Chosen by the Sheikh by Kim Lawrence Page A

was saying he wondered if there was not a grain of truth in it. Also, this young woman had the most expressive face he had ever seen, and he found it entrancing to watch the expressions flicker across her beautiful face.
    â€˜He worries about you, he worries about his brother, and as dear as Khalid is, I don’t see why he gets to swan around playing the playboy while Tariq does all the hard work. Responsibility would do him some good. I’m sorry, I know it’s none of my business—and you brought me here to ask me something…?’
    She angled a questioning brow and waited tensely for his response, wondering what the penalty was for telling the King a few home truths.
    â€˜I did. But you have answered all my questions, Miss Devlin.’
    She was worrying about this enigmatic response when he smiled and asked if she would like some refreshment. As it clearly wasn’t really a request, Beatrice smiled nervously and took a seat.

CHAPTER TEN
    W HEN he had told Beatrice that his father would agree to the marriage Tariq had never doubted his ability to make good his promise.
    But he’d been wrong. His father’s attitude was totally inflexible. When reasoned argument and persuasion had failed he had resorted to moral black mail, asking the King if he was willing to sentence his son to a life without the woman he loved at his side.
    â€˜He will love again.’
    â€˜For some men there is only one love, one soul mate.’
    His father had responded to this pressured retort with scornful laughter. There were no cir cum stances, he had told Tariq, that would make him agree to this marriage between Beatrice Devlin and Khalid.
    He’d then said some things about Beatrice that had made Tariq forget the respect his parent was due and resulted in an exchange of harsh words, after which Tariq had stormed out of his father’s apartments.
    He headed directly for the hospital. His intention was to explain the situation to Khalid and promise his brother he would do everything in his power to change their father’s mind, but that it might take some time.
    The consultant caught up with him just as he was about to enter Khalid’s room. When the medic was finished, he condensed the report.
    â€˜So there will be no long-term consequences for Khalid?’
    â€˜None,’ the doctor agreed cheer fully.
    Tariq expressed his gratitude and entered his brother’s room. Khalid was sitting in a chair, a phone pressed to his ear as he looked out at the bustling city street far below.
    Tariq closed the door quietly and prepared to wait until his brother had finished speaking.
    â€˜And I love you, Emma, you know I do, and soon we will—Hey! What—?’ He cried out as the phone was snatched un ceremoniously from his grasp. ‘Tariq! I didn’t hear you…’
    â€˜But I heard you , little brother,’ Tariq said as he dropped it in the jug of iced water at the bedside. ‘Who,’ he asked, in a voice like cold steel, ‘is Emma?’
    Khalid’s eyes fell from his brother’s hot, accusing glare. ‘I didn’t know you were there…’
    â€˜Who is she?’
    â€˜Oh, all right, then,’ he muttered, glaring defiantly at his brother. ‘I’m sick of all this pretending anyway. Emma is the girl I love.’
    Inside Tariq rage flared hot, but outside he was as cold as ice. ‘Yesterday you loved Beatrice.’
    â€˜When you meet Emma you’ll love her too, Tariq.’
    Tariq’s jaw clenched. ‘I do not transfer my affections quite so easily as you appear to,’ Tariq observed sardonically. ‘And are you planning on marrying her too? Or are you planning on starting up a harem?’
    Khalid flushed at the sarcasm. ‘If you must know,’ he yelled in a driven voice, ‘we’re already married. We had a civil ceremony. And Emma is having my baby. And if you and Father don’t like it, too