The Sheikh's Kidnapped Bride (The Sharqi Sheikhs Series Book 3) by Leslie North Page A
Authors: Leslie North
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made you split with me over the last few months.”
Carolyn was shocked and tucked it into the pocket of her skirt, “Thanks. Mind my asking what changed your mind?”
“I realized while I was trying to find your replacement that you and Kerri are the real reason the diner has survived these last few years. I also realized that if I wanted to continue being successful I needed to start doing things differently.”
Carolyn smiled at him and nodded her head, “I’m glad. This place looks much better and we’re even attracting families now.” She pointed towards the family she’d just finished serving and watched him smile.
“Thank you,” he told her and then he turned to leave. “Oh,” he stated, turning back, “You can leave early. I overheard you telling Kerri about some auction you wanted to attend. Now you have money to spend, so go do it.”
Carolyn grinned, “So I do. Thanks. Kerri,” she hollered out, waving at the woman, “I’m outta here. I’ll catch you later this weekend.”
“Hey, Carolyn,” Ken called to her.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
She dropped her apron off in the dirty laundry basket and grabbed her car keys. It seemed she had time and resources to attend the auction after all. Today was definitely turning out to be a good day!
Chapter 16
Carolyn stopped by the bank and cashed Ken’s guilty conscience check and once she’d arrived at the hotel where the auction was being held, she was glad she had. As she stepped into the large ballroom, she was amazed at how many items were going to be auctioned off.
The bidding was set to begin soon, so she signed in and received a paddle with her own number on it. Hugging it to her, she looked around at the tables closest to the bidding area, but soon the auctioneer was urging everyone to find their seats. She’d not found the beads that had been advertised, but she decided to watch the first few items and see just how the auction was going to be handled and then go search them out and decide if she really wanted to bid on them.
She took a seat near the back and then watched in amazement as the auctioneer brought up the first item for bid. Muffled whispers filled the room at the shock of the mystery item, it was a stuffed teddy bear and upon closer inspection, she recognized it as being the same teddy bear she’d seen in Mahil’s closet.
She glanced around, but didn’t see either him or Ahmed. What’s the bear doing in this auction? She listened as the auctioneer attempted to lure someone into bidding on it, but no one seemed interested. When he began his final countdown, Carolyn found herself raising her paddle, agreeing to pay one hundred dollars for the worn-out child’s toy.
“Sold!” the auctioneer stated to the room and then he moved on to the next item up for bid.
Carolyn watched the bear leave the stage when suddenly she felt a presence behind her and a deep voice whispering in her ear, “Thank you, Cara.”
She spun around to see Mahil standing there, looking so good she could only look at him and wish they were anywhere but a crowded ballroom full of potential bidders.
“Come with me,” he suggested softly and she left her chair and allowed him to pull her out of the room. He continued walking her towards the hotel foyer and then to the private elevators that took them straight up to the penthouse suite.
When the elevator doors closed, he turned to her, “I wasn’t sure if you would come. Not after the way I treated you the last time we were together. Not after the things I said to you.”
“Mahil, I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”
The elevator doors opened up to the penthouse apartment and he escorted her inside before answering. “I’ve done some soul searching since we last talked. Much, actually. You and Ahmed were right. I’ve been trying to atone for Lyla’s death by saving everything I could, but the pain of losing her never goes away.
Carolyn was shocked and tucked it into the pocket of her skirt, “Thanks. Mind my asking what changed your mind?”
“I realized while I was trying to find your replacement that you and Kerri are the real reason the diner has survived these last few years. I also realized that if I wanted to continue being successful I needed to start doing things differently.”
Carolyn smiled at him and nodded her head, “I’m glad. This place looks much better and we’re even attracting families now.” She pointed towards the family she’d just finished serving and watched him smile.
“Thank you,” he told her and then he turned to leave. “Oh,” he stated, turning back, “You can leave early. I overheard you telling Kerri about some auction you wanted to attend. Now you have money to spend, so go do it.”
Carolyn grinned, “So I do. Thanks. Kerri,” she hollered out, waving at the woman, “I’m outta here. I’ll catch you later this weekend.”
“Hey, Carolyn,” Ken called to her.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
She dropped her apron off in the dirty laundry basket and grabbed her car keys. It seemed she had time and resources to attend the auction after all. Today was definitely turning out to be a good day!
Chapter 16
Carolyn stopped by the bank and cashed Ken’s guilty conscience check and once she’d arrived at the hotel where the auction was being held, she was glad she had. As she stepped into the large ballroom, she was amazed at how many items were going to be auctioned off.
The bidding was set to begin soon, so she signed in and received a paddle with her own number on it. Hugging it to her, she looked around at the tables closest to the bidding area, but soon the auctioneer was urging everyone to find their seats. She’d not found the beads that had been advertised, but she decided to watch the first few items and see just how the auction was going to be handled and then go search them out and decide if she really wanted to bid on them.
She took a seat near the back and then watched in amazement as the auctioneer brought up the first item for bid. Muffled whispers filled the room at the shock of the mystery item, it was a stuffed teddy bear and upon closer inspection, she recognized it as being the same teddy bear she’d seen in Mahil’s closet.
She glanced around, but didn’t see either him or Ahmed. What’s the bear doing in this auction? She listened as the auctioneer attempted to lure someone into bidding on it, but no one seemed interested. When he began his final countdown, Carolyn found herself raising her paddle, agreeing to pay one hundred dollars for the worn-out child’s toy.
“Sold!” the auctioneer stated to the room and then he moved on to the next item up for bid.
Carolyn watched the bear leave the stage when suddenly she felt a presence behind her and a deep voice whispering in her ear, “Thank you, Cara.”
She spun around to see Mahil standing there, looking so good she could only look at him and wish they were anywhere but a crowded ballroom full of potential bidders.
“Come with me,” he suggested softly and she left her chair and allowed him to pull her out of the room. He continued walking her towards the hotel foyer and then to the private elevators that took them straight up to the penthouse suite.
When the elevator doors closed, he turned to her, “I wasn’t sure if you would come. Not after the way I treated you the last time we were together. Not after the things I said to you.”
“Mahil, I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”
The elevator doors opened up to the penthouse apartment and he escorted her inside before answering. “I’ve done some soul searching since we last talked. Much, actually. You and Ahmed were right. I’ve been trying to atone for Lyla’s death by saving everything I could, but the pain of losing her never goes away.
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