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  Jamil brought their bags over, and, after a wave of more apologies, they walked off the runway and into another small office, where Bahir ordered a car. He didn’t let go of Nicole’s hand, even as they held their bags on their opposite shoulders. Nicole tried not to relish in the sensation too much.

  A sleek black car pulled up a few moments later, another driver taking their bags and opening the door for them to slip inside. To her delight, Bahir maintained his grip on her hand, encasing it with the other one as they sat side by side on their way to the hotel rooms he’d reserved.

  She realized then, as her heart finally slowed, that he might have been just as afraid as she was. Maybe he wasn’t doing all the comforting, but seeking comfort as well. It was a wild thought. Bahir the billionaire CEO needing his hand held? Well, if there was anyone more willing than her, Nicole didn’t know it. She gripped his hand, tight, and he squeezed hers back in reassurance. They glanced at one another shyly as the island landscape passed them by.

  The hotel was a beautiful series of bungalows, with a center building for checking in and dining. Each bungalow had its own private beachfront space, and it was surprisingly secluded. Bahir finally released Nicole’s hand as he exited the car, and she stamped down her disappointment at the loss of contact. As she stepped out of the car, she took a deep breath of sea air, shielding her eyes from the sun as she gazed out at turquoise waters. Bahir led the way inside, checking them in and handing her a key for her own bungalow.

  “I thought you might like some time to unwind and get ready before the…ceremony,” he said, hesitating on the word.

  Nicole was struck by how the situation felt so wrong and so right at the same time—she hadn’t even been expecting to stay in separate rooms.

  She took the key from him and stared at it before looking back up at him. “What’s the plan?” she asked softly.

  Bahir’s eyes were warm, but there was a touch of trepidation there. Was he worried she wouldn’t go through with it? Part of her wondered the same thing.

  “We can meet at the back of the hotel. They have a small gazebo out there designed for this kind of thing, overlooking the sea. If you could meet me there in two hours, we can have the ceremony.”

  “All right,” she said, unable to keep her voice from shaking a little.

  Bahir took her hands again then, and she held onto them, tight. “Nicole, have I asked too much of you?”

  She gazed up into his eyes, seeing fear and worry and nervousness there. She wanted to comfort him, even as she needed assurance herself.

  “No. I understand your situation, and besides, it’s not like I’m doing it for nothing in return,” she said, and he frowned slightly.

  “Of course, the money,” he said, his voice laced with disappointment.

  Nicole frowned back at him. “I don’t care about the money. I’m looking out for my brother…and you,” she said.

  His frown lifted then, but his eyebrows remained lowered. “You’re looking out for me?”

  Nicole swatted him playfully on the shoulder then, releasing their connection. “Of course I am. We’re friends, right? I mean, in an employer and employee kind of way, but friends nonetheless. I can help you, so why shouldn’t I? After all, this will all be over in a few years anyway, right?” she said, watching is expression carefully.

  “Right,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. He stood a little straighter and smiled at her.

  “You’re a good woman, Nicole. I’m very grateful to have met you.”

  Nicole smiled back at him, even as her stomach continued to do flips.

  “Likewise,” she said, ignoring the voice in her head that reminded her she’d said very much the opposite of that many times over the past six months. Somehow the sleepless nights and endless work days didn’t seem so bad when she looked into those hazel eyes.

  They walked down a sandy path toward their respective bungalows, which were side by side. Nicole turned to her door and waved to Bahir before closing it behind her and pressing her back against it. For a moment, she could breathe. She gazed about her room, which was furnished with a queen-sized bed facing a circular glass doorway that overlooked the sparkling waters of the beach.

  In short, it was stunning. It was also extremely romantic, which made Nicole even more nervous. This wasn’t supposed to be romantic. So why did she want to kiss Bahir so badly? She told herself it was the atmosphere. Everything would go back to normal once they returned to reality.

  Nicole pulled out her phone and turned it on. There was no signal to be found. Sighing, she turned on some music and forced herself to relax, lying on the bed and staring out at the waves.

  After some time, she rose and headed for her bathroom, which housed a stunningly beautiful shower made of slick stone, the showerhead protruding straight down from the ceiling. She washed before blow-drying her hair and twisting it up into something that resembled a style she had wanted for her wedding day. She applied soft beachy makeup before sliding back into her white dress. She decided against wearing shoes. It was a beach wedding after all; she could get away with it.

  Nicole took one last glance at her reflection in the mirror. Her blond hair was twisted up, framing her face in just the right way, her blue eyes shining, her cheeks rosy. Her expression was a combination of excitement and nerves, just like any other bride, she supposed. Nicole took a deep breath, then exited her room.

  There was nowhere to go now but the altar.

  TEN

  Bahir stood underneath the whitewashed gazebo, gazing out at the clear, blue waters of the ocean. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he couldn’t remember a time when he had been so nervous. Maybe when he was about to make the Mortimer deal—that had been a wild ride.

  Still, his mind drifted back to Nicole. It had been doing that a lot, recently. The minute he’d made the decision to marry her, she had burned herself into his thoughts, haunting his dreams. When he’d woken to find her on his lap on the plane, he’d realized then that he wanted her. Badly. He’d tried to keep his mind in control as she huddled against him, needing protection. He wanted to keep her safe, to protect her from all her worries and fears. If only he could do the same for himself.

  Bahir was not an insecure man—he was used to women fawning over him. This was a business transaction, and nothing more. He tried to remind himself of that every time he caught himself looking into Nicole’s stunning blue eyes, his gaze falling on her golden locks. How badly he wanted to run his fingers through that long, beautiful hair. To breathe her in. But none of that was fair to Nicole. She may have told him her incentives weren’t money, but Bahir knew better. Money is what motivated everyone. It was highly unlikely that any feelings she had for him were romantic. They couldn’t be.

  Bahir knew he was impossible to love. He’d known it for a long time, in every lamp thrown at his head, every tear shed by a woman who couldn’t handle his devotion to his work. He would be married to Nicole for a few years, they would remain friends during that time as they worked together, and then that would be that. There was nothing more to it. No need to overcomplicate something that was really so simple, right?

  The Justice of the Peace arrived with two local witnesses, interrupting Bahir’s thoughts.

  “Hello, Bahir, is it?” the man asked. He looked to be in his thirties, probably not much older than Bahir, and wore a warm smile.

  Bahir returned the gesture, holding out a hand for the man to shake. “Yes, that’s me. Thank you for agreeing to perform the ceremony on such short notice.”

  The man’s grin deepened. “It was no trouble. Especially since you tripled the deposit in order to move it up. My daughter will be attending a top-tier elementary school this year, thanks to you.”

  “Happy to help, as you are helping me.”

  “Of course,” the man said, setting up a small stand for his papers at the head of the gazebo. He glanced up past Bahir’s shoulder. “Ah, this must be the lovely bride, now.”

  Bahi
r turned around, and his breath caught in his throat. Nicole was there, staring at him with wide, nervous eyes. The most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, to be honest. She held her hands in front of her, playing nervously with her fingers. Her hair was swept up away from her face, but somehow still framing it perfectly, and her makeup made her eyes sparkle. Bahir swallowed.

  He was in much more trouble than he realized.

  Nicole approached the gazebo, reaching his side. They stared at one another, a million words unsaid as the Justice of the Peace shuffled his papers and cleared his throat.

  “Shall we get started, then?” he asked, his voice kind.

  Nicole looked at him and nodded. “Sure,” she said, her voice a little shaky.

  She smiled shyly at Bahir, and he reached for both her hands. They were in this together, and he wanted her to know that she wasn’t alone. She could never know how much it meant to him that she would do this, just so he could get back to Seattle and continue the work they’d been doing together these past few months. Nicole was a treasure in so many ways, and Bahir wanted to make sure that she knew that.

  The JP started his ceremony, which was brief and impersonal.

  Before he knew it, Bahir was reciting vows. He was promising to cherish and care for Nicole until death did them part, and he watched her as she repeated the words, glancing away as she made the empty promise he’d asked of her. A part of Bahir hated himself for that. No woman should have her wedding taken away from her, replaced by some shady business dealing. He would have to make it up to her somehow. He would think of a way.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Bahir, you may kiss your bride.”

  They hesitated for a moment, staring at one another. Nicole looked scared, but there was something else in her expression.

  Longing.

  He cradled her face in his hand, their eyes meeting until the moment he pressed his lips against hers in a gentle, cherishing kiss. Her lips were soft as they melted against his own, and he found he craved so much more, but he forced himself to pull back, lowering his hand. Her eyes were shining, and he rubbed unshed tears away before anyone was the wiser.

  The JP clapped his hands together. “Congratulations! You are officially married! I’ll just need you both to sign here, to solidify the agreement, and then you are free to honeymoon to your heart’s content.”

  Bahir signed his name on the document. Nicole’s hand was shaking a little as she signed hers underneath. It was official, then. They were now man and wife.

  The JP shook both of their hands and wished them well before he sauntered off with his witnesses, leaving the newlyweds to figure out what to do on their own.

  Bahir cleared his throat. “You look lovely,” he said, and Nicole blushed. He enjoyed making her blush. The color in her face was beyond appealing.

  “You look nice, too,” she said, glancing over his immaculately tailored suit.

  The truth was, Bahir was burning up in the outfit. The gazebo offered some shade, but he looked forward to wearing light, comfortable clothing once again.

  “What should we do now?” she asked, gazing up at Bahir. He tried not to think of what he would like to do in that moment, and instead focused on where they needed to be. The plane would take them home, away from this paradise, and hopefully the temptation to kiss Nicole would dissolve as the real world set back in. It was far too tempting to bask in her company—he needed to clear his head.

  “I suppose we should get changed and head back to the jet,” he said, cringing as he watched her face fall. Did she want more from this marriage than he’d offered? The real question was, did he?

  A man bustled up to them, bowing. “Sheikh Al-Jabbar? There is a man on the phone for you, sir. He says he is your pilot.”

  Bahir sighed. That must be Jamil asking where they were.

  He excused himself from Nicole, grateful to escape her bewitching presence for a moment. He couldn’t think while she was there, looking so breathtakingly beautiful.

  When he got to the lobby he was handed a white phone receiver, which he pressed to his ear.

  “This is Bahir.”

  “Sheikh Al-Jabbar, a thousand apologies! This is Jamil, sir. It would seem the rough landing has broken a piece of the landing gear. They are telling me it will take the rest of the day and possibly tomorrow to fix. I am so sorry, sir!”

  Jamil continued to babble for some time until Bahir finally cut him off.