Wrapped In Pleasure - Brenda Jackson [28]
Over the years she assumed the man would be a fellow physician, someone who shared the same love for medicine that she did. But it appeared things didn’t turn out that way. Instead she had fallen for a prince, a man whose life she could never share.
She opened her eyes. What Jamal had said last night was true. When they parted ways, chances were they would never see each other again. Somehow she would have to accept that the man she loved would never fully belong to her. He would never be hers exclusively. But if she accepted what he was offering, at least she could have memories to treasure in the years to come.
She inhaled deeply, no longer bothered that there would not be a happy ending to her situation with Jamal. But until it was time for them to leave, she would take each day as it came and appreciate the time she would spend with him, storing up as many memories as she could.
She wanted him, the same way he wanted her, but in her heart she knew that for her, lust had nothing to do with it. Her mind and her actions were ruled by love.
“Are you sure you are all right, my prince?” Asalum asked Jamal as he gave him a scrutinizing gaze.
“Yes, Asalum, I am fine,” Jamal responded drily.
Asalum wasn’t too sure of that. His wise old eyes had assessed much. He had arrived at the cottage to deliver some important papers to His Highness to find him sitting outside on the steps, drinking coffee and looking like a lost camel. There were circles under his eyes, which indicated he had not gotten a good night’s sleep, and his voice and features were expressionless.
Asalum glanced over to the car that was parked a few feet from where they stood. “I take it the Western woman is still here.”
Jamal nodded. “Yes, she is still here.”
“Prince, maybe you should—”
“No, Asalum,” Jamal interrupted, knowing what his trusted friend and confidant was about to suggest. “She stays.”
Asalum nodded slowly. He hoped Jamal knew what he was doing.
Delaney walked into the kitchen to the smell of rich coffee brewing. She was about to pour a cup when her cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“I just thought I would warn you that the Brothers Five are on the warpath.”
Delaney smiled, recognizing Reggie’s voice. “And just what are they up to now?”
“Well, for starters they threatened me with missing body parts if I didn’t tell them where you were.”
Delaney laughed. She needed to do that and it felt good. “But you didn’t, did you?”
“No, only because I knew their threats were all bluster. After all, I’m family, although I must admit I had to remind them of that a few times, especially Thorn. The older he gets, the meaner he gets.”
Delaney shook her head. “Didn’t Mom and Dad assure them I was all right and just needed to get away and rest for a while?”
“Yeah, I’m sure they did, Laney, but you know your brothers better than anyone. They feel it’s their God-given right to keep tabs on you at all times, and not knowing where you are is driving them crazy. So I thought I’d warn you about what to expect when you return home.”
Delaney nodded. She could handle them. Besides, when she returned home they would provide the diversion that she needed to help get over Jamal. “Thanks for the warning.”
“How are things going otherwise? Is the prince still there?” Reggie asked between bites of whatever he was eating.
“Yes, he’s still here and things are going fine.” Now was not the time to tell Reggie that she had fallen in love with Jamal. A confession like that would prompt Reggie to tell her brothers her whereabouts for sure. His loyalty to her only went so far. She decided a change of topic was due at this point.
“There is something I need to ask you about,” she said, fixing her focus on one object in the kitchen.
“What?”
“The table in the kitchen. Did you and Philip know that it wobbles?”
She could hear Reggie laughing on the other end. “The table doesn’t wobble. It’s the floor. For some reason it’s uneven in that particular spot. If you move the table a foot in either direction it will be perfect.”
Delaney nodded, deciding to try it. “Thanks,