Expecting the Sheikh's Baby. KRISTI GOLD

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СКАЧАТЬ “Karen, did you hire the sheikh while I was downstairs?”

      Karen reached under the counter and snatched up her car keys. “He was helping out with a rowdy customer.”

      “How nice of you, Ash,” Maria said. “Wasn’t it nice of him, Karen?”

      Karen’s stubborn gaze came to rest on Ashraf Saalem once more. Certain aspects of him were very nice. Nice and sexy. But she wouldn’t describe his eyes as nice. More like lethal in a most sensual sense.

      She unhooked her gaze from the sheikh and addressed Maria. “Is Mimi here yet? I really need to go swoon.” Stupid, stupid mouth. “I mean I need to go soon. To my appointment.”

      Maria grinned and flipped her hand toward the front door. “Go ahead. I can handle it until she gets here. We still have some slack time before the evening crush.”

      Karen felt the pull of an inadvisable crush on an overbearing, arrogant, exotic prince. Stupid, stupid libido.

      Keys in hand, she headed toward the door before Ash had another chance to knock her resistance out from under her.

      “I will be in touch, Karen.”

      Karen gripped the door handle, intending to exit, but halted at the sound of his enticing voice. She only hesitated for a moment before rushing to her car and speeding off before she was tempted to go back and accept his offer. Before she gave in to those magnetic eyes and that seriously sinful voice. Before she forgot that she had no desire to become involved with any man, especially a man who considered himself her protector.

      Thank heavens she had managed a quick getaway.

      Ashraf Saalem had no intention of letting Karen Rawlins get away. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her at the welcome soiree, from the instant he had spontaneously kissed her, he had wanted her. He still wanted her and he intended to have her, even if forced to practice the utmost in patience.

      Ash was not known for his patience. He would never have gained his own fortune had it not been for persistence. He would have never left the security of his family’s business and come to America had he been willing to endure his father’s demands.

      “Oh, darn.”

      Maria Barone’s mild oath brought Ash’s attention to her. “A problem?”

      She held up a black leather handbag. “Karen was in such a rush that she left her purse.”

      Ash saw Karen’s carelessness as an opportunity to utilize a bit more strategy to convince her to see him again, this time alone. “I will be most happy to return it to her.”

      “Now?”

      “Yes. I would think she might need it since I assume it contains her driver’s license and any means she would have to pay for services.”

      Maria looked hesitant, wary. “You have a point. But I’m not sure she’ll be too thrilled if I tell you where she’s going.”

      “She mentioned a doctor’s appointment.”

      “She did?”

      Maria need not know that the revelation had come after some coercion on his part. “Do you know the whereabouts of the doctor’s office?”

      A slight-of-frame, gray-haired woman breezed up to Maria and offered, “She asked me directions to Industrial Drive at Blakenship yesterday, the two hundred block, so I’m guessing that’s the location.”

      Maria gave the waitress a scolding look. “Mimi, Karen might not like you passing on that information.”

      The woman rolled her eyes. “She has to have her purse, doesn’t she? Besides, I don’t think he’s going to pilfer her credit cards.”

      “I guess you’re right,” Maria said.

      Ash held out his hand to Maria and she finally relinquished the bag to him. “You may trust that I will find Ms. Rawlins and deliver it safely.”

      “Good luck,” Maria said.

      Ash wasn’t one to rely on luck, but he would use his powers of persuasion. He gave the two women a polite nod. “I’m certain I will be back soon.”

      The lady named Mimi favored him with a smile. “I’m sure you will since Karen works here. That missy is a looker, all right.”

      Without responding, Ash left the building, unable to hold back his own smile over his good fortune. He had something Karen Rawlins needed, and she had something he wanted. Quite simply he wanted her. At least this was a beginning.

      On that thought, Ash strode to the silver Rolls-Royce Corniche parked at the curb, slipped into the seat and drove away, his impatience escalating as he wove through heavy downtown traffic. After what seemed an interminable amount of time, he turned off onto the side street Maria had mentioned and approached a redbrick building that appeared to be a clinic.

      Ash pulled into the parking lot and when he noticed the sign that read Milam Fertility Center, he assumed he’d come to the wrong place. Then, near the entrance, he caught sight of a blue compact car that resembled the one he’d seen Karen drive away in at Baronessa’s.

      He took the first available space several rows away, grabbed her purse and left the car to take his place by the hood where he could still view her vehicle. Presuming she had already entered, he decided to wait until she came out even if it took several hours. He had many questions to ask Karen, the most important being why she had chosen a clinic that catered to those intending a pregnancy. Then the sedan’s door opened and Karen stepped from the car.

      Ash saw his chance and strode across the parking lot, finding her bent halfway in, halfway out of the car. He paused a moment to study the bow of her hips and the pleasing shape of her legs extending from the skirt she wore as she conducted a search for, most likely, the handbag.

      “Are you looking for this?”

      She barely avoided bumping her head as she spun around to face him. “What are you doing here?” Her voice held a note of shock, as did her expression.

      He dangled the purse before her. “I have come to return this to you.”

      She snatched it from his hand. “Thank you. I didn’t realize I’d left it.”

      Obviously. “Now it is your turn to answer a question.” He sent a direct look at the nearby sign. “What are you doing here?”

      She worked the bag’s strap round and round her slender fingers. “I told you I have—”

      “An appointment, I know. But what business would you have at this establishment? Are you applying for employment?”

      She looked almost alarmed. “Of course not.” After closing the door with a thrust of her bottom, she leaned back against it, looking quite annoyed. “You shouldn’t concern yourself with why I’m here.”

      Her guardedness frustrated Ash though he had no call to interrogate her. But he had to know why she was here. “I would greatly like to understand your purpose for being at this particular place.”

      “You СКАЧАТЬ