Page 6 of Sheikh’s New Year's Baby Surprise

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The absolute last place she wanted to be tonight was dressed up for a party filled with strangers. Rich strangers who traveled in circles much more rarefied than her own. But Rabi was her friend and she wanted to use this night to test out two caterers and other vendors for her business, so here she was with a forced smile in a dress she was stuffed into like a sausage.

“I’m so glad you showed up. You had me scared for a minute!” Rabi clutched her chest dramatically.

“I told you I’d come and if nothing else I am a woman of my word.” Charla knew she lacked pedigree and she was okay with that. Now. She had learned to be okay with it many years ago. But situations like this always made her uncomfortable.

“You’ll be great,” Rabi assured her, wrapping an arm around her and squeezing. “Plus you look amazingly hot tonight,” she giggled.

“I look ridiculous and you know it. But the dress fits as good as it possibly can and I’m here. Let’s call it a win.”

Rabiya gave her a long thoughtful look. Too long if you asked Charla, but she just stood there under the dark assessing gaze. “I’m glad you’re here Char but if you really feel uncomfortable I won’t hold you to it.”

Rolling her eyes she bumped the young woman with her hips. “Come on. I was promised delicious gourmet food.” As soon as they entered the large room with a bar—and without a television—she felt something. Scanning the room she noticed a bunch of people she didn’t know, but guessed could somehow be important to Rabi’s new business. Then she saw the source of her discomfort and groaned.

“Come on, let’s get some booze in you.” She let Rabi pull her towards the bar where a handsome bartender stood smiling at them both. “What’s your poison?”

“Did you hire models to serve food and sling booze?” She looked from a blushing bartender to a smirking Rabiya. With a shrug she ordered a bourbon lemonade. It was strong enough to relax her without bringing out the wild country girl she used to be. “Tasty, thanks,” she took another slip and dropped a five into the oversized glass sitting on the bar.

“Come on, let me introduce you to a few people.”

Reluctantly she followed her friend, taking small fortifying sips to ward off her nerves. She met two gorgeous women, the redhead was a television star and her dark-haired friend was a celebutante with access to plenty of people who threw events all year round. At least that is what it seemed to her. “Nice to meet you both,” she answered quietly. The women were nice enough but they still intimidated her and she was happy when they moved on.

“Perk up girl, it’s a party!”

Charla laughed and took another sip. “I’m perked girl, see?” She flashed her straight white teeth in the fakest smile she’d ever given anyone, even her mama’s lecherous boyfriends.

Rabi shook her head and stopped in front of two perfect male specimens. “This is Kade and,”

“Tag Willis! I listened to your country rock album the whole way from Alabama to Colorado. Great lyrics.” She excitedly shook both hands and smiled politely.

“Well that’s about the best compliment I’ve heard in awhile. Thank you Charla.”

“I should be thanking you.”

“Sorry to intro and run but you can chat over dinner.” She smiled at Charla and pulled her along “Come on, you can finally meet Jax.”

Her smile was filled with amusement at Rabi’s wistful expression. “You could just tell him how you feel.”

Rabi glared. “It wouldn’t do any good since he sees me as his best friend’s kid sister.” Shoulders slumped she made her way to the two men with a defeated smile. “Jax, Kasim, I’d like you to meet my good friend Charla.”

She looked at both men and felt her insides give a loud squeal. There was just too much hotness between these two. “I’ll bet when ya’ll go out the ladies are as happy as a tornado in a trailer park!” She laughed to herself, ignoring their stunned expressions.

Jax recovered first. “Rabiya said you were a character but she didn’t say you were so funny.”

“Well that’s our little secret,” she told him with a smile. “I hear you’ve been a big help.”

He nodded and flicked a wary gaze to Rabiya and then to Kasim. “I have,” he answered but she heard the cool tone behind his words.

Alright, then. “Well excuse me,” she said, suddenly feeling like she’d shown up naked for the first day of school. This was exactly why she stopped going to events like this. No one got her jokes and they all looked at her like she was a two-headed cat.

As soon as dinner was over, Charla made her escape quickly, grabbing another cocktail and trudging through the chaos of the kitchen to the deck out back. The stars sparkled in the sky like glittering jewels, some burning brighter than others while others had better clarity. Her favorites were the dying stars who gave it everything they had until it was over, donating the last of their beauty, their power to the tiny observers below. She sighed softly into the cool night air, wishing she’d grabbed her jacket.

“Everything okay out here?”

Charla stiffened at the cultured voice behind her. “Just fine.” She would be even better once he went back inside.

“It’s kind of cold out here and you’re hardly wearing appropriate clothing.”

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