Page 16 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Chapter Five

Because she had been brought out to Azim's palace earlier that morning, Aliyah was just about to ask Nadyah if she could drive her home when Shahid and Azim appeared at the door to the sitting room.

"Shahid. You're just the person I'm looking for," Nadyah said standing up. "I was just thinking that it's getting late and Aliyah needs to be getting back home. Could you drive her home?" Nadyah asked in such a way as to make it impossible for Shahid to refuse.

Aliyah saw Shahid glance at her as if seeking permission. Or was it that he wanted to gauge her reaction to Nadyah's suggestion? Had her friend had this in mind the whole time, Aliyah asked herself. She'd wondered why Nadyah had gone to all that trouble to come and collect her this morning. Now she knew why. Maybe Nadyah was trying to replace Aliyah as the Qazhar matchmaker, Aliyah told herself.

"What do you think, Aliyah?" Nadyah asked. "That would be nice, wouldn't it? You and Shahid can get a chance to catch up. Mmm?" Nadyah said her eyes filled with mischievous intent. There was no stopping her friend, Aliyah concluded.

Lucy went to Azim's side and they both looked expectantly from Aliyah to Shahid.

"If Shahid doesn't mind, then I guess I can't possibly say no, can I?" Aliyah said.

Shahid was trying his best to be as casual and noncommittal as possible, and doing a pretty bad job as far as Aliyah was concerned. She was certain the others could see the flash of delight that appeared on his face when Nadyah had made the suggestion. But he was obviously determined to keep up the pretence.

"Sure, Aliyah. I have to be back in town for the evening anyway," he said nonchalantly. "I'd be delighted to take you home."

Aliyah stood and glanced at Nadyah. Her friend's lips were fixed in a tight, barely contained smile. Nadyah's eyes were bright with excitement.

"Well, that's that then," Aliyah said looking straight at Nadyah. "How can I refuse such a generous offer?"

Aliyah looked toward Shahid. "As long as I'm not putting you to any trouble, Shahid. I know how busy you are."

Even as she said the words, Aliyah knew they sounded hollow and utterly unconvincing. Usually she was good at pretending, but with Shahid it was so very different. Every time he looked at her she felt a rush of emotion. Were her traitorous reactions so obvious to the others?

Aliyah said her goodbyes to everyone and followed Shahid as he led her through the palace and to his red sport scar which was parked in front of the palace steps.

She halted at the top of the steps and looked at Shahid. "That went well, don't you think?"

"What do you mean?"

"I don't they guessed. Did they?" she asked with a hint of urgency in her voice.

Shahid shrugged. "I think this is going to be more difficult than you thought, Aliyah. Especially with my sister on the case."

Aliyah squinted at Shahid.

"You saw the way she did that?" he asked. "And Azim was asking me about you."

"He was?"

Shahid nodded. "Let's just play along with this."

Shahid strode down the steps toward his car and opened the passenger door. She followed him to the car and halted, examining the gleaming red man toy.

"That's quite a machine you've got there," she said.

"I didn't think you'd be interested in cars," he said.

Aliyah squinted at him. "I'm not." She glanced inside the car taking in the sight of the low, leather seats and dashboard. "It's just that it looks so nice."

She could see that Shahid was pleased as he slowly ran his gaze over the vehicle. "It's one of my less expensive cars," he said casually.

"One of them?" She looked at him in surprise. "How many have you got?" she asked.

Shahid smiled. "Too many," he replied.

Here they were talking about cars, as if she were his new girlfriend and he wanted to impress her in the usual way that Aliyah thought that worked in Shahid's world. But, she wasn't his girlfriend, was she?

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