Page 37 of Sheikh's Accidental Pregnancy

He actually hadn’t, but he did wish he’d thought of it.

“Where shall we go?” Amir asked as he started the car.

“Home,” she said as if he were stupid for even asking the question.

“Are you hungry?”

“I ate at work. It’s one of the perks of being a server at the best restaurant in town. And no, I don’t want to go for a drink, either. No dates or anything that looks like a date.”

“We’ve been on one before.” He pulled away from the curb, his brain working on the next step of his plan. For the moment, he would head toward her home.

“That doesn’t count. You know full well I was expecting someone else that night. Did you pay him to stand me up, or did you steal his phone to ask me out, so I would think it was him?”

Amir ignored her question. Explaining that he had bought a phone for the sole purpose of pretending to be someone else so she’d agree to meet him for dinner would not win him any points. She had her serious face on, and getting her to relax was a long and delicate process. Making her laugh would be a multi-day mission. One that he enjoyed.

“How was work?” Amir asked. Her part-time job helped pay for the degree in accounting and finance she was working toward. She’d never wanted to rely on her family’s money. That independent streak of hers was part of what he liked about her. He turned onto the road that led out of the city.

“Fine,” Soraya replied. “Erm, this is not the way to my house.”

“You’re very uptight,” he replied.

“What?” She sounded confused by his sudden change of topic.

He turned and smiled at her. He’d finally settled on where to take her. Oh, he’d keep his promise and get her home safely. Eventually. But right now, he wanted to take her out, do something spontaneous. He wanted to put a smile on her face.

“Amir, what are we doing way out here?” Soraya asked as they left the city behind.

When he turned onto a dirt road, Amir wished he’d had the idea earlier. He’d have driven his Land Rover rather than his Mercedes sedan.

“Amir.” Soraya’s voice was threatening now. When they were children, that tone made him wary. She often followed up by stomping on his foot, spilling something in his lap, or otherwise making him pay for his troublemaking ways. The worst was when she’d silently walk away, because he knew then that she would dream up some particularly devilish revenge.

He tried to deflect her ire.

“Horseback riding is spectacular at sunset.”

* * *

Soraya finally allowed herself to look around. Until now, she’d been so busy being annoyed with Amir she hadn’t registered he wasn’t driving her to her home.

Amir parked in front of a stable. A mansion stood a hundred yards away, and horses looked up from white-fenced paddocks nearby. The place was fancy, and at least at first glance, it looked remarkably clean. Amir got out of the car and came around to open the door for her. She reluctantly got out, but only because the car would soon become unbearably hot now that Amir had turned it off and the air conditioner was no longer running.

He led her to the barn, where a woman met him with the familiarity and deference an employee used with an employer.

“Good evening, Miriam. I’m sorry for showing up unannounced like this, but I had a sudden urge for a sunset ride. Could you please help Soraya with some riding clothes?”

“Of course, Sheikh. Miss, if you would come with me. This way,” the woman said and gestured to Soraya.

“Is this really necessary?” Soraya asked Amir.

“Unless you want to ride in your work clothes,” he replied and winked at her. She narrowed her eyes at him. She’d asked if this whole excursion was necessary, but as usual, he interpreted things the way he wanted. “Come on, Soraya. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Growing up, Amir would make fun of how boyish she was. Back then, she did have a sense of adventure. Now, between school and work, she was usually too tired for adventure, too focused on getting her degree and starting her career so she could forge her own way in life. She did kind of miss having fun. If Amir wanted to take her on a short adventure, why shouldn’t she take him up on the offer? It didn’t mean they were dating.

Soraya followed Miriam into a small changing room with lockers made of rich wood where stacks of riding clothes in all different sizes waited for riders. She changed quickly and headed outside. Amir was already there waiting for her.

He’d changed out of his business suit and into more traditional garb—loose white trousers and a white tunic. The wind ruffled his wavy dark hair, and for a moment, she wished he’d grow a beard so he’d look more like a Bedouin chieftain and less like the womanizing partier he was. In her weaker moments, she longed for a strong, silent man to sweep her away. Amir could never be that man, though. Not only was he a notorious playboy, but he was also almost never silent.

“Have you ever been horseback riding?” Amir asked her.

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