Page 34 of Her Loving Hero

“No shit,” Wyatt agreed. He also figured he’d have to stop calling them the Goonies, Kane’s name was much better. “Are you sure our cover will hold up?”

“Positive,” Kane said as their limousine slowed to a stop and the chauffeur jumped out to open the door for them.

They walked to the gangplank.

A beautiful woman in the traditional dress of Omani people politely asked for their invitation. She was flanked by two very large men in black suits.

“We don’t have an invitation. We should be on your list. Khalid al Rhahini will have added us today. I’m Duke Forrester, this is my employee Scott Lyle.”

She raised an elegant eyebrow, then turned to the man at her left. The obvious bodyguard turned his head to the mic at his shoulder and in less than thirty seconds a small man in an Arabic robe and headdress was at the rail calling down to Kane.

“Duke, so good of you to come. Mademoiselle let up my friend and his employee, immediately. They are honored guests.”

She gave a demure smile and stepped aside. Well, Kane sure knew how to arrange things. Plus, Wyatt’s tuxedo fit like it had been made for him. Khalid embraced ‘Duke’, and shook Wyatt’s hand, speaking quickly in Arabic the entire time. Wyatt had thought they would be a half hour early to the event, but with the long line of cars, they were actually an hour late. He tried not to be obvious as he searched the main deck for Carly.

“Let me introduce you around. Don’t you have security with you?” Khalid asked.

“No need,” Kane said.

“You Americans, always so overconfident,” Khalid said. “That’s okay, you can share my man.” He pointed to another man in a black suit, wearing a checkered keffiyeh. It was obvious that he was armed. Wyatt glanced over the other side of the yacht and saw five smaller boats.

“One of those is mine,” Khalid said proudly. “My father had three of them commissioned from America. They are wonderful deterrents to those Somalian bastards. Also, it was thought that the Crown Prince of Bahrain might grace us with his presence tonight, but alas, he could not attend.”

Kane looked sideways at Wyatt and shrugged.

"Come, come Duke, I want to introduce you around. There are many people who have been wanting to meet a representative of Forrester Consulting. I will take you downstairs to where the movers and shakers are.”

“Scott, see what you can do about our UAE and Oman interests. I also want to know what’s going on with those Yemeni bastards,” Kane growled.

“I’m on it,” Wyatt nodded.

“You’re a shark. I like it. The CEO of Qatar’s largest petroleum company is downstairs. He’s going to be very happy to meet you,” Khalid smiled. Wyatt watched as the two men disappeared into the crowd. A young brunette walked up to him with a tray of champagne.

“Would you like some Dom Perignon?” she asked. She winked. God save him from teenagers. He couldn’t tell if she was Mercedes or Petra, but either way it was a good way for them to get killed.

“Honey, are you saying you’re free tonight? You’re not really my type, but I might make an exception. Young has it’s uses.”

The girl lost her smile. “Aren’t you?” she hesitated when Wyatt glared at her.

“In the meantime, do your job or I’ll find your boss.” He turned on his heel and ran into a man and woman who were grinning at him. Good, he dodged that bullet.

“Youth these days,” the woman purred.

“And you are?” The man asked.

“Scott Lyle, Forrester Consulting. You?”

“George Simmons, Synil Pharmaceuticals. We’re looking to break into Saudi via UAE. The ministry of Oman is saying they can help,” the man smiled. “What do you do for Forrester?”

Wyatt casually scanned the crowd, trying to see hair the color of sunshine. “I do risk management.” He pulled out a card that Kane had provided. “Forrester has its hands in many different areas, but if you’re not secure, especially in this market...” Wyatt gave him a meaningful smile.

His wife twirled her diamond necklace. “Security is very important. George will definitely be calling you.”

Wyatt spotted her. “If you’ll excuse me. I see the Minister of Economic Development for Bahrain. I need to speak with him.” He gestured toward Carly.

What in the hell was she wearing? Emily would have a shit fit if he saw how tight that dress was.

As he walked toward her, the brunette walked by again, this time she was carrying a tray of hors d’oeuvres. “Excuse me,” he said.