Читать книгу The Sheikh's Secret Heir - KRISTI GOLD - Страница 7
ОглавлениеAs head administrator of the royal palace in the small, autonomous country of Bajul, Kira Darzin had grown accustomed to being summoned on a moment’s notice by the king. But as she stood in the study’s open doorway, waves of shock washed over her when her gaze came to rest on the undeniably handsome man seated near the desk.
With his neatly trimmed near-black hair, perfectly tailored steel gray suit, and dark Italian loafers, he could have been any successful billionaire. His masculine hands resting casually on the red brocade chair’s arms, and the slight lift of his chin, gave him the appearance of an average arrogant autocrat. Yet, when Kira zeroed in on Tarek Azzmar’s dark eyes, the power in his intense stare threatened to sweep her away, as it had already done one fateful night not so long ago.
She saw unmistakable confidence. She sensed deep secrets. She felt the pull of provocative danger. A place she had been before both with him, and with another man from her past. A place she vowed to never revisit.
She also noticed that his somewhat regal air made it seem as if he was the one holding court in the private office that belonged to Rafiq Mehdi, the official monarch of Bajul, who was oddly absent. However, Mr. Deeb, the king’s personal assistant, stood not far away. When Deeb greeted her, his words sounded tinny to her ears as Tarek rose to his feet, revealing well over six feet of prime male.
With effort, Kira reclaimed enough calm to pretend she had never associated with the Moroccan mogul beyond a few social gatherings. A bald-faced lie. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Azzmar,” she said through a polite and somewhat forced smile.
“The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Darzin.”
His emphasis on the word unearthed several images in Kira’s mind. Hot kisses. Naked bodies. One night of unbelievable passion. And six weeks since that experience, not one word from him.
That sour thought thrust her back to the business at hand. “What might I do for you two gentlemen today?”
Tarek presented the sexy half smile that had melted her resistance like warm chocolate from the first moment they’d met. “Perhaps Mr. Deeb should explain.”
The balding, middle-aged assistant stepped forward and pushed his wire-rimmed glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “Actually, I am here representing His Excellency. Both he and Mr. Azzmar request your assistance.”
She saw planning an elite soiree in her future. Lovely. “I’m sorry, but I was on my way out for an appointment when I received the message to stop by here. I didn’t bring the upcoming schedule with me. If you’ll give me a date, I’ll begin planning the event immediately.”
“This does not involve an event,” Tarek said. “It would require your attention for ten days, perhaps even two weeks.”
She couldn’t imagine any project that would last so long if it didn’t involve a special occasion or state dinner. “Do you mind giving me specifics?”
“Mr. Azzmar needs a personal assistant,” Deeb began, “and King Mehdi has offered your services until a replacement can be located.”
Surely they weren’t serious. She glanced at Tarek and, from the all-business expression on his striking face, saw he was quite serious. Regardless, she would not bend to his will and instead, mentally ran through a litany of reasons to decline, minus the most important one—she was too vulnerable when it came to his charisma. “Considering my responsibilities with my position at the palace, I’m afraid that’s impossible. Prince Zain, his wife and children will be returning in three days. And next week, Prince Adan’s sister-in-law and Sheikh Rayad will be joining them. Someone has to prepare for their arrival.”
“We have resolved that issue,” Deeb added. “Elena has agreed to assume your responsibilities until you fulfill your duty to Mr. Azzmar.”
She had a difficult time believing Elena, former governess and biological mother of the youngest Mehdi prince, Adan, would agree to such a thing. “She hired me as the director of the household so she could retire. It doesn’t seem fair to ask this of her.”
Deeb scowled. “Our king gave the order and Elena still adheres to his directives.”
Kira stifled a retort involving what the king could do with this directive. “And I have no say in this matter?”
Before Deeb could respond, Tarek took a step forward to address the royal attaché. “Might I have a word alone with Ms. Darzin?”
Deeb nodded. “Of course. I will return to my office should you require further assistance.”
As soon as Deeb left out the door, closing it behind him, Kira turned to Tarek and frowned. “Would you please explain why you didn’t reject Rafiq’s request in light of what happened between us?”
He leaned back against the desk and folded his arms across his chest. “I made the request, not the king.”
Unbelievable. “Why would you want me as your glorified secretary with all the other candidates available among the palace staff?”
“No secretarial work will be involved, and no other candidates intrigue me as you do.”
Kira crossed the room to the window, putting much-needed space between them and stared a few seconds at the mountainous terrain before facing him again. “You mean no other candidates have slept with you, correct?”
“I do not recall any measurable sleeping that night.”
Neither did Kira, but she did remember one important fact. “True, and then you suddenly disappeared. I assumed you had moved back to Morocco.”
“What would the logic be in that since I have recently completed my estate here in Bajul?”
She supposed her hypothesis hadn’t made much sense. Then again, neither had letting their relationship go so far during the time when the royal family had been in the States for their cousin Rayad’s wedding to Piper Mehdi’s sister, Sunny. If she’d only been focused on her job, they wouldn’t be having this conversation.
“I just found it odd you haven’t been around the past six weeks.” And somewhat hurtful, not that she dared admit that to him.
“Actually, I have been traveling abroad.”
She almost asked if the broad had a name but recognized that word probably wouldn’t be a part of his vernacular. “Backpacking in Europe?”
That earned her a confused look. “Completing a multimillion-dollar business venture.”
Just what he needed—more money. Kira bit back the snide comment for the time being. “Regardless, I still feel it’s wise that we not spend any more time together than necessary, particularly for two weeks. If you need my help finding someone who can assist you, I’m willing to begin looking tomorrow.”
He pushed off the desk and approached her slowly, his intense eyes trained on hers. “You would defy your king’s order?”
If Tarek came any closer, she might agree to anything. “I’m sure he would understand if I explained why I can’t accommodate you.”
His smile was somewhat devious and patently sensual. “You would tell him that we made love on the marble floor in my ballroom?”
That prompted several more images that Kira forced away. “Of course not. First of all, we had sex with no love involved. Secondly, no one needs to know that I had an interlude with a palace guest unless I want to lose my job, which I don’t. I’ll simply tell the king my schedule is too full.”
He stood in front of her then, a scant few inches between them. “Surely you do not believe Rafiq Mehdi will accept that explanation.”
Not exactly. “All I can do is try. If he rejects my excuse, then I’ll think of something else.” A spontaneous trip to Canada to visit her parents seemed like a viable explanation.
Tarek moved closer, reached out and tucked one side of her chin-length hair behind her ear. “Your eyes fascinate me. The dark blue color is extraordinary, yet it suits your overall beauty.”
Here we go again. His charming tactics had sent her straight into trouble the last time, but she couldn’t force herself to move away from him. “You can stop the compliments now. You’ve already had your way with me.”
“I wish to have my way with you again.”
His motivation had become all too clear. “Is that what this is all about?”
Fortunately, he dropped his hand, causing her to release the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “No. I sincerely do need an assistant I can trust. You are intelligent and personable and highly regarded by the Mehdis. However, I see no reason not to enjoy each other’s company when you come with me to my private seaside escape.”
That almost rendered her speechless. Bajul was located in the mountains, not a sea in sight. “You plan to take me out of the country?”
“Yes. Cyprus, where I am preparing to launch my latest venture, an exclusive resort. That is why I require your assistance.”
Kira couldn’t ignore visions of beautiful beaches, romantic sunsets and midnight swims. She also couldn’t quell her suspicions. “What exactly would my role be?”
“I would like you to approve the final decisions on the resort’s kitchen layout, as well as the interior design. You could also advise the hotel manager on hiring staff.”
“My forte isn’t interior design.” Even if it was somewhat of a passion.
“Are you not overseeing the palace restoration that will begin in a few months? And do you not plan every palace event, including the food and décor?”
Clearly he knew all about her upcoming assignments. Too bad she couldn’t say the same about his motives. “Yes, but—”
He pressed a fingertip against her lips. “Please know I will not force you to come with me. If you decide you cannot tolerate my presence for a mere two weeks, then I will seek other avenues. I do request you give my offer some thought.”
She’d do nothing but think about it from this point forward. And then she would tell him no. “When do you need my answer?”
“By tomorrow morning. My plane will be ready to depart in the afternoon.”
With her thoughts spinning round like a carousel, Kira checked her watch. “Fine. I’ll let you know as soon as possible. Right now I have somewhere I need to be.”
His features turned stern. “Do you have a new paramour?”
“Doctor’s appointment.” As if that was any of his business.
Now he appeared concerned. “Are you not feeling well?”
Fatigued and edgy, but well enough to function. “Just a follow-up visit for a slight case of the flu I had a week ago,” she said as she brushed past him and headed to the door. But before she could leave, Tarek called her name in a deep, chill-inducing voice.
She sighed and turned toward him again. “What?”
“Perhaps you need relaxation to recover from this flu. Cyprus is the premier place to do that very thing.”
“You wouldn’t worry I might expose you?”
He hinted at a smile. “You have already exposed me and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
That deserved an eye roll, which she gave him. “You’re not helping your cause, Tarek. I won’t agree even to consider accompanying you unless you promise to halt the innuendo and the thinly veiled seduction.”
He tried on an innocent look, but it failed to impress her. “I can only promise that I will try. I do promise to make the journey worth your while.”
His methods of making that happen concerned her most of all. “I’ll keep that in mind. At the moment, I have to go.”
He ate up the space between them in a matter of seconds, took her hand and kissed it. “Until we meet again.”
Don’t hold your breath, she thought as she hurried into the hallway. Wisdom dictated she refuse to go with him anywhere, especially to an exotic locale where she could forget her worries, and most likely would forget herself.
She needed to remember he was exactly the kind of man she’d strived to shun. And after tomorrow morning, when she’d tell him he could find someone else to do his bidding, she would have absolutely no reason to speak to him again.
* * *
“You’re pregnant.”
Balanced on the edge of the uncomfortable exam table, Kira tugged on her skirt hem and stared blankly at Dr. Maysa Mehdi, presiding queen of Bajul and resident village physician. “Excuse me?” she asked, her voice barely a croak.
Maysa scooted the rolling stool closer and flipped her lengthy dark braid back over one shoulder. “When I ordered your lab work last week, I had them add a pregnancy test, in light of your symptoms. That test was positive and all the rest were normal.”
Kira pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes against the sudden headache. “This can’t be happening.”
“I’m afraid it is, and it appears you are not pleased with the news.”
Kira opened her eyes and exhaled slowly. “I’m shocked. First of all, I’ve been on the pill for years. Secondly, I’ve been exposed only one time in several years.” And some exposure it had been.
Maysa opened the chart resting in her lap and scanned the text. “I notice here you have not requested a refill on your birth control in two months.”
Guilty. “I suppose I’ve been so busy I basically forgot. And I had no real need for them.” Until Tarek Azzmar slipped into her life like a thief of hearts and destroyed her self-imposed celibacy.
“Perhaps you were so busy that you forgot to take your pills prior to the time of your lovemaking?” Maysa asked.
Guilty again. “Yes, but only for two, maybe three days tops.”
“That is all it takes, Kira.”
She suddenly felt like an absolute fool. An unequivocal idiot. “Believe me, I never planned to be with this man.”
Maysa smiled. “At times, plans go awry and mistakes are made. How will this man feel about the pregnancy?”
She had no clue how Tarek would react, or if she would even tell him. “I truly don’t know. In reality, I barely know him beyond a few social functions. It was something neither of us expected to happen.”
“If he is a man of honor,” Maysa began, “he will accept the responsibility of raising a child.”
If only she could claim he was a man of honor, but all signs pointed to the contrary. “I suppose only time will tell.”
Maysa closed the chart and came to her feet. “I suppose you will learn soon enough. In the meantime, you’ll need to take better care of yourself, including getting more rest.”
As much as Kira had always dreamed of having a child, reaching that goal now hadn’t figured into her immediate plans, especially when considering her duties at the palace. “I have no idea how to balance work and this pregnancy. And I can’t imagine what my parents will say when I tell them.”
Maysa frowned. “They would not welcome a grandchild?”
“Since my mother’s Canadian and open-minded, she would be fine with it. My father, on the other hand, is from Bajul and quite the traditionalist. He would not be pleased to know his unwed daughter is giving birth.”
Maysa rested a hand on Kira’s shoulder. “If you determine the timing is not right for you, perhaps you should consider adoption.”
Since she was an adopted child, a fact few people knew, she had mixed feelings about that option. “I don’t know if I could hand over my baby to strangers.”
“Some believe that is the most unselfish thing a woman can do for her child, myself included. Regardless, you do not need to decide immediately. I am going to prescribe prenatal vitamins that you should begin taking.”
When Maysa turned to the counter and began scribbling on a prescription pad, Kira slid off the table and pressed her palm against the small of her aching back. At least now she knew why she’d been so tired and slightly nauseated. At least now she could explain the absence of her period. At least now she could formulate a plan for the future and decide if it would include the father of her baby.
It suddenly occurred to her that perhaps she should reconsider Tarek’s offer. Not only would she get some rest, but two weeks might be enough time to determine if he wanted children, and hopefully whether he would be father material. If neither applied, she could decide where she would go from there.
As soon as she returned to the palace, she would seek out Tarek Azzmar and ask a few more questions about his proposition. Only then could she establish if spending more time with him would be worth the risk.
* * *
“Miss Darzin is here to see you, sir.”
Tarek glanced up to find the young woman he’d recently hired standing in the doorway to his private study. He hesitated, surprised by the announcement. “Send her in, Adara.”
After the servant disappeared, Tarek set the quarterly reports on the teakwood end table, rose from the club chair and waited for what seemed an interminable amount of time before Kira appeared, looking as beautiful as the first time he’d noticed her across a crowded reception hall.
After tugging at the hem of her blue blazer, she swept one hand through her chin-length golden-brown hair and surveyed the room. “It’s nice to see you’ve completed all the décor.”
“It is very nice to see you.”
“Thank you,” she said with cool formality. “Everything looks extremely different from the last time I visited.”
The visit Tarek had not forgotten. The tour of the newly built, empty mansion had ended with a passionate encounter on the floor of the grand ballroom. “I still have some work to do on the third floor suites. How was your appointment with the physician, if you do not mind my asking?”
“I received a clean bill of health.” She then strolled into the room and breezed past him to study the volumes of books on the shelves behind his desk. “You have very eclectic tastes when it comes to novels. I had no idea you were so interested in true crime.”
He slid his hands into his pockets and approached her slowly. “Did you come here to approve my reading material?”
Finally, she faced him. “Actually, I came here to discuss the trip to Cyprus. I have a few more questions before I make my decision.”
His optimism rose when he thought she might have reconsidered his proposition. “What would you wish to know?”
“You’re certain we would be gone only two weeks?”
“Unless unforeseen issues arise. Granted, you would be required to stay only that length of time. Should you decide to depart earlier, I agree to accommodate your request.”
She folded her arms beneath her breasts and attempted a smile. “Then you don’t plan to hold me hostage against my will?”
Her assumption angered him somewhat. “I would never hold a woman captive.” At least not in the literal sense.
“That’s somewhat reassuring.”
“Do you have more questions?”
“Yes. I still have concerns about your motives.”
He could not fault her for those concerns. “Are you worried that I will attempt to seduce you? Perhaps persuade you to make love with me on my private beach, in my private pool or in my rather large steam shower?”
She pointed a finger at him. “That’s exactly what concerns me most.”
He opted to feign ignorance. “As it was when we made love the first time—”
“The only time we had sex,” she interjected.
He hoped to change that soon, yet he would use gentle persuasion, not coercion. “As I was saying, I would never force you to do what you do not wish to do. And I assure you, my motives involve business, not necessarily pleasure, although I am not averse to that.”
“You’ve made that quite clear, and that worries me,” she said as she brushed past him and claimed the chair he had recently vacated.
Following her lead, he dropped onto the leather sofa across from her. His eyes followed the movement of her hand as she ran her palm down her thigh to smooth her skirt. He immediately imagined that hand on his body and then, with effort, forced the fantasy away. “Rest assured, if you join me, I will maintain my distance if that is what you desire.”
“That’s what I desire,” she stated, yet her faltering gaze led Tarek to believe she was not at all certain.
“I will respect your wishes.” Unless their incontrovertible chemistry dictated otherwise.
She appeared unconvinced. “Tarek, you’re a brilliant businessman, but you’re still a man. You possess two brains and if the situation arises, so will your secondary brain. You would have to maintain a great deal of control.”
He would not attempt to debate her on that point. “You will have your own quarters at your disposal and you will have to endure my presence only during our business dealings.”
She began to twirl the silver band on her right ring finger. “Look, I enjoy your company and I have since we first met. I’m just not in the market to enjoy it too much again.”
Feeling satisfied over the admission, he inclined his head and studied her. “Then you did enjoy our encounter?”
She hesitated a few seconds. “I suppose I have to admit that I did, with the exception of the marble floor.”
“That is why I allowed you to be on top.”
“After you had me on my back.”
“On your back so that I could quickly remove your clothes and run my mouth down your body to facilitate your—”
“We don’t need to go there.”
He could not suppress a grin. “Ah, but I already have, and considering the sounds you made, I do not believe you were disappointed.”
She quickly stood and sighed. “I’m not in the mood to take a journey down memory lane, so I’m going to return to the palace now.”
Tarek came to his feet. “Shall I expect you on the plane tomorrow?”
When she did not immediately respond, he held his breath and hoped. “I’ll let you know tonight, when you’re dining at the palace.”
He frowned. “I did not realize you were aware of the invitation.”
She sent him a disparaging look before crossing the room. “It’s my job to know everything about the royal family and their esteemed guests,” she said on her way out.
After she disappeared, Tarek checked his watch, reclaimed his chair and picked up the phone to make his daily call to the other female in his life. If he did not do it soon, he would regret the oversight. A few moments passed before he was greeted with the familiar, quiet, “Ahlan?”
He opted to answer in English, not Arabic, to test her acumen, as he had since teaching her the language. “Did you receive my gift, Yasmin?”
“I did!” she said with the marked exuberance of a typical five-year-old. “He is lovely.”
That was not how he would describe the street-roving mutt. “I am glad you are pleased. Will you take good care of him?”
“Yes, I will. I promise to feed him and give him water and take him for walks. What shall we name him?”
“That is entirely up to you, Yasmin.”
“I will have to think about it. When are you coming home? Soon, I hope.”
No matter what said he told her, he would disappoint her. “I told you about the new resort before I left Morocco. I still have much work to do on it.”
“You are always working. I wish you would take me with you.”
That would be impossible at this point in time. Very few knew of her existence, and he wanted to keep it that way. “Perhaps someday. In the meantime, take care.”
“I will.”
“I shall see you in a month when I return.”
A span of silence passed before she said, “I miss you.”
“I miss you as well, Yasmin.” And he certainly did, though too much affection would serve neither of them.
As soon as he hung up the phone, Tarek began to contemplate his previous conversation with Kira and her erroneous assumptions.
It’s my job to know everything about the royal family and their esteemed guests...
Little did Kira know, she was not privy to most aspects of his private life, as it had been with all friends and former lovers. Not only in regard to the child, but she was also unaware that he retained an important piece of the Mehdi puzzle. Only he held the key and no one else, not even the current monarch and his brothers. He harbored a great secret that might have died along with his parents, save an old man’s conscience and overwhelming guilt.
Since gaining that knowledge, he had been bound by a pledge to keep the information guarded out of respect for his mother, yet he had grown weary of the pretense. He wanted answers. He demanded answers. He vowed to do whatever he must to gain that information, and he hoped Kira Darzin could aid him in his search.
From the minute he’d met her, he had sensed she would know much about the Mehdis, and he would continue to gain her trust in an effort to convince her to confide in him. That had been his primary goal in the beginning, until he had crossed the boundaries into ill-advised desire. He had not intended to be as preoccupied by her and he would do well not to let his base urges rule his rationality.
If his plan with Kira did not succeed, he would continue to covertly search for confirmation through every means possible, work his way into the royal sons’ good graces, then he would properly introduce himself as the bastard son of the former king of Bajul.
Their brother.
