Page 18 of The Sheik's Pretend Fiancee
Finally, he was able to greet his faux-fiancée!
“Good morning, Sheik el Maistri,” she whispered softly, conscious of the press that were eagerly snapping pictures of their meeting.“It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Her smile was forced and he had the urge to pull her against his side. But he knew the drill and would play the game.
But when he’d decided that the press had obtained enough pictures, Tiro shifted slightly so that the cameras were blocked. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, leaning forward so that no one could overhear his question.
When he pulled back, still leaning down so that he could see into her eyes, there was relief in her lovely, expressive eyes. And he relaxed ever so slightly.
“I’m okay,” she whispered back. “And I’m terribly sorry for this mess!”
He chuckled and then, despite admonishments that he still needed to have a ceremonial conversation with Prince Raj to formally ask for her hand in marriage, Tiro tucked her hand onto his elbow. “Why don’t you lead me to a place where we can talk privately?”
Angela hesitated, looking startled. But after that brief flash, a sweet, almost mischievous grin caught everyone off guard. If the cameras had been clicking before, that was nothing compared to the tidal waveof clicking now! Tiro ignored the scowls from the men behind him. They could all go to hell. He was more than ready to get out of this circus and have a private word with Angela.
She led him out of the formal receiving room. He felt, rather than saw, the men filing in behind their exit. Tiro half expected the six men to pull Angela away and take a swing at him. He would probably do that if his child were in this situation. An innocent…actually, not so innocent…kiss had brought two countries together. It was a good idea, but his priority at the moment was to get Angela to a place where she could relax.
Chapter 13
Angela felt her skin burning where his hand covered hers. She led him out of the miserably formal “receiving” room and down the long hallway, ignoring the frowns of the palace guards, until she pushed open the doors to one of the formal salons.
“We should be okay in here,” she whispered, thinking to get away from everyone. But before she could close the doors, a hand pushed the door back open. In marched her uncles, then her father, then her cousins. They all looked angry and her father seemed poised to pounce on Tiro.
“Don’t do it!” she admonished the six men with a stern look, stepping in front of Tiro as if to shield him from her relatives’ wrath.
“Don’t do what?” Zayn asked, his voice ominously casual as he pulled his suit jacket off, draping it over one of the silk-covered chairs.
She knew exactly what he was about to do and Angela wasn’t going to stand forit!
“Don’t youdarehurt him!” Angela hissed, lifting her arms protectively. She knew Tiro was tall and powerfully built. But that didn’t mean that she wanted her family to fight Tiro. She didn’t want anyone to be hurt. Especially since taking a swing at Tiro would cause an international scandal.
Still, her cousin moved closer, fury lighting his eyes. Angela backed up, shaking her head.
“Zayn, don’t you dare! We’ve hadmore than enough media attention over the past few days. There will be too many public events. If there’s a bruise on his face, there will be hell to pay, and you know it.”
Zayn paused, as if contemplating her words, then tilted his head slightly.“I’m okay with that.”In that moment, his scowl turned vicious.“He kissed you! And it was his team that released thevideo.”
Angela felt Tiro stiffen at that claim, even stepping forward, more than willing to battle this out the old-fashioned way. But she leaned her back against his chest, stopping his momentum.
She rolled her eyes.“Seriously?Are we still doing this hypocrisy thing?” When her cousin stared at her in confusion, Angela continued. “Weren’t you photographed with that actress from the big movie last week,while you were in Los Angeles?” Angela waited for him to show even a touch of shame. However, Zayn didn’t make the connection. Nor did Laith or Rafi, both of whom glanced at each other, then back to her as if she’d lost her mind.
Zayn shrugged, dismissing the situation entirely. “That’s different,” he replied, unbuttoning his cuffs in preparation for rolling up his sleeves. “He touched you,” he snarled with a jerk of his chin in Tiro’s direction.
Angela huffed impatiently. “Actually, if you watchthe video more carefully, the only hands one can see are mine.” She leaned closer, taunting her cousin. “And I’m holding him while I kissedhim!”
A grunt came from behind her and Angela turned to find Tiro, obvious displeasure on his face. However, it was Tiro’s protective body language that slowed Zayn’s progress. He halted, his eyes not so sure now.
Angela was very aware that it wasn’t her words that had slowed her cousin down. It was Tiro’s protectiveness. Even she wasn’t immune to it. In fact, it took every ounce of self-control not to lean back against Tiro again.
Tiro put his hands on her waist, holding her for a moment, but then he tried to shift her off to his left. “Back away, Angela. This isn’t your business.”
Angela laughed. “Of course it’s my business, you idiot!” she snapped. She started to step closer to Zayn, intending to offer logic, but a thick, muscular arm whipped out from behind her, pulling her back against a hard, massive chest. She gasped, startled by the abrupt movement and, if she were honest with herself, a wave of desire so strong, it took her breath away.
However, Angela wasn’t ready to be honest with herself. Especially since her uncle and Tiro had agreed to a temporary engagement for political purposes only. She started to struggle, wanting to peel his hand away.
The arm around her waist tightened slightly, but Angela ignored the silent message. She slapped at his arm, but he didn’t release her. A moment later, she felt Tiro’s lips brush her ear. Angela couldn’t stifle the shiver of awareness at the touch, so it took her a long moment to register his words.
“I’ve got this,qatah saghira,” Tiro whispered.
