Page 21 of Sheikh's Accidental Pregnancy

She frowned when she walked past Adiva. Her perfume was a bit off, and it made Sara’s stomach turn. “That isn’t your usual perfume, is it?” she asked.

“No, I’m trying out a new one,” Adiva replied with a smile. Sara nodded and walked off, taking shelter in her office. The smell was killing her.

Amir came by a couple hours later.

“Good work on that report,” he said. “I don’t know who pissed in Tariq’s tea this morning, but don’t worry. Malik confirmed everything you concluded. Tariq and I have a family dinner tonight, so we’ll be leaving soon. Feel free to take the rest of the day off as well. You’ve earned it.”

“Thank you, Amir. I think I will. Have a great dinner.” Her stomach still hadn’t settled, and she was more tired than usual—too much stress, too many late nights—so she was happy to leave early.

“You haven’t been yourself these past few days,” Amir said. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me,” Sara replied. “Tell me about this girl you’re dating.” She didn’t want to talk about herself, so she hoped she could distract her boss.

Amir shrugged. “Well, she’s someone I grew up knowing, but I never looked at her that way,” Amir said as he buttoned his suit jacket.

“How old is she?”

“Is this an interrogation?” Amir made an overly dramatic gesture of distress and then laughed. “Good night, Sara. Get some rest.”

“Twenty-five?” Sara guessed. Amir headed for the door. “Twenty-six?”

“Twenty-five,” he finally said. “Enough already. Go home!”

“Only three years younger than you. Nice.” Sara smiled.

“Goodbye!” Amir said. He stopped walking and turned back to her. “My grandmother is coming by for lunch tomorrow. I hope you’ll join us. She expressly asked if you would be there.”

Sara readily agreed, excited to see the older woman again. This whole adventure would be worthwhile if only because of her friendship with Fiddah.

A few minutes later, she was on her way home. She walked, as usual, but today the heat seemed especially oppressive. She wasn’t entirely sure she would make it home.

15

Tariq saw a familiar figure on the sidewalk ahead as his car waited for a traffic light to turn green. Sara wasn’t walking in her normal annoyingly cheerful way. She was barely picking up her feet, and she held an arm across her belly. When the traffic light changed, and his driver pulled closer, Sara stumbled. Not tripping over her own feet this time. It looked like her legs might not hold her for much longer.

“Pull over,” Tariq ordered, and he jumped out of the car a moment later.

Sara blinked up at him for a long moment. “What are you doing?” She was sweating and pale, and Tariq put a hand under her elbow automatically.

“Taking you home. Get in the car.”

Astoundingly, Sara obeyed without question, sliding into the back with a sigh. The car was always stocked with bottles of artesian water kept ice cold, and Tariq cracked one open for her.

“Drink. Then give the driver your address.”

He knew she had to be feeling bad when she didn’t fuss or glare. After several long swallows, she told the driver where to go, leaned back in the seat, and closed her eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Maybe Fiddah was right about you after all.”

He didn’t know what his grandmother might have said about him, or when they’d spent any time together, but it wasn’t worth worrying about right now.

At her apartment building, Tariq helped her up the stairs and into her apartment. It wasn’t air conditioned, but two big fans kept the air moving, so it wasn’t too stifling.

“Do you have a roommate?” he asked once he saw her settled on the sofa.

“No, but the twins are next door.”

He went next door and knocked. One of the women Sara had been with at the restaurant answered. Her mouth dropped open at the sight of him.

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