The Sheikh's Reunion Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs 4) by Cara Albany
Authors: Cara Albany
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Adult, series, Billionaire, Bachelor, multicultural, Arranged marriage, best friend, Sheikh, second chance, reconciliation, society, reunion, older brother, tycoon, Forever Love, Single Woman, Qazhar Sheikhs, Three Brothers, Love Search, Summer Fling, Cousin, Crisis Looming, Captivated, Forgotten, Hurtful History, Forgiven Past
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irritated.
"Well, you were. In fact, I don't think I've ever known a woman as innocent as you," he said.
Now she was starting to look angry, Rafiq said to himself.
"What exactly are we talking about when we mean innocent?" she asked. Her gaze was penetrating, searching for an instant response.
Rafiq racked his brain for a way to rephrase that word. It had too many meanings, and he was sure that the one that immediately came to mind did not apply to Mia. He looked at her closely and saw the color rush to her face. Her brows had knitted into a tense ridge. Suddenly she looked uneasy and took a few steps away from Rafiq.
"I mean, you were full of enthusiasm for life. Everything seemed to excite you. Thrill you," he started to say but she continued to move away from him.
Rafiq saw Mia nod wordlessly as she continued to move toward the other side of the room.
Rafiq followed her and made his way to her side. It was true. He had said something to upset her. He could see the irate expression on her face. She couldn't disguise the fact.
Rafiq figured he was starting to be able to read Mia pretty well. In the forty-eight hours since they'd come together again, he was beginning to notice all the small reactions, the tiny responses that revealed so much. It was as if he was already able to read her thoughts, interpret her body language. And he did enjoy reading her body like a book, devouring the details in the search for hidden truths.
Rafiq saw Mia's face suddenly flush and for a moment he thought she looked unsteady on her feet. She gasped.
Rafiq reached out and took Mia's elbow, his previous desire instantly replaced by an urgent concern for her well-being. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Mia reached up and rubbed the back of her hand on her forehead. "I don't know whats come over me," she murmured.
"You need some fresh air," he replied releasing her and striding toward the doors that led to the balcony. He thrust the doors open, letting in a rush of fresh air. He turned and saw that Mia was still having trouble. She'd reached out to a chair and was holding on tight, trying to steady herself.
Rafiq made his way quickly to Mia and took her arm. She let him lead her to the balcony and in a moment she was standing by his side. He heard her draw in a deep breath and raise her gaze to the brilliant blue sky. If he'd had his way, and if he'd been sure his judgment was sound, Rafiq would have drawn Mia close to him, just to make sure she was secure on her feet, of course. He tried to rationalize that to himself, but for some reason, it didn't feel like the right thing to do. It wasn't the right moment for such a gesture, he told himself.
Mia swayed slightly, and for a moment she shifted quickly, gently colliding with him. But then she seemed to realize what had happened and she just as quickly restored the distance between them both, reaching out and taking hold of the ornately carved balustrade.
"Better?" he asked.
Mia nodded slowly without saying anything.
Rafiq gave her all the time she needed. The truth was, he was savoring the opportunity to be out under the azure sky and bright sun.
Beyond the balcony he could see the distant expanse of the glorious desert that he loved so much. Glancing at Mia, he realized this could all be overwhelming for her. Being thrust into a veritable land of wonder must seem intimidating to someone unaccustomed to such a riot of sensory impressions.
He'd found the interior of his room suddenly confining, especially with the questions about his childhood lingering. He realized they still knew relatively little of each others past. Maybe that was something for another time, he said to himself. Something to look forward to.
Right now, all that mattered was that Mia get a chance to regain her composure, reclaim her natural calm poise. What had caused this sudden shift? All Rafiq could think about was their conversation about Mia's innocent nature. How could that have been upsetting to
"Well, you were. In fact, I don't think I've ever known a woman as innocent as you," he said.
Now she was starting to look angry, Rafiq said to himself.
"What exactly are we talking about when we mean innocent?" she asked. Her gaze was penetrating, searching for an instant response.
Rafiq racked his brain for a way to rephrase that word. It had too many meanings, and he was sure that the one that immediately came to mind did not apply to Mia. He looked at her closely and saw the color rush to her face. Her brows had knitted into a tense ridge. Suddenly she looked uneasy and took a few steps away from Rafiq.
"I mean, you were full of enthusiasm for life. Everything seemed to excite you. Thrill you," he started to say but she continued to move away from him.
Rafiq saw Mia nod wordlessly as she continued to move toward the other side of the room.
Rafiq followed her and made his way to her side. It was true. He had said something to upset her. He could see the irate expression on her face. She couldn't disguise the fact.
Rafiq figured he was starting to be able to read Mia pretty well. In the forty-eight hours since they'd come together again, he was beginning to notice all the small reactions, the tiny responses that revealed so much. It was as if he was already able to read her thoughts, interpret her body language. And he did enjoy reading her body like a book, devouring the details in the search for hidden truths.
Rafiq saw Mia's face suddenly flush and for a moment he thought she looked unsteady on her feet. She gasped.
Rafiq reached out and took Mia's elbow, his previous desire instantly replaced by an urgent concern for her well-being. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Mia reached up and rubbed the back of her hand on her forehead. "I don't know whats come over me," she murmured.
"You need some fresh air," he replied releasing her and striding toward the doors that led to the balcony. He thrust the doors open, letting in a rush of fresh air. He turned and saw that Mia was still having trouble. She'd reached out to a chair and was holding on tight, trying to steady herself.
Rafiq made his way quickly to Mia and took her arm. She let him lead her to the balcony and in a moment she was standing by his side. He heard her draw in a deep breath and raise her gaze to the brilliant blue sky. If he'd had his way, and if he'd been sure his judgment was sound, Rafiq would have drawn Mia close to him, just to make sure she was secure on her feet, of course. He tried to rationalize that to himself, but for some reason, it didn't feel like the right thing to do. It wasn't the right moment for such a gesture, he told himself.
Mia swayed slightly, and for a moment she shifted quickly, gently colliding with him. But then she seemed to realize what had happened and she just as quickly restored the distance between them both, reaching out and taking hold of the ornately carved balustrade.
"Better?" he asked.
Mia nodded slowly without saying anything.
Rafiq gave her all the time she needed. The truth was, he was savoring the opportunity to be out under the azure sky and bright sun.
Beyond the balcony he could see the distant expanse of the glorious desert that he loved so much. Glancing at Mia, he realized this could all be overwhelming for her. Being thrust into a veritable land of wonder must seem intimidating to someone unaccustomed to such a riot of sensory impressions.
He'd found the interior of his room suddenly confining, especially with the questions about his childhood lingering. He realized they still knew relatively little of each others past. Maybe that was something for another time, he said to himself. Something to look forward to.
Right now, all that mattered was that Mia get a chance to regain her composure, reclaim her natural calm poise. What had caused this sudden shift? All Rafiq could think about was their conversation about Mia's innocent nature. How could that have been upsetting to
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