Page 49 of The Sheikh's Fake Bride Scheme

“I’m sorry,” Keira said again, and was dismayed to hear her voice crack.

He strode across the grass until he was standing right in front of her.

“No,” he said.

“No?”

“Don’t apologize. You don’t have to apologize to me, Keira. This has been awful. This has been a mess. I’ve done a million things wrong.”

A shiver passed through Keira’s body. It seemed to start in the pit of her stomach and radiate outward through her. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “We were in an impossible situation.”

“No,” Kareem said quietly. “Actually, I think our situation was pretty simple.”

He reached out and took her hand, and Keira found it hard to catch her breath.

“I guess you heard the things I’ve been saying,” he said, a wry smile crossing his face. “I guess all of Qalmar heard what I’ve been saying.”

“Well, I don’t thinkall of Qalmaris here,” Keira said, a smile breaking over her face. “I know this event has been successful, but we never dreamed of that level of success.”

“Yeah, but there are reporters here,” Kareem said. “By morning, the whole country will know that I proclaimed my love for my wife.”

“I wonder what they’ll make of it,” Keira mused.

“I’m sure people will say all sorts of things.”

“Maybe we should give them something extra to talk about, then. Since everyone is watching.”

She never knew what it was that had suddenly emboldened her. All she knew was that she knew what she wanted and she was determined not to sabotage any more chances to get it. She was going to take advantage of this second opportunity.

She reached up, pulled him down to her, and kissed him.

Kareem’s arms wrapped around her, and he returned the kiss with equal fervor, and for a moment, Keira felt as if the whole world had disappeared. The only thing that mattered — the only thing she was even aware of — was him. The warmth of him, the smell of him, and the surety that he was just as happy to be here as she was — that he wanted her and cared for her as much as she did for him.

The roar of the crowd permeated the bubble of happiness in which she had found herself ensconced, and she pulled back and looked at Kareem with a smile. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag now,” she said.

“This is going to be on every news website in Qalmar in the morning,” he agreed.

“Well, I’ve always wanted a little fame.”

He laughed. “If that was what you wanted, you could have become a driver like your brother!”

“Kevin’s going to be absolutely sick when he hears about this. He’ll hate the idea that I’ve done something impressive that he can never match.”

“We’ll find him a princess.”

“Sure we will.” Keira grinned. “But in the meantime, I’d like to focus on this, if you don’t mind.”

“Nothing would make me happier,” Kareem said.

He kissed her again, and the crowd roared its approval.

CHAPTER 23

KEIRA

The fourth of the opening day’s races drew to a close. Keira sat back in her seat, feeling a spike of adrenaline that didn’t seem to want to quit. It was as if she was standing at the edge of a cliff and looking down.

She and Allie had been asked back to Kareem’s private box, now that he knew they were here. Allie and Kareem had greeted one another warmly, like old friends, which had surprised Keira since they’d only met once previously, but maybe she should have expected it. They had both heard enough about each other that they must feel a connection.

---