The Sheikh Takes A Bride. Caroline Cross

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      Because suddenly he was right behind her. “Allow me,” he murmured, his bare forearm brushing her shoulder as he reached to pull out her chair before she could seat herself.

      The heat from his body penetrated her every nerve ending; she might as well have been naked for all the protection provided by her cream linen slacks and sleeveless yellow silk sweater. Nor could she control the sudden weakness of her knees as his fingers closed around her upper arm and he guided her onto the chair. Or the way the warmth in her middle spread when his palm lingered far longer than was necessary.

      Not until he stepped back and released her could she breathe again.

      Shaken, she sat motionless on the chair, asking herself what on earth was the matter with her. She’d dealt with a variety of men’s advances from the time she’d become a teenager, yet she’d never experienced this sort of acute, paralyzing awareness. It was unnerving.

      Worse, it made her feel uncertain and out of control, and that made her angry. “Don’t you have an oil deal or a camel auction or something that needs your attention?” she demanded as he picked up his cup, moved around the table and slid into the seat across from her.

      “No.” He cocked an eyebrow at her and took a sip of his coffee. “All of Walburaq’s oil comes from offshore reserves, and its distribution is controlled by the royal family. As for camels, we don’t have any since, like Altaria, we’re an island nation.”

      Her annoyance shifted from his presence to his presumption that she was actually that ignorant. “Yes, I know. Just as I know Walburaq is located in the Arabian Sea, was a British protectorate until 1963, declined to join the United Arab Emirates and is currently ruled by your cousin, King Khalid.” Doing her best to look bored, she picked up a small, perfect strawberry from the royal hothouse and popped it into her mouth.

      “My, my princess, that’s very good. I’m gratified that you’ve taken time to study my country.”

      She touched her heavy linen napkin to her mouth. “Don’t be. It’s nothing to do with you.” Which was nothing but the truth. Not that she’d ever reveal that her knowledge sprang from a futile attempt when she was younger to impress her father by learning about Altaria’s various trading partners. “I’ve always been good at history.”

      “Apparently.” He took another swallow of coffee. “It makes me wonder what other hidden talents you possess.”

      In the process of reaching for another berry, Catherine stilled, her gaze locking with his. She had an uneasy feeling that they’d just moved onto dangerous ground.

      It was a sensation that increased as he added softly, “I look forward to finding out.”

      Alarm shot through her. She parted her lips to tell him in no uncertain terms that wasn’t ever going to happen. But before she could say a word, Erin, Altaria’s new queen, walked into the room.

      Kaj came instantly to his feet. “Your Majesty.”

      Catherine, schooled in the strict protocol her late grandfather had insisted on, started to rise, too, only to sink back into her chair as her cousin-in-law sent her a remonstrative look. Although Daniel’s wife possessed an air of reserve that sometimes made her seem rather distant, one of her first acts upon moving into the palace had been to insist that, among the family, royal etiquette was to be relaxed. It was a necessity, she’d wryly informed Catherine later, since there was little chance that Daniel’s very American brothers and sisters would ever consent to bow down and call him Your Majesty.

      “Catherine, Sheikh.” Erin smiled. “Please, be seated.” Letting the footman who’d suddenly appeared pull back her chair, she sat down herself and promptly reached out to touch her hand to Catherine’s. “I’m so glad to see you. I haven’t had the chance to tell you how much I enjoyed the ball last night. It was simply wonderful. Thank you for showing me how such an affair should be done.”

      “It was my pleasure,” Catherine said sincerely.

      The regal young queen gave her arm a squeeze and then turned her attention to Kaj. She sent him a warm and gracious smile. “My husband informs me you’ve agreed to be our guest.”

      “I beg your pardon?” Caught by surprise, Catherine couldn’t keep the dismay out of her voice.

      Kaj shot her a quick glance, and she could have sworn that his hooded gray eyes, so pale in contrast to his inky lashes and olive complexion, held a glint of triumph. Yet as he turned to Erin, his voice was nothing but polite. “It’s very kind of you and the king to offer to put me up.”

      “I assure you, it’s no problem. We have more than adequate room.”

      Catherine had heard quite enough. Setting her napkin next to her plate, she pushed back her chair. “I’m sorry, but I have an appointment in town. If you’ll excuse me?” The last was directed toward Erin.

      “Why, yes, of course.”

      She stood, but before she could take so much as a single step, the sheikh was on his feet as well. “Pardon me, ma’am.” He bowed to the queen, then immediately turned his attention to Catherine. “Might I beg a favor, princess, and get a ride with you?” His smile—part apology, part entreaty—was charm itself. “I’m afraid I’m without a car today.”

      Catherine couldn’t help herself. “Then how did you get here? Walk?” Erin shot her a startled look and she abruptly realized how she must sound to someone unaware that the sheikh had an agenda all his own. She swallowed. “It’s only…I’m running late and I’d hate to cut short your conversation with Her Majesty. I’m sure one of the servants can drive you later.”

      “You mustn’t concern yourself with me, Catherine,” Erin interjected. “It just so happens I have a meeting in a few minutes.”

      “Yes, but I really need to go straight to my appointment—”

      “I wouldn’t dream of inconveniencing you,” the sheikh said smoothly. “I’d be honored to accompany you to your appointment. Afterward, if you wouldn’t mind, we can go to my hotel and collect my things.”

      “Good, that’s settled, then,” Erin said decisively, coming to her feet and heading for the door. “I’ll look forward to seeing both of you at dinner.”

      Catherine simply stood, her face carefully composed so as not to show her horror.

      Yet there was no getting around it. Her day had just gone from intense-but-survivable annoyance to major disaster.

      Long legs angled sideways, Kaj sat in the passenger seat of the sleek silver Mercedes, watching Catherine put the powerful sports car through its paces.

      Pointedly ignoring the ever present security detail following in their wake, she drove as she did everything else. With grace, confidence and—at least where he was concerned—a deliberate air of aloofness. The attitude might have succeeded in putting him off, if not for her breathless reaction to his touch at lunch or the way she’d trembled in his arms when they’d danced last night.

      Try as she might to pretend otherwise, she clearly wasn’t indifferent to him. But it was also obvious she had no intention of giving in to her attraction to him.

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