Read Online Her Desert Knight by Jennifer Lewis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Lewis
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me.”
“Perfect. We’ll have to get you guys together. There’s a school break coming up in two weeks. I’ll see if we can get her and Erin and her son on a flight out here.”
Quasar stiffened. “I don’t know, Sara. I’m not really ready for a new relationship. I want to take some time, to figure some things out.” With Dani. The last thing he needed was to be set up with someone when there was no way he could be interested in her. He didn’t want to hurt Erin’s feelings, either. She sounded like she’d had enough of that already.
“It can’t hurt to meet her, can it?”
“It might, if we meet at the wrong time and end up blowing it.” He shrugged.
“I suppose you’re right. It’s probably better to wait until you’re ready. I notice you haven’t mentioned that woman you met at the bookshop. I assume she very sensibly brushed you off.”
He felt a sheepish expression pass over his face. How could he keep such a big secret from his own family? All of these people wanted the best for him. Why was he so reluctant to tell them what was happening with Dani? “Actually, she was with me today.”
“Ah.” Salim didn’t look surprised. Or pleased. Sara and Celia smiled at each other. Elan kept a poker face.
“I’ll have to bring her over to meet you all soon. Her name’s Dani, short for Daniyah.”
“That’s a pretty name. I don’t think I’ve heard it before,” said Sara.
“My lawyer was filling my ears with gossip about Daniyah Hassan the other day.” Salim frowned and put his coffee cup down sharply. “It’s not her, is it?”
“I don’t know her last name. Isn’t that funny? I’m not sure I told her mine, either.”
“Well, you should have. That might have put a stop to this before it even started.” Salim’s expression was grim.
“Why?”
“Did she just come back from the States after a failed marriage?”
Quasar sat up. “Yes. How did you know?”
“Salalah maybe be a big city by Omani standards, but it’s a small town by anyone else’s. We all know each other’s business.”
“Isn’t Mohammed Hassan the guy who sued you over that waterfront property?” Elan sipped his coffee.
“Yes. That’s her father.” Salim stared at Quasar. “Twelve years in the courts. That’s why my lawyer’s keeping tabs on the family. I don’t know Daniyah personally, but her father is like a pit bull. The case still isn’t resolved. Though it will be before we break ground next year. Count on it.”
“Why don’t you resolve it amicably?”
Salim blew out a breath. “That land is ours. Our father paid three thousand rials for it in 1976. I have the paperwork to prove it.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Old Hassan insists that his father, who sold the land, was sick and under duress and was badgered into selling it. He claims the handshake contract is null and void, and he wants the land back.” Salim crossed his arms. “Not going to happen.”
“I’m guessing the land is worth a lot more now?”
Salim snorted. “Add three zeros and you’re still not close. Hey, the old man needed the cash and he made a deal. I’m sure we’d all be wealthy as kings if we could renegotiate some of the bargains we made at the wrong time. Besides, it’s not like he’s starving. Hassan is one of the best-known engineers in the country, and he has two intelligent sons. Some people should learn to count their blessings.”
“Dani’s not involved in any of that. I doubt she’s even aware of it. She’s here to regroup after her bad marriage.”
“And you’re helping her out with that?” Elan crossed his arms.
“Out of the frying pan, into the fire...” Sara whispered with a wink.
“You do realize that here in Oman you basically need to marry a woman in order to kiss her.” Salim leaned back in his chair, arms still crossed. “You can’t carry on like you’re back in L.A. Especially not with the divorced daughter of a man who’s battling us in
“Perfect. We’ll have to get you guys together. There’s a school break coming up in two weeks. I’ll see if we can get her and Erin and her son on a flight out here.”
Quasar stiffened. “I don’t know, Sara. I’m not really ready for a new relationship. I want to take some time, to figure some things out.” With Dani. The last thing he needed was to be set up with someone when there was no way he could be interested in her. He didn’t want to hurt Erin’s feelings, either. She sounded like she’d had enough of that already.
“It can’t hurt to meet her, can it?”
“It might, if we meet at the wrong time and end up blowing it.” He shrugged.
“I suppose you’re right. It’s probably better to wait until you’re ready. I notice you haven’t mentioned that woman you met at the bookshop. I assume she very sensibly brushed you off.”
He felt a sheepish expression pass over his face. How could he keep such a big secret from his own family? All of these people wanted the best for him. Why was he so reluctant to tell them what was happening with Dani? “Actually, she was with me today.”
“Ah.” Salim didn’t look surprised. Or pleased. Sara and Celia smiled at each other. Elan kept a poker face.
“I’ll have to bring her over to meet you all soon. Her name’s Dani, short for Daniyah.”
“That’s a pretty name. I don’t think I’ve heard it before,” said Sara.
“My lawyer was filling my ears with gossip about Daniyah Hassan the other day.” Salim frowned and put his coffee cup down sharply. “It’s not her, is it?”
“I don’t know her last name. Isn’t that funny? I’m not sure I told her mine, either.”
“Well, you should have. That might have put a stop to this before it even started.” Salim’s expression was grim.
“Why?”
“Did she just come back from the States after a failed marriage?”
Quasar sat up. “Yes. How did you know?”
“Salalah maybe be a big city by Omani standards, but it’s a small town by anyone else’s. We all know each other’s business.”
“Isn’t Mohammed Hassan the guy who sued you over that waterfront property?” Elan sipped his coffee.
“Yes. That’s her father.” Salim stared at Quasar. “Twelve years in the courts. That’s why my lawyer’s keeping tabs on the family. I don’t know Daniyah personally, but her father is like a pit bull. The case still isn’t resolved. Though it will be before we break ground next year. Count on it.”
“Why don’t you resolve it amicably?”
Salim blew out a breath. “That land is ours. Our father paid three thousand rials for it in 1976. I have the paperwork to prove it.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Old Hassan insists that his father, who sold the land, was sick and under duress and was badgered into selling it. He claims the handshake contract is null and void, and he wants the land back.” Salim crossed his arms. “Not going to happen.”
“I’m guessing the land is worth a lot more now?”
Salim snorted. “Add three zeros and you’re still not close. Hey, the old man needed the cash and he made a deal. I’m sure we’d all be wealthy as kings if we could renegotiate some of the bargains we made at the wrong time. Besides, it’s not like he’s starving. Hassan is one of the best-known engineers in the country, and he has two intelligent sons. Some people should learn to count their blessings.”
“Dani’s not involved in any of that. I doubt she’s even aware of it. She’s here to regroup after her bad marriage.”
“And you’re helping her out with that?” Elan crossed his arms.
“Out of the frying pan, into the fire...” Sara whispered with a wink.
“You do realize that here in Oman you basically need to marry a woman in order to kiss her.” Salim leaned back in his chair, arms still crossed. “You can’t carry on like you’re back in L.A. Especially not with the divorced daughter of a man who’s battling us in
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