Her Royal Bed by Laura Wright

feels, but whatever it is, it drives him.” Jane sat up, took her mother’s hands. “I really like him, Mom, but I can’t help wondering if Sakir’s right. Is Bobby Callahan out for more than just a few dates?” With her thoughts running over the night’s events, Jane shrugged. “Maybe it’s better if I just stay away from him.”
    Tara smiled. “Only you can make that choice.”
    â€œWhat would you do?”
    â€œOh, sweetie,” Tara said on a laugh. “I couldn’t make that call. I’m in the same boat as Bobby Callahan, still steeped in bitterness.”
    â€œWhat?” Jane stared at her mother. “That’s not true.”
    â€œLike your friend, I hide it well. Perhaps better than most.” Tara eased Jane’s head back down to her lap. “But unlike your friend, I think I’m too old to change that part of myself.”
    Her mother’s words settled over Jane, making her feel more confused and on edge than she had when she’d entered the house earlier that night. The admission from her mother was bizarre. Jane had never imagined Tara pining and wallowing over her affliction. Jane had only seen her strong, and spouting off wise words about survival and acceptance.
    Good Lord, if her mother could fool her so, what should she think about Bobby Callahan? Would he ever change? Could he let go of his bitterness and embrace life? Did he even want to?
    Jane couldn’t help but wonder if she was seeing things, people clearly anymore—or through some rosy filter of her own making.
    â€œWell,” Jane began to say tightly, “it seems that I’m falling hard for a man who I’m fairly convinced can never offer me a future.”
    â€œIt’s strange,” said Tara in an emotional voice. “Strange that our lives should follow such a similar path.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI, too, fell in love with a man who couldn’t give me a future.
    Sakir and Zayad’s father. Yes, he’d been married, the leader of a country. Totally unavailable.
    â€œBut I have no regrets,” Tara said, leaning down and giving her daughter another kiss on the forehead. “After all, he did give me you.”
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    â€œYou call that girl of yours. Tell her to get herself out here.”
    Bobby ignored Abel’s ridiculous demand as he helped Laura Parker with her riding helmet. It was close to eight o’clock in the morning, the sun was shining brightly, and Bobby had an excited group of riders ready and waiting. For the first time since he’d taken Jane home last night, his mind wasn’t on her.
    But thanks to Abel, she was back to the forefront.
    â€œSaid she wanted to help, didn’t she?” Abel persisted.
    â€œShe did,” Bobby muttered.
    â€œWell, we’re going to need it later on today. Twice as many students as usual.”
    â€œWe can handle things just fine.”
    â€œDon’t be stupid.”
    Bobby threw the older man a dangerous glare. “She wouldn’t come anyway. Something tells me she doesn’t want to see me today.”
    â€œWhy’s that? What did you do?”
    â€œWhat I always do.” He’d found a reason to distance himself from any feeling that wasn’t productive. He could handle anger or irritation or despair—even plain and simple sexual pleasure—but forging a connection between his black heart and another’s strong, healthy one had him backing off to get his bearings, and once again reaffirm what he was doing with her. Damn, why couldn’t he and Jane have stopped this the night he’d found out who she was? Bobby cussed under his breath as the reason stabbed at him. He hadn’t stopped this tryst with Jane because he had payback on his mind.
    Thing was, he hadn’t bargained on liking the woman—wanting her, yes, but liking her, no.
    The mare beside Abel shifted and stepped on the edge of