His reply is an awkward gesture. It pretty much says it all, without words. ‘What she does is of no interest to me. But, Kate, this Sarah. I’d like to be sure she’s going to be okay, logistically at least.’
‘You’d do all this for someone you don’t know?’
‘I’d like to make it right.’
‘You aren’t responsible for...’ The realisation dawns as his eyes slide from mine. ‘Oh, Kai, you don’t have to do this for me. I don’t want you to think I have you both in some kind of category.’ Other than for that one, brief argument. Call me sensitive about marriage and commitment, all right?
‘I never imagined you could be so cold. It was a wake-up call. I deserved it, I suppose.’ He looks so hurt.
‘No, you definitely didn’t,’ I say, reaching out. ‘Look, I was angry, scared, and drawing parallels a mile apart. Your words were a bit careless, that’s all. I have a thing about... fidelity.’ My words draw off in a mumble, my turn to look away.
‘You never have to be frightened with me,’ he replies softly, his fingers entwining between mine.
But the sudden weight of the conversation is cloying. I thought Shane was faithful, and look where that got me. And I may not have to fear in the same sense with Kai, but where our relationship will end? That’s something else. I sit up, grabbing the sheet and a different thread of conversation. ‘Look, Niamh knows more about this from Sarah’s perspective. If he’d stayed any longer at the bar that night, he’d have left without his head, believe me. She’s her friend. Let me speak to Niamh.’
‘I can help. A job, money or whatever.’ He runs his free hand across the top of his head before I take it in my own, placing a kiss against the knuckle of his thumb.
‘I know. I appreciate... you.’
He smiles quite diffidently and shakes his head. ‘And in the next order of business.’
‘There’s more?’
‘You said Arwa had spoken to you, about me. I’d like to know exactly what she said.’
‘Not much more than I’ve already told you. She just said it probably wasn’t a good idea to get involved with you, though it’s a bit late now.’
My laugh is hollow and he doesn’t join in, a range of emotions passing over his face, settling upon a reluctant kind of acceptance.
‘I can’t say I don’t see her point of view, though it’s not terribly professional.’
‘Is this going to cause trouble?’ His body stills before rousing, as though shaking off unpleasant thoughts. ‘You said before I would give your dad leverage, what did you mean by that?’
‘Nothing that concerns you, I promise.’
Despite his reassurance, I notice he doesn’t answer. He also changes the topic quite deftly.
‘Your car will be ready next week, until then Rashid will take you where you need to go. I don’t want you travelling in cabs.’
‘I can’t take the car now. Arwa already has me feeling like some kind of slut.’
‘Stop, please.’
‘But she’ll definitely know this is your doing now, assume I’m a gold digger, a wh—’
His finger moves swiftly to my lips, silencing me. ‘She won’t think anything of the sort, because it’s not true.’
‘But the gossip—’
‘Leave this to me. I’ll straighten out any misunderstandings, okay?’
‘But—’
‘Promise me you’ll trust me,habibti.’ His eyes are warm and sincere and his voice holds a note of mild reprimand, which damn it, is more than a little hot.
‘I do,’ I whisper. ‘But—’
He kisses me. Just once, an open mouth kiss that has my body rolling instinctively into his.
