Page 10 of The Sheikh's Defiant Girlfriend

“You have it bad,” Sara said to Amir as Soraya walked away. She picked up her fork and knife and started eating. “You’re as in love with her as I am with this meal. It’s heavenly. I don’t know why I feel like I haven’t eaten in days.”

“You always feel that way. Maybe you have a tapeworm.” Amir grinned at her, happy to be able to direct the conversation elsewhere.

“Does Malik know?” Sara asked.

“That you have a tapeworm? Why would he?” Amir replied.

“Stop it. You know what I mean.” Sara took a break from eating to sip her tea. “So Malikdoesn’tknow. Have you told her how you feel?”

“Ah, sort of. But not completely,” he admitted. “I’m not sure I understand it myself.”

Sara shook her head. “You are just like your brother. You don’t understand your own heart. It’s probably encoded in your DNA. Look, when Tariq finally figured out how he felt about me, he couldn’t just tell me, and it caused problems. When he finally said it, it wasn’t even a simpleI love you.Don’t put Soraya through that. It was a rough ride for us, and I want your love life to be smoother.”

“More like a Ferris wheel than a roller coaster?” Amir asked.

“Maybe. Except that with both of those, you get off at the bottom.”

Soraya returned to clear the table after Sara and Amir had finished eating.

“It was nice to meet you, Soraya. You look nothing like your brother, I must say,” Sara said. “But he’s one of my favorite people here, so if you’re alike in other ways, I’m sure we’ll be great friends.”

“Growing up, people always said I looked like a boy. Malik has more classic good looks,” Soraya said.

“People said I acted like a boy,” Sara replied.

“They still do,” Amir teased, and both women laughed.

“You’re not in the oil business like your brother?” Sara asked Soraya.

“No, I am still at university. I am studying accounting and finance.”

“Wow, brains and beauty. What do you hope to do once you graduate?”

The women carried on talking, but Amir frowned. While he was pleased they were getting along so easily, he might as well not be there. Whenever he complemented Soraya on anything, she never reacted the way she’d reacted just now when Sara complimented her. She didn’t see him as a serious prospect, only an emergency toy for when she didn’t have anything better to do. What did Sara have that he did not?

“Okay then, Sara, if the two of you are done flirting, shall we leave? I need to get back to the office, and I’m sure Leylah wants her mama.” Amir said, interrupting their conversation. They both looked at him as if he was crazy. He cleared his throat and looked away. Sara rubbed Soraya’s arm as they said goodbye and left.

This lunch had not gone as he’d expected. Sara had been pleasant company, and he was glad to have someone to talk to about his interest in Soraya. But all the ease he and Soraya had shared the other night seemed to have vanished. Was it because he’d shown up at her work?

He sighed. Yes, Soraya had seemed to be momentarily jealous when she’d seen him there with another woman. But somehow, he’d ended up the jealous one, envying the quick rapport between the women. Still, he was glad to see her. He was always glad to spend time in her company. And if he’d helped facilitate a new friendship between Soraya and Sara, all the better. Sara could no doubt help Soraya come around. He was sure of it.

5

The wedding was fast approaching. The only thing left to do was for Sara to choose a dress. Her mother, Fiddah, and Tariq and Amir’s cousin, Aaliyah, all went along with Sara to help pick out the wedding gown. Fiddah had chosen the shop, an exclusive bridal boutique where only one party was accommodated at a time. They had to make an appointment. When they arrived, Fiddah pressed a doorbell button, and Sara heard a pleasant chiming from inside. A moment later, a sales consultant welcomed them inside. She seemed to know who Fiddah was and was excited to meet her. Sara looked around the shop. It was filled with many different types of wedding dresses, all rather elaborate. She stood there playing with her engagement ring. There were too many options. She had no idea where to begin. They always said most girls started planning their wedding at the age of seven. She was not most girls. All she wanted was Tariq. She didn’t care about the rest.

“Aren’t they lovely?” Fiddah asked Sara with a smile.

“There are far too many choices,” Sara replied.

“The more, the better. We have to find the perfect dress for you.”

The four of them sat down, and a sales assistant brought them a tray of refreshments. Sara restrained herself and took only one small canape and a sip of lemonade. She checked on Leylah, who was sleeping in her stroller, and then moved her into a better position. The saleswoman asked them what kind of gown they were looking for, and everyone had a different answer.

Fiddah asked for something elegant, preferably made out of the finest silk. She was not too big on embroidery. A simple dress would be better on Sara. Her beauty was enough to light up the entire place. Mrs. Matthews agreed with Fiddah’s idea of elegance but added that the dress should have lace sleeves. Aaliyah suggested something tight-fitting to show off her hourglass figure. She preferred embroidery and satin for the gown. Sara rubbed her temples. She’d had no idea planning a wedding would be so difficult. She had underestimated the whole thing.

The saleswoman just nodded along as she listened to the women before she turned to Sara herself.

“You’re the bride. Your preferences matter the most.”

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