Page 17 of The Sheik's Kiss

Thankfully, Raven moved back to her desk and picked up a piece of paper. “Here’s the current list of candidates.”

Astra’s eyes moved down over the names, then she nodded. “Got it. I know His Highness doesn’t want anyone outside of his security personnel and the three of us to know that he’s currently searching for a new fiancée. So I will ensure that the invitations to these women are carefully planned so that they aren’t aware that they are being vetted.”

“That would be great!” Raven replied.

Astra turned to leave, then hesitated. “I don’t know if either of you are interested, but there is a great bar two blocks from here. A few of us head over there on Fridays after work for a drink and dinner. It’s a nice way to get out of the palace and away from the sometimes stifling formality for a while.”

Raven and Mandy brightened at the invitation. “That would be great!” Mandy replied for both of them. “What time?”

“We sort of meet up whenever we finish working. Some of us get there about six-ish, and some later, depending on what we’re working on.”

“Perfect!” Raven replied, adding a nod for emphasis. “We’ll both be there.”

Astra left and Mandy moved back to her computer. “I’m looking forward to getting out of the palace for a bit,” she grumbled, thinking of the near-constant tension she felt. There was always the risk that the sheik would pop into their office and she needed to limit her interactions with the man. Every conversation seemed to intrigue her further.

Since the man was looking for a wife, and she definitely wasn’t wife material for a man like him, she needed to get over her unexpected reactions whenever he came close.

“Me too, so let’s dig in and get this done.”

Chapter 5

“Would you like a glass of wine?” Zahir asked.

Mandy stood just inside the door, looking around at the overwhelming elegance. “Um…no. I’m fine,” she replied. She’d been summoned to this beautiful living room, but didn’t know why. She looked around, noting the robin’s egg blue walls and creamy yellow curtains that framed the tall, Palladian windows. The elegant furniture was done in the same colors and didn’t look particularly comfortable. The furniture would look more appropriate in a museum surrounded by those red, velvet ropes warning people not to sit on them.

He poured something into a glass, then brought it over to her. She looked at it, impressed with the fruit and something green floating amidst the ruby red liquid. “What’s this?”

“Sangria,” he told her. “I thought you might prefer that instead straight wine.”

She took a sip, then sighed with happiness. “Oh, this is really good!”

He chuckled. “I’m glad that you like it.” He gestured to one of the sofas. “Why don’t we talk over here,” he told her. “How is the candidate sorting coming?”

She walked over and perched on the edge of one of the blue-embroidered brocade chairs. She was right. It was miserably uncomfortable! Plus, the silk fabric made her feel as if she might slip right off at any moment.

Concentrating on his question, she thought over the work she’d gotten through in the past twenty-four hours. “I’ve finished the reviews of each candidate’s financial background. Raven and I used that information to eliminate five of the candidates, and then your security team discarded three more.”

“That’s good,” he replied, nodding. “And what about your investigations into the agency heads?” he asked, his voice lower.

She shifted, pursing her lips as she looked down at her glass of sangria. “About that,” she began, then lifted her eyes. “It would help if I could get access to the information accumulated by your security team,” she started out. “I’ve started looking into each person’s background, but if I knew what information your guards already gathered, then I could compare it with my information. That would give me insight into the security department’s processes as well.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he jingled the ice cubes in the crystal glass of scotch. “Do you remember an incident involving a storage facility about two months ago? It might not have reached the headlines in the United States.”

Her eyes narrowed as she mentally sifted through the headlines coming out of Sidrina. “Are you referring to the attack in the northern territories of Sidrina?” she asked. The only reason that the story had caught her eye was because the headline had been accompanied by a picture of Zahir. Ever since she’d met him at Bailey’s place several months ago, Mandy had to admit, to herself at least, that she’d been fascinated by him.

Not that she thought anything could come of her fascination to the Sheik of Sidrina! Nope, that wasn’t her place and she wasn’t attracted to him.

Despite the fact that her eyes continually returned to his shoulders and arms, enjoying the way his muscles flexed beneath the fabric. Perhaps there was…a bit of attraction. Just a smidge.

Still, she didn’t like the man. Not a chance! And besides, he was looking for a wife! She wasn’t even on his radar! Mandy had seen the candidates and there wasn’t a chance in hell that she could compare to those women.

Not that she was trying, she reminded herself. Nope!

“Yes,” he replied, leaning forward so that he could brace his elbows on his knees. “After that incident, there were several other…problems. Events that we were able to keep out of the news.”

Mandy looked into his eyes, anger unexpectedly simmering inside of her at his words. “Perhaps you should explain,” she told him, aware of an icy fear seeping into her heart that was out of proportion to how she should feel. Mild concern would be appropriate right now. Not this nearly choking terror as she stared at the man sitting next to her. “Please don’t leave anything out, Your Highness. I need to know everything. Even the smallest detail can be revealed in financial data.”

He lifted a hand, swirling the ice in his scotch, but he didn’t take a sip. “You’re right, but I honestly didn’t want to think that the events were related until yesterday.”

---