Page 79 of The Billionaire's Timed Wife

“Of falling in love with him. It’s not hard, you know. Your brother makes my heart race most of the time.”

Instead of sympathy, she bumps my arm and smiles. “And the rest of the time?”

I don’t have to think long. “He steals my breath.”

And sets fire to every nerve ending in my body,I add silently.

“I want someone like that.”

“Like what?”

“What I see between you and my brother: a mix of uncontrollable physical pull and tenderness.” She studies me in silence, and I know she hasn’t said everything she wants to.

“Go on.”

“I think the two of you are falling in love. You just haven’t realized it yet.”

I open my mouth to deny it, but no sound comes out. Not because I think she’s a hundred percent right but because, at least on my end, it might be true.

“I’d like help with something for our wedding,” I say.

“Another gift? My brother’s a lucky man,” she says, and I smile, shaking my head.

“No. I’m hoping one will be enough.”

We went to Sofia Lambertucci’s exhibit in Paris, but Kaled couldn’t go, as he had a meeting that day. I fell in love with the sensitivity in her portraits. You can see emotion in every face, and I’m not surprised she’s in such high demand with a packed schedule.

On impulse, using the money Jazmina gave me as an engagement present, I asked the American painter to prepare a wedding gift for my husband. Even if it arrives late, I think he’ll like it.

I also sent her a wedding invitation and then called to apologize for the short notice. I expected her to say she couldn’t make it, but to my delight, she said she wouldn’t miss it for the world and would try to move the painting along, though she doubted it would be ready.

“If it’s not another wedding gift, what is it?”

“A surprise for our wedding night.”

We won’t have a honeymoon now. With the recent handover of power, Kaled explained there’s much to be done: serious issues to correct in the country’s economy, and also the start of a gradual easing to reintroduce rights so that Rheadur can again be seen as a place where Western women can travel safely.

I asked him point-blank if it was only about the economy, since tourism has plunged. He told me no. In his view, women and men are citizens, and it makes no sense to restrict rights based on gender.

Those changes, however, must be made responsibly. There’s a conservative wing among the counselors and elders.

“What kind of surprise?” she asks, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“I don’t want to spend the wedding night here at the palace.”

“Where, then?”

“In the desert. I need your help setting up a tent and . . .”

“I know exactly what you mean, and the answer’s yes. I remember that princess who gave an interview a few years ago about the surprise she planned for her husband. That’s what you’re talking about, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” I say, shy.

We both swooned over the romance of the idea, and that it came from a woman, when it’s usually the men who plan these things.

“I’m in. We’ll give your wedding night a dream setting.”

Half an hour later