Page 15 of The Sheikh's Fake Fiancée

He sighed heavily and removed his clasp from her arms before he stepped back. “You’re right.” He was as distant now mentally as he was physically. “I’m pressuring you.”

She nodded. “Just let me act my part.”

“Well, then. I hope you’re ready for your first performance.” His smile was all too impersonal and strained. “My friends can be quite discerning.”

She chose the highest heels from the assorted footwear a renowned shoe designer had gifted her as the future sheikha. She needed as much height as she could get for the task ahead.

“Come here,” Kain said huskily.

She twisted in her heels to face him, just barely past his shoulders when he cupped her face, then bent to kiss her. Sparkles danced from her lips and settled somewhere far more intimate, and she was breathing erratically when he pulled back, his eyes searching hers when he said throatily, “You taste good. Like cherries and mint.”

Her pulse jerked as she imagined him tasting something far more personal and exotic.Ugh.She was going to go crazy by the month’s end.

And yet, how long since you’ve thought about Tabari? You’re not even missing him, not with Kain filling your thoughts.

He reached for her hand. “Let’s go, shortcake.”

She was thankful for his clasp, his strength and confidence when they walked out of their dressing room and past the walk-in closet, through their huge sunken bedroom that she presently shared with him, then their sitting room and a dining and kitchen combo before they traversed the corridors once again.

“Ready,” he murmured into her ear ten minutes later, where they’d paused at a huge arched opening in front of them.

Her pulse spiked, and she had to take in some steadying breaths before she said, “I’m ready.”

He smiled and nodded, then kissed her hand before they stepped into a function room that was bigger than any restaurant’s. Guests in glittering jewels and traditional outfits milled around the many long tables with drinks in hand, each of them no doubt networking the room.

As one, the men and women turned to face them, a smattering of applause immediately breaking out. A ladyin a glittering gown and huge chandelier-style earrings, who appeared to be an MC and entertainer in one, stood up from her seat at a grand piano and picked up her microphone to introduce them. “Ladies and gentleman, Sheikh Kain Al Hadi and his beautiful fiancée, Zania Akhtar!”

More applause broke out then, thundering and loud, and Zania froze as every eye in the room landed on her,judgedher. All of them had no doubt heard the rumors, knew of her smeared reputation and speculated about it. No doubt they wondered what on earth Kain was doing with her.

“Smile,” Kain said gently, then bent to kiss the top of her head wrapped in her hijab. Then he murmured near her ear, “I’ll be right by your side all night, okay.”

She nodded and pasted a smile on her face as she turned to him. “I’m counting on it.”

He stepped forward and she dropped his hand to clasp his proffered forearm. He looked down at her. “Allow me to introduce you to some of my closest friends.”

They headed toward a small group of three. A man and a woman who stood close together and who she assumed were husband and wife, as well as a man in a beautiful Armani suit who seemed happy to flaunt tradition.

Kain grinned. “I’m pleased you all managed to make it here on such short notice.”

The suited man shrugged. “We have private jets for a reason.”

The woman, her gold abaya making her dark eyes even darker, said gently, “And we wouldn’t miss meeting your fiancée for the world. I still can’t believe how fast it all happened.”

Her robed husband—partner?—with his hooked nose and high cheekbones, nodded agreement. “We were beginning to think your bachelor status would never change.”

Kain smiled down at Zania, his eyes warm and perhaps a little worshipful. “I guess love often happens when we least expect it.”

The hawkish man looked at his woman. “I can attest to that.”

The woman practically glowed, her ruby-red lips curling into a love-struck smile.

Then the suited man said with a smirk, “The day that happens to me is the day I’ll build a grand ballroom even bigger and better than yours, Kain.”

Kain laughed. “The ballroom is getting to be quite the tradition for every sheikh in the Middle East.” He turned to Zania once again, and said, “Allow me to introduce you all to my gorgeous fiancée, Zania.”

They all murmured warm greetings before Kain added, “Zania, the single man in the suit is renowned playboy, Sheikh Salem Al-Nabil. The obviously smitten and married man is Ali Naji and his beautiful wife, Karima Naji.”

Karima smiled warmly. “It’s so lovely to meet you, Zania. Anyone who can make Kain this happy and devoted is someone I can admire, despite—“

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