Susan Mallery - The Sheik And The Pregnant Bride

Kayleen continued down the aisle, where an equally smitten As’ad waited.

Maggie’s heart ached. She wanted this for herself. Not the fancy wedding, but the love. She wanted someone to love her forever, to hold her and never let her go.

She glanced at Qadir. She couldn’t find that with him, but was it possible with someone else? The congregation sat. Qadir reached over and took her hand in his.

It was just for show, she told herself, even as she desperately wanted it to be real. Just a game. A game that was going to break her heart into so many pieces, she was unlikely to ever find a way to make herself whole again.

Maggie sanded the fender with a piece of fine sandpaper. She wanted the finish perfect, which meant doing the details herself. The work was tedious, but she didn’t mind. Focusing on the car was a kind of mental vacation from the weirdness of her life these days.

She adjusted the mask she wore, wishing it weren’t so hot. But she didn’t want to risk breathing in any of the particles. Not while she was pregnant.

The things I do for you, kid, she thought with a smile.

Someone tapped her arm. She jumped and turned, then jerked off the mask as she recognized King Mukhtar.

“Your Highness,” she said in surprise, setting down the sandpaper and wiping her hands on her coveralls. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

What was she supposed to do? Bow? Curtsy? Offer to shake hands?

“Stealth is important for a monarch,” he said without smiling. “Might I have a moment of your time, Ms. Collins?”

That didn’t sound good, she thought grimly. “Yes, of course. My office is through here.”

She led the way and motioned to a seat. But the king remained standing so she did, as well.

“I will get right to the point,” he said, gazing directly into her eyes. “It is time for you to leave El Deharia. You are far too pretty a distraction for my son.”

Maggie didn’t know what to say. The king’s attitude wasn’t a surprise, but she didn’t think he would be so blunt.

Mukhtar continued before she could think of how to respond.

“I didn’t object to the relationship initially,” he told her. “Times are changing and fresh blood is always a good thing. It is not as if there are an excess of princesses or duchesses around for my sons to marry. While your circumstances are modest, so are Kayleen’s and she is an excellent match for As’ad. However, recent changes in your circumstances have convinced me you are not suitable for Qadir.”

Maggie stiffened, but didn’t back down. He was talking about her pregnancy. She doubted anyone expected a virgin bride, but she’d gone a little to far over the line.

“Qadir needs to be available to find someone suitable. He will not look as long as you are around. Perhaps this sounds harsh to you. Unfortunately I have more to consider than most fathers. I have a country and a responsibility to my people. As does Qadir.”

She’d been willing to offer a protest right up until that last bit. But how was she supposed to ignore the needs of an entire country? The king was right-she didn’t belong.

“I will not ask you to pack your bags immediately,” he told her. “But I would like you to begin making arrangements.”

Maggie found her voice. “I have another three weeks’ worth of work on the car,” she said. “I don’t need to stay to see it finished, but I have a few more things I must do. I’ll stay through the end of the week.”

“Thank you for understanding. It is most unfortunate. Under other circumstances…” He cleared his throat. “I wish you well, child.”

The king left.

Maggie stared after him. Her nature was to stand up for herself, to fight for what she wanted. But how could she? The king had told the truth. She wasn’t right for Qadir and she didn’t belong here. It was time for her to leave.

“He is an impossible old man,” Qadir said as he paced the length of his living room. “Impossible.”

“Agreed.” Kateb lounged on one of the sofas, smoking a cigar. “Unfortunately he is the king.”

“Perhaps, but he has no right to interfere.”

“You are his son.”

“A matter of no consequence,” Qadir muttered.

Kateb merely raised his eyebrows.

“It is not his place to say who is to be in my life,” Qadir continued.

“You have much energy over a matter that is very small,” his brother pointed out. “Maggie was merely a convenience. You hired her to act as your girlfriend, Qadir. You were not actually with her. Why are you so angry at our father’s interference?”

Qadir couldn’t answer. “It is the principle of the matter,” he said at last.

“Ah, well then. You must do as you see fit. But to me, the simpler solution is to let her go and find another woman to hire. What do you care who plays your pretend lover? Isn’t one woman as good as the next?”

Qadir turned on his brother. The need to strike out, to punish, was as powerful as it was unexpected. Kateb studied him through a cloud of smoke, his dark gaze deceptively lazy.

“I do not want another woman,” Qadir said. “Maggie suits me.” She understood him. She was easy to talk to. Why would he want to start over with someone else? “She is the only one I want.”

Kateb nodded slowly. “That is more of a problem.”

“You will not leave,” Qadir said imperiously.

Maggie was more than ready to stop being dictated to by men. First Jon, then the king and now Qadir. Of all of them, only the king made her nervous, probably because she didn’t actually know how much power he had. There were still rumors of a dungeon downstairs-a place she didn’t ever want to see.

“Your father wants me gone,” she said as she sat on the edge of the sofa and resisted the need to bury her face in her hands. “What does it matter? Someone else can finish the car.”

“You care so little for your work?”

“No, but in the scheme of things it matters a whole lot less than it did before. I’ve done most of the hard stuff. I’m staying through the end of the week, then I need to go.” She drew in a breath. “Qadir, I know you had your plan all worked out, but it isn’t going to work. Not with me.” She hated saying that, but it was true.

“The reality is, you can hire someone else,” she continued. “Someone who isn’t pregnant.” Maybe someone who would be smart enough not to fall in love with him.

She couldn’t think about that, she reminded herself. That was her vow. That she wouldn’t allow herself to get into her feelings until she was safely on a plane back to Aspen. Then she would have a small but tasteful breakdown and really feel the pain. It would probably frighten the other people on the flight, but they would have to deal with that.

“I do not want someone else. I want you.”

His words settled on her like a warm, cozy blanket. She held them close, hardly able to believe that he was actually-

“You are easy to talk to. We share a sense of humor and excellent chemistry. I am unlikely to find that again and it will not be convenient for me to look.”

She leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes. Not only did he know where to slide in the knife, he knew exactly how to twist it for maximum effect.

Not that she should blame him. Qadir had no clue as to her real feelings so he couldn’t know how he was hurting her.

“Qadir, I really think that I-”

“I have decided there is only one solution,” he said, interrupting her. “We will be married.”

Maggie sat up. “Excuse me?”

“We will be married. My father wants me to be married and I have no interest in someone he will thrust upon me. As I have stated, you and I get along well. I understand this match will have many advantages for you, which is also a good thing. It will be more difficult for Jon to see his child regularly, but you mentioned he could have the child for summers and I would not object to that.”