Page 16 of Desert King's Forbidden Temptation

‘He was there quite recently.’

‘He met with the Crown Princess, in fact,’ Eloise said, with a nod. ‘She always praised him.’

‘My husband was an excellent man.’ The older woman’s eyes moved to Tariq, love obvious in their depths. ‘And my son made him very proud.’

Eloise’s heart skipped a beat. ‘I’m sure.’ The words, to her own ears, were slightly wooden, and she saw in the answering flicker of Tariq’s lips that he heard and understood.

‘Have you lived in Ras Sarat for long, dear?’

‘A few years.’

‘And what brought you to this part of the world?’

‘Friendship, and occupation.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘And a need for change, and perhaps theumm ali.’

The Sheikha smiled. ‘One of my personal favourites.’

‘I didn’t have a sweet tooth until I tried it.’

‘Our chef makes the best you’ve ever tasted.’ She turned to Tariq. ‘Will you have some made for Eloise?’

‘Would you like some, Eloise?’ he asked, his voice hinting at a double entendre, so her stomach twisted and she sent him a furious glance. How could he make light of this? She ground her teeth together, offering a saccharine smile.

‘I shouldn’t. I know it’s not good for me.’

‘Sometimes it’s good to be bad.’

‘But the consequences,’ she added, flicking a tight smile at the Sheikha, who was oblivious to the undercurrent of tension.

‘It’s your choice,’ he said with a lift of his shoulders, his eyes sparking with hers to the point she couldn’t bear it.

She stood abruptly, her trademark grace nowhere in sight as she quickly came behind her chair and gripped the back.

‘Excuse me, Your Highness,’ she said, ignoring the Sheikh. ‘I promised the Princess I’d check in with her, and I’m overdue. Do you mind?’

‘Of course not, dear. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I enjoyed meeting you.’

Her heart gave a strange clutch. ‘And I you.’

She turned without another glance in Tariq’s direction. She couldn’t look at him. She had the strangest feeling that she would cry if she wasn’t very, very careful.

‘Eloise.’ His voice arrested her as she passed through the doors that led to the inside of the palace.

She dug her fingernails into her palms and stood perfectly still, without turning to face him.

‘You forgot this.’

Now she tilted her face, just enough to see him holding her handbag.

Inwardly, she groaned, forcing herself to nod her thanks. But when he was close enough that only she could hear him, he murmured, softly, ‘You’re running away from me.’

Her eyes flared wide and she made her escape while she still could, legs trembling all the way back to her suite of rooms.

CHAPTER FOUR

‘TARIQ!’SHESTAREDat him, heart kicking into overdrive, mind racing at his sudden appearance at her suite. ‘It’s almost nine o’clock.’

‘Yes, it’s late. I had a meeting. But as you haven’t eaten, I’ve come to collect you.’

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