Читать книгу The Sheikh's Collection - Оливия Гейтс - Страница 33
ОглавлениеIf a woman wanted to live in a palace, the gorgeous guy standing a few feet away could be just the man to make that come true. And three months ago he had—in a civil ceremony surrounded by her grandparents’ lush gardens, sans shotgun. Now Piper McAdams was more than ready to legitimately assume her role as his princess during the elaborate reception held in their honor.
For the past twenty minutes, she’d been schmoozing with wealthy strangers while shamelessly studying her husband’s assets. He wore a navy suit adorned with military insignias, a pricey watch on his wrist and a wedding band on his left hand. His usually tousled dark brown hair had been neatly styled for the occasion, but it still complemented the slight shading of whiskers framing his mouth. And those dimples. She’d spotted them the first time she’d laid eyes on him six months ago in the Chicago hotel bar.
And as it had been that night, he was currently speaking to a lithe blonde wearing a chic red sparkling dress, only she didn’t see this woman as a threat. In fact, she saw her as simply Madison Foster Mehdi, her sister-in-law and recent addition to Piper’s ever-expanding gal-pal club.
Speaking of expanding, a woman dressed in flowing coral chiffon that didn’t completely hide a baby bump stood at the ballroom’s entrance. She’d come to call her Maysa while most called her queen, and aside from the duties that came along with the title, she served as Sam’s stellar doctor and Piper’s confidante. The man on her arm, also known as the king, hadn’t been as easy to get to know, yet he’d been warming up to his youngest brother’s wife, slowly but surely.
All in all, Piper couldn’t be happier with her new family. And she couldn’t be more pleased when her husband started toward her with that sexy, confident gait that threatened to bring her to her knees.
Once he reached her side, he leaned over and whispered, “I have another gift for you.”
“Giving it to me now would be rather inappropriate, don’t you think?” she whispered back.
He straightened and smiled. “I’ll reserve that gift for later when we are safely ensconced in our room. But this particular present is totally appropriate for the occasion.”
Piper took a quick glance at her left hand. “I really think the boulder on my finger is quite sufficient, and so was the wonderful honeymoon in Naples.”
“Have you forgotten our time on the beach?”
She faked a frown. “All right, that thing you did to me on the beach was very unforgettable.”
“I thought you enjoyed that thing.”
She grinned. “I did!”
He pressed a palm against the small of her back and feathered a kiss across her cheek. “Remain here while I retrieve your surprise.”
As he headed across the room, Madison came to Piper’s side. “Where is he going in such a hurry?”
“He says he has a gift for me.”
“Oh, that,” Madison replied. “I was beginning to wonder when he was going to get to that.”
Piper’s eyes went wide. “You know what it is?”
“Yes, I do. In fact, I assisted in acquiring it. And don’t look so worried. You’ll love it.”
Knowing Adan, she probably would. “I’m counting on it.”
Madison momentarily scanned the crowd before bringing her attention back to Piper. “I haven’t seen Elena yet. She promised she’d come down once she had the babies put to bed.”
“She told me she wanted to read them all a book.”
“Good luck with that,” Madison said, followed by a laugh. “I’m not sure year-old twins and a six-month-old will fit in her lap.”
“She enlisted Kira’s help,” Piper added. “And believe me, Kira is amazing. I’m not sure there’s anything she can’t do.”
“Except hold on to a man,” Madison said. “At least according to her.”
“A worthless man, maybe. She told me all about her broken engagement. Too bad we snatched up all the Mehdi brothers. She’d make a great sister-in-law.”
Madison grinned. “Maybe there’s one hiding in the closet somewhere. Of course, there is their cousin, Rayad, although he’s all into the military thing.”
Piper still had a lot to learn about the family. “You’d better hope there’s not a secret Mehdi hiding out somewhere. That means you’d be in charge of handling that scandal.”
“True.” Madison pointed at the double doors to her left, where Adan now stood. “Your husband is about to reveal your surprise, so wait and watch and get ready to be wowed.”
Piper kept her gaze trained on the doors, wondering what might actually come through them. A new sports car? A pet elephant? Maybe even a...sister?
The minute Sunny caught sight of Piper, she practically ran across the room and engaged her in a voracious hug. And as if they’d been propelled back into the days of their youth, they momentarily jumped up and down until Piper realized exactly where they were and who she now was.
She stopped the girlish celebration, but she couldn’t stop her smile. “Sunny McAdams, what are you doing here?”
“Answering your new husband’s invitation.”
She noticed they’d gained the attention of a room full of dignitaries. “Thanks to our boisterous show of affection, these people are now convinced the new princess is nuttier than a squirrel’s nest.”
“If the glass slipper fits,” Sunny said as she stepped back and surveyed Piper from head to high heels. “You clean up good, sugar plum. Aqua is definitely your color, but I’m clearly underdressed.”
Piper smoothed a hand down the bling-embellished satin strapless gown and grinned. “If you’d walked in here wearing something other than black slacks and a white silk blouse, I’d be asking you to return to the mother ship and give me back the real Sunny McAdams.”
They shared in a laugh until Adan interrupted the camaraderie. “Did I succeed in surprising you, fair lady?”
She gave him a grateful hug and an enthusiastic kiss. “An excellent surprise, good sir. I do believe you’ve thought of everything.”
“He wanted to make up for me not being at the wedding,” Sunny added.
“That’s okay, dear sister. You can make it up to me by staying here a few days.”
“Unfortunately, I’ll be leaving tomorrow. I’m meeting up with Cameron in Africa to cover a few of the most recent uprisings.”
Piper hated how her sibling insisted on putting herself in danger, but she was pleased that she seemed to have found her match. “So how’s it going with Cameron the cameraman?”
Sunny shrugged. “We’re hanging in there. He wants to settle down in suburbia and have a few kids, but I’m not ready for that.”
“Take it from me,” Madison began, “you can balance career and motherhood. I’ve managed it with twins.”
“And a very accommodating husband.” All eyes turned to Zain Mehdi as he slid an arm around his wife’s waist. “It’s good to see you again, Sunny.”
Piper momentarily gaped. “You two have met?”
“Briefly in Nigeria,” Sunny said. “But I didn’t know who he was until much later, since he was traveling incognito at the time.”
Must run in the family, Piper thought when she considered how Adan had concealed his identity. They’d come a long way in a very short time.
As casual conversation continued, Piper noticed a man standing alone a few feet away, his attention focused on the group. “Does anyone know who that man is to my left, holding up the wall?”
“What man?” Adan asked.
“The one who keeps staring.”
Sunny glanced over her shoulder before focusing on Piper again. “That’s Tarek Azzmar, a corporate investor who hails from Morocco and a billionaire probably ten times over. I met him in Mexico City a few years back when he was opening an orphanage. He’s a man of few words and rather reclusive. An enigma wrapped in a mystery, as they say.”
“And Rafiq invited him,” Zain added. “Apparently he’s building a mansion not far from the palace. We’ll be able to see his estate when we’re standing on the west-facing veranda.”
“So much for privacy,” Adan muttered. “And with that in mind, if you fine people will excuse us while I have a few moments alone with my wife?”
“By all means,” Zain said. “The courtyard outside provides enough protection to begin your honeymoon, if you so choose. My wife will attest to that.”
Piper caught a glimpse of Madison elbowing Zain in the side, earning quite a bit of laughter as her husband led her away.
Once in the corner of the deserted vestibule, Adan turned her into his arms. “How does it feel to be an honest-to-goodness princess?”
“Unreal. Surreal. Wonderful.”
“I’m glad you are up to the task, and I’m hoping you are willing to take on another.”
She suspected she knew where this could be heading. “Hold it right there, hotshot. We have plenty of time to make a sibling for Sam.”
“I would like to get to that in the immediate future,” he said, “but this task involves your painting skills.”
“What would you like me to paint, Your Highness? And please don’t tell me one of your planes.”
He gave her that earth-shattering, heart-melting grin. “As tempting as that might be, I’m referring to capturing the entire family on canvas. Rafiq, with the council’s support, wants to commission you as the official palace artist in order to preserve history.”
Piper could think of nothing she would like better. Actually, she could, but she’d take care of that later in bed. “I’m absolutely honored, and I will do my best to prove I’m up to the challenge.”
“It is going to be challenging, at that. You’ll have to rely on photographs of my father to capture his likeness. And we’ll hang that in the foyer.”
“I can do that,” she said, thankful Adan had thought of it first. “What about your mother?”
“Since she’s here for the sitting, that should not be a problem.”
Another feat accomplished—his acceptance of Elena. “We’ll hang that one in the nursery, next to yours and Sam’s.”
“And will you be able to paint one of all three of us?”
“Certainly, and I’ll make myself look much thinner.”
He frowned. “No need for that. You are perfect in every way.”
So was he. So was their life, and their love. “Now that we’ve taken care of the details, why don’t we go up and say good-night to your son?”
“Our son.”
“You’re right. As of this morning, he’s legally mine.”
He brushed her hair back from her shoulder and kissed her gently. “He has been yours from the beginning, and I will be yours for all time.”
In that moment, Piper realized she’d been very lucky to find the sheikh of her dreams. A prince of a guy. The one who got away...and came back, this time to give her his heart.
* * * * *
