Claimed by the Desert Sheikh: The Sheikh and the Pregnant Bride / Desert King, Pregnant Mistress / Desert Prince, Expectant Mother. Susan Stephens

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ the sound of footsteps, then a door closed. Maggie stayed in place, not sure if both men had left.

      She breathed as quietly as she could and was about to go back the way she’d come when she heard Qadir say, “You can come out now. He’s gone.”

      Maggie winced as heat burned her cheeks. She stepped into view. “I didn’t mean to listen in. I was taking a walk and then you were talking. I was really quiet. How did you know I was here?”

      Qadir nodded toward the plate-glass window that reflected the balcony. “I saw you approaching. It does not matter. My quarrel with the king is common knowledge. It is an argument my brothers and I share with him.”

      “Still, I wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose.”

      “You seem intent on repeating that fact.”

      “I don’t want you to think I’m rude.”

      “But I have already hired you. What does it matter what I think?”

      “Because you’re my boss. You could fire me tomorrow.”

      “True, but per our contract, you would still get paid.”

      She fought against the need to roll her eyes. “While the money is important, so is doing a good job. I don’t want to leave until the car is finished. It’s a matter of pride.”

      Maybe being über-rich and a sheik meant he wouldn’t understand that. Maggie doubted Qadir had ever had to work for anything.

      “Will your father really find you a wife?” she asked.

      “He will try. Ultimately the choice is mine. I can refuse to marry her.”

      “Why would he think anyone would agree to an arranged marriage?”

      Qadir leaned against the railing. “The woman in question will be marrying into a royal family. We trace our bloodline back more than a thousand years. For some, the dictates of history and rank matter far more than any matters of the heart.”

      A thousand years? Maggie couldn’t imagine that. But then she’d grown up under relatively modest circumstances in a fairly typical medium-size town. Over the past few years movie stars showed up every winter to ski, but she didn’t have any contact with them. Nor did she want any. She preferred regular people to the rich and famous. And to princes. Even one as handsome as the man in front of her.

      “You must have all kinds of women throwing themselves at you,” she said. “Aren’t there any you want to marry?”

      Qadir raised his eyebrows. “You take my father’s side in this?”

      “You’re royal. Doesn’t having heirs come with the really plush surroundings?”

      “So you’re practical.”

      “I understand family loyalty and duty.”

      “Would you have agreed to an arranged match if it had been expected?”

      Maggie considered the question. “I don’t know. Maybe. If I’d always known it was going to be that way. I’m not sure I would have liked it.”

      “Such an obedient daughter.”

      “Not on purpose. I loved my father very much.” He’d been all the family she’d ever had. She still expected to see him in the house or hear his footsteps. One of the big advantages of her job in El Deharia—besides the money—was that she could escape the sad memories for a few weeks.

      Qadir shook his head. “I am sorry. I had forgotten your recent loss. I did not mean to remind you of your pain.”

      “Don’t worry about it. I’m kind of bringing it with me everywhere I go.”

      He nodded slowly as if he understood what it meant to lose something so precious. Did he? Maggie realized she knew nothing about Qadir beyond what she’d heard on television. She didn’t read gossip magazines. Or fashion magazines for that matter. Her idea of a great evening was when Car and Driver arrived in the mail.

      “You must have other family back in Aspen,” he said. “How will they cope with you gone?”

      “I, ah, I’m kind of alone. It was just my dad and me. I have a few friends, but they’re busy with their lives.”

      “So you had no one to call and tell about your new job?”

      “I called Jon. He worries about me.”

      Qadir’s dark gaze settled on her face. “Your boyfriend?”

      “Not anymore,” she said lightly. “He’s someone I’ve known forever. We grew up next door to each other. We played together when we were kids, then kind of fell in love in high school. Everyone assumed we’d get married, but it never seemed to happen.”

      She’d always wondered why they hadn’t taken that last step. They’d dated for years, been each other’s first time. He was the only man she’d ever been with and until Elaine, Jon had only been with her. She still loved him—a part of her would always love him.

      “I think we fell out of ‘in love,’ if that makes sense. We still care for each other, but it’s not the same. I think we would have broken up a long time ago, except my dad was sick and Jon didn’t want to dump that on me, too.”

      But she’d sensed the changes in their relationship. “I ignored the obvious because of my dad dying. After he was gone, Jon and I talked and I realized it had been over for a long time.” She forced a smile she didn’t feel. “He’s met someone else. Elaine. She’s great and they’re crazy about each other. So that’s good.”

      She mostly meant that. Jon was her friend and she wanted him to be happy. But every now and then she wondered why she couldn’t have met someone, too.

      “You are very understanding,” Qadir said. “Even if it is all a mask.”

      She stiffened. “I’m not pretending.”

      “You’re saying there is no anger at Jon for replacing you so easily?”

      “None at all,” she snapped, then sighed. “Okay, there’s a twinge, but it’s not a big deal. I don’t really want him for myself, exactly.”

      “But he should have had the common courtesy to wait a while before finding the love of his life.”

      “I can’t agree with that. It makes me sound horrible.”

      “It makes you sound human.”

      “I’m emotionally tough.” At least she was trying to be. There had been a single breakdown about five weeks ago. She’d called Jon, sobbing and trembling with pain. She’d hurt everywhere, not only from the loss of her father, but from the loss of her best friend.

      Jon, being Jon, had come over to comfort her. He’d hugged her and held her and she’d wanted more. She’d kissed him and …

      Maggie walked to the balcony and stared out into the night. Thinking about that night СКАЧАТЬ