The Sheik's Kidnapped Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

an impatient horse seller.
    “Exactly,” he told her. “Instead it was Malik who was severely punished. For three weeks, he was only allowed to leave his room for his lessons, and he had to apologize for ‘borrowing’ our grandmother’s mare in the first place.”
    Khalil set his brandy down on the coffee table in front of the long sofa and leaned back in his seat. “I remember speaking with him while he was being confined. He told me that when he was finally king, he would create a law that would make grandmothers answerable to their grandsons, especially when the grandsons were crown princes. When Fatima found out, she was most unimpressed. She informed Malik that first he had to grow up to be king, but at the rate he was making mistakes, that wasn’t going to happen.”
    Dora laughed. “Let me guess. Now Malik and his grandmother are extremely close.”
    “Of course. We all adore her. Our mother died when we were quite young. She raised us. She is an extraordinary woman.”
    His large, dark eyes took on a faraway expression. Dora knew that he was no longer in the large
New York
suite, but had instead returned to El Bahar . What was it like there, she wondered? That mysterious land of which her employer spoke. Was it as wonderful as she imagined?
    “Will Malik be king?” she asked.
    “When our father dies. Malik is a good leader, if a little imperious and dictatorial.”
    “That must run in the family,” she murmured as she took another sip of her drink.
    Khalil stared at her, then raised his eyebrows. “I know you’re not speaking of me.”
    “Of course not.” But she couldn’t keep the smile out of her voice.
    “It is simply because you are a Western woman,” he informed her gravely. “You’re too used to having your way in all areas of your life. Had you been raised correctly, you would not think ill of me.”
    “Raised correctly?” She laughed. “I don’t want to think about what that means. And while we’re on the subject, I don’t think ill of you. I’ve very much enjoyed working for you. The time has gone by very quickly.” She couldn’t believe there were only two more days until he returned to El Bahar . “I’ll be sorry when you’re gone.”
    She spoke the last sentence without thinking, then wondered if she’d made a mistake. In the past twelve days she’d gotten to know her employer. He was imperious and dictatorial, but he was also fair. At times he treated her as if she were a computer or a robot, but she didn’t mind that. He was never hurtful—the way Gerald had been. Khalil didn’t comment on her appearance, make snide remarks, or speak down to her. When he asked her opinion, he expected her to have one, and then he listened as she spoke. If the matter involved something strictly “American” more often than not, he took her advice.
    He was also a rich, handsome prince and prime female fantasy material. She tried to ignore that information, but occasionally she forgot and found herself getting lost in his eyes, or the perfect tailoring of his suit.
    “You have been most efficient,” he told her. “I’ve been told that I expect too much of my staff, but you’ve never once complained. I appreciate that, along with all your hard work.”
    She felt herself flush slightly at his compliment. “You’re just grateful not to have to deal with Bambi,” she said teasingly.
    He didn’t return her smile. “I believe I would have been forced to strangle her. It would have created an international incident.”
    He shifted on the sofa, until he faced her. Several floor lamps cast a warm glow in the room, leaving only the corners in shadow. Despite the late hour and the fact that they were virtually alone, she wasn’t the least bit concerned that Khalil would try anything. Aside from the fact that a fabulously handsome, wealthy prince wouldn’t notice she was a woman rather than a piece of office furniture, she knew in her heart that he was nothing like Gerald. He