Katie immediately stiffened.
Khalid looked mildly irritated, but then he smoothed his expression to studied neutrality as he gestured for Katie to step forward. “Batuk, this is my assistant, Katie.”
The large man took her hand and kissed it. His lips lingered a little too long, and Katie stifled the urge to pull her hand away and slap him. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Batuk,” she said sweetly and glanced at Khalid.
He rolled his eyes.
“Believe me, my dear, the pleasure is all mine. In all the times that Khalid has been here, he’s never brought an assistant before.” Batuk’s eyes twinkled mischievously, and though Katie had stiffened her fingers in a tacit signal that she wanted her hand to herself again, he kept a firm grip.
“Katie has an interest in curating. She’s showing promise, so I brought her along to observe,” Khalid said tersely.
“Really?” Batuk squeezed her hand, and his eyes lowered to her chest. “I love an intelligent woman. Perhaps after our meeting, I can provide you with a private tour of the pieces that won’t be for sale.”
“That’s very kind of you,” she said as she gently tugged her hand back.
“But we’ll be far too busy,” Khalid finished for her. “I’m eager to see what you have for sale, Batuk.”
The Turkish man winked at Katie. “Of course, of course. Right this way.” He held his arm out to Katie, and she had no choice but to take it. There was a slight rumble from Khalid, but he didn’t stop her. Instead, he trailed behind the two as they walked through the immense mansion.
“My father had a deep interest in the Greek culture, and he was an avid collector. Do you know much about the ancient Greeks?”
“I took a class in Greek art, but it wasn’t my concentration. Like many ancient cultures, it centers around worship and their gods. It’s through their literature and art that we know quite a bit about their culture. We’re lucky they were so prolific in recording their passions and beliefs.”
“Passion,” Batuk mused. “Yes. That’s a very excellent way of putting it.” They stopped outside two white closed doors. “I cannot wait to see your face, my dear. I believe my father’s collection might take your breath away.”
He opened the door, and Katie couldn’t help but gasp. Batuk was right. It really did take her breath away.
It wasn’t just that Batuk’s father had been into Greek art. It was that he had been into one particular type of Greek art.
Paintings and pottery dedicated to the god Dionysus: Everything in that room depicted wine, madness, and orgies.
“Passion, indeed,” she managed, and Batuk roared with laughter.
“A rather pointed collection, don’t you think?” he murmured as he pulled Katie closer. She stiffened in his grasp. “Such a beautiful display of humanity losing their inhibitions and being truly free. Tell me, m
y dear, when was the last time you felt that free?”
“Batuk,” Khalid growled. “I did not bring my assistant here to distract you. I will ask her to wait outside if you cannot focus on the business at hand.”
Batuk immediately released her, and with an overwhelming sense of relief, Katie stepped back. Khalid put a hand on the small of her back, and she felt a little more comforted. “Why don’t you explore while we talk?” he whispered in her ear.
Katie nodded and slipped away, and she could feel both sets of eyes on her as she walked through the glass displays. She was in the presence of millions of dollars’ worth of art, and as she studied each work, the men, the world, slipped away.
Batuk was right about one thing. Dionysus was all about lowered inhibitions and freedom. When was the last time that she had felt free? Even in Khalid’s arms, there was still a sense of hesitation. Maybe it was because they never left the gallery. Maybe it was because he was off limits, or maybe it was because she knew that when it was over, she was going to be the one with the broken heart.
9
After the meeting, Katie managed to escape without too much more manhandling. Khalid was satisfied with the price for the pieces he wanted, and he’d made arrangements to have them shipped straight to the gallery.
He barely looked at Katie as they headed back to the hotel. Alone in her suite, she ordered dinner and ate by herself. She couldn’t help but be peeved that Khalid would insinuate that they would spend the night together and then abandon her on their first night.
It shouldn’t matter. She was able to be a part of the acquisition, and that should have been enough to make her happy.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t.
Suddenly, the adjoining door to their suites opened. “Are you disappointed that you’re not spending the evening with Batuk?” Khalid growled as he walked straight to the bar.
She paused, her bite of chicken halfway to her mouth. “Did you just walk into my hotel suite without knocking?” she demanded.