The Sheikh's Contract Bride Read online

  Above her, the sky was a light cotton candy blue, the clouds wispy and pink as the sun made its way beyond the horizon. Somehow, in the middle of the wedding, she had lost track of time.

  Her heels clicked on the floor as she made her way to the front door, where she usually met with Amir before they filmed anything together outside of the house. She didn’t have to wait long. He stepped into the main hallway, having changed into a slightly less elaborate suit, but between the two of them, they still looked perfectly formal.

  “You look…” Amir trailed off, his eyes devouring her.

  She imagined her gaze was just as hungry. Then again, she could be wrong about him. Perhaps Amir looked at every woman that way—he did have a playboy reputation, after all. There was no way of knowing. He had managed to keep her perfectly in the dark about any feelings he might have toward her, which was just as well. They had agreed to that, after all.

  “You look good, too. Now, let’s get going. I’m famished. Getting married can work up quite the appetite,” she said with a grin.

  “You can say that again,” he agreed, meeting her at the door and pulling it open.

  Together, they made their way to his private garage, and he selected a black sports car for the night. Kaye slid into the passenger seat, feeling like a million bucks as Amir sat beside her. He had put on some kind of cologne, and the scent was intoxicating. Kaye allowed herself to breathe it in, her senses tingling as he pulled out of the drive and headed in the direction of the ocean.

  They drove past the Santa Monica Pier, the flashing lights of the Ferris wheel glistening against the backdrop of the shimmering sunset ocean. Kaye rolled her window down and took a deep breath of the sea air. It was a scent she would always cherish—it smelled like home, to her.

  Thinking of home made her frown.

  “What is it?” Amir asked, glancing over at her.

  “Nothing,” she replied, a little too quickly.

  “Come now, we’re married! You can tell me things,” Amir said.

  His tone was jovial, but there was hesitation behind it. They were navigating in uncertain terrain, and Kaye found some comfort in the fact that he clearly didn’t know how to manage it fully, either.

  “I was thinking about my mom and dad,” she admitted, her voice low.

  Amir released a breath.

  “You’re going to work things out with them, Kaye. They’re your parents and they love you. I saw that, even in the short time we were at their house. It took my parents some time to forgive me for leaving, too, but you see where we are now.”

  “I didn’t get a chance to talk to your parents after our little ceremony,” Kaye said, regret filling her voice.

  “It’s all right. I managed to say goodbye before they left. While they’re here, they wanted to do some sightseeing, but I imagine they’ll just be dining with some celebrities and then going to bed.”

  “They know some famous people?”

  Amir shrugged.

  “They’re royalty. Celebrities like to entertain royalty. Besides, there’s a few folks around that have filmed in Al Rayyan before and became friendly with my parents. It’s a little hard not to.”

  Kaye smiled, thinking of his parents’ warm demeanor and easy humor.

  “That is very true,” she agreed.

  Amir pulled the car up to an exclusive-looking, ocean-side restaurant. The gentle lap of the waves echoed across the beach as Amir and Kaye exited the car, a valet quick to drive it off. When they stepped inside the chic establishment, the hostess smiled at them.

  “Amir, good to see you.”

  Kaye laughed.

  “Is there anyone you don’t know?” she asked, gazing up at him.

  He smiled down at her before looking back at the hostess.

  “Hey, Ali. This is Kaye. We’re working on a show together.”

  “Ooh, something exciting, I hope!”

  “I think it’ll be the next big thing, for sure. Until then, can I have my table?”

  “Of course you can. Right this way.”

  Ali pulled a pair of menus from beneath her stand and led the way to a private outdoor terrace overlooking the sea. The sun had recently set, the sky an indigo purple as stars slowly poked through. Kaye sat across from Amir as she stared out into the night.

  “A bottle of your best red, please,” he said, and Ali nodded before heading back inside.

  She was quick to bring it, pouring a healthy glass for each of them before leaving the bottle behind. Amir lifted a glass.

  “To…” he said, hesitating.

  Kaye lifted her own glass.

  “To success,” she said, and he nodded, clinking his glass to hers.

  “To success.”

  They stared at their menus, the silence between them filled with an ocean’s worth of unspoken words.

  “So, I take it you’ll be getting the steak,” Kaye mused, perusing the menu.

  “How’d you know?”

  “Just a lucky guess,” she replied, her lip twitching.

  She took another sip of wine as the waitress arrived, and they both ordered steaks, just as they had so many times before.

  “Of course, it will be only mediocre, compared to the glory of your cooking,” Kaye joked, and Amir sat back in his seat, taking a sip from his own glass as he watched her over the rim.

  His eyes were so stunning, Kaye felt her heart melt. She should have looked away, but instead, she indulged herself, allowing herself for one moment to live the life of the character she played.

  “Of course it will. I am the master, after all.”

  “I’ve still yet to find a reason to disagree with that,” she said, gazing back out at the ocean for the sake of her own sanity.

  Their meal arrived in record time, and Kaye found herself in comfortable conversation with Amir as the wine flowed freely. He had always been so easy to talk to, and she was laughing at one of his jokes when the dessert menu came round, and they each ordered something different.

  As a delicate chocolate mousse was placed before her, Kaye’s eyes lit up.

  “This was a good life choice.”

  Amir stared down at his cannoli with a frown.

  “Well, now I have regrets,” he sighed.

  “Have some of mine. I don’t mind,” she offered.

  Amir leaned forward over the table. His face was an inch from hers as he reached for a spoonful of the mousse, looking up.

  “It’s nice to share such a treat with my new wife,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.

  Kaye held her breath. In that moment, he seemed to realize what he was doing, and he leaned back in his seat with a frown.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “You didn’t do anything,” she said.

  “I know. It’s just, when I’m with you…”

  Every instinct in Kaye’s body wanted to embrace him. She wanted to tell him that she had fallen for him hard, and that they could tell the show to screw it and be together for real. Then, she thought about her own livelihood, and that of all the people she had grown to care about on set—people whose jobs were on the line if she was careless about the contract she’d agreed to.

  “We have to remember not to violate our contract. This project means too much to both of us, and to everyone involved. It’s important to remember that,” she reminded, as much to herself as to him.

  “Yes,” he agreed, his voice distant as he seemed to fight his own inner battle.

  Kaye knew then that with her inhibitions down, there would be nothing stopping her from acting on her feelings if they were to go home together. With a sigh, she stood.

  “I should go,” she said.

  “Home?” Amir asked, rising.

  She held up a hand to stop him.

  “Back to my apartment. I don’t think it’s a good idea to stay at your place tonight. I think it would be better to get a little space. There’s too much risk involved.”

  Amir stared up at her as if h
e wanted to protest, to say something to change her mind. Instead, he sat back and nodded.

  “You’re right, of course. Have a great evening, Kaye.”

  “I’ll see you at the airport,” she said, and he nodded.

  “Goodnight.”

  Walking away, Kaye called for a cab, jumping in as soon as it pulled up. She wondered how they would get through filming their honeymoon, having to pretend to be madly in love, all while contractually obligated to ignore any real feelings that might be blooming between them.

  The cab pulled up in front of her little apartment building, and she thanked and tipped the driver before making her way back into the tiny room that was hers. Her life for the past few weeks had been such a dream, and would be again when morning came. Until then, she had to remember the life that was waiting for her when the dream came to an end.

  Chapter Nineteen

  When Kaye opened her eyes the next morning, she thought she heard a car honking outside. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes, thinking about how she was going to survive a romantic paradise with Amir over the next few days. It was getting harder and harder to resist him, and based on his own behavior, she wasn’t exactly alone in that regard.

  She wondered if they could write up a new contract.

  Her doorbell rang, interrupting that thought, and she walked with bare feet over to the speaker.

  “Yes?” she asked.

  “It’s me. Pack your bag—I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  Her heart fluttered at Amir’s voice, and she smiled into the speaker.

  “It better be good.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up. Just something to make our lives a little more comfortable.”

  “More comfortable than living in a mansion?”

  “Are you packing while you talk?”

  “No.”

  “That’s what I thought. Get a move on, wifey. We’ve got work to do.”

  Kaye sighed dramatically.

  “Fine,” she said, but as she threw together a suitcase, she couldn’t stop grinning.

  When she stepped outside, Amir was there with another sports car, waiting impatiently. She tossed her bag into the narrow back seat as she slid inside, Amir starting the car.

  “So, what is this? I thought getting married yesterday was surprise enough.”

  “Really? I thought that part was pretty clearly laid out.”

  “Well, yeah, but no one told me it would be yesterday.”

  “Communication, I tell you,” Amir muttered, staring ahead as he drove out of her neighborhood and onto the freeway.

  Before she knew it, Kaye recognized the private airport they had driven to weeks before. When she glanced at Amir, he shrugged.

  “We’re going a little ahead of the crew. I’m tired of flying commercial, and I figured you’d make pretty decent company.”

  Kaye repressed a grin as he tried to cover up something a little deeper than that. Instead, she followed him obediently up the steps and into his posh private jet, the two of them picking a row and nestling in for a lengthy flight.

  She thought about chatting with him, but she decided against it. Instead, she found a book in his plane’s tiny library and pretended to read for the entire trip, stealing glances at him from time to time. Besides Amir offering her a glass of champagne, he also said very little, though every now and again, she caught his eye when she looked up.

  It was going to be a very tough honeymoon.

  Kaye managed to read little bits and pieces of the book in her hand, but she found herself more often than not staring out the window, wondering what the future held. Beneath them, a dark blue ocean flew by.

  Before she knew it, brighter, azure waters appeared below as the plane lowered toward the tropical island of Barbados. She barely felt the wheels touch down as they taxied along the private airstrip, Amir’s phone immediately going haywire as service returned. Glancing down at it, his face grew somber.

  “Thought it would take him a little bit longer to have a meltdown,” he mumbled, answering the call. “Merle,” he said, his tone cautious.

  Even from the other side of the plane, Kaye could hear the man’s rant.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Amir?”

  “Saving you money, last time I checked,” Amir retorted.

  “I don’t care what you think you’re doing! There’s a strike at LAX and the entire crew is stranded here with nothing to film! They’re in negotiations now, but we’re wasting time!”

  It seemed as though Merle were a broken record personified. It was always about wasting time with him. Or wasting money.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Do let us know when you make it out. We’ll hang tight until then. Goodbye.”

  Amir hung up the call, Merle’s voice screaming until the very end. He looked up at Kaye and shrugged, his eyes bright.

  “Looks like we’re stranded in paradise.”

  “Oh, darn,” Kaye replied, crossing her arms and grinning at him.

  The cabin door was opened, and a car was already waiting for them on the tarmac below. Kaye found she also preferred Amir’s style of travel, convenient as it was. They rode side by side in the back of the sleek black town car, approaching a beautiful island resort on the beach. A bellboy moved quickly to take their bags as Amir went to book them a pair of rooms, tossing her a key.

  “Looks like we’re side by side,” Amir said as they walked down a hallway, stepping in front of two hotel doors.

  “Looks like it,” she said.

  “Would you like to go for a walk?” he asked.

  Grateful for the chance to spend more time with him, Kaye readily agreed. She had been right to be worried. As the sun sank toward the horizon, all she could think about was being close to Amir. In fact, she had thought of little else since he’d arrived on her doorstep.

  “I’d love to. Let me just put my bag down, and I’ll meet you outside.”

  Amir nodded as they entered their separate rooms. The hotel suites held a tropical scent, the faint aroma of coconut permeating the air as she stared out at nothing but white sand, palm trees, and crystal-clear blue water. Leaving her suitcase where it was, she headed right back out again, only to find Amir waiting for her.

  She smiled at him as they fell into step together, walking slowly along the length of the endless beach. They walked on in silence for some time, listening to the gentle rush of the waves. After a time, the sky began to darken as they turned and headed back in the direction of the hotel.

  There was so much to say, so much that couldn’t be said. Still, Kaye couldn’t help herself any longer.

  “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you over these past few weeks, Amir.”

  They reached their rooms, standing just outside as he faced her.

  “Getting to know you has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” he said.

  “It’s such a shame we’re forbidden to show affection for one another off set. If we were allowed…”

  She let the statement dangle, wondering what he would do with it.

  “If we were, perhaps I might be able to do this,” he said, cupping her chin in his palm and capturing her lips with his own.

  After months of forcing her emotions down, Kaye finally allowed herself to give in to her passions. Amir deepened the kiss, pulling her closer as he pressed her to him, their bodies molding like puzzle pieces in a perfect fit.

  Lifting her into his arms, he opened his hotel room door and closed it behind them, lowering her gently onto his bed. Finally, after dreaming of him for so long, Kaye gave up all the rules, and together, they made love until the moon rose far above them, falling asleep in the early morning hours.

  Kaye was nestled against Amir when his cellphone went off, startling them both awake. Reaching for the phone, Amir took one look at the screen and groaned. He pressed the answer key.

  “What, Merle?”

  “Don’t you ‘What, Merle’ me! The strike ended last night—you’ll be
happy to know that we’ve landed and can get back on schedule. Call Kaye and get to the main lobby. I want to start filming immediately!”

  With that, Merle ended the call. Kaye glanced up at Amir, lifting an eyebrow.

  “Another day, another dollar, huh?”

  He grinned down at her, but made no other move to touch her as he stood and dressed. Taking his cue, she did the same, grabbing her key from her back pocket.

  “I’ll see you out there?” she asked.

  She hated how vulnerable she felt. They had finally spent a night together, but with that call, reality had crashed right into their world of no consequences. She hoped he wasn’t having regrets.

  She certainly wasn’t.

  “Sounds good,” he said.

  When he didn’t say anything else, Kaye made a hasty exit, not wanting to be awkward. Her stomach roiled as she wondered if what happened between them was just a regrettable blip, something that Amir would do his best to forget about as they moved on with production. Her heart sank at the thought.

  She made quick work of dressing, hoping her acting skills would serve her well as they moved to film with the crew. When she entered the lobby, Jesse was there, waiting with a red-faced Merle.

  “About time,” Merle grumbled, but Jesse ignored him.

  “Good to see you, Kaye. Let’s get some images of you doing some contemplative thinking on the beach, then we’ll do some one-on-ones.”

  “Okay,” she said, casting a glance over to where Amir was.

  He was being pulled in another direction, likely for his own personal interview. Kaye tried not to feel disappointed as they went their separate ways. She did her duty, playing the giddy bride as she spoke to the cameras, and the morning whiled away. They headed back to the lobby, where Amir was chatting with a few of the other crew members.

  When they walked in, his eyes burned into hers. He excused himself, making his way over to her.

  “Hey! Can I show you something over here real fast?”

  Kaye nodded, confused as he pulled her into a side hallway. Pressing her back against the wall, he pressed his forehead against hers.