Page 14 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

"There's always been rumors about Shahid," Nadyah said quickly to Lucy. "Every year there's been gossip about this woman or that woman. I think I know my brother pretty well. He's always been quite defiant when it comes to granting my father's wishes."

Aliyah took another sip of tea and suddenly wanted the conversation to change subject. Could Shahid's motives for his behavior in the garden be as simple as that? His father had ordered him to marry? Could that explain the suddenness of Shahid's approach to Aliyah? She wasn't willing to believe that. Not after the way he had held her, the way he had spoken to her. The way he'd kissed her.

Aliyah saw that Nadyah was looking at her, and there was concern on her friend's face. "Do you want more tea, Aliyah?" Nadyah asked reaching for the pot.

Aliyah shook her head. "No. I'm fine for the moment," she replied. She really needed to change the subject.

"So, Lucy," Aliyah said taking hold of herself. "How are the wedding plans coming along?"

Lucy smiled. "I think everything will be ready." She rolled her eyes. "At least, I hope so."

Nadyah rested a hand on Lucy's arm. "I'm sure everything will be just perfect. When are your parents arriving?"

Lucy sighed. "They're due to arrive tomorrow."

"They must be so excited," Aliyah said.

Lucy cocked her head to one side. "My parents haven't been outside of the States before. This is going to be a real shock to the system for them."

"I'm sure they'll love Qazhar," Aliyah said. "Everyone who comes here falls in love with the place."

"Or just falls in love," Nadyah joked.

All three women laughed at that.

"My folks are small town people. That's all they've ever known. My father wanted me to be an accountant," Lucy said. She glanced from Aliyah to Nadyah. "Can you imagine that? Me as an accountant. Azim still thinks that's pretty funny," she explained with a grin.

Aliyah thought about Lucy being cooped up in an office and dismissed the thought. Lucy's job until recently had involved documenting ancient heritage sites, like statues and carvings in some of the most isolated places in the region. When she had gotten into difficulty recently Azim had come to the rescue and had taken the opportunity to win Lucy's hand in marriage. Lucy loved excitement. In many ways she was the polar opposite of Aliyah, who had devoted so much of her adult life to family matters.

And now there was the prospect of Shahid and everything he promised. Yet again, Aliyah wondered what kind of madness had taken hold of her, whether she was getting into something she shouldn't. Of course, she'd known Shahid for years. And of course she knew what kind of man he was. That was what had made his interest in her all the more surprising. A flickering doubt forced Aliyah to ask herself if she was sure his intentions were as he had stated to her. Was he actually serious about courting Aliyah?

****

"So. What is this I hear about you and Aliyah?" Azim asked Shahid. They were by the fountain in the central courtyard and they had been talking for a while about wedding plans. Now, the subject had changed and Azim had just come straight out and asked Shahid about Aliyah. Why was everyone so interested in him and Aliyah all of a sudden? Had it been so obvious?

Shahid shrugged. "There's nothing to say, Azim," he said. Azim's brows rose prompting Shahid to insist. "No, really. I don't know what you've been hearing but there's nothing going on."

Azim didn't look convinced. Not one bit.

"Really, Azim. You know me. Aliyah's not my type."

Even as he said those words, Shahid knew that they were a lie. Aliyah was everything he would ever want in a woman.

Shahid knew he had taken a bold step in the garden. Kissing Aliyah had been so exquisite, so delightful. And at the time, it had seemed like the right thing to do. The only thing to do. Something he'd been driven to do.

He'd had a chance to think about their agreement to keep the reality of their relationship a secret from everyone, to pretend that there was nothing between them. At least until after the wedding. In the garden, he'd been sure he'd be able to keep his word and pretend Aliyah was nothing more than just a friend.

But now he wasn't so sure he was going to be able to do that, after all. He could tell from the occasional remarks from Azim that it wasn't going to be so easy. Azim had always been able to see through any pretence that Shahid tried to put together. Being brothers, there was hardly anything they could hide from each other.

But, Shahid knew he'd given Aliyah his word. If nothing else, Shahid was a man of his word. He would do whatever it took to honor the temporary commitment he'd given to Aliyah. Especially if it meant that after the wedding there might be a chance for him and Aliyah to share something he'd been wanting for a long time.

"I know you two have known each other for ages," Azim said to Shahid dragging his attention back to the present. "Sometimes these thing creep up on you. Someone you thought was just a friend turns out to be much more than that."

Shahid shook his head. "It's not like that at all, Azim. Aliyah's just a wonderful person. Everyone knows that."

"Especially you, Shahid. I've seen the picture that was taken at the wedding," Azim said.

Shahid groaned. "The picture. Nadyah told me about it."

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