Page 13 of The Sheikh's Fake Bride Scheme

“Thirtypercent? Kareem, you can’t pay me that much. You’re going to have to pay your vendors, your staff, you’re going to have to rent a venue?—”

“I’ve thought of all that,” Kareem said. “But I’m not going to take a cut for myself. This is a passion project for me. I don’t need to earn money doing it. So I can afford to give you a significant portion of the earnings.” He swirled his own martini, still half full, in his hand. “Would that make it worth your while to come to Qalmar with me?”

“And to marry you?” She hesitated. It was a huge thing to ask.

But it was beginning to seem more and more alluring, if she was honest with herself. Not only would she stamp her name on what would hopefully become a big world event, but she wouldalso have the money to ensure that the ProBar cup was able to continue successfully for years. Keira would become the biggest name on the production side of motorsports. F1 drivers wouldbegfor a place in her events, and everyone would have to take her seriously. It would change her status within her family once and for all.

Besides, what was she really being asked to do? Travel to an exotic location and spend time with a charming and handsome man? It was outlandish, but itdidsound like fun.

“Give me your phone number,” she told him. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know what I decide.”

CHAPTER 6

KEIRA

“You’rejoking.”

Allie had been tightening a lug nut, but now she dropped the wrench she’d been holding and stared at Keira, wide-eyed. “That guy wants tomarryyou?”

“It’s not like that,” Keira said. “I explained it to you. It’s not like he wants tomarryme. It’s just a way of dodging his father, and it would be strictly temporary.”

“You’re talking about a handsome prince who wants to marry you and move you into his palace.”

“He’s a sheikh, not a prince.”

“That’s the same thing! His father’s a king, right?”

“Well, yes.”

“Prince!”

“You’re being dramatic.

“Why aren’tyoubeing dramatic?” Allie demanded. “This is a dramatic situation, Keira. At times like these, drama is calledfor.” She held up a hand. “Wait a minute. Is there going to be a royal wedding?” She gasped. “Am I going to be the maid of honor in a royal wedding?”

“No, we’re not doing that,” Keira said. “If anything, we’ll go over to the Chapel of Love or something.”

“Oh my God, tell me you’re joking. You’re going to take the Sheikh of Qalmar to the Chapel of Love and marry him with piped-in elevator music and a rented internet priest? You cannot do that, Keira.”

“If we do a big royal wedding, everyone will take it too seriously,” Keira said. “The idea is to get the royal family to believe that we did something spontaneous and irresponsible, not that we made a well-thought-out choice. Besides, weddings like the kind you’re talking about take months to plan. We need to get this over with quickly so that we can focus on what really matters.”

“Which is creating a racing event in Qalmar.”

“Right.”

“You do get how crazy this all is, right?” Allie said.

Keira sighed. “I know. Do you think I shouldn’t do it?”

“I didn’t say that.” Allie picked up her wrench and resumed work on the lug nut. “I just wanted to make sure you knew you were being crazy. You’re kind of freaking me out, you know?”

“Why? It’s not like you’ve never done anything crazy.”

“Yeah, exactly. Of the two of us, I’m the one you’d expect to find getting married at the Chapel of Love. I almost did that one time, remember?”

“I’ll never forget,” Keira chuckled. “You called me and woke me up at four in the morning so I could come down and be your witness.”

“And you came racing over to talk me out of it,” Allie recalled, a fond smile on her face.

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