Sands of Time - The Al-Hakim brothers - Javier and Amanda story - Completed

Chapter Five

"Javier!" With a delightful cry Mandy went straight into his waiting arms, without hesitation as strong familiar arms folded around her. She tilted her head back, receiving a soft brief kiss. Overjoyed she hugged him, then suddenly remembering where she was, Mandy eased back and looked across towards Charmain, who only smiled knowingly. She glanced back up at Javier, heart melting at the warmth in his eyes.

"I see I don't have to make any formal introductions," Charmain teased lightly. 

Javier laughed with delight, his gaze lazily caressed across Mandy's face that glowed. "We bumped into each other in Cairo, did we not Amanda?"

"Bumped is the word," she agreed.

"That sounds intriguing. Do tell." Without further prompting, Mandy told the whole story, while Charmain escorted them towards the living room. "How absolutely delightful."

"I'm not sure Javier would have agreed at the time, did you?"

"Now darling, who am I, not to fall for those incredible soulful brown eyes?" Mandy blushed at his teasing tone, though her heart did soar. Glancing away from his all too seeing eyes, she gave a cry of delight at the sight of Kamilah as she rose from a Victorian sofa.

Elegantly dressed as usual in a gown of teal, looking fabulous against her dark, sultry looks. Now glad she had gone for the longer black dress. Leaving Javier, Mandy crossed over to hug her dearly, then sank on the sofa together. Javier joined them, easing Mandy up against his side, his arm wrapped around her, securely.

"I can't believe you are both here," she stated as she smiled from one to the other.

"Old friends of the family."

"For many years," Charmain added as she settled in a chair opposite. "Javier was telling me earlier, you're from Melbourne. Lovely city. What do you think of London?"

Mandy couldn't stop glowing. "Big," she answered, bringing soft laughter all around.

"That's one way to describe London I suppose," Javier drawled. "However..."

"Javier."

"I have heard better descriptions," he noted ignoring Mandy's protest.

Mandy sighed dramatically. "All right. It's big and fascinating."

"I'm so glad to hear that. I would hate to think you went back to Melbourne with the only impression of London being big." Charmain smiled and rose as did the others, when Charles and Simone entered.

Simone faltered as did her smile, eyes hardening as they rested upon the unexpected guests. Mandy stiffened in apprehension, grabbing  atJavier's hand that squeezed hers in reassurance, which didn't go past Simone's notice. She glided across the room, joining Charmain's side, barely registering the others presence. Javier edged Mandy back into the sofa at his side.

"Mandy was telling her thoughts on London," Charmain stated, breaking the tense silence.

"Really, I would've thought, Cairo would have left more of an impression on her," she noted dryly. "Isn't it right, Amanda?" She turned cold eyes onto Javier. "You do seem to appear out of nowhere, and at the strangest times, Sheikh. One might think the whole incident in Cairo wasn't such an accident, after all." Mandy gasped, yet remained silent at the tightening of Javier's hand.

"One might," he noted dryly.

Charles coughed. "Perhaps we should have per-dinner drinks?"

Simone eyes never left Javier's face, though did become challenging. "Thank you Charles. Scotch on the rocks, that is if that doesn't offend the Sheikh, of course."