Page 23 of Prince of Her Heart
“Things are still… unsettled,” he said, choosing his words with care.“Complicated.”
There was a pause on the other end.Then Zayn said, with surprising gentleness, “I think I understand.”A chuckle followed.“And since I went through my own awkward phase trying to get a ring on Azlyn’s finger, I’ll respect your request.I’ll stay away.”
Ramzi exhaled, tension leaking from his shoulders.“Thank you.”
“For now.”
His spine snapped straight.“Zayn, just—”
“I’m backing off,” Zayn interjected, and in the background, Ramzi heard the faint voices of Zayn’s son and daughter.Relief swept through him.Thank goodness for toddlers with good timing.If Zayn’s little ones were present, the man would soon become useless in conversation—his cousin transformed into an absolute marshmallow around his kids.
“Still,” Zayn added, “if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
“Thanks,” Ramzi murmured, scanning the quaint room again, though his thoughts were nowhere in it.His hand drifted to his mouth, brushing across his lower lip, and he wondered—not idly—how soon he could engineer another moment alone with Tabitha.Another kiss.A proper one this time.No SUV.No onlookers.No performance.Just her.
“I appreciate the offer.But I need to—”
“Just so you know,” Zayn interrupted again, “my dad and yours have already heard about her.They know something’s up and are making plans to meet her.”
Ramzi groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes closing with a resigned breath.“Okay,” he exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.The muscles there tightened further, a cord of tension pulled taut.“Could you try to hold them off?Just for a bit?”
There was unmistakable amusement in his cousin’s voice.“I’ll hold them off as long as I can.But you know your mother has been waiting for this for years.She’s been talking about grandkids more and more lately.”
Ramzi opened one eye and muttered, “And whose fault is that?”
Zayn laughed, then there was a muffled whisper through the line—Zayn’s daughter, from the sound of it.A tiny, pleading voice.
Ramzi smiled softly just as a loud smacking noise burst through the speaker, followed by a proud sigh.
“Can I help it if my children are adorable?”Zayn replied smugly.“All right.Finalize the deal.I’ll keep you posted on happenings here.”
The call ended with the same suddenness that it had begun, leaving silence and the faint ticking of a nearby clock in its wake.
Ramzi stared at the phone for a moment, then lowered it, a reluctant smile tugging at his mouth.The image of Zayn kissing his daughter’s cheek lingered.And not for the first time, Ramzi felt the low, insistent tug of envy.His older cousins had families now—real ones.Love, laughter, bedtime stories, and tiny hands reaching for theirs.
And now, after that kiss—thatkiss—he knew something had shifted.It wasn’t just strategy anymore.It wasn’t just a plan.
It washer.
He turned toward the door, the polished brass knob cool beneath his fingers.Anticipation hummed through his blood, sparking beneath his skin.He was going to see her again.
And this time, he wasn’t going to let circumstance dictate the moment.
He’d already memorized the layout of the town.Quaint sidewalks, shaded alleys, garden paths lined with blooming hydrangeas and wrought iron benches.Hendersonville offered dozens of private corners where he could steal a few moments—and maybe a kiss or two.Not for show.Not for anyone else.
But to remind Tabitha Jones exactly who she belonged to now.
And to make damn sure no one in this town ever confused her again with a woman pining for a man who’d been fool enough to let her go.
Chapter 9
“Tabitha!”a female voice shrieked.
She turned, just in time to see Stacy barreling toward her across the lawn, arms already spread wide for impact.A second later, Tabitha was engulfed in a warm, bouncy hug that nearly knocked her backward.
“I can’t believe you came!You’re actually here!”Stacy squealed, gripping Tabitha’s shoulders and practically hopping in place.
Tabitha laughed, hugging her tightly, her cheek brushing against the soft cotton of Stacy’s T-shirt and the faint scent of lilac shampoo clinging to her friend’s hair.But her smile faltered when something caught her eye—three dark SUVs rolled slowly down the street, engines humming low.And coming from the opposite direction, walking on the far sidewalk…
