Page 51 of The Sheikh's Fake Bride Scheme

Keira nodded. “You’re right,” she agreed. “Allie?—”

“Go,” Allie said. “I’ll go back to the hotel, and you and I can catch up later. I expect you to give me all sorts of gossip about this when we get back together, though. I mean it. I want to know everything!”

Keira laughed. She was beyond grateful to have a friend here with her at such a pivotal moment in her life. “You’ll hear everything,” she said. “That’s a promise.”

“Let me call a car to take you back to your hotel,” Kareem suggested.

Allie shook her head. “We rented one, and I’m enjoying driving around here.”

“She’s great behind the wheel,” Keira said. “I’d think we might even see her in a race in the future.”

Allie flushed.

“All right,” Kareem said. “But if there is anything the crown can do for you during your stay, please don’t hesitate to let Keira or myself know. We want you to feel welcomed and taken care of during your time here.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Allie beamed. “I’m thrilled to be a guest of the royal family. I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the perks.”

Kareem and Keira shared a laugh as she tossed them a cheeky grin and showed herself out. “She’s fun,” Kareem said.

“I’m glad you think so. I’d struggle to be happy in a marriage to someone who didn’t appreciate my best friend.”

“No worries on that score, I think she’s great,” Kareem assured her. “I don’t know if my father would feel the same way, but that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.”

“Are we going to the palace?” Keira couldn’t help feeling slightly nervous, in spite of her assurances that she was nothing but confident. She did want King Hassan to like her.

Before Kareem could answer, there was a knock on the door.

Kareem and Keira froze and looked at one another. Keira felt like a child who had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She knew at once that that knock could mean nothing good.

The door opened.

King Hassan stood there, his face neutral. “Well,” he said. “I think the three of us have a few things to discuss.”

Kareem rallied quickly. “Father,” he said. “Keira and I were on our way to speak with you.”

“Well, I should think so,” King Hassan agreed. “That little display was quite unexpected.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty,” Keira said. “I know that wasn’t very restrained of me.”

“Don’t apologize,” Kareem told her. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t say you’re sorry unless you actually regret it.”

Keira shook her head. “You know I don’t regret it.” She reached out and took his hand, even though it was a little intimidating to do that with the king watching them. She couldn’t help herself. The idea that Kareem might think for a moment that she regretted what had transpired between them was heart-rending, and she ached to put him at ease.

He gripped her hand for a moment and pulled her closer so that they were standing right alongside one another.

“We’re going to stay married, Father,” he said. “We love each other. We’re going to try to make things work between the two of us.”

“I see,” King Hassan said slowly.

“And if you truly want Keira out of Qalmar — well, I guess you’ll be kicking me out too,” Kareem said.

Keira gasped. “Kareem, no. You can’t do that.”

“I’ll do what it takes,” Kareem said firmly. “I love my country and I don’t want to leave, but I should never have let anything come between the two of us. I’ve never felt for anyone the way I do for you, Keira, and I’m not going to risk losing that. If I have to immigrate in order to keep you, I will.”

The king held up a hand. “Let’s not be hasty,” he said. “Kareem, I never wanted to force Keira out of this country. My problem was never with her.” He looked at Keira. “You seem like a lovely young woman,” he said. “It’s the lying I didn’t appreciate. I felt that my son manipulated me into believing in a marriage that wasn’t real.”

“I did do that,” Kareem said. “I can admit to it. But, Father — I felt as if I had no choice. It was the only way to make this race happen. I needed Keira’s help, and I had no other plausible reason for bringing her to Qalmar. I needed something that you would believe for long enough to let me achieve my dream.”

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