Page 1 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Chapter One

"So, when will it be your turn to get married, Aliyah?"

Aliyah Al Kharif tried to hide the shock on her face as she glanced at her best friend, Nadyah Al Mahrez. What a question! At first, she didn't have a clue how to respond. Trying to buy some time, Aliyah gazed out across the beautifully tended garden. She and Nadyah were seated on the terrace of Nadyah's brother Azim's palace. It was only a matter of days until the wedding of Azim and his beautiful American bride-to-be, Lucy. Thoughts of marriage were in the air.

Aliyah felt her face flush, and she hurriedly sipped from the glass of cool mineral water. How could she even begin to answer a question like that?

Aliyah glanced at Nadyah and saw the wide, expectant smile on her friend's even features. There was a mischievous glint in Nadyah's eyes, a twinkle that Aliyah recognized all too well. Of course, Nadyah was teasing her, Aliyah realized.

Again. Just like she'd been doing over the past couple of years which had seen Aliyah's three brothers, her cousins and now two of Nadyah's brothers successfully claim their own brides. Yes, Aliyah told herself. Marriage had been in the air a long time.

Aliyah placed the glass down on the table and rested her gaze on the lush grass, tall trees and looked out to the desert beyond the walled enclosure that circled the palace. It was early afternoon, and she'd thought she'd come to Azim's palace at Nadyah's invitation to see how the wedding preparations were going. Aliyah hadn't realized she'd have to face the same old question so many people had asked her every time there had been a wedding in recent times. When would it be her turn?Was this some kind of setup?

Aliyah glanced at Nadyah and saw her friend was still waiting for an answer.

"Well?" Nadyah prompted with a raised brow.

"Me? Get married?" Aliyah asked glancing at Nadyah. "You already know what I think of that, Nadyah."

Her friend raised a querying brow. "Really," she drawled disbelievingly. "Why am I not convinced?"

Aliyah shrugged. "You and everyone else seem awfully interested in my marriage prospects." Aliyah sighed. "People just don't stop asking me."

Nadyah shrugged. "It makes sense, don't you think?"

Aliyah frowned. "Why?"

Nadyah peered knowingly at Aliyah. It seemed there was no way of fooling her friend. They'd known each other since they'd both been children. Sometimes Aliyah was sure that Nadyah could almost read her mind.

"You were pretty closely involved with all of your brothers' weddings," Nadyah explained.

Aliyah lifted a dismissive shoulder. "They needed all the help they could get," she said. "You know what they're like," she added with a shake of her head.

Nadyah laughed quietly. "What! Even down to making sure your brothers proposed?" she asked, her brows rising incredulously. "There's help, and then there's just plain old-fashioned interference," Nadyah said.

Aliyah pouted proudly. "I was just trying to help."

"Seems like it was a bit more than just helping, Aliyah," Nadyah said. "You know you have a nickname, don't you?"

Aliyah's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" she demanded breathlessly.

Nadyah shook her head. "No need to be shocked. It's nothing scandalous."

Aliyah twisted in her seat and leaned her elbows on the table. "What are they calling me? And who exactly?"

"You really want to know?" Nadyah asked, her gaze fixed on Aliyah.

Aliyah nodded.

Nadyah grinned. "They're calling you the Qazhar matchmaker," she announced.

Aliyah gasped. "Matchmaker? That's ridiculous. I didn't interfere that much." Aliyah glanced at Nadyah. "Did I?" she asked receiving a blank look in return from Nadyah.

Aliyah shook her head and sighed. "How can they call me that?"

Nadyah laughed. "Because it's true. You know it, and so do I. You can't deny you did pull a few levers behind the scenes now and then."

"You make it sound so calculating," Aliyah said.

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