Page 5 of The Sheik's Vow

Walking to the kitchen door, he opened it and looked out at the group of men waiting on his back porch. For a moment, Ethan couldn’t remember why these men were standing outside of his home. Then he realized what time it was and huffed up, smiling and gesturing his arms wide in an invitation to enter.

“Time to read from the bible!” Ethan exclaimed, pushing thoughts of punishing a green eyed temptress out of his mind. He’d consider his options later, once he’d finished the men’s bible study lessons for the evening.

Two of the women followed behind the men, their heads appropriately bowed as they carried pitchers of lemonade and platters of cookies. The cookies looked delicious! He wondered if he wouldallow the womenfolk something sweet this week. Had they been appropriately obedient and worthy?

Another idea to contemplate later.

“Gentlemen,” he started off, taking the wing back chair in front of the two rows of straight-back wood chairs, the only furniture he allowed in his family room. He knew that the wingback chair appeared throne-like to anyone who came into his house. And the line of wooden chairs showed each member of the church that he was more pious than they were since even his family room was church-like.

Silently, the men sat down in their assigned seats, the higher ranking church members and elders closest to Ethan’s chair, the lesser members, the ones that were still striving to achieve his notice, took the chairs further away. The womenfolk carefully set the lemonade and the cookie platters on the kitchen table, then disappeared out of the house. They would sit on the back porch, praying, waiting for their menfolk to be finished so that they could retrieve the pitcher and platters.

“Gentlemen, I have seen a sign,” Ethan began. His words caused every man to sit up a bit straighter, eager to hear the latest news.

Chapter 4

Kaia stood in the doorway, debating whether she was hungry enough to endure another meal with Sheik Riaz. She hadn’t managed to eat much last night because of his presence.

Before she could decide, the man in question lifted the cup to his lips and…caught sight of her.

The heat as his eyes moved over her startled her. Kaia knew how to kill a man’s interest when it wasn’t wanted. But this…this heat and tingling sensation…curdled her ability to remember the pointed quips that normally told a man to back off.

Deciding that she wasn’t hungry enough to attempt this situation, she started to turn away, determined to just pack up and head out to…wherever she would go next. Maybe back to Kentucky so that she could check in on the latest recordings from Ethan and his minions. Or maybe to Texas. She hadn’t visited that state in a while.

And yet, she stood in the doorway, seemingly unable to turn away.

“Kaia?” Riaz prompted, his eyes watching her carefully

Kaia shifted onto her left foot, looking out at the pretty garden just outside of the doors to the breakfast room. The flowers were lovely. But she should leave. Kaia told herself to just walk away.Within five minutes, she could sling her ever-present backpack over her shoulder and walk out one of the numerous doors of the palace. Within another thirty minutes, she could be on a plane to…anywhere.

And yet, she couldn’t seem to move.

“I was bullied as a child!” Riaz said.

The words made her pause. Bullied? This tall, powerful man had been bullied?

Kaia turned away, but couldn’t force her feet to carry her back to the suite she’d slept in last night. Something…or someone…held her back.

Slowly, she turned back. Her eyes moved over his broad shoulders and she remembered how far back she needed to tilt her head to look into his eyes if this man stood in front of her. Surely, he was just teasing her. It simply wasn’t possible that someone as large and powerful as Sheik Riaz could have been bullied.

With a snort, she started to turn away again.

“It’s true,” he called out. “I was tall, but skinny. And my tutors couldn’t keep up with me. So my parents sent me off to college early.”

Kaia’s attention was captured. She eyed him curiously. “How old were you?” she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest, unaware of how the movement thrust her breasts higher.

Riaz took a sip of his coffee, gesturing towards the other dining chair. “If you want to hear the story, then you have to eat breakfast with me.”

Kaia hesitated. Only a moment ago, she’d decided that she wasn’t hungry enough to share a meal with this man.

Correction, she wasn’t hungry enough to handle the unexpected emotions this man instilled within her. She was hungry, but for too long, her life had been all about control. Control allowed her to stay one step ahead of Ethan Howell.

Remembering that fact, she glanced at the breakfast buffet. Rule number one, always eat whenever possible. Kaia had a dozen protein bars hidden in her backpack, along with her passport and cash, as well as several credit cards, now that she was old enough to apply for credit.

But she’d taught Tara never to be too hungry. If they had to run, it was easier to escape danger on a full stomach.

With that reminder, she walked over to the buffet, smiling politely at the waiter who handed her a warm plate. “Thank you,” she whispered, surveying the breakfast food options.

“The spinach and feta frittata is delicious,” Riaz suggested from behind her.

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