by the toddler, and perhaps that meant there could still be hope for their marriage yet. Or perhaps it had only been a show for the proud parents.

When she reached the kitchen, Nasira found a spread of luscious salads, cheeses, breads and cold cuts laid out on the informal dinette set against a large picture window that revealed a remarkable view of the countryside.

“It certainly looks appetizing.”

She turned to find her husband standing close by, hands in pockets. “It looks wonderful. All of it. The food. The pastureland. The pool and the spa. We might as well be staying at a resort.”

He raked back a chair, sat and then rubbed his hands together. “Personally I could consume most of this.”

She claimed the seat across from him. “Please let me have a bit before you take it all.”

He winked. “Sweetheart, although I would like it all, I will take what you will give me.”

She could so easily walk into his lair but remembered Fiona’s advice. She would play along for now before she would play hard to get. “I promise I will give you enough to keep you sated.”

He appeared pleasantly surprised by her response. “I look forward to it.”

As they dined, a heavy fog of tension hung over them. A palpable tension long absent from their lives. Nasira held tight to her goal to persuade him to talk about issues he had always suppressed. During this time together, she vowed to learn as much as she could about the man she had lived with for a decade, and she would do whatever that required.

“I found Fiona Shakir to be quite friendly,” she said, breaking the silence.

“And clearly quite fertile.”

“Would you please stop deriding her for choosing to have children?”

He pushed aside his empty plate. “I’m not deriding her. I’m simply stating the obvious.”

Nasira opted for a change of subject. “What should we do this afternoon?”

His smile arrived as slowly as the sunrise. “I know what I would like to do for the remainder of the day.”

Stay strong, Nasira. “I would like to hear your plans, as long as they involve remaining vertical.”

“I’d say that’s altogether possible and in my opinion, preferable during a lengthy ride.”

Images of being taken against a wall plagued her. “Need I remind you of our agreement?”

He rubbed his chin. “I do not readily recall any clause prohibiting horseback riding.”

She tossed her napkin at him and he caught it in one hand. “You cad.”

“Cad? What did you think I meant?”

She pushed back from the table and stood. “Do not play ignorant, Sebastian. Since you’ve arrived, every time you open your mouth, innuendo spills out.”

He had the gall to grin. “Perhaps you only assume that because you’re having naughty sex thoughts.”

That only heightened her irritation. “If that were the case, could you blame me?”

He released a rough sigh. “No, I suppose I couldn’t. You have been greatly deprived, with the exception of last night. However, I would like to make up for that now if you will allow it.”

She refused to give in so easily. “I appreciate the gesture, but you will have to make up for my deprivation without any expectations in regard to lovemaking.”

He pushed the chair back, came to his feet and executed a bow. “My lady, I would be honored if you would join me for an equestrian adventure, and I promise no clothes will be shed.”

She could not help but smile. “Yes, I will join you. And speaking of clothes, I will need to change into something more suitable.”

He slapped his forehead with his palm. “I didn’t bring anything but slacks and loafers.”

“Then perhaps we should find something else to do.”

“No, I’ll travel into town to purchase appropriate clothing. Or perhaps I should say I’ll mosey into town.”

“Is it worth that much effort?”

He walked up to her and kissed her cheek. “You are worth the effort. And I need to pick up a few more items that will benefit us both.”

Before Nasira could respond, Sebastian strode out of the kitchen, leaving her standing there, pondering what he had up his sleeve. She would simply have to wait and see.

* * *

Nasira waited for what seemed to be infinity for Sebastian to return, until her patience began to wane. Dressed in designer jeans and fashionable boots, she located the path that led to the pasture and made her way to the stable. She soon came upon a large white rock structure surrounded by paddocks that held grazing mares and a few precious foals. It appeared everything about the ranch fostered new life and that only fed her melancholy.

When she entered the barn, Nasira found a lengthy aisle lined with stalls, mostly empty until she reached the end of the line where a beautiful bay stuck its head out of the top of the door.

She cautiously approached to measure the horse’s reaction to her appearance. When she held out her hand and began stroking the thin white blaze between its eyes, she immediately received a soft nicker.

“Can I help you, ma’am?”

In response the unfamiliar voice, she turned her head to the right and spotted an older man with white-streaked hair peeking out from beneath his black baseball cap, whiskers scattered about his careworn face. She offered a smile and her hand. “I am Nasira Edwards, the Shakirs’ houseguest.”

His face relaxed as he gave her hand a hearty shake. “Oh, yeah. I met your husband earlier. He told me the two of you might be wantin’ to take a ride today.”