“What I want to say is…” She swallowed the lump in her throat and continued. “That I’m sorry for the way I treated you. And that I missed you.” The words came easier than expected. She wasn’t going to ruin this again. “And I would ask how I could possibly ever make it up to you.”
“I would love to hear that speech,” Xander said, a faint smile playing on his lips. A more serious expression came over his face. “You don’t need to make it up to me. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed you away, for any reason. I should have at least tried to explain why.”
“Then talk to me. Start from the beginning.” Without thinking, she touched his arm. She bit down on her lip then raised her eyes to his. “I’m listening.”
“Right.” Xander smiled wryly, his eyes briefly glancing down at her fingers on his arm. “I joined the military after recovering from the accident. I thought I killed a man. I had to get away. Seemed like the fastest way out. I was enlisted for four years.”
Leila’s eyes widened in surprise and she lowered her hand. “I thought you went to university?”
“I did. I studied anthropology during my enlistment.” He shifted his gaze.
Intrigued, Leila wished he would go on. Aside from archaeology, there were plenty of other kinds of jobs for anthropologists. But she had never considered them working for the military as well.
Before she could ask for more details, Xander continued, “When I got out four years ago, I went back to uni to study Egyptology. And that’s when I got back in contact with Soliman.”
“But you’re not in the military now, right? Why didn’t you come back to Saqqara after visiting your sister?” She tilted her head.
“To put it simply, I need money.” He grimaced. “I love archaeology. I love Egypt. But it doesn’t exactly pay the bills. Especially not when you have to support someone recovering from a five-year coma. Not that she’s a burden, but I want her to be comfortable. I hadn’t planned on continuing after the Saqqara dig anyway, which is one reason why I stepped back and let you all enjoy the fun.”
“One reason? So there are more?” She furrowed her brow. “Why all the secrecy?”
“Politeness was another reason. My boss is supposed to be in the limelight, not me.”
“Wait a minute.” Leila held up a hand, recalling Mark’s refusal to talk about that very thing. “Who’s your boss?”
Xander grinned. Her cheeks warmed at the dazzling sight.
“Come on, fess up.” Her lips curled into a smile. She prodded his bicep.
“You’ve already met him.”
“The Prime Minister or what?” She rolled her eyes. Xander’s grin widened.
Leila stared at him in disbelief. She hadn’t been serious, but he was acting as if—
“Now you’re pulling my leg.” She narrowed her eyes at him.
He took a step closer. His gaze intensified. She couldn’t even describe his features, but it made her heart race. His earthen-colored eyes seemed bottomless. He gently took her wrists and tugged her forward, closing the thousands of miles between them.
“I mean every word I say to you, Leila,” he whispered, then lifted his hands and held her face. He leaned forward. She closed her eyes as he brushed his lips softly against hers.
The kiss lingered and deepened. Her pulse quickened, and she slid her arms around him and melted into his warmth. How could she have ever doubted him? This wasn’t a kiss just for the thrills. It was real. It had always been real.
He drew away, dropping his hands to her waist as he placed his forehead against hers.
“So… what’s your excuse?” she asked with an impish smile as she peeked up at him.
“My excuse?” He pointed to the side. “Those security cameras.”
Her gaze followed the direction of his hand to the corner of the hall. A security camera pointed directly at them. She furrowed her brow and waited for an explanation.
“I know everyone in the control room. Thought I’d give them a show.”
Leila gawked at him in disbelief. He couldn’t be serious. Not after everything he just said. She nudged him away and clamped her lips together.
His eyes glinted in amusement. She raised her clutch and whacked him on the shoulder with it.
He laughed and lifted one hand to his ear. Then Leila noticed the earpiece hidden behind it.
“Come on,” he said, “give us some privacy.”
To her astonishment, the camera revolved away from them.
“What is going on?”
He took her hand and ran a thumb over the back. “I’m an SO1 officer. It’s a department at Scotland Yard. I was first assigned to the foreign minister, hence the traveling, but recently have been assigned to the Prime Minister. Which is why I’m able to be here tonight. And that reminds me, I’m supposed to be working.”
“Xander, I’ve always been wrong about you,” she said, not ready to let him leave. It would mean returning to the Great Court. And standing up in front of everyone. She was much more comfortable here. “I’ve been such a moron.”
“I didn’t exactly make it easy for you.”
“No,” she agreed. “But who am I to judge?”
“We all need to use a little judgment now and then.” Xander shrugged.
“I was just overly judgmental.”
“When did you change your mind?”
