One Night Of Consequences Collection. Annie West

      ‘Sure.’ Zach eased back in his chair. ‘If you’re happy with her bonking another guy then who am I to argue?’

      Nadir slammed his portable mouse down on the desktop. ‘I told you to forget her.’

      ‘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.’

      Nadir had forgotten all about Farah Hajjar. ‘I doubt her father will push it. He hates our family.’

      ‘It’s fine. I can deal with Farah and her insane old man. You just do us both a favour and go get your woman.’

      ‘Prince Zachim!’ Both men looked up as Staph knocked and shot through the door like a rocket, his breath heaving. ‘You need to come quick. The woman you put in the harem has disappeared.’

      ‘Disappeared?’ Zach frowned. ‘That’s impossible. I’ve put an experienced guard on the door.’

      ‘Yes, My Lord. He can’t find her.’

      Zachim rattled off a string of curse words Nadir hadn’t heard in a long while. He smiled and came around the desk. ‘I’d love to stay and help but...’

      His words faded as Zach, his mind already on the disaster that awaited him, strode out of the room.

      Nadir headed for the door himself and stopped. ‘Staph?’

      ‘Yes, My Lord?’

      ‘What did you tell the wedding guests who have already arrived?’

      ‘Nothing, My Lord.’

      Nadir gave him a faint smile. ‘You’re a sly old dog, Staph. I hope your faith in me isn’t misplaced.’

      ‘I would say not, My Lord.’

      ‘And Imogen and my daughter?’ He cleared his throat. ‘Where are they?’

      ‘In your suite.’

      * * *

      Imogen sorted out what she would need for Nadeena for the plane trip back to London and searched around for some sort of bag to put it into. Nadir had luggage in his dressing room but no way was she going back into his bedroom ever again.

      What he had said to her before...she still couldn’t digest it because it felt as if he’d ripped a hole in her heart and inserted a stick of dynamite for good measure.

      The only thing she was thankful for was that her daughter would never know how it felt to have an absent father because she would be used to having him part-time in her life and Imogen only hoped he would be good to her when he had her. That he wouldn’t have a string of stick-thin models parading through his house who— Oh, God. Imogen felt her stomach heave and leant against a chest of drawers to steady herself.

      It was so ridiculous to feel like this because she had known all along that once the reality of marriage and parenthood set in then he would run a mile and she’d been proven right. And the prize? She shook her head at her reflection in the mirror. Her prize was a broken heart the size of Asia.

      ‘Imogen? Habibi? Are you all right?’

      Imogen swung around at the sound of his voice, fire pouring out of her eyes. ‘What are you doing here?’

      He stopped short and she was thankful that she had wiped all her make-up off after her initial crying fit and dressed in her T-shirt and jeans. She intended to go home exactly the way she had arrived. Well, almost.

      ‘I needed to see you.’

      To make sure she was all right? She couldn’t fault his manners. ‘Well, now you’ve seen me, please go.’

      ‘Habibi, I—’

      ‘Do not call me habibi.’

      ‘Okay—fine.’ He held up his hands as if she were a wild thing about to pounce on him and maul him to death. What a pity, she thought, that shape-shifting was pure fantasy. ‘I know I’m the reason you’re upset and I just want to talk.’

      ‘No.’ Imogen shook her head for emphasis. ‘No more talking. I’m done here, Nadir.’

      He looked around the room and frowned when he saw the minuscule amount of clothing on the bed. The empty cot. ‘Where’s Nadeena? Isn’t she due for a sleep?’

      ‘Yes, but since we’re leaving, Minh is trying to keep her awake so that she’ll sleep on the—oh, this is not important. Could you please just go?’ The last thing she wanted to do was break down and sob in front of him and the longer he stayed the more likely that was to happen. It was too painful to see him. Too painful to be near him.

      He