A car, red and low and moving very, very fast, was racing along the rain-soaked taxiway toward them.
The jet rolled to a stop, engines idling. The co-pilot hurried into the cabin from the cockpit.
“What’s happening?” Rachel said. Her voice rose. “I said, what’s—?”
But she could see what was happening for herself. The co-pilot began opening the cabin door.
And as he did, the door of the red sports car flew open.
Karim jumped out.
Karim? Here? Rachel was baffled. Why?
The plane’s door swung open. The staircase dropped into place.
Rachel fumbled with her seat belt.
She wasn’t going to face Karim sitting down. She’d do it toe to toe, and if she had to fight him to leave this awful place—
Karim raced up the stairs, his face tight with anger.
“Damn you, Rachel,” he said, and before she could say or do anything he hauled her into his arms and kissed her.
She twisted her head away. She didn’t want his kisses, the feel of his arms, the strong, wonderful feel of his body against hers …
And then she sobbed his name, clasped his face and gave herself to him.
“I hate you,” she whispered. “Do you understand me, Karim? I hate you, I hate you, I—”
“Don’t leave me. I beg you, habibi, don’t ever leave me.”
“I can’t stay. Not like this. I’m not going to be your mistress, and that’s what I’d end up being because I can’t keep away from you. I can’t, I can’t—”
“I love you.”
“You want me. There’s a difference.”
“Damned right, I want you. I want you because I love you.
And you love me. Say the words, sweetheart. Tell me that you love me, too.”
Rachel shook her head. He had broken her heart. All she had left was her pride.
“I don’t,” she said. “I don’t love—”
Karim silenced her with another kiss.
“No more lies,” he said fiercely. “Not between us.” He clasped her face, lifted it to his. “I’ve been a fool, Rachel. Of course you lied about Ethan. I gave you no choice. I had come to take him from you, and you loved him too much to let that happen.” He paused. “Rachel. We belong together. You. Me. Our child. Our Ethan.”
“Don’t,” Rachel pleaded, “don’t say things you don’t mean!”
“I mean every word,” Karim said. “Your sister brought Ethan into this world, but you—you, habibi—have been his true mother.” He smiled. “As I will be his father.” He paused and brushed his lips gently over Rachel’s. “I love you,” he said softly. “Marry me and be my wife.”
“But you believed Suki …”
“I was in agony. I had given you my heart …” His voice cracked. “The heart you say I do not have.”
“Karim. Please don’t. I said it to—to hurt you …”
“I have a heart, habibi. But I learned early to guard it well. It is what happens when people see you only as a prince or a sheikh. They lie. They tell you what they think you want to hear. Even those I loved …” Karim cleared his throat. “Each time my mother came back from wherever she’d gone she promised she would not leave me again, but she always did. And Rami … we were different from each other, even as boys, but we loved each other. Then he turned into someone I didn’t know and I—I let him go.”
“We can’t hold on to those who don’t want us,” Rachel said softly. “My mother. My sister—”
“Yes. I understand that now. But we—you and I—we want each other. We have each other.” Karim smiled. “And we have Ethan. We can be a family, habibi, and we can be happy.”
Rachel felt her heart swell with happiness. She stood on her toes and pressed a kiss to Karim’s lips.
“I hated myself for lying to you, Karim. But I was so afraid I’d lose Ethan, lose you …”
“You’ll never lose either of us, habibi. Not me, and not our son.”
“Our son,” Rachel said, and smiled.
Karim kissed her damp cheeks.
“This has been a long journey for me,” he said quietly. “When it began, I thought I was learning about Rami. Now I know I was also learning about myself, and about what is important in this world.”
“And what is?” Rachel asked softly, though by now she knew the answer.
“Love,” Karim said. “Only love matters.” He looked deep into her eyes. “Rachel. Will you marry me and be my love, forever?”
Rachel laughed.
“Yes,” she said, “yes, yes, yes—”
Karim gathered her in his arms and kissed her, and as he did the rain stopped and the cabin of the plane filled with the brilliant golden light of the sun.
* * *
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2012
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Sandra Marton 2012
ISBN: 978-1-408-97380-6
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
About the Author
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Copyright
Sheikh Without a Heart Page 16
