by Leslie North
Nobody was there. She missed Rami in bed next to her. She pulled the covers up tight and tried not to think about it.
The next morning, she woke up early. The ache had settled low in her chest, and it beat with a wish that would never come true.
Catelyn wished for a second chance.
One more shot to get it right.
She wished it all the way to the airport and all the way through security and all the way to the gate. She wished it while her plane to New Jersey lifted off the runway. And she wished it in the sky while the miles between her and Rami grew wider and wider until finally she was sure they would never be close again.
20
Laura opened the door to the office and narrowed her eyes. “Rami? What’s going on?”
“It’s a long story,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “May I come in?”
She waited a beat before she stepped backward, giving him the space to enter the office. She shut the door behind them and turned to face him. “Catelyn was in the office when I got here at eight this morning, working on the biggest wedding we’ve ever booked and looking like she saw a ghost. She won’t talk about you at all. What did you do?”
He sighed. It had been a process, convincing Lydia not to write him off. It had taken so long to persuade her that he’d almost missed his flight to New Jersey. The entire time the plane was in the air, he’d prayed that Catelyn had gone there instead of…anywhere else in the world. He’d banked on her commitment to her business, and he’d been right.
“It was my mistake,” he admitted. There was no point in lying to Laura about it, or sugarcoating things. Catelyn would tell them eventually. “I—misjudged our relationship.”
“How?”
Daisy appeared at Laura’s side. “It’s not going well,” she said to Laura. “Rami. You’re here.”
“You don’t sound very enthusiastic about that,” Rami said wryly.
“I saw my friend’s face this morning.” Daisy pursed her lips. “What did you do?”
“He ‘misjudged their relationship,’ whatever that means,” said Laura.
“How did you do that?” Daisy crossed her arms over her chest.
“I assumed that it really was all business,” Rami said. “Until the moment I realized that it’s not. That it’s never been about that. There was always more between us, and I—” He shook his head. “I blew it.” He stood up straight, lifting his chin. “And I’m here to set things right. Or at least apologize.”
Daisy’s face softened. “We all make mistakes.”
“We don’t all make mistakes this egregious,” said Laura.
“Oh, it was the most egregious,” Rami agreed. “And I swear, I’d never do it again.”
Catelyn’s friends regarded him steadily.
“It’s up to her,” Daisy said finally. “It’s up to her, what she wants to do.”
Rami opened his mouth to ask her what she meant but at that moment Catelyn’s office door opened and a woman in a black floral wrap dress rushed out, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a wadded-up tissue. She hesitated at the sight of them, then pushed past without another word.
What was happening here?
“Maybe this isn’t the best time…”
“There’s never a perfect time.” Daisy stepped behind him and gave him a shove. “Go.”
* * *
Catelyn didn’t look up from her desk when he stepped into the room. Her head was bent over a sheaf of papers in front of her, and she rubbed idly at her forehead with one hand.
“We’re better off without her,” she said. “The way she’d already been harassing the baker—” She glanced up, and at the sight of him her entire face changed. “Rami.”
She looked exhausted. Rami’s heart twisted at the sight of the bags beneath her eyes.
“Hi.”
Catelyn leaned back in her chair, letting out a breath. “Hi.”
There was a silence between them, during which Rami wanted to leap across the desk and take her in his arms.
“I see you decided to come to New Jersey after all,” Catelyn said. “Very brave, after how you acted at Lydia’s.”
“If I were brave,” Rami said, looking her in the eye, “I’d simply live with the consequences of what I did. I’d live the rest of my life missing you, but I’d let go. But I’m not.” He swallowed hard.
Catelyn studied him.
He took it as an invitation to continue.
“I know I was awful, and I know now that it was needless.”
“It was needless,” she agreed, then pushed herself out of her chair. “I have no idea what you were thinking.”
“I was thinking that our arrangement was a business arrangement, and it was going to end.” Catelyn’s face fell at his words. “That’s what I thought. That’s why I said what I said—to Lydia and to you.”
“That’s the arrangement,” said Catelyn, “but you didn’t have to be so hurtful.”
“I know. And I apologize.”
She considered his words. “Well, I’m glad you’ve decided to apologize. But I think it’s time we called it quits, because—”
“No,” Rami said firmly.
“What?”
“I don’t agree. That’s not why I came here.”
“If you came because you need forgiveness, then you might be waiting a long time.”
“Before you decide that, will you hear me out?”
“You didn’t hear me out at Lydia’s.”
“And that was a mistake.” He stepped closer to Catelyn, facing her from across the desk—a mere three feet between them. “I am sorry, from the bottom of my heart, that I hurt you. I shouldn’t have done that under any circumstance. But especially in light of my…realization.”
“What realization?” Was that hope in her eyes, or was he imagining it?
“The realization that a business deal with you is never going to be enough. Not on its own.” He reached into his pocket and took out a folded paper. “Here’s the signature page of the contract with Lydia. I went back and begged her to put us both on it.”
Catelyn cracked a smile. “That must have taken some doing.”
“She was furious at me for upsetting you. So, yes, it did. I almost missed my flight out because of it.”
“Such sacrifices.”
Rami spread the paper out on the desk. “I want this with you.”
Catelyn gave him a look. “A business arrangement?”
“I want this business arrangement, and everything that comes with it.” He took a deep breath. “I don’t want to repeat your parents’ decisions. I don’t want to split up and regret it—not ever. And I want us both to enter this agreement, because I want so much more with you, and that’s what it represents. I want you to become a citizen of Al-Dashalid. I want to have you by my side, always. I want you to be a member of the royal family in every way possible, because I do need you.” She came around the desk then and stood near, though she still held herself back. “I was wrong,” he said again. “It’s never enough between us. Every minute we’ve been apart has been hell.”
“Say it one more time,” Catelyn whispered.
“It’s never enough—”
“No,” she said. “The other thing.”
Rami laughed. “I was wrong.”
“It’s music to my ears,” she said, and he knew from the smile that spread across her face that she’d forgiven him.
He closed the distance between them and swept her up into his arms, kissing her as deeply as he had that first time. It felt so good. So right. He’d never walk away from her again.
When they surfaced from the kiss, Catelyn sucked in a breath. “I know it’s only been one night, but I missed that so much.”
“I know exactly how you feel,” said Rami, and he nipped at her earlobe with his teeth. He felt the shiver run through her body. “I could never have lived without it.”
“I couldn’t have either,” she said, a hitch in her voice. “I�
��m ready, Rami. I want to be your wife and partner. On one condition.”
“What’s that?” His heart beat faster.
“No end date,” she answered.
“Never,” he agreed. “Never.”
“I love you, Rami,” she said. He thought his heart would burst from joy.
“I love you. More than the sun and the moon.”
He didn’t let her out of his arms for a long, long time.
Epilogue
“You’re up,” said Catelyn, pressing a kiss to Rami’s cheek as he stood at the edge of the stage. Whenever he spoke at events, she came backstage to wish him luck—then hurried back to her seat in the audience. This time was no exception.
They were back in Texas at the scene of the original crime—Lydia’s estate. Only things were so much different now. And better.
From the middle of the stage, Lydia herself waved Rami up to the microphone. He met her there, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “Good luck, Rami,” she said into his ear.
“I’ll need it,” he joked, but he knew he wouldn’t.
It had been a roller-coaster of a year. He and Catelyn had split their time between Al-Dashalid and New Jersey so both of their enterprises had thrived. They’d made several visits to Lydia’s estate, where Lydia had come to know him—and, he hoped, genuinely like him. At any rate, she thought he was good enough at sponsoring STEM scholarships to ask him and Catelyn to set up a similar program for the children in Texas. They’d done just that, and tonight’s cocktail reception was meant to celebrate the kickoff of the program.
Rami smiled out at the faces in the crowd. “Good evening,” he said, and he felt completely calm. He was never nervous to speak when Catelyn was with him, and he saw her now, taking her seat at one of the tables in the front. She was his rock, and he relished the sight of her. Especially her pregnant belly.
Yes—she was pregnant with his child and due in three months. It had been the delight of his life to discover that Catelyn was pregnant, and every day since had been an adventure unlike any he’d ever had in his life. Through it all, she’d kept him on an even keel. Together, they’d worked to slow down. To treasure every moment.
“Time is precious,” he began. “And no time is more precious than that of our children, which is why we’ve dedicated our efforts to making sure that the children of Texas have access to the very best in technology and education,” he said. “All of you have helped us to make this possible.” Catelyn beamed up at him from her seat, eyes shining. “So my wife and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” It felt so good to say that. A year had come and gone, and they were still together. They would always be together. He knew it. “And in the interest of making the very most of our time, I’ll keep my remarks succinct. Thank you again, for all that you’ve done, and a special thank you to my wife, who makes the world go around. Now, please, enjoy the party!”
The room burst into applause, Catelyn first on her feet. Rami didn’t bother to take the stairs—he simply leaped down off the stage, still desperate, even now, to have his hands on her. He lifted her chin and kissed her, right there in front of everyone, so deeply that they drew a wolf whistle.
He broke the kiss and looked down into Catelyn’s eyes. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” he said.
“Than this ballroom?” she said wickedly. “I can think of a few other places.”
“Than by your side.”
“I love you,” Catelyn said simply. They’d said it a hundred times. A thousand. A million more times would never diminish its meaning.
“More than the sun and moon,” he promised, and he meant it with all his heart.
End of The Sheikh’s Blackmailed Bride
Sheikhs of Al-Dashalid Book Two
The Sheikh’s Pregnant Lover, 28 February 2019
The Sheikh’s Blackmailed Bride, 7 March 2019
The Sheikh’s Fierce Fiancée, 14 March 2019
PS: Do you love hot blooded Sheikhs? Then keep reading for exclusive extracts from The Sheikh’s Fierce Fiancée and The Sheikh’s Captive American.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for purchasing my book. It’s hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate my readers. If you enjoyed this book, please remember to leave a review. Reviews are crucial for an author’s success and I would greatly appreciate it if you took the time to review the book. I love hearing from you!
You can leave a review at:
About Leslie
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women's contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.
Find your next Leslie North book visit LeslieNorthBooks.com or choose:
PS: Want sneak peeks, giveaways, ARC offers, fun extras and plenty of pictures of bad boys? Join my Facebook group, Leslie’s Lovelies!
BLURB
Sheikh Issam doesn’t have time to find a bride. He’d rather a sign would appear to him, signaling the perfect woman and save him the trouble of finding her. However, he didn’t foresee the sign being the sister-in-law of his rival nation’s president crashing into the holiest temple in his country. Now, he and the fearsome beauty must find a way to circumvent the ancient religious law that demands her death—or he’ll face war on three fronts.
Mackenzie came to Al-Dashalid with a mission: save the women’s shelter that had taken root in a disputed fort between Al-Dashalid and her brother-in-law’s country. With war growing more likely every day, she doesn’t have time to waste arguing her way out of an unjust death sentence. She’s ready to sit down with Sheikh Issam and make sure he understands that the safety of the women and children in the shelter is more important than his alpha-male posturing.
What Mackenzie isn’t ready for is Issam offering her the perfect out: marriage. Members of the royal family are exempt from prosecution of holy law. He’ll meet his marriage deadline, and she’ll have his ear about the disputed fort and its vulnera
Now if only she could get him to listen…
Grab your copy of The Sheikh’s Fierce Fiancée
Available 14 March 2019
www.LeslieNorthBooks.com
* * *
EXCERPT
Chapter One
Driving himself to the mosque had been Issam’s first mistake.
Second, really. The first mistake had been allowing himself to get sucked into this little piece of royal family drama.
He had just stepped out of the shower when his phone buzzed on the bathroom counter. He’d picked it up without looking, assuming it was one of his men. Issam was in charge, in one way or another, of hundreds of people. He held responsibility for millions, if you counted every person living in Al-Dashalid, not to mention the royal family. And he relished that responsibility. However, it meant that he answered the phone without looking who it was.
It was not one of his men.
“Issam.” His brother Kyril was the oldest and had stepped neatly into their father’s role. He ruled the country with a deft hand, though Issam had seen him chasing his children through the courtyards with enough abandon that one might think he was only a family man. “I need a favor.”
“I already have a contingency plan for the summit, if that’s what you’re calling about.” Kyril was set to meet with leaders from all the provinces in Al-Dashalid the following week, and it was set to be an excruciatingly boring affair during which tempers might run high.
“That’s not it. I need you to go to the mosque.”
“I was at the mosque yesterday, and—”
“Inan needs to be picked up from his class.”
Inan was Kyril’s first child, and at five years old he had already made an impression on the people of Al-Dashalid. He had an infectious smile and an impish personality.
Issam laughed. “Surely this is a job for our father. He’s the one who’s retired. I have meeting
s—”
“Spare me one of the meetings, would you?”
Kyril sounded distracted. In the background of the call, Issam heard Hannah, his wife, calling urgently to him, though he couldn’t make out the words.
“Issam, I have a meeting with a Canadian ambassador in thirty minutes, and Hannah—” He cut himself off. “Can you do it or not?”
Issam had agreed, not wanting to waste further time on a pointless argument. He’d ended the call, then checked his phone. A number of messages waited for him, his father’s among them. He’d decided to take Daya, their mother, for an overnight trip to a beach resort up the coast.
That kind of thing never would have happened before Zafir had his heart attack. It had softened him, made him more aware of how quickly the years were flying by, and he’d turned his attention to his wife. It was all very heartwarming.
Except for the part where he laid down his responsibilities as easily as if they were nothing.
Issam had parked half a block away from the mosque. He leaned back in the driver’s seat, scanning the traffic for any sign of a problem. It was a habit ingrained from being in security all these years. Nothing seemed amiss, so he took out his phone.
The documents waited for him, each in their own file, in a special folder on his phone. And that folder was on Issam’s mind frequently. Too frequently.
It was a collection of dossiers on potential wives.
Issam, like his brothers, needed to be married by the age of thirty to keep his position in the royal family. But unlike his brothers, he wasn’t going to choose a bride based on the heat of a one-night stand or a blog post written halfway around the world. No, he would choose his wife based on cold, hard facts. He wanted a wife who was suitable on paper, and nothing more.