A Secret Birthright

He raised one eyebrow at her. “You know you’ve just called me Uncle Scrooge, don’t you?”

Rose burst out chuckling. “Busted.”

Gwen spluttered qualifications, shooting reproach at Rose, and he aborted her protests with a smile, showing her he was offense-proof, especially by anything coming from her. “Don’t take it back when you’re probably right. Interacting with children has never been one of my skills.”

The only child he’d loved having around and taking care of had been Hesham. But he’d been only eight years older. He hadn’t had any relevant experience with children outside his professional sphere.

She made an eloquent gesture indicating how he was holding Ryan with growing confidence, picking up various articles for his inspection. “If it has never been, then you’re capable of acquiring new skills on the fly.”

He’d always been uncomfortable receiving compliments, feeling the element of self-serving exaggeration in each. But her good opinion felt free of ulterior motives, and was clearly expressed against the dictates of her good sense. To him it felt…necessary.

He transferred his smile from her to Ryan. “It’s this little man who’s making me look like a quick study. He’s the one doing the driving here.”

Rose nodded. “Ryan does that. Just one look and a smile and the world is his to command. Very much like his mother.”

Gwen’s eyes darkened on something that gripped his heart in a tight fist. Something like…anguish. Ya Ullah, why?

Next second, he wanted to kick himself. How could he have forgotten the reason she was here? Ryan’s condition.

But he had forgotten, during the lifetime since she’d walked in and turned his life upside down all over again. But from holding Ryan, he had a firm idea what his condition was. It was time he did everything he could to put her mind to rest about it.

He adjusted his grip on Ryan, feeling as if he’d always held him, turned his face up with a finger beneath the dimpled chin that was a replica of Gwen’s. “Just so I don’t look like a total marionette, Ryan, how about we pretend I have a say here? How about you let me examine you now?”

“How about I leave you to your new game and go find me some food?” Rose said, clearly to give them privacy.

Fareed produced his cell phone, called Emad back. Emad appeared in under ten seconds, as if he’d been standing behind the door, which he probably had been. Eavesdropping?

He was resigned that Emad would go to any lengths to ascertain his safety. But what was there to worry about here? Getting ambushed by lethal doses of charisma and cuteness?

He gave him a mocking glance that Emad refused to rise to. “Will you please escort Rose to an early dinner, Emad? And do make it somewhere where they serve something better than the food simulations you got us from the hospital’s restaurant.”

He expected Emad to obey with his usual decorum, which never showed if he appreciated the chore or not. But wonder of wonders, after nodding to him with that maddening deference, he turned to Rose with interest—almost eagerness—sparking in his eyes. Fareed hadn’t seen anything like that in the man’s eyes since his late wife.

The gregarious Rose eyed him back with open appreciation and murmured to Gwen for all to hear, “So incredible things do come to those who wait, eh, sweetie?” She didn’t wait for Gwen’s reaction and turned to Fareed. “It’s been a treat meeting you, Sheikh Aal Zaafer. Take care of my lovelies, hmm?”

He bowed his head. “Fareed, please. And we’ll be meeting again. And you can count on it.”

She grinned at him, gave Gwen’s hand a bolstering squeeze, caressed Ryan’s cheek then gave his an affectionate pat before turning to Emad. “Shall we, Mr. Dark Knight?”

Emad gaped at her, clearly unable to believe this woman had just petted his prince. And that she’d called him that.

Then his eyes narrowed on a flare of challenge and approval as he gave her his arm. “By all means, Ms. Maher.”

“Can’t come up with a slogan for me, huh?” Rose beamed up at Emad. “But we have time. You’ll think of something.”

Before the door closed behind them, he heard Emad saying, “I don’t need time, Ms. Wild Rose.”

Fareed shook his head as the door closed behind them. He looked at Ryan, who was testing his stubble. “Can you believe this, Ryan? Emad teasing? Seems the power to change the laws of nature runs in your family.”

Ryan squeaked as if in agreement and Fareed turned his gaze to Gwen, offered her his hand.

She stared at it for moments, her lower lip caught in her teeth, the very sight of conflicted temptation.

Before he gave in and reached for her hand, she gave it to him. He almost groaned and barely kept from bringing her nestling into him. He would make her give in, fully, irreversibly. In good time.

First, he would see to her peace of mind.

He made it a pledge. “Now I’ll see to Ryan, Gwen.”

Gwen’s heart gave another boom before resuming its gallop.

But it wasn’t only hearing her name on his lips that caused this latest disturbance. It was that he pronounced it Gwaihn, the breathy sound as he prolonged it a scorching sigh, making an intimacy of it, a promise…of so many things she couldn’t even contemplate.

As if having her hand engulfed in his wasn’t enough. But she had herself to blame for this. She’d given her hand to him when she should have shown him she’d allow only formal interaction.

But she hadn’t been able to withhold it. He was offering her what she’d been starving for. Support, strength other than her own to draw on, an infinite well of it. And whatever the consequences, she hadn’t been able to stop from reaching for it.

He took them to the other end of the room, behind an opaque glass partition, to what turned out to be a fully fitted exam room.

“Gwen…” She started again. He cocked his head at her. “May I call you Gwen?”

She almost cried out, No, you may not. Please, don’t.

Out loud she reluctantly said, “If you like, Dr. Aal Zaafer.”

“I like, very much. And it’s Fareed.”

This was getting worse by the second. “Er…all right, Dr. Fareed…or, uh, do you prefer Sheikh?”

“Just Fareed.”

And wasn’t that the truth. He was unique, as his name proclaimed him to be. She’d looked up its meaning long before…

She shook her head, trying not to let the memories deluge her. “I can’t call you just…that.”