Page 18 of The Sheikh's Fake Bride Scheme

“Sometimes you know that quickly that someone is right for you,” Kareem said blandly. “With Keira, it was love at first sight, Father.”

“She hasn’t even been vetted. She’s probably trying to take advantage of the crown.”

Keira felt her face flush and her pulse accelerate. Who was he to suggest such a thing?

But could she defend herself to the king? What were the rules here? Was she even allowed to speak without being spoken to first? It wouldn’t help matters at all if she offended him right out of the gate.

“Keira wouldn’t do something like that,” Kareem insisted.

His father snorted. “You hardly know the woman.Andshe’s an American. What would make an American want to come all the way to Qalmar with a man she hardly knows? There’s got to be something wrong with her.”

“Get to know her,” Kareem said. “You’ll come to see her the way I do, Father. She’s wonderfully clever — and lovely, as you can see.”

Keira took a deep breath and let it out slowly. This was excruciating. There was nothing she could do or say to make it go any more smoothly. And yet, if she could just get through this painful encounter, good things lay ahead.

“Very well,” the king said abruptly.

For a moment, Kareem didn’t speak. Keira looked over at him and saw that his jaw had dropped slightly.

“Very well?” he managed.

“If you want me to accept this woman, the two of you will stay for dinner tonight. When the meal is over, I’ll give you my decision.”

King Hassan rose and departed the room abruptly, without another word.

Keira and Kareem watched him go for a moment, neither one of them saying a word. Keira didn’t think she could have spoken if she had wanted to. Her throat was tight, as if she was about to start crying, even though she didn’t think she was. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes to be sure, but they were dry.

“All right,” Kareem said. “All right. This is good.”

“This isgood?”

“He’s giving you a chance to impress him.”

“I thought you said I couldn’t impress him.” Keira’s breath was coming fast and erratic now. “You did say that. You said not to bother trying, that I just needed to get through this meeting so that he would understand who I was. You told me there wasn’t going to be any chance of approval from him. Now we’re staying to dinner because… because wedowant his approval? Which we aren’t going to get? What’s happening, Kareem?”

“I thought he would shout at me, ignore you, and send us away,” Kareem said. “The fact that he’s having us stay means that he does want to give you a chance to win his favor.”

He smiled.

Keira couldn’t believe it. He was smiling now? “Can’t we go, like you said we could?” she asked, and now the tears were pressingat the backs of her eyelids. She swallowed hard. “I’m still in my jeans, Kareem. I can’t wear this to a royal dinner.”

“You can. I’m in jeans too,” he pointed out.

“But that’s different. You belong to this family. I’m just an outsider who he thinks is scamming you.”

“He might think that’s happening, but you and I know it isn’t. And by the end of this dinner, he’ll know that too. Don’t worry,” Kareem soothed her. “This will be wonderful. A real Qalmese meal to welcome you to the country. The only thing is…” He hesitated.

“Iswhat?”

“You know you and I are going to have to pretend to be in love, don’t you? That’s the only way this will work. That’s how we convince my father that you’re not taking advantage of my position. He has to think you’re so in love with me that we simplyhadto marry, that you were willing to give up your whole life back in the States and come back here with me without a second thought. He has to respect you, but also think that your love for me was more important than anything else.”

“You’re asking a lot.” Keira’s mouth was dry.

“If this works, if he approves of us, the rest of what we’re trying to do will become much easier,” Kareem said. “He’ll take a step back and we’ll have more freedom to go about our business. I know it’s difficult, but trust me when I tell you that it’s the right choice.”

Keira nodded. She straightened her shirt and did her best to finger-comb her hair into some semblance of order, highlyconscious of the fact that she hadn’t had a shower since they’d boarded the plane. This couldn’t possibly be going any worse.

A low chime sounded. It didn’t seem electronic — it was as if someone had actually struck a bell somewhere nearby. Keira looked at Kareem.

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