Page 28 of The Sheikh's Secret Heir

I yank my gaze up to meet his eyes again, having been caught in a moment of admiring him. His lips twitch into a knowing smile, his gaze softer than I ever recall seeing it before. I swallow hard, my face flaming at having been caught ogling.

“Can I… can I put my shirt back on now?” he asks, his voice low in the spacious room.

“Oh!” My cheeks burn hotter as I realize I’ve been holding onto his shirt this whole time.When did I even pick it up?“Yes — yes, of course.”

He takes the offered shirt but doesn’t pull it on right away. Instead, he takes a moment to look at me — a long, lingering look that raises goosebumps on my arms and sends my heart into overdrive.

“I just wanted to take a moment…” — his throat rolls with a swallow — “…to thank you, Tara.”

I find myself trapped in his gaze, unable to look away even if I wanted to.

“Oh?” I manage to reply, my voice wavering slightly. “For what?”

“For always being there for Ali.” His eyes never break from mine as he continues. “And for me.”

A lump forms in my throat at his admission.Oh, Faiz… If only you knew how much more I want to be there for you.

“Of course,” I finally respond. “You both mean a lot to me.”

His smile broadens at this, and it’s with reluctance that I pull away from his magnetic presence. “I’ll see you tonight,” I say.

He nods. “I will see you tonight.”

I open my mouth, about to ask if Ali will be there — then quickly press my lips together. What a strange slip-up; of course Ali won’t be there. For a second, I’d forgotten everything and believed all to be normal.

“Is everything all right?” Faiz asks, no doubt noticing my odd expression.

“Yes.” I plaster on a smile. “Please say hello to Ali for me.”

“I will.” He inclines his head.

Gathering my things, I give him another smile before heading out. Stepping out into the palace corridor, I release the breath I’ve been holding.

For the first time, I allow myself to believe that the connection I’ve felt between us isn’t just a figment of my imagination. It’s real, tangible, and today it is mirrored in his actions, his looks, his lingering touches.

Something has changed. Perhaps it’s that we have been spending more time together, or that it’s because he now knows he can trust me with his secret. Whatever the reason, I’m glad for it, because the more time I spend with Faiz and Ali, the harder it is to imagine ever living a life without the two of them in it.

CHAPTER 15

FAIZ

The day can’t pass by fast enough following Tara’s morning visit. All through the morning and afternoon, in between my tasks and responsibilities, she is on my mind.

Finally, come early evening, I stand in front of my closet, the hangers whispering against one another as I push them aside, searching for something suitable to wear. It’s not just any family dinner tonight — it’s a chance to see Tara again — and suddenly every shirt looks too casual, every jacket not quite right.

My hands pause on the fabric of a crisp white button-down; it’s smart without trying too hard. I slip it on, tucking it into my trousers with more care than usual. A glance in the mirror, and I see a man who’s trying to tamp down his eagerness, a man who’s worried his anticipation is etched into every curve of his face.

Ahmed’s words last night hit something deep within me. I’ve been holding myself at a distance when it comes to Tara, but perhaps I’ve been looking at things the wrong way. She’s already shown that, as our doctor, she is undeterred by the circumstances of my and Ali’s life.

So could it be that she would also be fine with something more? A relationship between us that is much more… personal?

I didn’t miss the way her pupils widened this morning or the way her breath hitched when I drew closer. The air between us was charged, full of unused potential.

Ahmed is a good judge of character — it’s one reason I trust him so much with the safety of my home and child — and I am ready to believe that he could be right. Tara might just be the perfect puzzle piece that has been missing from our lives.

“Baba? You’re leaving?” Ali’s voice, tinged with curiosity and a hint of disappointment, pulls me from my reflection.

He stands at the threshold of my room, a small figure dwarfed by the doorway. The sight of him tightens something in my chest, a familiar tug of guilt that accompanies every secret I keep locked away.

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