Page 37 of Hiding in the Sheik's Arms

Khal had been slowly getting to know his little sister over the past several days. He knew that she needed the rebellion, but he still wanted her to be safe. He’d heard Tasha explain to Marianna that the guards had been following her and Khalwasn’t going to apologize for keeping her safe from the less than savory elements that attended the illegal raves.

Watching her now, the girl seemed to blossom at Raj’s words. It seemed that Marianna just needed to feel like she belonged, like she was part of the family.

The lovely girl still crossed her arms over her chest, taking a belligerent stance, but there was a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she asked, “What can I do?”

“Tasha is in danger,” he replied, ignoring Tasha’s startled glance. “Before coming to work here in Lativa, she worked for a man named Nathan King. Have you ever heard of him?”

Marianna nibbled on her thumb, but he saw the recognition in her intelligent, dark eyes that were so like his own. “Isn’t he a US senator?” she asked, looking around with her head slightly bowed. “I don’t remember from which state though.”

“You’re correct. Tasha was a political strategist for Senator King. But she overheard and recorded several damning conversations between the senator and another man. She doesn’t know the man’s name, but he’s dangerous.”

“What did you hear?” Joran demanded, immediately taking up a protective stance. With his hands fisted on his hips and his feet spread wide apart, Khal thought that his brother was ready to go into battle for his fiancée. And Joran didn’t even know yet that Khal had proposed to Tasha. Not that Tasha considered herself to be his fiancée. She’d spent the last few nights in his bed, sneaking out before the palace started stirring in the mistaken belief that she could hide their relationship.

But it was good that Joran, and now Raj, were fully prepared to protect Tasha. It meant that they would both support what he was going to suggest next.

Tasha glanced in his direction nervously, then stepped forward, her chin stubbornly high. “I don’t think that the recorded conversations are that important. The main issue is that I need to leave the palace before Nathan arrives.”

Khal didn’t like that solution at all, unaware of the furious scowl on his face after that suggestion. “Or you could officially accept my proposal and marry me,” he argued, looking equally ready to go into battle. She didn’t realize this yet, but Khal was more likely to toss Tasha over his shoulder and hide her away before he’d allow her to wander the globe in an effort to hide from Nathan King on her own. He would never allow Tasha to get hurt. Not for any reason!

She pulled back after that statement, looking around at Raj, Joran, and Marianna nervously. Khal nearly laughed at her horror that their “secret” was now out.

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Raj replied. He looked over at Marianna. “What do you think?”

Marianna was startled at her brother asking for her opinion. “I…,” she stopped, looked at Khal and shrank back slightly, then visibly changed her mind. A split second later, the lovely girl puffed up with determination before turning to face Tasha. “Do you love him?” she asked in a shy but gaining-confidence tone.

Chapter 33

Tasha stared at the lovely, young girl. Her hair was a gorgeous shade of dark brown now. She wore only minimal makeup, but it was expertly applied. And instead of the ripped jeans and bulky sweaters, she wore a regular pair of jeans and a sweatshirt that still hid her figure, but somehow seemed flattering.

Still, it was the hopeful look in Marianna’s eyes that tore at Tasha’s heart. When she looked at Raj and Joran, two men who had teased her for the past year whenever they’d come to the palace, they both looked as if they were ready to...what? Hide her away if she didn’t agree to marry their older brother? Banish her?

Neither option seemed very appealing.

Before she could come up with an answer, Khal stepped in front of her, blocking his siblings from view. “I don’t want you to marry me because some prick is threatening you, Tash,” he murmured, his voice low and grumbly. He was the only one who shortened her name and that felt significant somehow.

“You don’t?” she asked, her throat tightening as emotions flitted fast and furiously through her mind.

“No. I want you to marry me because you love me.” He cupped her neck, warming her pulse as his thumb stroked her cheek. “I want you to marry me because you can’t live without me. I love you, damn it. And I want…,” Khal paused, looking into her eyes. “I want you to marry me because you feel the same.” He lowered his head to brush his lips over hers. “Will you marry me, Tash?”

Well, when he put it that way! “Yes,” she sighed, tilting her head back as she gripped his upper arms for balance. Shewanted another kiss. And so much more! She remembered the way he’d woken her up this morning and sighed with longing.

His deep, sexy chuckle only increased that need. But the dratted man pulled back and Tasha blinked, startled by the bright light. His broad shoulders had blocked out most of the light as well as their audience.

It took Tasha a moment to realize that they hadn’t been alone. In fact, Raj, Joran, and even Marianna were grinning, standing shoulder to shoulder as they witnessed the scene.

“You’ll be my sister!” Marianna gasped, bouncing on her toes.

Raj and Joran glanced at the young girl, clearly enjoying her delight. Then they looked back at her. “We’d truly enjoy having you as our sister, Tasha,” Joran added, then he flung his muscular arm over Marianna and that made the entire “proposal” absolutely perfect!

“Yes!” Tasha gasped, covering her mouth with her fingers. Then she bounced as well, glancing up at Khal who looked like he’d just done something miraculous. And he smiled! The grumpy grouch actually smiled! It was just a slight curl of his lips, but Tasha loved that expression.

Before she could say anything else, Marianna squealed and rushed over to hug Tasha. “Oh, this is going to be perfect!” she whispered into Tasha’s ear. “I’ve always wanted a big sister!”

“What about big brothers?” Raj asked, obviously amused at the scene.

Marianna pulled back, but remained close to Tasha. “Well, I hadn’t ever–”

She didn’t have a chance to finish that statement because Raj lifted her up into a huge bear hug, making her squeal again.

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