Page 3 of The Sheikh's Matchmaker Bride

"Not so long ago that people have forgotten how you and Shahid were fawning over each other."

"Fawning? We were not fawning over each other," Aliyah blurted out. She frowned at Nadyah. "And anyway. What exactly does fawning look like?" she demanded.

Nadyah smiled at Aliyah. "There are photos," she said.

"What!" Aliyah asked, feeling shock surge through her. "What kind of pictures?"

Nadyah shook her head. "No need to worry," she said lifting her glass from the table. She took a sip and put the glass back down. "Nothing that would embarrass you. Certainly, nothing that would bother someone with Shahid's reputation." Nadyah cocked her head to one side and gave Aliyah a look. "It would take a lot to rattle Shahid from what I've heard about him in recent years."

Aliyah ignored that last remark about Shahid's past. She already knew enough about him to take a pretty good guess at what Nadyah was hinting at. Shahid was the kind of man that woman loved to be around. Incredibly handsome, astonishingly wealthy and with a reputation for temptingly wild behavior.

Nadyah narrowed her eyes. "I have to say I was disappointed. Not even a kiss," she said with a sly grin at Aliyah.

Aliyah gasped. "Who's seen the photos? Have any of my family seen them?"

"Everyone," Nadyah said which drew another harsh gasp from Aliyah.

"Why didn't I hear about this before?" Aliyah demanded.

Nadyah rolled her eyes. "You're not the only one who likes to keep secrets, Aliyah," Nadyah explained. "Especially when it comes to mysterious liaisons."

"Who mentioned anything about meetings? We just got together at the wedding and got on well. That was it." Aliyah searched her mind for the right words. Anything that would throw Nadyah of the trail. "Shahid and I have known each other since we were children, Nadyah. It's natural we'd be friendly at something like a wedding."

"Just friendly?" Nadyah said, lifting a querying brow. "That's not what I heard."

Aliyah tugged her gaze back toward the garden. She could feel the heat on her face, was sure Nadyah had noticed the change in her expression at the merest mention of Shahid. What could she say? What was there to say? After all, what Nadyah was talking about was true.

Two months ago, Nadyah's brother Zarif had married a beautiful English woman, Rachel, in a dazzling ceremony at Zarif's palace. It had been an incredible event, yet another Qazhar wedding. Aliyah had attended, along with all her family members and they'd all had a wonderful time.

Of course, Zarif's youngest brother Shahid had been there, just as he'd attended so many of the other high-class Qazhar weddings in the past two years. And, just like on those previous occasions, Shahid and Aliyah had taken the opportunity to get reacquainted. Was that all it had been, Aliyah had asked herself at the time? Just a chance to meet again? A chance to catch up; an opportunity to see just how much they had both changed during all the years they'd known each other?

No.

That last time they'd met, so much more had happened. Things had been so different between them. And Aliyah had spent the last two months trying to hide from that fact, trying to pretend that friends might have become so much more than mere acquaintances.

Aliyah and Shahid had known each other since they'd been childhood friends. All during their teenage years, Aliyah and Nadyah had had to deal with the unruly, increasingly wild behavior of Shahid.

As they'd all grown up together, they'd all changed, become more mature. At least, that was how Aliyah saw it. In the case of Shahid, perhaps "growing up" might have had a different meaning. Physically he'd transformed from an athletic, lithe young man into a powerful physical presence that caused envy in men and drew women to him like a moth to a flame. A very dangerous flame.

No. The change in Shahid had been much more significant than that, she told herself. He hadn't just become a grown up. He had acquired a sensual, predatory quality; a magnetic, compelling power not only on Aliyah, but, according to the rumors, over every woman who came within his sphere of influence.

The change in him had happened quickly, almost within the space of a couple of years. From Aliyah's point of view it had seemed that one moment, Shahid had been a young man, playful and familiar. A mischievous friend.

Then he had become something else entirely; the dangerous, dominant, masculine presence she'd been encountering in various parts of Qazhar society. He was a couple of years older than Aliyah, but sometimes she felt the difference between them was so much more than that.

Aliyah sighed. "Maybe things have changed between Shahid and me," Aliyah said in an even voice.

When she glanced at Nadyah, she saw her friend's eyes had widened at hearing what might have sounded almost like a surprise confession.

Anxious to avoid any misunderstanding, Aliyah instantly sought to correct herself. "That's not how it sounds," she added quickly. "What I mean is that all three of us used to be such good friends. Before we all became adults."

"You're saying Shahid isn't your friend anymore?" Nadyah asked.

"No, of course not. He's still a close friend..." Aliyah started to say.

"Just close?" Nadyah asked smiling at Aliyah.

"A good friend. That's what I really meant to say."

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