Page 46 of Passion and Deception

Maggie tried to change the subject. “I understand that you are engaged. Have you and your fiancée set a date for the wedding?”

“No!” a deep, masculine voice replied. A tall, terrifyingly man stepped into the dining room. He walked over to the buffet and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Apparently, you still need to do that, don’t you, Princess?” he snapped. He looked at Maggie. “I’m Sheik Falk bin Alon. And you are Queen Margaret al Qadar.” He kissed her fingers. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Ciara’s eyes flashed and her smile turned brittle. “I could have introduced you.”

Falk lifted a dark eyebrow. “Still irritated that your wedding isn’t progressing, Princess?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling throughout the room. “

“I don’t think that my wedding is any of your business.” She looked towards the doorway. “Where’s Tara?”

The man’s lips compressed. “My assistant is off doing assistant things,” he said.

A moment later, another man stepped into the room. This man looked just as authoritative, but there was a softness in his eyes when he realized that Ciara was sitting at the table.

“Good morning Ciara,” he said as he walked over to her, lifting her hand and kissing her fingers. Then he noticed Maggie. “And you must be our illustrious hostess,” he guessed, taking Maggie’s hand and lifting it to his lips as well. “I am Sheik Zayed el Mastrion of Pitra. And it is a pleasure to finally meet the woman who has stolen our friend’s heart.”

“Sit down, you ass,” the first man growled. “You’re making me lose my appetite.”

Ciara glowered at the grumpy man, then forced a smile to her features. “Maggie, allow me apologize for our guest’s rude behavior.” She lifted her cup of tea to her lips. “Zayed and Falk are here for meetings with Ramit.”

Ciara and Falk glowered at each other and Maggie wondered if there was some way to protect herself from the fireworks sparking between those two. Why was Ciara betrothed to Zayed when she was obviously attracted to Falk?

Goodness, palace politics were complicated, she thought, sipping her tea.

Falk sat down next to Ciara and the two took a moment to conspicuously ignore each other. Ciara cleared her throat and continued her explanation. “As I was saying, they are here for a meeting with my brother, your husband. The three of them get together every few months to pretend to discuss the issues between their countries, but in reality, they just play poker and trade insults.” She looked at Zayed. “Some are more effective at that pastime than others.”

Maggie smothered a smile and glanced at Zayed, but the handsome man was staring at the doorway. And wowzah! That man couldn’t seem to pull his gaze away from the gorgeous woman standing in the doorway clutching a stack of folders.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your breakfast, Your Highness,” she said to Falk, then glanced furtively at Zayed…and back to Falk. “However, I have new information on several of the issues you asked me to monitor. Would you like me to discuss them later? Once you’ve finished sharing a meal with your fiancée?”

Zayed turned and looked at Ciara. “Would you excuse me, Princess?”

Ciara smiled politely at the man. “Of course. Go do what you need to do.”

“I should head out as well,” Falk replied, looking grumpy.

But it was Zayed who paused to put a hand on Ciara’s. “Are you okay?”

The beautiful woman smiled, but there was a tightness to her expression. “Of course,” she replied. “Good luck today.”

The tall, handsome man chuckled. “We really do more than just play poker.”

Ciara snorted, amused but more relaxed. Plus, she didn’t watch Sheik Zayed leave the room like she’d done when Sheik Falk had exited.

There was a long moment of silence after the man left and Maggie watched everything with amused fascination.

When Zayen had departed, Maggie watched as Ciara fiddled with her coffee cup. The previously confident, daring woman was now…nervous? Of course, Maggie didn’t know her new sister-in-law very well yet, having just met her, but there was definitely something going on between the powerful sheik and the lovely princess.

“Well, I really should get back to Nadia. I’m sure that she’s had her bath by now.” She paused and looked at Ciara. “I’d love to introduce you to your niece, whenever you have time.”

Ciara’s lovely features bloomed into a genuine smile at the offer. “I would be honored to meet your little girl. I’ll stop by as soon as I’ve had a conversation with Ramit.”

Maggie was startled by that comment. Ciara was going to speak with Ramit? Was that possible? Maggie had been wondering when she’d get to see her husband again, vowing not to bother him since she’d had precious weeks of his time.

She left the dining room, still confused about what she’s just watched and what she was allowed to do. This was definitely a new world. And a confusing one!

Chapter 29

Ramit smothered his irritation when his sister stepped into his office. Ciara was lovely, but she was planning out a future that was wrong and he couldn’t seem to get her to see that.

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