Surim watched, fascinated at the change in his guest and the laughter he’d seen from the children. He had only seen them sad or scared or defiant. Melissa still looked carefree and happy, but the children had become solemn.
“Annis was worried when they didn’t return for dinner,” he said when Melissa drew close.
“Sorry about that. I forgot my watch. Guess my estimating the time from the sun isn’t very accurate.” She laughed. “But we were having such fun time seemed to fly.”
He looked at the pile of sand, then at the children. “A very fine castle,” he said awkwardly.
“I bet you and their mother made sandcastles when you were young,” Melissa said.
He was startled. He hadn’t said anything about Mara or her husband, fearing to upset the children.
“Did you?” Alaya asked hesitantly.
Surim regarded the little girl and nodded. “We did. And when we grew older, we had swimming races, and went waterskiing together. She and I were great friends during the summers when I was home,” he said, remembering back before the world had changed and his childhood had ended abruptly.
“Where were you in not summer?” Hamid asked.
“I went to school in England. Where you used to live.”
“I miss home,” Hamid said forlornly.
“This will feel like home in no time,” Melissa said bracingly. “Right?” She smiled brightly at Surim.
He raised an eyebrow at her comment.
She smelled like sunshine and salt air. He noticed the deep green of her eyes, the glossy shine to her hair. There was a faint hint of pink on her cheeks—from the sun? She was shorter than most of the woman he dated, and much too young. But for a moment awareness flared.
Intellect didn’t rule the body all the time. He remembered how soft her skin had felt when he’d kissed her hand at the airport, a gesture foreign to him. Had he been making a show for Max’s friend?
Instinctively it had seemed right.
The children marched quietly into the house, all evidence of the joy he’d seen subdued by his presence. Surim wished he could change that.
“I’ll run up with the children and give Annis a hand getting them cleaned up,” Melissa said when they reached the stairs.
“Our own dinner will be in thirty minutes.”
“Then I’ll have to hurry.” She herded the children up the stairs without another glance in his direction.
For an instant, Surim wished she’d been as eager for his company as she was for the children’s. He had no trouble in the romance department. Though none of the women he knew held the same appeal that Melissa held.
He was being pressured by several factions to take a wife, and have children to insure the dynasty. These days he seemed to be looking at every woman with the same question—could he live with her for the next fifty or so years? So far he hadn’t found anyone.
Melissa slipped into the dining-room chair just as Surim and Max came in from the study. Once they were seated, a servant entered from the kitchen with a platter of meat. Melissa had rushed through her ablutions; her hair was still damp. But she had not kept the sheikh waiting for his meal.
She listened as Surim and Max discussed business, wondering what other activities the sheikh participated in. He had to take women out if he was looking for a wife. Did he discuss business with them? Or was it all romance?
She wondered what a date with him would be like, what they would talk about. Did he discuss the orphan children in his care with them? Or maybe he concentrated on wooing the woman, delaying any talk of family until he decided she was the one.
In the meantime, perhaps she should offer some suggestions to getting to know the children? She shook her head, hiding a wry smile. As if he’d listen to her. Who was she to advise the ruler of Qu’ Arim? He had advisors galore. And a perfectly qualified nurse in residence. Though what the children needed was love and devotion and fun. And a chance to get to know Surim and establish new family routines and traditions.
“You’re quiet tonight,” Surim said, addressing her. “Too much activity today?”
Melissa looked up. “Oh, no. I enjoyed seeing the actual site of the new restaurant, and the plans you have for the resort. I’m sure it will be spectacular.”
“Of course it will,” Max said. “Surim doesn’t do things by half measures.”
“I thought to have a small gathering of friends and advisors before you leave. Most of them speak English, the ones who don’t speak French,” Surim said.
“I would like the opportunity to meet your friends here,” Max said. “I already know most of your friends in England.”
“And you, Melissa, would that please you?” Surim asked.
“I should be delighted to attend.” She wondered if he would bring one of his potential wives with him, and she was disturbed to realize how much the thought bothered her.
When dinner finished, they moved to the drawing room. As they walked Surim and Max continued their discussion of the possibility of expanding Bella Lucia beyond this one overseas restaurant.
Passing through the wide entry hall, Melissa heard a noise. Neither of the men seemed to notice. Glancing up, she spotted Hamid peering between the railings of the balustrade. She looked at Surim and Max. They were too engrossed in their conversation to hear such a slight noise.
When they reached the living room, Melissa paused at the doorway.
“If you two will excuse me, I think I’ll go on up.”
Surim looked at her, frowning. “I apologize that our conversation centered on business. You must be tired of it after the long day we put in. We will change the topic.”
“No, you two talk all you want. Max won’t be here that long and I know you’re friends from way back. I’ll see you in the morning.”
His dark eyes seemed to hold her gaze as he weighed her words. “Very well.” With a slight inclination of his head, he turned back to Max.
Hurrying up the stairs, Melissa caught Hamid and Alaya as they tried to run down the hall.
“Hey, you two, stop right there.” She kept her voice low, but knew the children heard her.
They stopped and looked back, nervously waiting as Melissa went to them.
“I thought we talked earlier about not spying,” Melissa said in her sternest voice.
“We wanted to see you tonight,” Alaya said.
“Do you know where my room is?”
Alaya nodded.
“In the future, wait there if you need to see me. Or leave me a note. But no more spying; it’s wrong.”
Alaya nodded. Hamid looked at his sister, then nodded solemnly as well.
“Now, what’s up?” Melissa asked, smiling at the children.
“We wanted to see if you would read us a story,” Hamid said. “Annis only reads in French and we don’t understand.”
“Or she speaks Arabic and we only know a few words that Mummy and Daddy taught us,” Alaya said.
“You will feed to learn the language if you’re staying here,”
Melissa said. She started walking to the stairs leading to the third floor. “Maybe we’ll ask Annis to start Arabic lessons in the morning. Tonight, I’m happy to read you a story. Is Nadia already in bed?”
“Yes. She was sleeping when we came down,” Alaya said. “I wish we didn’t have to stay here. Everything’s so different from home.”
“You’ll get used to things in time, then it will be like having two homes. The one you had in England, and your new one here. Do you have friends back at home?” Melissa asked.
Alaya nodded.
“Have you written to them about your new place?”
The little girl shook her head.
“That would be fun for them to receive a letter from you telling them all about this house, your uncle and Annis. I bet none of them have ever been to Qu’ Arim. Maybe you could get some photos to include in the letter.” Melissa smiled as the enthusiasm started to show on Alaya’s face. “This house is fantasti
c. Just a photo of the front would look like a museum or something.”
“I’d like to write to Sally and Marta. You think they’d write back to me?” she asked wistfully.
“I’m sure of it. First thing tomorrow, I’ll have Annis make sure you have paper and pencil. You write as much as you wish and then we’ll get your uncle to post it,” Melissa said.
“I should be delighted,” Surim said behind them.
CHAPTER THREE
MELISSA turned around, surprised. “I thought you and Max were in the living room.”
“He had a call to make before it got too late in London. I thought I heard voices, so came to investigate.” He looked at Alaya. “If you wish me to post a letter, I’m happy to do so.”
“Thank you, Uncle Surim,” she said shyly, moving closer to Melissa.
“Uncle? We’re cousins,” he explained.
“Easier for them if you’re Uncle Surim and your new bride will be their new aunt.” Speaking softly, Melissa leaned closer. “They don’t want a replacement for their parents just yet.”
He raised an eyebrow. “My new bride,” he said evenly.
Melissa swallowed. Was that some secret? She shouldn’t have said that.
“I heard you were looking for a wife,” she said, feeling embarrassed, as if she’d been caught gossiping behind his back.
His face was impassive. “That is the plan.”
Heat turning her face bright red, Melissa was thankful when Hamid interrupted. “Melissa is going to read us a story,” he said firmly. “Come on, Melissa.”
“You have a way with the children,” Surim said. “Don’t let them pester you.”
She glanced sharply at him. “They aren’t pestering me, for heaven’s sake. They just want some adult attention. You should be reading them their stories. Annis’s English is limited. She only reads French stories; they don’t understand those.”
“She speaks English,” he said, his brow creasing.
“And stop frowning, it scares them,” she said.
He looked at her in astonishment.
Melissa almost cringed. She needed to watch her tongue or she’d be asked to leave so fast her head would swim. This was a sheikh, not some bumbling idiot.
“Sorry, but I do think you should try smiling more.” She bit her lip and looked at Alaya.
Surim stooped down until he was at a level with Hamid. “Should I read to you?” he asked gently.
Melissa was the astonished one. She’d never heard such gentleness in Surim’s voice, nor expected him to do something so kind to a little boy.
Hamid seemed undecided. “Can you both read to us?”
Surim smiled and nodded, glancing up at Melissa.
Melissa was struck dumb. When he smiled his entire face changed. He looked younger. And much more appealing. A flutter of nerves centered in her stomach. He would have no trouble wooing some woman to become his wife if he smiled at her once a day.
Rising to his full height, he continued looking at Melissa, a hint of amusement in those dark eyes. “You have a way with children; do you have any of your own?”
“Of course not, I’m not married.”
“Neither am I, but I seem to have acquired three.”
Melissa wanted to point out he planned to ship them off to some school, but she kept quiet, conscious of the presence of the two children. Maybe if Surim spent some more time with them, he’d find he couldn’t send them away.
“Come on, then, let’s read these children to sleep,” he said.
It was oddly intimate, Melissa thought, to be with Surim tucking the children in bed. Almost as if they were the children’s parents. Surim had dismissed Annis when she’d rushed out to see to the children. Melissa glanced across the bed to watch as he patted Hamid on his small shoulders. She thought it was the first time for the man.
“Sleep through the night, little one,” Surim said, almost as an order.
Melissa hid a smile. He might be trying, but his manner needed polishing.
She selected two books, and handed one to Surim. “Want to start?” she asked.
“Ladies first. Besides, if they fall asleep on your watch, I don’t have to read.”
She laughed. “Very well.”
His strategy worked. Before Melissa finished the book she’d selected, both children were fast asleep.
“Tomorrow night, you can read the first book,” Melissa whispered as they left the bedroom.
“I would never be able to put as much enthusiasm into reading. Nor come up with different voices for the different characters. You have a talent for working with children.”
“I should, it’s my job.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a nanny by profession.”
He paused at the top of the stairs. “I thought you were a translator.”
“Max very kindly found me some work between jobs—at my mother’s insistence, I’m sure. She recently married Max’s father, you know.”
Surim nodded.
“Anyway, I finished my last job before Christmas and my next one doesn’t start until February, so I’m helping out at Bella Lucia. They obviously knew I had no experience in anything except childcare, so Max found this job for me. I speak French and Italian and a smattering of German. I needed it when I lived in Switzerland.”
“Where is your next job?”
“In Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States.”
“I’m familiar with Boston,” he said dryly. “Quite a change from Switzerland.”
“And from what I’ve been doing. Until now, I worked at a childcare facility at one of the resorts in Switzerland. You know, come for a week and let us take care of your children so you can enjoy all the amenities. It was great fun, but now I want to try working for a family. When the McDonalds asked me, I jumped at the chance. It’s what I was trained for.” She had no intention of letting anyone know part of the reason for her desire for change was a love affair gone bad. So far she’d kept that secret.
“Perhaps you can offer me some insights into these children before you leave,” Surim said, continuing down the stairs.
Melissa walked beside him, wondering how much she had to offer in the few days remaining. Still, if she could get them all comfortable around each other, that would go a long way.
“Perhaps,” she said at last.
When they reached the door to her bedroom, he paused. She reached to open it. Surim stopped her, turning her to face him.
“Thank you for your help. The children seemed happier tonight than they have since they arrived.”
To her surprise, he kissed her. His lips touched hers lightly, then he stood back. “Don’t tell Max I’m taking advantage of his new stepsister. He’d have my head.”
He turned and walked down the hall.
Melissa blinked, still not sure of what had happened. Her lips still felt the brief warmth of Surim’s. Her head was spinning. And the way her heart pounded, she couldn’t have imagined it.
Yet how astonishing.
In a haze, she entered her bedroom.
Surim continued down the hall, wondering what had come over him. He had dated some beautiful, sophisticated women. Enjoyed their company, their sparkling repartee. But he’d never kissed them on such short provocation. Melissa was kissable. He’d wanted to kiss her since he saw her laughing on the beach that afternoon.
She was nothing like the women he usually dated. His advisors and ministers would have a fit if they knew of his interest. Not that a kiss to thank her for her help with the children would endanger the country.
Was that all it was? A thank-you kiss? He was not a man to give embraces so freely.
Yet when he’d seen Melissa going up the stairs with his wards, he’d wanted to join them. Alaya and Hamid seemed quiet and awkward around him, but they blossomed around Melissa. He almost felt he could blossom around her. Shed the duties of office and enjoy an hour or two with her without the constant pressure of duty.
U
nlike Annis, she seemed to have a real rapport with children. They’d all looked so happy at the beach. Then Alaya and Hamid sought her out after dinner. To his knowledge none of the children had ever sought him out.
He remembered how small Hamid had felt when he’d tucked him in. His shoulders were so frail in Surim’s stronger hands. What would the boy do when he grew up? Would he want to travel as his parents did, or be content to find work in Qu’ Arim and make a life here?
For a moment the thought of influencing all three children in how they grew and what they became was daunting. Yet he knew he had to marry soon and beget heirs for his own family, and for a future ruler of Qu’ Arim. How effective he proved as a father would influence the lives of his own children.
And where would he find a woman to become the mother of those children? He had been enjoying the company of women for years, yet had never found a special woman to invite to share his life. He had given up on the elusive love that westerners believed in. A suitable union with a woman from a fine family would produce the heirs he needed. As long as they were compatible.
He knew women sought him out because of his wealth and power. Somehow he couldn’t see Melissa being impressed by either. In fact, she didn’t seem impressed by him at all. No one in recent memory had scolded him as she had.
He almost smiled when he remembered her fussing at him. She was a champion of those children. For a moment he wondered what it would be like to have her champion him.
He returned to the salon and his friend Max. Another complication—if Max found out Surim was kissing his newly acquired stepsister. Better to keep his distance. Melissa was only visiting for a week. Then she’d return to London and he’d resume his quest for a wife.
On Tuesday, Melissa and Max were the only two at breakfast again.
“Surim keeps early hours,” she murmured as she took some eggs and bacon. She liked saying his name. Far from being daunted by the sheikh, after that brief kiss last night, Melissa was becoming more fascinated. He’d insisted that first day that she call him by name. Now she looked for ways to use it.
Max sipped his hot coffee and looked up from the paper he was reading. “He’s putting in long hours because we’re here. I saw him before he left; he said the small reception he’s planning will be Thursday night. We’ll fly home on Friday.”
The Nanny and the Sheikh Page 4