The Sheikh's Pretend Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 2) Read online

  Ella exhaled a disbelieving grunt. She saw Raz's eyes narrow, but he continued. "We have made significant changes to the provision of health and education for all of our people. No-one is excluded who wishes to be part of the great changes which have taken place in this country in my lifetime."

  "Changes which have benefitted your family," Ella said.

  "Of course. There is nothing wrong with that," he said. His brows furrowed. "Or do you disapprove of that also, Ella?"

  Ella turned away, desperate not to look into his penetrating eyes. "That's not for me to judge."

  "Oh, but I think you do, Ella. I think you do judge myself and my family's interests, very much. It seems to be something that outsiders feel comfortable doing. Deciding how we should live our lives."

  "That's not it at all," Ella stated firmly. "It's just that you have obligations."

  "And it is your job to hold me to account for those obligations?" he asked, raising a disbelieving brow.

  Ella watched him lean back in his chair. His shoulders were wide, his chest firm looking beneath the clean-cut dark suit. He clasped his large hands across the front of his narrow waist. He was waiting for an answer from her; waiting for her to justify her interference in his affairs.

  Before she had entered the room Ella had decided it would be best to take the lead in this discussion. After all, it was a negotiation. She was sure the Sheikh hadn't appreciated the publicity the media coverage of the border problem. It was her job to expose the kind of thing which was happening miles away on the coast of his kingdom. People were suffering, and Ella had devoted so much of her life to fighting for justice, that she knew she couldn't simply turn her back on the plight of those people.

  "The world is a smaller place than it was, Mr. Al Kharif," Ella said.

  "And the world believes it has an interest in my kingdom. Is that right?"

  Ella drew in a deep breath. This wasn't going the way she had planned. She had expected that the threat of continued media exposure would force the sheikh to comply with her demands. Instead, she had been taken aback by his sheer presence; the forcefulness of his determination to defend his position. Perhaps she had underestimated him.

  As if sensing her unease, Raz leaned forward and placed his elbows on the desk. "Tell me about yourself, Ella," he said quietly. His eyes fixed upon her and she felt something flutter softly, and unexpectedly in her middle.

  She frowned. "What do you mean?"

  Raz waved a hand casually. "You've come a long way to see me. Where do you hail from?"

  "I haven't come to see you, as you put it," she declared, a note of defiance in her voice. "I have many other people to see while I am here."

  Not responding to what she had said, Raz glanced across at his laptop. "I understand you are from Philadelphia," he said off-handedly. The sound of Ella's home city was odd on his tongue. His eyes flickered back to her, a question in them.

  Ella shifted in her seat and tucked one heeled foot behind the other. She didn't want this conversation to turn personal. Her own history was irrelevant in all of this. He had no right to ask her anything about her background.

  "I prefer not to talk about myself," she said firmly. She stiffened in the chair.

  Raz leaned his head to one side. "And I prefer to know who has come all this way to pry into my affairs."

  Ella felt her face color. "I have not come to meddle in your business," she blurted out. "If that's how you feel, why don't you have me thrown out?"

  Raz smiled, which only served to infuriate Ella even more. "Now, that would give the TV people real fodder to attack me with, wouldn't it? The sight of a distressed charity representative being thrown out of my kingdom. Why do I feel that would suit you to a tee, Ella?" he said, his lip curling into a sardonic smile.

  He was playing with her, Ella realized with a sudden start. The man thought he had her in the palm of his hand, and he was toying with her.

  Ella sucked in a calming breath and peered at Raz. "I am here as a representative of my employer," she said raising a brow. "The charity, as you so cynically call it."

  "I understand charity," he declared.

  "You do?" she demanded.

  "It is all about aiding the vulnerable. Offering a helping hand to those less capable of looking after themselves and their loved ones. However, unlike in the West, we in Qazhar have our own version of charity," Raz said, giving Ella a firm look. "It is called tradition. We never turn our backs on those of our people who are in need."

  Ella was surprised by the vehemence of his last statement. He actually sounded as if he meant what he had said. Her first impressions of Raz had been that he was a man in his late twenties who was used to all the good things in life. Everything had been laid on a plate for him. She could see that in his demeanor. She could imagine the life of privilege he had lived; the education; the palaces; the connections and, last but not least, the women. She thrust her attention away from that intrusive thought.

  "Then why have you turned your back on the border tribe?" Ella asked.

  Raz's brows furrowed. "As you are already aware, our investigations into your allegations have proven nothing substantial..."

  "But, the videos," Ella interrupted. "You can't possibly deny the evidence."

  Raz waved a hand to the side as if pretending he hadn't heard her. "Videos can be faked."

  "Faked!" Ella exclaimed. "Are you accusing me of lying?"

  "I am not accusing you of any such thing. Merely that you may have been misled."

  "By whom?"

  Raz frowned and stood up from his chair. Ella watched him turn and look out the windows at the cityscape below. Until this moment, she hadn't realized just how tall he was. But now that had his back to her she could see how long his legs were, how narrow his hips, how wide his chest. Raz had the absolutely perfect proportions of a man who lived an active life. She could imagine him swimming, playing polo, riding through the desert. His body was one that had been sculpted by an outdoor life, not by days spent behind a desk.

  "I have enemies, Miss. Brant," Raz said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  "Enemies?" she exclaimed. The word sounded somehow out of place within the tidy, clean confines of the luxuriously appointed office.

  Ella heard Raz sigh, and when he turned to look at her, she could see the sudden gravity in his gaze. "There are people who would like to see me fail. They would like to see my family fail, and lose control of our resources; lose the influence we have with our neighbors. And they will do almost anything to achieve those ends."

  Raz moved slowly around the side of the table. Ella watched him move, momentarily transfixed by the smooth certainty of his presence. Raz came to the front of the desk and leaned back against it. His long legs stretched out by the side of Ella's chair. She caught a hint of his scent, a mixture of lemons and something sweet.

  Ella looked up at Raz. Once again she was struck by the new solemnity in his gaze. "This is not a place for the unwary," he said.

  "I know my way around. I've been here before, or have you forgotten that?"

  "You may think you understand my kingdom, Miss Brant, but there are many things which could pose a danger to you."

  Ella felt her jaw tighten, and she flashed a hard look at him. "Are you threatening me, Mr. Al Kharif?"

  Raz paused, and Ella watched his hands grip the side of the table. His knuckles whitened, and he dipped his head down slightly. "I would never threaten a woman," he declared. "That is beyond the pale."

  Ella knew in an instant that she had touched a raw nerve with him. "Then what exactly are you saying?"

  Ella saw Raz's nostrils flare like those of a wild desert horse. He looked so feral at that moment, so primal that it almost took her breath away.

  "I think you may be best advised to take the first plane out and return to America," he said. Immediately upon saying that he leaned back and sighed. Ella felt he had struggled to get the words out, almost as if he hadn't really wanted t
o say them.

  "I won't be going anywhere," Ella stated. "I just got here. And I have some more meetings lined up."

  Raz's brows rose, and he grunted in apparent frustration. "With whom?"

  Ella frowned. "Why would you want to know that?"

  "I know who it is advisable to be seen with, and who is not."

  "I'm used to taking care of myself," Ella declared raising her chin and fixing Raz with a look.

  Raz's eyes narrowed. "I have my own security detail. They are most efficient. If you insist on staying, perhaps they could accompany you to whatever meetings you have lined up."

  "And let you find out who I'm meeting with? I don't think so," Ella said firmly.

  "It is not my intention to pry. Merely to ensure your safety while you are a guest in my kingdom."

  There was that tone again, Ella thought. The magisterial expression which seemed to come so naturally to him.

  Ella pushed back the chair and stood. Even on her heels, she still had to look up into his face. His gaze met hers and there was a fresh defiance in his eyes, as if he was enjoying the combat between them.

  "I can see we're not going to come to any agreement on how we may proceed with your predicament in the north," she said.

  "Is that how you see it? A predicament."

  "We'll see how it looks after I've talked with Mr. Al Jafhar."

  Immediately she saw Raz's eyes widen, and she was sure his face paled slightly. "Karim Al Jafhar?"

  "Yes. Your neighbor, I believe. He agreed to meet with me while I'm here."

  Ella leaned back slightly. She heard Raz draw in a deep breath. The muscle at the corner of his jaw twitched, and his lips tightened into a thin line.

  "You will learn nothing from him," Raz stated bluntly. "You have no need to speak with him."

  "Really? I'll be the judge of that," she said firmly.

  Ella saw Raz's shoulders tighten. He glanced at the ceiling briefly, then peered into her eyes. "Karim isn't a man you should be consorting with," he said.

  Ella gasped. "I'd hardly describe it as consorting," she said. "He's years older than me. Not my type," she said trying to pass it all off as a joke. But, she saw how seriously Raz was taking the subject.

  "You are hardly likely to get the truth from him. He is a liar and not to be trusted."

  "While you, of course, are to be trusted," Ella said defiantly once again. She was beginning to savor the sensation of winding Raz Al Kharif around her little finger.

  Raz drew in a deep breath, his chest broadening until he suddenly seemed huge in front of Ella. "I am a man of my word. If I say something, it will be believed. If I make a promise, then I will keep it, no matter what."

  Once again Ella knew that she had touched a raw part of Raz, tugged on a piece of him that was his true self. It seemed that she had learned so much about this almost complete stranger in such a short time.

  "And what exactly are you promising me?" Ella asked.

  Raz sighed, and his body relaxed. A forced smile creased his lips. "If you insist on remaining in Qazhar, then I will make it my duty to ensure that your stay here is a pleasant and safe one."

  "Is that all?" Ella asked raising a brow.

  Raz met her gaze with a rebellious grin. "For the moment," he said slowly.

  Ella felt her breath catch in her chest. In spite of her best efforts at remaining composed, she could feel her heart beat faster. Were those butterflies in her stomach?

  Ella considered his suggestion for a few moments. Perhaps it did make sense that she, at least, allow Raz to provide some protection for her. Ella was alone in a strange kingdom. She knew how to take care of herself and had faced plenty of scrapes in her travels. But, the situation in Qazhar was fraught with possible dangers. She'd heard of charity workers getting into all sorts of trouble.

  Ella nodded. "I agree."

  Raz's face brightened.

  "But on one condition," Ella said.

  Raz frowned. "What is it?"

  "That I only be accompanied to meetings. All other times I must be left alone. The last thing I want is to be followed around."

  Raz cocked his head to one side. "Understandable. You are an independent woman, are you not?"

  Ella narrowed her eyes. "Are you mocking me, Mr Al Kharif?"

  Raz grinned. "Not at all. I'm merely happy that I now know you will be in safe hands while you are in my kingdom."

  Ella paused, shocked by the sudden implication of what he had just said. "And whose hands will those be?" she asked determined not to let him think she hadn't caught his drift.

  Raz said nothing in reply. He merely gave Ella a knowing look and moved away from the table. "Let me get you a car, to take you back to your hotel," he said pressing a button on the intercom on his desk.

  Ella listened to him instruct his secretary. She watched as he bent down, speaking into the intercom.

  What had she gotten herself into? She'd known that coming here would throw her into a maelstrom of conflicting interests.

  However, there was one thing she hadn't banked on during the entire trip to Qazhar. And that was, becoming the very obvious focus of intense interest of one of the most attractive men she had ever seen.

  Ella had just placed herself in the hands of the Sheikh of Qazhar.

  CHAPTER THREE

  After Ella had left the room, Raz had to sit down and desperately try to recover his composure. Meeting the feisty American had left him shaking. Adrenaline coursed through his system in the wake of his encounter with the bold, determined and breathtaking woman.

  Raz had to admire her spirit. It had been a long time since a woman had affected Raz like that. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, recalling her full figure; her long legs shimmering with their nylon covering; her captivating, even features; the deep pools of her eyes; the luscious thickness of her hair.

  Raz tried to swallow but found his throat tight with a sudden surprising desire.

  Ella Brant.

  More than once during their meeting, he had wanted to reach out and touch her hair; he'd had to restrain the urge to lean close to her and feel her heat. He had seen how she had reacted to him. It wasn't the first time he had provoked such a reaction from a woman. But, somehow, with Ella things were different.

  Never had he been so wrong about a woman. He felt mildly ashamed of his gross misconceptions before meeting her. There was no doubt that Ella had a good heart beating beneath those firm, beautiful breasts. The same breasts Raz had tried so hard to avoid looking at as she had sat opposite him, defying him, battling with him.

  Raz smiled as he recalled her proud, defiant poise as she had glared at him, challenging his every attempt at humoring the spunky American, who had so boldly walked into his life.

  Raz realized that his heart was racing unnaturally fast. He inhaled deeply, reacting to the sudden silence of the room. There was still a slight hint of Ella's perfume hovering in the air around his desk. He relished it and couldn't contain the urge to smile.

  Ella Brant had proven herself to be more than capable of facing Raz down in an argument. Raz couldn't recall the last time he had gone face-to-face with a woman as he had just done with Ella. It had been exhilarating!

  He thought of her accusations against himself. Was she right? Was there indeed a problem in the border area of his kingdom about which even Raz wasn't aware? What if she was onto something?

  Raz decided he would have to look into things more closely. But, there was still one thing that worried him. Sheikh Karim Al Jafhar's involvement meant that it was possible Ella could be unwittingly putting herself in danger. If that was the case, then Raz's offer of protection now seemed urgent, even critical to Ella's safety. It would do his kingdom's reputation no good if a woman like Ella came to harm while a guest in his country.

  Raz realized that the offer of protection which he had made initially for purely selfish motives might actually be vital if Ella was to pass her time in Qazhar safely.

  Provid
ing protection for Ella had assumed the proportions of a duty, as well as a very welcome pleasure. Right at this moment, Ella would be safely on her way back to her hotel in the back of one of his armor-plated limousines driven by one of his most trusted bodyguards. It was the least she deserved.

  Ella Brant was a woman who must be protected, Raz said to himself. Even if it meant it would be Raz himself would take on the honor of doing the protecting.

  ****

  Ella sat in the back seat of the limousine and gazed out through the dark tinted windows at the passing streets. She allowed herself to sink back into the soft leather seats. The fresh smell of the leather filled the interior of the limo.

  The tall, barrel-chested, dark-suited driver hadn't spoken to her since meeting her at the front door of Raz's office. And now, Ella felt even more alone, with the glass partition that separated her and the silent chauffeur. The only sound inside the limo was the low hum of the engine. Ella had never encountered such luxury before. Most of her life had been lived in modest circumstances. Her only exposure to wealth had been at fund-raising events, where the affluent class had turned up to carry out their duty and donate.

  Ella ran her hand over the smooth leather of the seat. This was a whole different world. She could see how seductive wealth could be. And, speaking of seductive, her mind drifted back to her encounter with Raz Al Kharif. The oil Sheikh of Qazhar.

  Ella drew in a deep breath and sighed. What did she make of him? He was undoubtedly attractive. She had been taken aback by the sheer animal quality of his physical presence. Ella's experience with men had been limited, to say the least. It wasn't something she liked to talk, or think, about too much.

  Raz was nothing like the men Ella had ever dated. But, then again, how could he be? He existed on a different level of existence. His wealth gave him access to so many things Ella couldn't even dream of having in her life.