Page 4 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

Nadyah frowned disbelievingly. "You're trying to tell me you and Shahid have made the "let's just be good friends" pact?" Nadyah lifted a doubting brow at Aliyah. "Why do I find that hard to believe about my brother? I know what he's like when he wants something. Once he decides to go for something, nothing will stand in his way."

Aliyah knew that was true. She'd heard stories about Shahid's business dealings and his personal life. If Shahid wanted anything, he went after it with total commitment.

As if realizing that she might have said too much, Nadyah's gaze shifted quickly away from Aliyah.

"What do you mean, he wants something?" Aliyah asked.

Nadyah waved a dismissive hand. "Forget I said that."

Aliyah reached out a hand and gently grasped Nadyah's forearm. "No, Nadyah. What aren't you telling me?"

Nadyah gazed at Aliyah and shook her head. Nadyah placed a hand over Aliyah's. "It's not for me to say, Aliyah. But, there's one thing you can't deny. Shahid has always liked you. I don't think that will ever change."

"I know that already, Nadyah," Aliyah replied. "It seems like we've been friends forever."

Aliyah had felt her heart quicken at the sound of Nadyah's words. Of course, Aliyah knew that Shahid had always thought highly of her. He'd made that pretty plain the last time they'd been together. Her mind drifted back to the time after the wedding reception, and this time she could feel her pulse begin to pound harder. The memory of being so close to him hadn't faded.

Not one bit.

She could still sense what it had felt like to dance so closely with Shahid; how it had felt being enclosed in his embrace; the tempting fullness of his lips; the dark, dangerous glint in his eyes as he'd looked at her, so obviously weighing up whether he could risk kissing Aliyah.

Aliyah wrenched her attention back to the present. She glanced at Nadyah and saw her friend watching her, an expectant expression on her face. Aliyah told herself it would be best if the details of her last encounter with Shahid were kept quiet. It was something that should stay between Aliyah and Shahid.

Apart from the apparently incriminating photos. What did the photos show? Had they given away something Aliyah had been trying to keep hidden for longer than she cared to remember?

She wondered if Shahid had gossiped with his sister or brothers, and then quickly dismissed that thought. Shahid may be the wild one of the family, but he was still a man of integrity and a gentleman when it came to matters that required discretion.

"Anyway, you'll get a chance to talk to him today," Nadyah announced brightly. "He's coming over to the palace."

Aliyah tried to mask the sudden panic which had flared up within her. "Shahid's coming here?" she asked, aware of a slight quiver in her voice.

Nadyah nodded casually and glanced at her watch. "Any minute now. He and Azim have some things to discuss about the wedding arrangements."

Aliyah stood and moved to the balustrade. She gripped the cold marble. Nadyah came to her side.

"Not thinking of leaving, are you?" she heard Nadyah say.

Aliyah turned and looked at Nadyah. She was sure there was the hint of a smile at the corners of Nadyah's mouth.

"Of course not. What gave you that idea?" Aliyah asked, even defiance in her voice.

And before Nadyah had a chance to reply, Aliyah heard a voice from inside the sitting room.

It was the sound of Shahid's voice.

---