Dinah, Princess of Israel - Chapter Four

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“How do you propose we go about writing this book?” Shechem asked with a sigh. “You had the idea. You take the lead.” He was lounging on the sofa in Dinah’s sitting room, feet propped up with a bored expression. He’d been in business meetings all day, but his suit coat was now thrown over the chair near the door, his tie loosened and the top button of his white shirt undone. The combination looked good on him, but Dinah pulled her attention back to the task.
 
“I was thinking we could take the concepts I teach in my motivational speeches to teenage girls and adjust them to fit the experiences of teen boys.” Dinah was taking this project seriously and had spent the afternoon organizing notes and outlining her thoughts and was looking forward to obtaining a man’s perspective on her talking points.
 
“I’m pretty sure teaching them empowerment and self-defense wasn’t what you had in mind,” he said with sarcasm.
 
Dinah suspected Shechem hadn’t forgiven her for the way she’d treated him earlier in the day and was still seething from her embarrassing tirade in front of their fathers. “You’re probably right. We wouldn’t want guys to learn ten different ways to inflict bodily harm on women.”
 
“Is that really what you teach girls?” Was that fear in his countenance? Or disgust? Maybe both.
 
“I was totally joking.” Sort of. “We teach girls how to defend themselves in the event that they are attacked.”
 
“Is that really what you think I did to you?” Hurt darkened his countenance. “Do you honestly think I attacked you?”
 
“No… but most survivors…” she hesitated.
 
“Many survivors were probably in exactly the position we were in.” His bold statement gave her pause. Were they? Was that true? “There’s a reason why fifteen-year-olds shouldn’t put themselves in a position to make adult decisions. We had no idea what we were doing. Obviously.”
 
Shechem leaned closer and took Dinah’s hand in his. Her breathing increased, and her stomach fluttered.
 
“You were right there with me, Dinah. Loving me. Holding me in your arms. Kissing me. Encouraging me.”
 
He was right, but she wasn’t ready to admit that.
 
“I never would have hurt you on purpose, and you know that.” He squeezed her hand lightly. “People treated me like I was a monster who lured you into a dark alley, pinned you down, and raped you. And you know darn well that’s not what happened.”
 
She couldn’t deny the truth. There was nothing violent or frightening about that night until she cried out in pain and her brothers came running and found her in tears. Her older brother, Simeon, had almost been arrested that night for beating Shechem within an inch of consciousness.
 
“Dinah, I’ve loved you my whole life,” Shechem told her softly. “Our parents practically arranged our marriage when our moms were pregnant at the same time. We were either destined to be best friends or married. Preferably both.”
 
They had definitely been best friends. Marriage was no longer up for consideration. She had slammed that door closed many years ago.
 
“Everyone encouraged our courtship,” he continued. “Our relationship made sense politically to ensure peace between our kingdoms. And we were like brother and sister growing up… until you kissed me in the treehouse when we were twelve.”
 
“Oh, you think I kissed you?” Dinah chuckle-snorted. “You kissed me.”
 
“That’s not how I remember that day.” His voice was like honey.
 
“I remember that when our teeth clunked together, I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants and had to run into the house.”
 
“Yeah, being laughed at during your first kiss doesn’t exactly boost a guy’s confidence.” Shechem’s face blushed pink. “Didn’t try that again for a long time.”
 
“Our second kiss was worth the wait,” Dinah whispered.
 
“Yeah… it was.”
 
They stared at each other for a long moment, and Shechem glanced at Dinah’s lips. That woke her up.
 
“Anyway, so, about this book.” She sat up straight and held her pen above the open notebook sitting in her lap. “Maybe my original premise needs to be refocused. I think I need to take some time to think about this, and we’ll discuss this again in a day or two… or ten. I have to go now.”
 
Dinah hurried from the room, wondering how she could ever face him again.
 
What had she been thinking by allowing him to get so close to her like that? She couldn’t concentrate when his deep brown eyes focused on her, when he smelled like pheromones mixed with the lingering note of his cologne.
 
How was she expected to stay mad at him when he looked like a puppy dog who had been kicked for chewing up someone’s favorite shoe?
 
Even at twenty-one, Shechem had a baby face and innocence that detracted from the maturity required of a person ready to rule a kingdom.
 
And he was right. About everything.

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