Either way, Mackenzie was sure she’d be spending the night alone.
It was late when the door to her room opened, but she was still awake, reading.
Issam stepped inside, hands in his pockets.
She let the book slide down onto the covers and sighed. “If you?
?re still angry with me about Al-Madiza—”
Issam shook his head. “I’m worried for you. For the country.” His dark eyes held compassion. “But I see why you did what you did.”
“Do you?” He was very nearly apologizing, but she still felt a defensive knot at the center of her. “Because they’re vulnerable out there. There’s nobody thinking of them, and—”
“I’m thinking of them.” Issam pressed his lips into a thin line. “I’ve spent all day researching exactly how vulnerable they are. Mackenzie, I understand.”
The tension that had knotted at the back of her neck began to release. “I’m—I’m glad.”
Issam studied her.
And despite all of it, despite her frustration with being turned away from the project that mattered most to her, Mackenzie couldn’t help appreciating how sexy he looked in the gentle lamplight. He had changed into a white T-shirt and gray pants for the night, and all the fabric hugged his muscles in a way that was positively luscious.
“Was there anything else you wanted to say?” She was suddenly conscious of how her nightgown had ridden up under the covers and wondered what he’d notice if she slid out of bed.
“Yes.” Issam’s eyes traveled over the shape of her in the bed. “I don’t think we should sleep in separate rooms anymore.”
“Oh?” Her heart beat faster. “Why not? I thought you wanted to wait until after the wedding.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a little grin. “It’s too much of a barrier between us.”
“Literally.”
“And I thought we could talk more easily if we had more time together.”
Mackenzie threw off the covers. “Say no more.”
* * *
Issam was forgiven, mostly, but Mackenzie still felt a little bruised by her disappointments. She slept restlessly beside Issam, who had gone to sleep the instant his head hit the pillow.
And—god, he woke up early.
It wasn’t light out yet when he rolled over away from her. Then the room was flooded with the bright blue light of his phone. With a little groan, she rolled away, burying her head in the pillow.
“Must you?” Her voice was muffled by the fabric.
“Must I what?” Issam’s voice was gravelly, but he wasted no time in scrolling through the phone. Tap. Scroll. Tap.
“Turn on your phone so early.” She turned onto her back and threw her arm over her eyes. “I hate to start the day with a barrage of news and status updates. And light.”
She felt him shrug. “That’s the life of a security specialist. I need to know what’s going on at all times. Besides, you have your phone with you all the time, too.” His weight shifted on the bed. “However—” He was probably going to get up now and rush to the gym, and the entire day would slip away before Mackenzie had a chance to see him again.
“However what?”
“It makes me wonder.”
“Hmm,” she said irritably.
“It makes me wonder how you do prefer to be woken up.”