The Sheikh’s Tamed Bride Read online

  “Why did you pick Dubai?”

  “I have roots here on my mother’s side. Her grandparents traveled from the Emirates to America. I honestly thought about throwing a dart at a map, but this suits me better. I can understand my mother a little more, and I can work.”

  Mila couldn’t help but admire the woman. “So you applied for a job here?”

  “At the art gallery, yes. I work one-on-one with the artists. Cater to their needs, keep them motivated and working, crack the whip if it looks like they’re slipping. I’ve worked with some of the toughest artists out there, and the gallery was looking for someone like me.” She turned and faced Mila. “What’s Sahaar like?”

  “She’s like a mother hen,” Mila admitted. “Warm. Loving. An amazing cook. You’ll gain a hundred pounds if you stay with her for too long.”

  “My work visa is only for three months. After that, if I decide to reapply, I might look for a place on my own. Not that I think having a roommate like you won’t be a blast.”

  Mila swallowed hard. “I actually think I’m leaving soon. My time in Dubai has come to an end.”

  “Really?” Katie frowned. “I was told that I’d have two roommates.”

  “Liyah actually got married a little more than a month ago to Asad Sharif. This was just my first stop in my travels. I’d always planned on moving on.” Just not this soon.

  “Where are you going next?”

  According to Mila’s bank account, not far. “I have a college friend currently living in Ireland, so I’m going to stay with her for a while. After that, I’m not sure.”

  “That sounds amazing!” Katie stared out the window as the city flew by. “Everything looks so romantic. Straight out of a fairy tale.”

  “That’s sort of the problem,” Mila muttered. “It makes you forget all about the real world.” Mila liked to think that if it hadn’t been for the romance of the city, she never would have fallen for Rashid’s blandishments.

  Just thinking about it made her heart hurt. Not only had she agreed to marry him, but when he’d professed his love to her, a tiny part of her had hoped it was true.

  She had been a fool.

  The taxi pulled into the driveway, and Mila tried to smile brightly. “Here we are! I’ll pay the taxi while you grab your bags.”

  Mila had just finished counting out the bills for the driver when the front door banged open. “Mila!” Sahaar shouted. “Come quick!”

  Fearing that something horrible had happened, Mila abandoned Katie and the driver and ran for the door. The driver called out to her to remind her that she hadn’t actually paid him, but she ignored him. “Sahaar!” she gasped as she burst through the door. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

  Sahaar pointed to the television. Annoyed, Mila put her hands on her hips. “This is about something on TV? Sahaar, you scared me! What were you thinking!”

  “Would you hush and listen?” Sahaar interrupted as she turned up the volume.

  Rolling her eyes, Mila turned around. A picture of Asad and Rashid filled the screen, and her stomach clenched. “Rumors have been swirling around about the closed-door meeting at the large sports complex that opened just a few short months ago. The arena has been the subject of investigation after the beating of football player Azizah Hatami. Arrests were made when the assault was linked to an illegal gambling ring within the arena, but no charges have been filed.”

  Mila gritted her teeth. It looked like Rashid’s friends were going to walk. The rich really did get away with everything.

  “While no charges have been filed against owner Sheikh Rashid Sharif, it does look like he might be handing the reins over to his older brother. He’s expected to make an announcement finalizing the deal this afternoon.”

  Mila gasped. “Oh, God,” she whispered. “This was his big idea?”

  “Mila, what is it?” Sahaar asked.

  “He’s giving Asad the arena. His baby. Oh God, I have to stop him!”

  Her heart pounded as she raced to the door. Katie was still in the driveway, fumbling with the unfamiliar currency as she tried to pay the driver when Mila shouted at her. “I need him! I’m sorry, but I have to go. I’ll be back!”

  “Is everything okay?” Katie frowned as she stepped away from the car.

  “No.” Mila yanked the back door of the taxi open. “But it will be. Sahaar is inside. I’ll be back!”

  The driver tried to refuse to take her, muttering about rude tourists who didn’t pay, until Mila dropped Rashid’s name.

  Then the driver couldn’t drive fast enough.

  They made it to the sports arena in record time, and Mila tipped the driver very well. “Thanks!” she shouted as she raced to the entrance.

  A large crowd of reporters had already gathered as they eagerly awaited the appearance of the Sharif brothers.

  Mila pushed right through them. “Excuse me. Coming through. Please move. Sorry! Coming through.”

  “Hey! You’re Rashid’s ex-fiancée!” one reporter shouted. Suddenly, a dozen cameras and microphones were facing her way. “Why did you two break up?”

  She forced her way through the insistent crowd until she was finally free. Reaching the steps, she whirled around and glared at them. “It’s a relationship. It has ups and downs. You know what doesn’t help? Having the media follow you around and speculate about everything. I feel like I can’t even have a thought about things without you guys telling me what’s happening! And now I can’t even get into the damn building to talk to my fiancé without you guys interrupting!”

  “Mila?”

  At the sound of Rashid’s voice, she whirled around. He and Asad stood next to each other. Asad had an amused look on his face, but Rashid looked perplexed.

  She narrowed her eyes and pointed to the entrance behind the brothers. “Inside. Now,” she growled.

  Asad looked tentatively at the reporters, but she poked him in the chest. “Don’t pay attention to them. They’re not your problem. I’m going to be your problem if you don’t get inside right now!”

  “Okay, okay!” Asad laughed and headed back inside.

  Mila looked expectantly at Rashid, and he followed suit.

  He looked awful. His eyes were red as though he hadn’t slept in weeks, and it certainly looked like he hadn’t shaved. She got no pleasure out of his apparent misery.

  Well, maybe a little.

  “Mila, I’m ecstatic to see you, but now really isn’t a good time,” Rashid said in a tired voice. “I’m in the middle of the something.”

  “Are you about to pass the arena over to Asad?” she demanded.

  Reluctantly he nodded. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Oh really? So you’re not doing this because of me?”

  Asad cocked his head. “Really? You’re doing this for her?”

  Rashid looked miserable as he stared at her. “It was supposed to be this big romantic gesture,” he muttered.

  “It’s a big gesture, all right,” she snapped. “A big stupid one! Rashid, I know how much you love this arena. This was your baby before you even met me, before Asad met Liyah, and I would never—ever!—ask you to give it up for me! Have you lost your mind? Does everything have to be so over-the-top with you Sharif men? When I said prove that you love me without money, I meant that I wanted picnics in the park and romantic words. I wanted to be wooed without wondering if it was all for show! I wanted a private relationship with you! One that wasn’t in the news!”

  His face fell. “Oh.”

  “Oh.” Mila couldn’t help but smile as she stepped forward and touched his chest. “Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered. “I’m not saying that your big stupid gesture didn’t work. I’m just saying that it wasn’t what I had in mind . . .”

  He perked up a little. “Really?”

  “Rashid, you were going to give away your million-dollar industry for me. It got my attention.”

  Asad cleared his throat. “So does that mean I’m not going to get the
sports arena?”

  Furious, Mila rounded on him. “And you!” she growled. “You were just going to take it from him? What kind of brother are you? Does Liyah know that you’re doing this?”

  Asad paled a little. “I wasn’t really going to let him go through with it,” he said weakly. “I just don’t ever get to see Rashid flounder. I’m the oldest, but he’s always been better at business than me. I’ve been a little jealous.”

  “Really?” Rashid frowned. “But I was always jealous of you.”

  Mila couldn’t help but smile. In the end, she could say that even if she had royally messed up her engagement, at least she’d brought the two brothers closer together.

  The two men embraced.

  “So that’s it?” she demanded. “Rashid, you’re not going to sign over the complex?”

  “I guess not.”

  Asad craned his neck to look around behind her. “I feel bad about all those reporters. What are they going to report now?”

  Before Mila could answer, Rashid tugged on her hand. “Mila, I love you,” he said hoarsely. “I think I’ve always been in love with you, but I was so focused on everything else that I couldn’t see it. Now that I see you, none of this matters anymore. I’ll walk away from all of it, if it means I get to have you in my arms.”

  Mila reached up and cupped a hand to his cheek. “This is what you were born to do, and I won’t take that away from you. You can have us both—but I’m not going to be some docile creature following you around. I want to be by your side.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way. It would kill me to extinguish the wildfires burning in you.” Rashid suddenly dropped to his knees and pulled out a chain that was hanging around his neck. “I found this in the car,” he said as he slipped her engagement ring off the chain. “I’m hoping you’ll take it. Be my wife, Mila. My real wife. One that I can argue with, laugh with, make love to, and raise a family with.”

  Overcome with emotion, Mila nodded her head.

  Rashid slipped the ring on her finger and stood upright once more. Picking her up, he whirled her around in circles, and then he set her down to kiss her until she was breathless.

  “Look at that.” Asad cleared his throat. “The reporters are leaving. They aren’t even taking pictures.”

  “That’s because I told them to go away.” Mila held tight to her love.

  “And now it’s time for you to go away,” Rashid growled at Asad. “I need to make love to my fiancée.”

  “In the arena?” Asad asked.

  “Every room.”

  “Great. That’s all I’m going to think about when I come back,” the older brother teased, but then he grinned and winked at them.

  When they were finally alone, she stared at him. “Every room?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I own this place, remember? I have no problems shutting it down for a few days!”

  As he picked her up and carried her down the hall, she giggled and leaned against him.

  Dubai truly was the city of fairytales.

  End of The Sheikh’s Tamed Bride

  The Sharif Sheikhs Series Book Two

  The Sheikh’s Pretend Fiancée, January 4th

  The Sheikh’s Tamed Bride, January 11th

  The Sheikh’s Stubborn Assistant, January 18th

  PS: Do you love hot-blooded Sheikhs? Then keep reading for an exclusive extract from The Sheikh’s Fake Fiancée.

  Thank you!

  Thank you so much for purchasing my book. It’s hard for me to put into words how much I appreciate my readers. If you enjoyed this book, please remember to leave a review. Reviews are crucial for an author’s success and I would greatly appreciate it if you took the time to review the book. I love hearing from you!

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  BLURB

  American college grad Kadija is as ambitious as she is creative, so when she learns of a friend’s brother who owns an art gallery in Dubai, she leaps at the chance to jumpstart her career in the luxurious city. But her dream job quickly becomes a nightmare when she discovers her new boss is as unpleasant as he is handsome. Khalid Sharif may make her pulse race but not even his dark mystique, lithe muscles and ridiculous wealth are enough to make up for his rudeness. Kadi won't back down though, and she won't quit until Khalid realizes exactly what she has to offer.

  Some say Sheikh Khalid Sharif has more love for art than for people, but he never concerns himself with the opinions of others. He's determined to expand his gallery into one of Dubai’s greatest museums and nothing will get in his way—not even his fire-haired new gallery assistant. Khalid knew it was a mistake to hire the Western woman—the determination in her amber green eyes is a distraction, and her striking beauty practically makes his blood boil.

  Despite this, Khalid refuses to let Kadija alter his course.

  As Kadija and Khalid continue to clash, their attraction simmers just beneath the surface. But is it enough to melt Khalid’s icy exterior or will Kadija be left out in the cold?

  Grab your copy of The Sheikh’s Stubborn Assistant

  Available January 18th 2018

  www.LeslieNorthBooks.com

  EXCERPT

  “Impressive.”

  The man’s eyes swept over her body, and Kadi bit her tongue. Even though the massive desk between them blocked the view of her long legs, his eyes settled at the small hint of cleavage that showed beneath her purple blouse. She was certain that he wasn’t admiring the small emerald around her neck. Kadi’d had such high hopes this morning as she got ready for her interview at the Abu Dhabi museum, but it was obvious that if the man did happen to call her, it wouldn’t be for the job.

  “I assume that you’re speaking about my file, but of course, you haven’t even glanced at it,” Kadi said coldly.

  The man didn’t even bother to hide his lust. “Kadija—although I heard you introduce yourself to my secretary as Kadi. May I call you Kadi?”

  “No. You may not.”

  He ignored her. “Kadi. It’s not often that we get women of your caliber in our museum. I had doubts that someone as young as yourself would have the necessary credentials to curate our art museum, but then I saw a very impressive article about the tour you arranged several years ago. You were as beautiful as the pieces you displayed.”

  Kadi tried not to roll her eyes.

  She considered her options. If there was even a shred of a chance that she could get this job, she’d need to remain professional. “I was responsible for seventy-five artworks—paintings and statues—totaling more than three million dollars. The tour exceeded all of our expectations in terms of both profit and coverage—“

  He interrupted, his irrelevant question making it clear that he hadn’t heard a word she’d said. “This is your first time in Dubai, correct? Are you staying with family?”

  Narrowing her eyes, Kadi took a slow, deep breath. She hated it when men interrupted her. “I am not.”

  “I imagine that getting a job quickly is part of your agenda. You’ll want some connections. Some protection.” A lewd smile crossed his face. “Some company.”

  Abruptly, Kadi stood. “I would very much love a job here in the city, but I’m afraid the quality of the museum and the people behind it are more important to me than how quickly I am employed. I can already see that this is not going to work out.”

  Without bothering to hear any answer he might muster, she let herself out of the office. She tried not to let her disappointment show. All her life, her beauty had been more of a hindrance than a help. People took one look at her unique combination of dark auburn hair, naturally tanned skin, and emerald-green eyes and didn’t even bother to attempt to get to know the women beneath. Her long legs and curves were no help.

  She waved down a taxi and settled into her seat, too immersed in gloomy thoughts to appreciate the passing scenery that had seemed so enticingly exotic on her arri
val. She had hoped that things would be different in Dubai, but apparently, men were the same all over the world.

  Even the taxi driver was having a hard time keeping his eyes on the road.

  She’d only been in Dubai a month, and while the job interview offers poured in, the outcome was always the same. The representatives for the museums and private galleries were far more interested in her beauty that her brains. They didn’t care about her impressive academic background or the projects she’d coordinated as an intern. At best, they appeared to think she would be a better fit stationed at the door or acting as an escort to museum parties for some of the more prominent artists. At worst . . .

  An escort, for God’s sake. Seriously?

  The taxi pulled up in front of her home. Thanking the driver, she paid and climbed out.

  The past few weeks had been a little surreal. Sahaar, her exchange-host, was warm and welcoming. The older woman had hovered in the beginning and practically pushed her toward Mila and Liyah, the other two young women she’d formally hosted.

  They were now both married to sheikh brothers. Kadi couldn’t believe both women had come to Dubai and ended up married. Kadi barely had time to figure out her professional life, let alone worry about her personal life. To appease Sahaar, she had lunch at least once a week with Mila and Liyah, and she was surprised to find that she enjoyed their company—but she wasn’t here to make friends.

  Kadi needed money. She was up to her eyeballs in student loans, and her father wasn’t coming through on his promises. He’d withdrawn his support when she’d dropped out of business school and had decided to pursue her art history degree. When she’d gone back to school for her master’s degree, he’d stopped talked to her altogether.

  Pushing the negative thoughts out of her head, she focused instead on the immediate problem as she pulled out her key.