Page 64 of Prince of Her Heart
Now, standing just outside Ramzi’s room, she second-guessed whether she belonged in there at all.
Then she heard it.
“Tabitha!”Ramzi’s voice rang out.
He’d seen her.
She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and stepped into the room.It felt like walking into an international summit, only with more bodyguards.
This wasn’t unlike her first time leading a negotiation.She’d been scared then, too—but she’d gotten through it.She could do this.
Except Sheik Amit el Sandir turned those piercing eyes on her, and suddenly breathing didn’t seem like a given.His stare was unreadable, intense, and vaguely assessing—like he could see straight through her.She almost turned around.
But then Marianna stepped forward, swatting her husband’s arm.“Stop trying to intimidate her, Amit.”
She wrapped an arm warmly around Tabitha’s shoulders.“My son tells me you’re going to join our chaotic family.”Her smile turned smug.“That’s wonderful news.And long overdue.”
Tabitha opened her mouth to respond—but then noticed the hospital bed was empty.
“Where’s…?”she began.
“Over here,” Ramzi called out, stepping into view and looking much better in a fitted black sweater and slacks.He looked healthy.Whole.Strong enough to walk out the door and take on the world.
Her stomach twisted.
“What’s going on?”she asked, trying to keep her voice even.
“We’re flying home,” Sheik Amit announced, his tone brooking no argument.“I respect the staff here, but I want him under our care.”
Her heart dropped.She nodded quickly, trying to hide the disappointment.“That’s probably best,” she murmured, already backing toward the door.“I’ll just—”
“You’re coming with me,” Ramzi interrupted, his voice low but firm.“I couldn’t possibly recover without you.”
A poorly muffled snort came from the corner.Tabitha turned to see Ramzi’s younger brother failing to hide his chuckle.
Ignoring the other man, she narrowed her eyes at Ramzi.“Are you this dictatorial at home, too?”
“Worse,” he said, deadpan.“But you love me.We’re getting married.Soon.”
Tabitha’s heart soared with happiness, but she couldn’t let Ramzi get away with his autocratic command.“Is that so?”
He lifted that dark eyebrow, as if daring her to disagree.“That’s so.”
She stared at him, trying to come up with something pithy to say, something to pierce that amazing confidence.But all she could come up with was, “And are you still going steal the last sweet and spicy shrimp?”
He nodded, but there was a hint of a grin at the corners of his sexy mouth.“Every time.”
He pulled her in and kissed her forehead.The touch undid her a little.Her breath caught.
“That might be a deal breaker,” she whispered, laying her cheek against his chest, careful not to bump his wounded arm.
He leaned closer.“Maybe we can negotiate that last piece of shrimp…”
Then he kissed her.Slow.Certain.Warmth and relief spilled through her—and when the round of applause started, Tabitha jumped, red-faced, realizing the entire room had watched the past several moments unfold.
She groaned.“Oh, you’re going to pay for that,” she whispered, then turned to face his family once again.
“Witnesses,” he said with a shrug, draping his unwounded arm around her and tugging her to his side.
