Page 11 of The Sheikh's Fake Fiancée

Masood accelerated through the now green traffic lights, the driver clearing his throat then as though covering his amusement. Kain pulled away from Zania with reluctance, aware of his driver’s gaze in the rearview mirror. Masood winked. “I’m happy to try and lose the paparazzi if you are?”

Kain shook his head. “It’s all good, Masood. I prefer my gorgeous fiancée’s idea. With any luck we’ll get more red lights and I’ll be able to kiss her all over again.”

The driver smirked a little, his amused gaze moving to Zania. “I can’t say I blame you, Sheikh Kain.”

Kain chuckled and Zania flushed. She’d no doubt realize by now how close he was to his chauffeur. Kain filled her in, anyway. “Though Masood is my driver, he is also a part of my security team. I trust him with my life.”

She nodded. “I-I’m glad you have someone you can trust.” She sucked in a deep breath, then conceded, “It must be good to surround yourself with people who believe and care about you.”

Shit.What had happened to her on Holly Island had hurt her more than he’d even realized. That it brought his protective instincts to the surface wasn’t something he wanted to think about too much. He was in over his head with her. That he was gratefully drowning was only just beginning to register.

“Masood will be your bodyguard at the palace. If you ever want to go somewhere outside its four walls, just ask Masood. He will take you anywhere you need to be—within reason—and protect you.”

She blinked. “And where do I find him if I do want to go somewhere?”

“He won’t be too far from our suite of rooms. But he’ll also put his number into your phone.”

She nodded. “Okay, thank you. It’s nice to know I won’t be a prisoner for the short time I—“

It was time for a subject change. No one, Masood included, needed to know their engagement was a ruse. “That was quick thinking back at the lights,” he interjected mildly. “Our kiss will be all over the papers before we’re even awake in the morning.”

She bit her bottom lip, her smile a little uncertain. “Thatiswhat you want?”

He nodded, his heart wrenching with a need for her to want it too. “It is.”

Masood slowed the car, then turned, diverting Zania’s attention. She gasped at the huge, carved stone pillars in the shape of lions with the scrolled metal bar gates that opened to allow them access.“That’syour home?”

He looked ahead to where the long, natural stone paved driveway was flanked by date palms and ended in the sandstone-colored palace with its turrets and domes. “It is,” he said, seeing it in a whole new light as he imagined it through her eyes. “It’s quite spectacular, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Though Aisha’s home was impressive enough, this is a whole new level.”

Pleasure warmed his blood. “Tomorrow I’ll take you on a tour, show you the grand ballroom that is in the process of getting built. I heard it’s all the rage now for a sheikh to build one for the love of his life.”

Her eyes widened. “You built one for me?” she squeaked.

“For us,” he affirmed.

“But ours isn’t a real—“

“Only we know that, shortcake,” he said quietly.

She glanced at the driver, her face flushing. “Of course.”

His chest grew tight. She’d been through so much the last month and now she was facing another month of lies to try and save face for something that hadn’t been her fault. Not really. Tabari had well and truly played her…and Aisha.

That the man had probably already set his sights on some other innocent woman made his temper flare anew.

“I’ve made you angry,” she said quietly.

He blinked, her gorgeous face coming back into sharp focus. “What?”

“I all but blurted out the truth earlier, even knowing we weren’t alone.”

“No.No,”he reiterated. “I apologize, my thoughts were on an entirely different track. I’m not angry at you.”

“Who, then?”

He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “You don’t want to know.”

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