Page 2 of The Sheikh’s Christmas Present

Suddenly, the bus pulled to a stop, and the doors opened. Glancing up, she realized that she’d actually made it to the airport. Breathing a sigh of relief, she pushed away from him mumbling her thanks and darted from the bus into the cold air. Her need to get away from him outweighed her need to pay him back, and even as she ran from him, she could have sworn she heard him laughing at her.

2

“Girl, you are late!” Tessa Danbridge shook her head as Maria ducked into the cockpit. “I’m about to freeze my ass off here. It’s the Middle East for crying out loud. It’s not supposed to get cold here!”

Maria snorted. “It’s December, Tessa. I told you not to pack those short shorts.”

The gorgeous blonde shrugged. “What can I say? I’m still trying to land myself a sexy stranger. We should be fueled and ready to take off in the next thirty minutes. There are reports of a storm brewing. I’d ask if you want to wait one more day, but I already know the answer.”

“Then don’t even bring it up,” Maria muttered. “If we miss our deadlines, the press will crucify us, and all of our donors will pull out. This is way too important to me.”

“I know, but you need to relax. We have a little more than a week.” Tessa said with a tight smile.

Maria knew that Tessa meant well, but she’d been stressed for the past two months. If she didn’t make it to Syria on time with the toy donations from Christmas Crates, it’d be the last nail in her coffin. She’d started the charity five years ago thanks to a tremendous outpouring of help via Crowd Sourcing, and things had been amazing. Every year, she collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to fly crates of toys, medicine, and necessities to refugee camps all over the world.

For three years, everything had gone smoothly, but the last two years, things hadn’t been going so well. Money had gone missing, and the press started spreading rumors that the charity was skimming money from donors.

Sebastian, her brother, had blamed the missing money on bad investments while trying to garner more attention for the charity, but the rumors continued to fly, to the point where some donors were getting cold feet and pulling back their donations. A well-known religious organization offered to partner with Christmas Crates to bring cheer and much-needed supplies to a large refugee camp near the Syrian mountains. Their donors were eager to spend their money and they were able to secure approval from the local government to bring in the supplies. So far, everything had gone smoothly, but Maria needed things to continue to go well. “We’re going to make this flight if it kills us,” she said grimly. “Did you double and triple-check the crates?”

“Well, hello, sexy stranger.”

“What?” Maria looked up sharply and frowned. Her friend was staring slack-jawed behind her. Whipping her head around, Maria’s eyes widened.

The gorgeous man from the bus stood at the entrance of the cockpit with that same smirk on his face. “Well, well, well,” he said softly. “It looks like my luck is about to change.”

“What the hell are you doing on my plane?’ she demanded.

“Maria!” Tessa gasped with a glare. She put on a charming smile as she refocused on the stranger. “I apologize for her. She doesn’t mean to be rude, but I think you might be lost. This is a private cargo plane. Please, don’t be lost.”

“I’m not lost.” He gave Tessa his best smile. “This is the only plane that’s still planning on taking off in the storm. You’re on your way to Syria, and I need a ride.”

Maria blinked. “I’m sorry. How do you know my flight plan?”

“Money talks,” he said easily. His body remained relaxed as he leaned against the frame of the plane. He was far too large for the space, and he seemed to steal all the oxygen. “And I’m willing to pay.”

“No,” Maria said instantly.

“One hundred thousand dollars.”

Silence settled in the cockpit as his words sunk in. She gaped. “Excuse me?” she squeaked.

The man smirked. “I’m Sheikh Jarik Shadid. I’m second in line for the crown, and I am desperate to leave the country as soon as possible. You wouldn’t turn me down, would you?”

Maria narrowed her eyes. “I don’t care who you are, I won’t let you bully us into doing your bidding.”

“Not even for the size of the donation I’m offering?” he asked quietly.

Maria rolled her eyes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Ms. Walken, I assure you that I am not.”

He knew her name? She really needed to have a talk with airport security. “Mr. Shadid…”

“Sheikh Shadid,” he reminded her. The interruption only made her narrow her eyes even more.

“Sheikh Shadid,” she said emphatically. “This is not a passenger plane. I have cargo that needs to make it to Syria on time.”

“I’m aware of that. I’m also aware that you have two seats still empty on the plane. I will not keep you from meeting your goals. Your little charity is admirable, and I’m sure you could do quite a bit with the money that I’m offering you.”

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