A Christmas Bride (28 page)

The evening had been magical and she didn’t want to forget any part of it. If there were—

The sound of a chair moving caught her attention. She turned and saw something sitting in the shadows. The light from a cigarette glowed briefly.

“Well, well, aren’t you a bit of surprise.” Her mother’s voice was low and tight with something Kayleen didn’t recognize. “I thought you were just a silly girl who’d gotten lucky, but I was wrong. You just have a different game you play.”

Kayleen faced her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That innocent, country-mouse act is a good one. I’ll bet your prince fell for it in a heartbeat.”

“I’m not acting. All of this is real.”

Darlene laughed. “Don’t try to play me. I invented the game. I’m saying I respect your tactics. They wouldn’t work for me, but they obviously work.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s late. I’m going to bed.”

“You’ve already been to bed. What you’re going to do this time is sleep. Am I wrong?”

“I’m not discussing this with you.” She wouldn’t allow the other woman to turn her amazing evening into something ugly.

“You made one mistake, though. Falling in love with him makes you vulnerable and that means you can make a wrong move. It’s better to stay detached. Safer.”

“I’m marrying As’ad. I’m supposed to love him.”

Her mother laughed again. “Just don’t go expecting him to love you back. Men like him don’t. Ever.” She inhaled on her cigarette. “That’s my motherly advice to you. A little late, but no less valuable.”

“Good night,” Kayleen told her and walked back into her room.

Her good mood had faded, which she hated, but worse were the doubts. Was her mother right about As’ad? Kayleen needed him to love her. She hadn’t realized it mattered, but it did. And if he couldn’t...

She walked into her bedroom and sank onto the mattress. If he couldn’t, how could she marry him?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

KAYLEEN HUDDLED IN the chair in Lina’s living room and did her best to keep breathing. She’d recently discovered that terror and anxiety tended to make her hold her breath. Then she ended up gasping, which was not attractive or likely to make herself feel better.

“She’s hideous,” she moaned. “Isn’t it enough that she abandoned me when I was a baby? Does she have to show up now?”

Lina patted her hand. “I am so sorry. My brother thought he was helping. Truly.”

“I know. I’ve already mentally flogged myself for not telling the truth, but I just hate talking about my biological family. It’s pathetic to be abandoned twice. What does that say about me?”

“That you rose above your circumstances. That you have great character and inner strength. That we are lucky to have you marrying into our family.”

Kayleen smiled. “You’re good.”

“Thank you. It’s a gift. Now about your mother...”

Kayleen’s smile faded. “I don’t want to think about her, but I have to. She’s everywhere. Lurking. She constantly shows up without warning. She has totally terrified the girls. Last night she made Pepper cry when she told her she was going to have to be smart in life because she wasn’t that pretty. Pepper wanted to hit her and I almost let her. Who says that to a little girl? Pepper’s adorable. I can forgive her being mean to me, but to little kids? Never.”

“Do you want me to tell her to leave the country?” Lina asked. “I will. I can be very imperious. We can ship her back on the next plane.”

Kayleen was tempted. Very tempted. “I can’t tell you how much I want to say yes. It’s just...she’s my mother. Shouldn’t I try to have a relationship with her? Don’t I owe her?”

“Only you can answer that. Although I must ask what you owe her for. Giving birth? You didn’t ask to be born. That was her choice. And with having a child, comes responsibility. If she didn’t want to be bothered, she should have given you up for adoption.”

“I wonder why she didn’t,” Kayleen said. What would her life have been like if she’d been raised by a couple who wanted a child? She couldn’t begin to imagine.

“Who knows. Perhaps the paperwork was too complicated for her tiny brain.”

Kayleen grinned. “I like that. But it still leaves me with the issue of what to do with her. While I appreciate your offer to get rid of her, that doesn’t feel right to me. I think I have to try and make a real connection with her, no matter how different we are. I’ll deal with her for another week. If we can’t find some common ground and she’s still acting awful, then I’ll take you up on your offer.”

“You’re giving her more chances than I would, but you have a kinder heart.”

“Or more guilt.” She sighed. “You don’t suppose As’ad thinks I’m anything like her, do you?”

“Of course not. We can’t pick our relatives. Don’t worry—he doesn’t blame you for your mother.”

“I hope not.” She rose. “All right. I need to go make good on my word and try to spend time with Darlene.”

“Let me know how it goes.”

“I will.”

Kayleen walked down a flight of stairs to her suite. She paused at the door, then moved to the next one and knocked.

“Come in.”

She walked into her mother’s suite and found her at the dining room table, sipping coffee. There was a plate of toast and some fruit in a bowl.

Breakfast, she thought, trying not to judge. It was after eleven.

“Oh, there you are,” Darlene said by way of greeting. “I just received the most delightful note from the king. I’m invited to a formal party. Something diplomatic. It sounds fabulous. I’ll need something to wear. Can you take care of that?”

Kayleen sat across from her at the table. “Sure. One of the boutiques is sending over some dresses. If you give me your size information, I’ll have them send over some for you.”

Darlene smiled. “I like the service here.”

Despite the fact that she hadn’t been up very long, Darlene was perfectly made-up, with her hair styled. She wore a silk robe that clung to her curves. She looked beautiful, in a brittle sort of way.

“I thought maybe we could spend some time together,” Kayleen told her. “Get to know each other. Catch up.”

Darlene raised her eyebrows. “What do you want to know? I got pregnant at sixteen, left you with my mother and took off for Hollywood. I landed a few guest spots on soaps and a few prime-time shows, which paid the bills. Then I met a guy who took me to Las Vegas. You can make a lot more money there. Which I did. But time isn’t a woman’s friend. I need to secure my future. I wasn’t sure how that was going to happen, when I heard from your king. Now I’m here.”

Kayleen leaned toward her. “I’m your daughter. Don’t you want to at least be friends?”

Darlene studied her for a long time. “You have a very soft heart, don’t you?”

“I’ve never thought about it.”

“You took in those girls. Now you’re adopting them. You’re going to be exactly the kind of wife As’ad wants.”

“I love him. I want him to be happy.”

Darlene nodded slowly. “You like it here? In El Deharia?”

“Of course. It’s beautiful. Not just the city, but out in the desert. I’m learning the language, the customs. I want to fit in.”

Darlene lit a cigarette. Her gaze was sharp, as if she were trying to figure something out. “The king is nice.”

“He’s very kind and understanding.”

“Interesting. Those aren’t the words I would have used.” Her mother sipped her coffee. “Yes, Kayleen, I
would
like us to be friends. I just showed up here, which had to have been a shock. I’ve only been thinking of myself. I’m sorry for that.”

“Really?” Kayleen was surprised, but pleased to hear the words. “That’s okay. You’ve had a difficult life.”

“So have you. But a better one than you would have had if you’d gotten stuck with my family. I know you probably don’t believe that, but it’s true.” She rose. “Let me shower and get dressed. Then, if you have time, you can take me on a tour of the palace. It’s a beautiful building.”

“It is. I’ve been studying the history. I want to know everything about As’ad and his people.”

Darlene’s expression tightened. “I’m sure he appreciates that.”

* * *

AS’AD TOOK KAYLEEN’S hand in his and kissed her fingers. “What troubles you?”

They were having lunch together in his office. She smiled at him. “Nothing. I’m just thinking.”

“Obviously not about how you consider yourself blessed above all women for being engaged to me.”

She laughed. “No. Not that. I’m thinking about my mother.”

“I see.”

She looked at him. “You don’t approve of her?”

“I do not know her. What matters to me is your feelings.”

“I’m not sure of anything,” she admitted, wondering when everything had gotten so complicated. “I told her I thought we should get to know each other and try to be friends.”

“And?”

“It’s better,” she said slowly. “I just don’t know if I believe her. Then I feel horrible for saying that. I asked, she agreed and now I’m questioning that? Shouldn’t I trust her?”

“Trust must be earned. You have a biological connection, but you don’t know this woman.”

“You’re right. I’m so uncomfortable about everything.” Especially Darlene’s statements that she was in El Deharia to find a rich man to secure her future. Kayleen was torn between keeping her emotional distance and wanting to have family.

She’d always been taught to see the best in people, to believe they would come through in the end. So thinking her mother was using her violated what she knew to be right and what she felt in her heart. But assuming all was well violated her common sense.

She glanced at him. “You know I’m not like her, right?”

He smiled. “Yes, I know.”

“Good.”

* * *

DARLENE HUMMED AS she flipped through the dresses on the rack. “I could so get used to this,” she murmured as she picked out a low-cut black gown that glittered with scattered beads. “The work is incredible. The details are hand-done. Have you looked at these prices? Twenty-three thousand dollars. Just like that.” She put the black dress in front of her and turned to the full-length mirror set up in Kayleen’s living room. “What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful.” Kayleen thought the dress lacked subtlety, but what did she know about fashion?

Darlene laughed. “Not your thing?”

“Not exactly.”

“You’re young. You’ll grow into black.” She carried the dress over to the tray of jewelry on the dining room table. “I’m thinking the sapphire-and-diamond-drop earrings and that matching pendant. Or the bracelet. As much as I want to wear both, less is more. Are you wearing that?”

Kayleen held up a strapless emerald-colored dress. The style was simple, yet elegant. It wasn’t especially low-cut, but it was more daring than anything she’d ever worn. Still, she wanted to be beautiful for As’ad.

“I love it,” she admitted. “But it makes me nervous.”

“It’s all in the boning. That dress is couture. It should have the support built right in. Don’t worry—you’ll stay covered.” Darlene put her dress back on the rack, then returned to the jewelry tray. “Something surprising. Young, but sophisticated. Let’s see.”

She picked up an earring, then put it down. She handed another to Kayleen. “Here.”

Kayleen took the piece and studied the curving shape. The free-form design was open and sparkled with white and champagne diamonds.

“Really? Not the emeralds?”

“Too expected with the dress,” Darlene told her. “And just the earrings. No necklace or bracelet. You’re young and beautiful. Go with it. When you start to fade, you can add the sparkle. Someone’s going to do your hair, right? You’ll want it up, with long curls down your back. And you don’t wear enough makeup. It’s a party. Use eyeliner.”

Kayleen put in the earring, then held her hair away from her face. “You’re right.”

“Thanks. I’ve been around a long time and I know what men like. Now let’s see how I look in this black dress.”

She stripped down to her lingerie and then stepped into the black gown. Kayleen helped with the zipper.

“Perfect,” Darlene said as she stared at herself in the mirror. “I’ve already met the Spanish ambassador earlier in the garden. He’s very charming. A little older, but that’s good. I can be his prize.”

Kayleen didn’t know what to say to that. “Have you ever been married?”

Darlene held her hair up, as if considering the right style. “Once, years ago. I was eighteen. He was nobody. But I was in love and I told myself money didn’t matter. Then the marriage ended and I had nothing. I learned my lesson. Something you should learn.”

“What are you talking about?”

“As’ad. You get starry-eyed when he’s around. It’s embarrassing for all of us.”

Kayleen flushed. “We’re engaged.”

“I don’t see how that matters.” Darlene stepped out of the dress and put it back on the hanger, then reached for her own clothes. “I know this sounds harsh, but believe me, I have your best interests in mind. Men like As’ad don’t have to bother with love. You’re setting yourself up for heartache. Take what you can get and move on.”