Her Billionaire Sheikh

by Allen, Jewel

  Alliyah’s expression was pained. “It’s going to take us forever to drive there.”

  “Not if I fly my helicopter out to Marrakesh. It’s three hours by car. Directly south from us by air…it’ll be much quicker.”

  “Cool.” Her eyes sparkled. “Can I come?”

  45

  Quinn, his face contorted viciously, lunged for Reese. She grabbed a lamp and tossed it. As though in slow motion, the lamp arced toward him. With a startled expression, he raised his hands to catch it.

  Reese ran out of the souk and into the maze of a bazaar.

  Run, run, run, girl.

  She kept running, zigzagging in and out of stalls. She turned heads as she desperately tried to find places to hide. She turned a corner and into a storefront with men gathered together, drinking coffee from little cups. They looked at her with interest before she bolted the other way.

  On the far end of the souk, Quinn stood. His eyes flashed as he ran toward her, knocking a vendor’s khobz bread stall to the ground.

  * * *

  As the helicopter touched down just outside the medina neighborhood in Marrakesh, Axel met them and opened the door for Samir.

  Alliyah’s eyes were huge with worry. “I’ll wait here. Please, bring her back safe.”

  “That’s my goal too, believe me,” Samir said.

  Axel and Samir ran toward the Jemaa el-Fhana, the main plaza that fed into the souks. As theSSy made their way through the crowded sea of people, a snake charmer put a snake around Jason’s neck.

  Axel, the world’s toughest bodyguard, broke into a cold sweat, not moving. “Snake,” he said hoarsely.

  Samir couldn’t afford to wait. “Get rid of it,” he barked at his petrified bodyguard as he kept on going toward the maze of shops.

  His phone rang. He looked at the number, his chest swelling with gladness, and answered it right away.

  “Reese!” he said.

  There was only silence on the other end of the line.

  “Reese?”

  * * *

  Reese had gambled and lost. Quinn found her hiding behind a basin of smelly fish…after she punched Samir’s number. After he said her name loudly.

  She kept the connection open, her phone in her pocket.

  “Let me go!” she shouted, moving out of Quinn’s reach.

  The fish vendor shrank back. He looked as if he didn’t want trouble from the two squabbling Americans.

  “Leave me alone, Quinn,” she goaded, “or Samir will find you and gut you like those fish.”

  “Surely you exaggerate, my dear. He wouldn’t do that to his beloved brother-in-law, right? Especially since you didn’t steal the jewels after all. Just come with me, and we’ll put this behind us.”

  “No.”

  Quinn’s expression froze. “No?”

  “I’m done being your girl Friday. I won’t do any more of your bidding.”

  “I told you this was the last—”

  “So leave me alone if this was the last.”

  “But I still need money.”

  “Quinn, stay away.”

  “Or what, my dear?” He grinned.

  Until that moment, she didn’t think Quinn was capable of being evil. But now, she knew he was. He and she were borne of the same struggles, same upbringing, but he’d let their situation mold him.

  Reese grabbed a fish from the tank and threw it at her brother’s face.

  * * *

  Samir ran toward the smell of fish.

  Good girl, Reese. I’m almost there.

  He just hoped he wouldn’t be too late.

  Behind him, Axel had not gotten rid of the snake. He still had it around his neck like a feather boa. Except this one had a tongue that slithered out.

  Somewhere along the way, Axel must have shaken off the snake charmer. It served the fellow right for putting a snake around his bodyguard’s neck, hoping to be paid for a photo opportunity.

  Samir saw the tanks of fish, from behind which Reese emerged, running into the aisle. She stopped short as she saw Samir. Sobbing, she ran and launched herself into his arms.

  “It’s okay. I’m here now.” He kissed her face all over and held her close. “Is Quinn here?”

  She whimpered. “Right behind me.”

  Axel said, “I’ve got him, boss.”

  Reese turned in Samir’s arms, and they both watched Axel confront Quinn.

  “Get out of my way,” Quinn snarled.

  Calm as can be, Jason took the snake off his neck and slipped it around Quinn’s.

  It was Quinn’s turn to give out a hoarse cry. He stared at the reptile and backed up against the fish tank, his eyes bulging with terror while they waited for the police to come.

  46

  Reese thought she’d be more cut up watching the interpol take away her brother at the royal palace, but she wasn’t.

  She mostly felt a sense of deep relief.

  Behind her, she heard Samir’s footfall and turned. His heart was in his eyes.

  How she loved this man.

  “I can’t even tell you how sorry I am for letting you go last night. I should have known that you were in trouble. I could’ve spared you the nightmare—”

  She put two fingers on his lips, and he kissed them, his eyes closing.

  Reese moved closer, and he enveloped her in his arms.

  Where she was safe. Where she belonged.

  As his wife.

  She pressed her cheek against his chest and listened to his heart pound. He kissed the top of her head.

  “So,” he said. “We were supposed to make a decision, I believe.”

  “It’s a no-brainer,” she said. “I’m staying, whether you want me to or not.”

  He chuckled. “Let me think about it.” He hugged her tighter. “All right. You can stay.”

  “We need to keep your kingdom stable after all.”

  “Mmm, hmm,” he said, along with a couple of other endearments.

  But she was having a hard time following the conversation. He was nuzzling her cheek and her neck, and now he was tipping her face so that he was staring deep in her eyes.

  “I love you,” she said.

  “I love you too.”

  “Do you?” she asked, smiling. “I wish you would show me how much you love me.”

  Against her lips, he said, “My princess. Your wish…is my command,” he said, before capturing her mouth with his.

  Epilogue

  Riverdale Ranch, Sunnyridge, Colorado

  “Grandma, Grandma,” four-year-old Abby shouted from the stoop. “You have a visitor!”

  Althea Brown wiped her hands on the dish towel and looked out the screen door. Sure enough, Abby was right. A sleek black sports car was pulling up to the front porch and parking on the gravel lot.

  A tall, handsome man in slacks and a sports jacket who looked like he was from the Middle East climbed out of the driver’s side and helped out a beautiful blonde woman in a denim sundress. For a long moment, the woman gazed at the house and then smiled.

  “Well, I’ll be,” exclaimed Althea. “Is that you, Reese Morgan?”

  Reese nodded and flew into her arms. “Except I’m not Morgan anymore. I’m Reese Al-Hana now.” She paused. “Princess of Morocco.”

  “And I’m the queen of Sheba. Seriously, now. I can see you’ve got her brain all addled,” Althea told the man.

  “I am King Samir of Morocco,” he said, offering his hand. “But to Reese’s friends, I’m just Samir.”

  Althea’s jaw dropped. He looked like one of those fancy watch models from a magazine.

  She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.” Then her hands flew to her face. “You picked a bad day to come, Reese. My house is a mess!”

  “You know that doesn’t matter,” Reese said. “Someone once told me family is more important than a clean kitchen.” She winked.

  “Amen. I won’t worry about it if you don’t.”

  The couple laughed and put their arms around ea
ch other’s waists. “We’re not worried,” Reese said.

  “Come and sit in the shade of the porch. “Abby and I will bring out some limeade and pie. How does that sound?”

  Reese smiled a wistful smile. “Like old times.”

  Abby’s chest puffed out with pride at being given such an important job.

  “Whose little one is this?” Reese said, ruffling Abby’s hair as she handed her a piece of pecan pie before running off to play.

  “Bram’s and Stella’s. They’re away on the weekend for a little getaway.” Althea watched Abby skip across the parking lot. “I get the better end of the deal, if you ask me.”

  “Too bad I missed them,” she said. “I didn’t know Bram got married. Good for him.”

  “She’s a sweet one, his wife. How long has it been now since you came to stay here that summer?”

  “Too long,” Reese said, a shadow passing over her eyes. “Your house looks the same. You look the same.”

  “Well, I suppose a white lie isn’t too bad once in a while, especially if it lifts an old lady’s heart. Now, where’s that brother of yours?”

  Reese exchanged glances with Samir and then looked at Althea. “Unfortunately, he’s serving time in prison.”

  “Oh dear. That’s too bad. I’m so sorry.” Althea bit her lip. “I can’t help but feel partially responsible.”

  Reese stared at her. “Why would you?”

  “I could have done more for him.”

  “Well,” Reese said softly, “you did a lot for me. I sincerely believe had it not been for you, I’d probably be in the same place as my brother, or worse.”

  Samir pulled her close and kissed her temple.

  Althea’s heart swelled at the sight of Reese with a loving man by her side.

  “I never did thank you,” Reese told Althea, reaching over and clasping her hand.

  “You doing well is enough of a repayment.”

  Reese squeezed Althea’s hand.

  * * *

  Hours later, Reese and Samir were walking hand in hand out of Althea’s house. She’d invited them to an amazing home-cooked dinner, just as Reese remembered.

  The two women hugged, and Althea waved them off.

  After they turned down the main road, Samir pulled over and killed the engine. Behind them, another car, the one their bodyguards were in, stopped too.

  “What?” Reese asked Samir.

  He reached for her. “Althea and her family are nice, but I haven’t had a moment alone with you all day.”

  Her body tingled as he kissed her lightly as a butterfly and then deeply until she could no longer think straight.

  “You’re acting like we’re on our honeymoon or something,” Reese teased.

  “Well, considering we missed out on our first one,” he murmured, “I’m simply making it up to you.”

  She nuzzled the crook of his neck. “I’m not complaining. No sirree.”

  To prove her point, she pulled his head down for another sweet, delicious kiss.

  * * *

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