The Sheikh's Reunion Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs 4) by Cara Albany Page A
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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He saw her gaze out across the view. "It's beautiful," she said softly. He saw her features soften as she gazed at the ochre dunes that stretched away into the distance.
Rafiq nodded. "My land," he agreed, a tone of awed appreciation in his voice.
Mia turned to Rafiq and smiled at him. There was that kindness in her eyes that he loved so much. He was pleased that they could both appreciate the transcendent beauty of the desert. Although he knew she had never been to the desert, never ridden across its harsh beauty, he was sure that, if she ever did, its awesome wonder would fill her soul the way it never failed to renew his own.
"You're so lucky," she said.
Rafiq looked at her inquiringly. "Why?" He knew she wasn't just referring to his wealth, his privilege. Mia was the kind of woman who could see beyond those things.
"To be surrounded by so much beauty, so much peace. I can hardly imagine you ever having a miserable day in your life," she said.
Rafiq looked incredulously at Mia. "Really?"
Mia nodded and smiled.
Rafiq sighed. "Well, you'd be wrong if you assume that."
Mia squinted at Rafiq. "Are you serious? How could life here possibly be difficult?"
Rafiq shrugged. "Let's not go into that. Not here. Not now."
Mia nodded and shrugged. He knew he had probably been too harsh, sensed that he had cut off the conversation too abruptly. But, he didn't want to talk of those things that lurked in his past, the darkness that always threatened to spoil things, the menace and danger buried deep in this idyllic place. He knew the secrets of Qazhar, understood the truth behind the facade of wealth, what it meant to have to live up to the obligations of his birthright.
All of that would have been lost on Mia. He saw no need to ruin the simple pleasure she was taking from drinking in the wondrous view from the balcony.
They stood there for a while, easy with each others company, feeling no need to talk. After a while, Rafiq suggested they go have something to eat.
"I think I'd like that," Mia said. "Maybe I just need to eat something. Then I'll feel better."
Rafiq nodded enthusiastically. "After that, if you're up for it, I can give you a tour of the palace."
Rafiq saw Mia's brow furrow slightly and he briefly considered putting the tour off until another time. But, then he saw her smile again. "That sounds nice," she agreed.
Rafiq felt his heart leap just to hear her agree to him showing her one of the things that filled him most with pride. The place he had grown up.
"I'll tell the cook to prepare something," Rafiq said going back inside and heading for the telephone. As he made his way to the desk he supposed that Mia was watching him, and he wondered what she was thinking, speculated about what kind of impression he'd made on her. He hoped it had been favorable.
As he lifted the telephone receiver he turned quickly and caught Mia gazing at him, a curious expression on her face. She quickly turned her attention back to the desert view. He suppressed a satisfied smile. She had been looking at him. He'd been right. And it felt good.
As he spoke to the kitchen and gave them instructions to prepare a light meal for two, Rafiq couldn't help but wonder what else he'd have to do to ensure that Mia's interest in him wouldn't end here.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mia had been right when she'd assumed that she'd feel better after some food. Rafiq had arranged for a delicious meal to be prepared. Mia had been surprised at how quickly it had appeared on the terrace of the dining room in the central part of the palace. Obviously the kitchen staff were well trained.
The day had drawn to a close and the evening had begun to settle around them. Rafiq had been a wonderful dinner companion and had entertained Mia with lots of funny stories about his life in Qazhar and the various people he knew. It seemed he did indeed have the most glamorous life imaginable, Mia reflected after the meal, while waiting for tea to be brought.
They
He saw her gaze out across the view. "It's beautiful," she said softly. He saw her features soften as she gazed at the ochre dunes that stretched away into the distance.
Rafiq nodded. "My land," he agreed, a tone of awed appreciation in his voice.
Mia turned to Rafiq and smiled at him. There was that kindness in her eyes that he loved so much. He was pleased that they could both appreciate the transcendent beauty of the desert. Although he knew she had never been to the desert, never ridden across its harsh beauty, he was sure that, if she ever did, its awesome wonder would fill her soul the way it never failed to renew his own.
"You're so lucky," she said.
Rafiq looked at her inquiringly. "Why?" He knew she wasn't just referring to his wealth, his privilege. Mia was the kind of woman who could see beyond those things.
"To be surrounded by so much beauty, so much peace. I can hardly imagine you ever having a miserable day in your life," she said.
Rafiq looked incredulously at Mia. "Really?"
Mia nodded and smiled.
Rafiq sighed. "Well, you'd be wrong if you assume that."
Mia squinted at Rafiq. "Are you serious? How could life here possibly be difficult?"
Rafiq shrugged. "Let's not go into that. Not here. Not now."
Mia nodded and shrugged. He knew he had probably been too harsh, sensed that he had cut off the conversation too abruptly. But, he didn't want to talk of those things that lurked in his past, the darkness that always threatened to spoil things, the menace and danger buried deep in this idyllic place. He knew the secrets of Qazhar, understood the truth behind the facade of wealth, what it meant to have to live up to the obligations of his birthright.
All of that would have been lost on Mia. He saw no need to ruin the simple pleasure she was taking from drinking in the wondrous view from the balcony.
They stood there for a while, easy with each others company, feeling no need to talk. After a while, Rafiq suggested they go have something to eat.
"I think I'd like that," Mia said. "Maybe I just need to eat something. Then I'll feel better."
Rafiq nodded enthusiastically. "After that, if you're up for it, I can give you a tour of the palace."
Rafiq saw Mia's brow furrow slightly and he briefly considered putting the tour off until another time. But, then he saw her smile again. "That sounds nice," she agreed.
Rafiq felt his heart leap just to hear her agree to him showing her one of the things that filled him most with pride. The place he had grown up.
"I'll tell the cook to prepare something," Rafiq said going back inside and heading for the telephone. As he made his way to the desk he supposed that Mia was watching him, and he wondered what she was thinking, speculated about what kind of impression he'd made on her. He hoped it had been favorable.
As he lifted the telephone receiver he turned quickly and caught Mia gazing at him, a curious expression on her face. She quickly turned her attention back to the desert view. He suppressed a satisfied smile. She had been looking at him. He'd been right. And it felt good.
As he spoke to the kitchen and gave them instructions to prepare a light meal for two, Rafiq couldn't help but wonder what else he'd have to do to ensure that Mia's interest in him wouldn't end here.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mia had been right when she'd assumed that she'd feel better after some food. Rafiq had arranged for a delicious meal to be prepared. Mia had been surprised at how quickly it had appeared on the terrace of the dining room in the central part of the palace. Obviously the kitchen staff were well trained.
The day had drawn to a close and the evening had begun to settle around them. Rafiq had been a wonderful dinner companion and had entertained Mia with lots of funny stories about his life in Qazhar and the various people he knew. It seemed he did indeed have the most glamorous life imaginable, Mia reflected after the meal, while waiting for tea to be brought.
They
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