“You see, I figured something out. You were running away from Heath and Jefferson and all the demands your parents were putting on you, but I was running away too. Away from my past, my responsibilities.” He reached over and took her hand. The heat of him penetrated through her leather gloves to her chilled fingertips and straight to her core. He laced their fingers together and met her gaze. “I think it’s time we both stopped running, don’t you?”
She blinked up at him for several seconds, not wanting to sound too desperate by hurling herself into his arms and kissing him until they were both satisfied. So, instead, she narrowed her gaze. “You think my fashion is questionable?”
He frowned. “What?”
“You said my ‘questionable fashion’.” With her free hand, she made air quotes. “Is that some kind of personal dig? Because I’ll tell you right now, buddy. If we’re going to be together, I won’t stand for anything less than complete acceptance of who I am, warts and all. I’ve lived my life for too long trying to please everybody else while I—”
Her speech was cut off by his lips on hers. He let go of her hand to slip his arms around her waist and pull her closer into a deep, drugging, delightful kiss. By the time he finally pulled away, they were both breathless.
Unable to string more than two words together with all the desire swirling in her mind, she gazed up at him, wide-eyed. “Why?”
His smile, slow and sexy and oh so enticing, widened as he pointed above them in the window. Sure enough, there was a sprig of fresh mistletoe there. “It’s tradition, yes?”
“Yes.” Heat prickled her cheeks as a few tourists around them snapped their photo on their phone and a couple of kids giggled. Mel placed her hands on Daveed’s chest, feeling his heart pound along with hers.
“It’s tradition,” she said, unable to hold back her grin any longer. “Does this mean what I think it means?”
“That I love you? That I want you to stay at the condo with me until we can find a place of our own? That I want to make our fake relationship that’s in all the tabloids a reality?” He pulled her closer again and rested his forehead against hers. “Yes. That’s exactly what it means.”
Mel’s mind was still stuck on his first words. “You love me?”
“Yes, I do. Crazy as that sounds.” He kissed her again fast, then took her hand and pulled her away from the congested store front and back out on the sidewalk, where they headed for home. “I know we don’t know each other that well, but we’ve got all the time in the world to remedy that. We can take our time, date, do all the things normal couples do, and when the time comes, maybe you’ll consider marrying me—your choice.”
She couldn’t help chuckling. “I should’ve expected a planner like you to have all the details set, but even I’m surprised. And in case it matters, I love you too.”
Daveed stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and hoisted her up in his arms, chest-to-chest, turning in a slow circle while the holiday crowds parted around them. “She loves me too. She really loves me.”
Several passersby shook their heads at the display, but most whooped or applauded or called for them to kiss again, which they did. This time, when Daveed finally let her feet touch the ground, Mel clung to him in case her shaking knees wouldn’t hold her. Finally, he took her hand and started off for the condo.
“When the time comes, I think we should have a wedding at the Plaza Hotel. I read that’s where your mother had originally planned things, is that correct?”
“Yes.” Mel kept pace beside him, thankful for him adjusting his longer stride to her shorter one. Just one more show of his chivalrous nature. “But you seem awfully sure that’s how all this will end up. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I thought we weren’t rushing things.”
“Not rushing at all. Just throwing ideas out there.” He kissed her hand through her glove and smiled. “Sorry. It seems that once I popped the cork on my emotions and dreams, there’s no stopping the flow.”
“Nothing to be sorry about at all.” She grinned and patted his arm. “It’s adorable.”
“It is?” He waggled his brows.
“Oh, yeah. It is.” Fresh warmth blossomed inside her and she suddenly couldn’t wait to get him alone again in the condo. To distract herself, she asked more questions. “The Plaza’s not cheap, though, you know.”
He scoffed, leading her across another street. “If you think Heath’s family is rich, their wealth is nothing compared to the sheikhdom of Al Dar Nasrani. Besides, my parents will be over the moon at having such a lovely daughter-in-law brought into our fold.”
“Really?” She’d not even gotten far enough to think about meeting them. “You think they’ll like me?”
“They’ll love you. Just as much as I do.” He leaned over and kissed her again. “Oh, and if you want to take that job at the MAC store you can, but only if it’s what you want.”
Mel thought about it for a minute. She loved Daveed and appreciated his offer, but she wanted a chance to earn her own money, to stand on her own two feet. “I do want it. I want something that’s just mine. Does that make sense?”
“Absolutely.” His affectionate gaze warmed her clear to her toes. “I’m very proud of you, habibaty.”
“You are?” Her smile widened. “I’m proud of you too.”
He looked surprised. “Why?”
“Because you finally opened up to me, told me how you really feel. I know that wasn’t easy for you and it shows me how much you care.”
They stopped at another light and he pulled her close again. “I intend to keep on showing you how much I care.”
“You do?” she asked, snuggling into his chest and sliding her arms around his neck.
“Oh yeah, I do.” He bent his head to kiss her again, whispering, “For many years to come.”
End of A Sheikh for Christmas
All I Want for Christmas is... Book 1
Blurb
It’s Christmas in New York, and the lone wolf is about to go AWOL for love…
Navy SEAL Murphy Coen should be celebrating the upcoming holidays with friends and family, but with his sister Aileen missing, there’s not much for Murph to feel thankful for. To find Aileen, he’s fully prepared to use force, until an unexpected encounter has him rethinking his tactics. Shayma, his friend Daveed’s former fiancée, is sexy as hell, and something about her soothes his wayward soul. The brunette bombshell claims she can help, but Murph’s never been known for his patience. The clock is ticking, and he isn’t sure Shayma won’t get in the way of doing what he needs to do.
After ending her engagement to the man chosen by her father, Shayma bint Amr Kahlan has been enjoying the sights of New York City…and her ex’s best friend Murphy. The menacing military man has the dark, brooding thing down, but Shayma is certain his temper will lead to trouble—trouble his friends don’t want him in. When Daveed offers to promote her father if she can keep Murph in check while he and Heath secretly search for Aileen, Shayma sees a chance to help…and get back in her father’s good graces. She’s happy to prevent Murphy from getting out of hand. Besides, sometimes it takes a softer touch to get what you want.
Shayma and Murphy’s chemistry may be undeniable, but as the stakes get higher, can Murphy open himself up to love? Or will he be forced to choose between Shayma and finding his sister?
1
Shayma bint Amr Kahlan juggled the numerous Christmas packages in her arms, trying to free up a hand to reach for the door handle. In hindsight, she could’ve planned her day better. Perhaps she should’ve done her shopping after meeting her new friend Melody Ebons-Hascall for lunch, but she’d been too restless to just sit around all morning in her suite at the Plaza. Now though, seeing how she was at a grave disadvantage when it came to her mobility with all her purchases, a simple walk around Central Park might’ve been the wisest choice.
“Here, allow me to help you,” a gentleman said, reaching past her to open the door to Nerai, the trendy Greek bistro Melody had
chosen. A brisk, wintery breeze nipped at her skin and sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t wait to get inside and sip some nice warm tea.
“Thank you so much.” Glancing up at the chivalrous stranger with a polite smile, she took in his crisp suit and striped silk tie. He looked maybe mid-thirties, light brown hair, dark blue eyes. The man would’ve been attractive, if not for the darkening scowl on his face. Without thinking, Shayma took a step back out of self-preservation, not liking the way his posture was stiffening before her eyes or his white-knuckled grip on the door handle. Her psychology degree from Barnard College kicked into high gear. The man looked ready to murder someone, but surely it wasn’t her. She didn’t know him from Adam. Then she noticed his gaze was locked on something behind Shayma.
Slowly, she turned to see another man approaching. This one she knew. Her heartbeat stumbled, fell, then righted itself within the span of seconds. Oh, boy. This was not going to be good. Not at all.
Murphy Coen, Navy SEAL and her ex-fiancé’s good friend, strode toward them with the restrained, lethal grace of a trained killer. Hot anger sparked in his coal black eyes and for a moment, Shayma found herself hypnotized by him—all long legs and lean muscle wrapped in a solid package of sex on a stick. His faded tight jeans and black leather motorcycle jacket gave him a thug look that sent an illicit thrill straight to her girly parts. She’d always been a sucker for a bad boy. Maybe because she’d always tried to be such a good girl herself.
No, no, no. This was not happening.
If anyone was off-limits for her, it was Murphy Coen. He was too slick, too masculine, too close to the mess she’d just gotten herself out of. Besides, if she didn’t do something quickly, he’d be too incarcerated to date anyone other than the guy in the next cell block, if his steel-edged stare at the chivalrous stranger was any indication. She’d seen friendlier looks from the Egyptian protestors toward the Mubarak soldiers back at the Cairo protests in 2011.
In direct opposition to the cold war happening before her eyes, heat and the luscious smells of roasting fresh seafood drifted out from the still-open door of Nerai. Shayma quickly looked inside and the hostess gave her a peeved stare.
Behind her, Murphy was close enough now that she heard the steady pound of his heavy, black boots against the snow-slick pavement, and the suited man finally let go of the door. Fury pulsed off of him in waves and he appeared ready to burst, a vein in his flushed forehead thumping visibly beneath his mottled skin. If she didn’t act fast, an actual homicide might take place right there on the threshold of the bistro. Which wouldn’t do at all, especially since she’d just bought the pretty cashmere coat she was wearing. Blood tended to stain rather badly.
Another unfortunate lesson she’d learned that forbidden summer in Cairo.
Acting on pure instinct, Shayma waited until Murphy was close enough for the fog of his breath on the frosty air to tickle the back of her neck, then she turned suddenly. Bag and packages went flying everywhere and from the periphery of her vision she saw the suited stranger bolt across the street, dodging cars and honking horns as he went. The man ran straight for a black limousine parked at the opposite curb and clambered into the back seat before the car pulled away in a hurry.
“Well, shit,” Murphy muttered, running a bare hand through his windblown black hair. Given his coloring, she would’ve placed his origins in the Middle East, same as her. But Melody had mentioned that Murphy was, in fact, Irish of all things. He certainly had the temper for it, that much was certain. Still cursing under his breath, he crouched in front of her to gather up her scattered belongings, soft faded denim stretching tight over his hard, muscled thighs and perfectly formed butt. Not that Shayma had noticed. Nope. Not at all.
Busy New Yorkers continued to bustle around them in the hazy December sunshine. It was only two weeks until Christmas and the city was aglow with lights and decorations and about as much cheer as one could hope to find in the world’s largest metropolis. Which was to say, not much.
“Watch it, lady,” a portly man who looked like he’d walked off the set of the Sopranos shoved his way out of Nerai and nearly barreled over the top of Shayma. “Idiot tourists.”
Shayma stumbled back a step, only to feel Murphy’s steadying hand against the small of her back. Warm tingles radiated outward from the point of contact before she could tamp them down.
Murphy gave the guy a dark stare, one brow raised. “Apologize to the lady.”
“Huh?” Mr. Rudeness scrunched his nose. “You talkin’ to me?”
“Apologize,” Murphy growled low, the threat evident in his tone. “Last chance.”
Flustered, Shayma shook her head and forced a tremulous smile. “It’s okay. Really. No big deal.”
“See?” the rude man said. “She doesn’t care.”
“I care.” Murphy tensed behind her and Shayma’s breath caught. Seemed she’d averted one disaster only to rush headlong into another. “Say you’re sorry,” Murphy snarled.
Grumbling, the guy gnawed on his toothpick as he turned away. “Sorry.”
After a final glare in the rude man’s direction, Murphy crouched again to grab the last of her packages before shoving them at her one by one. “You shouldn’t let people treat you that way.”
“What way?” she asked, doing her best to hold all of her items again. At least they didn’t look too worse for the wear from her impromptu collision. “I’m pretty sure a thank you is in order.”
“Okay.” He handed her the last bundle then crossed his arms. “I’m waiting.”
“For what?” It was Shayma’s turn to frown.
“My thank you.”
She snorted. “Wait a minute. You’ve got that backwards. You should be thanking me. If I hadn’t stepped in there and stopped you from clobbering that poor man who opened the door for me, you’d be in the back of a police car right now, headed for jail.”
“Wrong.” His dark gaze narrowed. “If you hadn’t stopped me, I would have finally gotten my hands on one of the bastards who kidnapped my sister.”
* * *
“Excuse me?” Shayma asked, her flawless mocha skin somehow still managing to remind him of lush tropical nights despite the frigid temps. “What happened to your sister?”
“Never mind.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and started to walk away. He should’ve brought gloves, but he’d been in such a hurry to catch that EnKor guy when he’d left for lunch that he’d forgotten them back on the rooftop where he’d been stationed all morning. “I need to go.”
“Wait.” She pursed those cherry red lips of hers, making him focus on her mouth again and think of all sorts of improper thoughts about the things that mouth could do for him, where it might drop kisses on his body. Christ, he must be harder up than he thought if he was fantasizing about his best bud’s ex like that. Shayma adjusted all those packages again and gave him an imploring look. “Please. You were right. I should thank you, at least for picking all this stuff up for me. Let me buy you lunch. It’s the least I can do.”
Murphy Coen was really not in the mood for a frou-frou lunch in a fancy bistro, but damn it was freezing outside and he needed a warm place to thaw his fingers out so he could call his buddy Heath and let him know he’d seen Frank Kent, the head of EnKor, and that the guy was still on the loose.
She stood by the doors to Nerai, her gaze darting between him and the entrance, and damn if his good manners didn’t win out in the end. Reluctantly, he walked over and held the door for her then followed her inside the restaurant. Thankfully, it wasn’t nearly as fussy as he’d expected. Busy? Yes. All the white-linen clad tables appeared to be filled. Near the back of the long narrow room was Melody, Daveed’s new fiancée, waving them over. Seemed a bit odd to him that Shayma and Melody were friends, considering one had basically stolen the other one’s man, but then it wasn’t his business to say. Not like he was an expert on love anyway.
He’d learned long ago from his father that women were fine to have a fling w
ith and admire, but they were not to be trusted. That lesson had been driven home for him when his own mother walked out on them. Since then, he’d been fine playing the field and notching his bedpost, never getting too serious, never making the same mistakes his father had all those years ago. And if his life was a bit lonelier for it, well it was a small price to pay for keeping his heart intact.
They walked across the pristine dark hardwood floor to Melody’s table, where the hostess offered to store all of Shayma’s purchases during their lunch and she thankfully accepted. Murphy doubted there’d be enough space for all three of them plus those packages.
Ever the gentleman, he helped Shayma off with her coat—noticing once again that she was tall for a girl, five-ten if she was anything. Being six-four himself, it was hard to find girls that didn’t look as if they’d break in two if he touched them the wrong way. But Shayma seemed like the kind of woman who could handle her own, trim and fit, yet curvy in all the right places. The bright emerald green turtleneck she wore beneath her gray overcoat hugged her hourglass figure and showed off an excellent rack. He wasn’t looking, of course.
Swallowing hard and frowning at the table, Murphy took his seat across from Shayma and beside Mel at their four-seater. A waiter came by and they ordered drinks—tea for the ladies, just water for him. He’d thought about getting an ale, since from the menu it looked like they had an excellent selection of regional micro-brews, but decided against it. He was here to warm up and call Heath, that was it.
“So, tell me what’s happened to your sister?” Shayma said once the waiter had delivered their drinks and departed once more. “If she’s been kidnapped, you must get the police involved.”
“The police won’t help.” Murphy took a long swig of water and checked the layout of the place, noting all the exits and potential threats. Occupational hazard. He’d just finished his third tour with the SEALs and they were strongly encouraging him to re-up for a fourth. Murph wasn’t opposed to going back to the Middle East again—it was where he’d met Heath and Daveed after all and formed those lifelong friendships—but he didn’t want to make a decision until after he made sure his sister Aileen was safe and sound.
All I Want for Christmas is…: The Complete Series Page 13