The Sheikh's Bride Bet

by Holly Rayner

  Mara poured her own coffee. “Everyone’s talking about the party.”

  Maggie wrinkled her nose. “No pressure there.”

  Luis laughed. “Everything will be fine. You are the conductor, and we are your orchestra.” He waved a hand, taking in the kitchen and the rest of the staff who were starting to gather. “Just tell us where to start, chef.”

  Maggie lifted her coffee cup towards the others in a toast. “Let’s make some tasty music, chef.”

  After Maggie and Luis walked through the supplies, including the just-delivered produce, meat, and other perishables, Maggie made a few notes.

  “Would you like to visit the town’s open-air market?” Luis asked.

  Maggie thought about it. “I do, but we’ve got everything we need here, including local ingredients. Unless you see something I’m missing?”

  Luis shook his head. “I think we’re good.”

  “Okay. I’ll save the market for another day.” She grinned. “Hey, maybe I’ll even do some shopping for myself.”

  Luis chuckled. “Let’s get started, then.”

  Maggie gathered everyone in the kitchen together and outlined instructions for each dish, then divided the staff into small teams to start prep work.

  She checked in with the baker, a middle-aged woman who reminded her a lot of Anna, to discuss the different types of bread they planned to serve during the meal.

  Maggie also spent some time with the royal family’s pastry chef, going over the design for the Prince’s birthday cake. She handed the young man a carefully assembled box of sugar decorations to use on the cake, and was pleased when his face broke into a big smile as he looked over the tiny items.

  Chef Luis stepped away late that morning to prepare a simple lunch for the royal family, and after seeing it served, made sure that Maggie and the rest of the kitchen staff took a few minutes to eat as well.

  Maggie didn’t see Raffaele until late afternoon, and when he walked into the kitchen, it took her a few minutes to realize it. She was in the middle of a group of prep chefs, all laughing and talking loudly. They were teaching her local curse words as they chopped and stirred, and it was Raffaele’s laugh that she heard first.

  Maggie looked up, surprised and pleased. With all the work she needed to do, she wasn’t sure she’d get to see him at all until the next day, and his presence made her feel warm and happy.

  She also noticed that his presence in the kitchen didn’t put a damper on the festive mood. Maggie saw that the Prince was well-liked by the family’s staff, and that made her think even better of him.

  “Prince Raffaele!” Chef Luis called. “Come in—we’ll put you to work!”

  Raffaele laughed. “I think we’re all better off if I leave the cooking to the professionals. But I wondered if I could borrow Chef Bechet for a moment?”

  Maggie nodded and wiped her hands on a towel. “Of course.” She met him in a quieter part of the kitchen.

  Raffaele asked with a smile, “Having fun?”

  Maggie grinned in response. “I am. And I promise, I don’t plan on using any of the language skills I’m picking up now with your family tomorrow.”

  Raffaele laughed again and the sound sent a little shiver of delight through her.

  “How about trying them out on me tonight? I’d be delighted if you’d have dinner with me when you’re finished here.”

  Maggie nodded. “I’d love to. We should be done here in a couple of hours. Give some time to clean up, and I’m all yours.”

  She wanted to take the words back as soon as they left her mouth, but Raffaele hadn’t seemed to notice.

  All he said was, “Excellent. I’ll meet you by the front entrance around seven.”

  He looked back over his shoulder as he left the kitchen and it was all Maggie could do not to melt in a puddle right there. She definitely had to get a grip on herself—otherwise, she was going to be in deep trouble.

  At the end of the afternoon, Maggie looked around, satisfied. “Thanks, everyone. Good work today. Get some rest, and I’ll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning!”

  Maggie checked in with Luis one more time, and then practically ran to her suite of rooms to get ready for dinner with Raffaele.

  An hour later, Maggie was back in Raffaele’s car, headed into the city.

  “So, where are we going for dinner?”

  “Another place I hope you’ll like. It’s one of the country’s most renowned restaurants.”

  “I’m sure I will.”

  When they pulled up in front of the restaurant, Maggie noted that the exterior of the establishment was understated but elegant. Maggie was beginning to understand that there were two sides to Raffaele: the party-boy bachelor prince who liked to make a big deal out of the finer things in life in public, and the generous, thoughtful man who didn’t mind the spotlight or the rich elegance of his lifestyle, but preferred unpretentious sophistication in private.

  She was also beginning to see that he liked to share his good fortune with the people he was close to.

  “Prince Raffaele!” the maître d’ exclaimed. “Our best wishes on your birthday tomorrow.”

  “Thank you,” Raffaele replied. “I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather start my birthday celebration than here.”

  Maggie was both a little amused and pleased that Raffaele was greeted with such enthusiasm at every place they went around the city. She felt genuine warmth from his people, and that said a lot about who he was.

  “Please, let me show you to your table.”

  He led Maggie and Raffaele to a table in a private alcove. Raffaele nodded at the maître d’ and waved him off so that he could pull out Maggie’s chair himself. She was barely seated when the chef himself approached their table.

  The Prince stood and shook the chef’s hand. Maggie could also see that Raffaele not only appreciated good craftsmanship, but respected the people who worked hard to create it. She liked that about him.

  Raffaele turned and introduced her. “Chef Ricci, let me present Chef Maggie Bechet from New Orleans. Her restaurant is the finest in her city. I ate there a few weeks ago, and I wanted to show her our finest restaurant in return.”

  The chef shook Maggie’s hand.

  “We’re delighted to have you dining with us tonight. Prince Raffaele, I’ve prepared a tasting menu for you and Chef Bechet, if that suits you.”

  “Thank you, chef. That would be perfect.”

  The chef bowed and returned to the kitchen. Maggie had a moment where she felt like she should follow him, but she was also enjoying being a guest at what was obviously an expensive restaurant. She resolved to try to enjoy the experience instead of picking everything apart to see how she could do it better at BienVille.

  It was a wonderful dinner. The wine, the food—Maggie didn’t think she’d ever been treated to such a five-star experience.

  The company only made it better. Raffaele was charming and funny, and every time Maggie looked into his eyes, she lost her train of thought. She wanted to blame it on the wine, but she knew that it was the prince sitting next to her that had her so flustered.

  He was so easy to talk to. They traded more stories of their family, and Maggie found herself confiding her fear that she was a disappointment to her parents.

  “I know they’re proud of how successful the restaurant is, but I think they wish I’d work less. I hardly ever see them anymore. We’re still close, but I’m always at BienVille and they’re busy with projects, so it’s just hard to spend time together.”

  Raffaele nodded. “I worry about being a disappointment, too. Of course, my parents are publicly supportive, but in private, they’ve told me they’d rather I’d focus more on business. I’m pretty sure they think I’m wasting my time.”

  “Why?”

  Raffaele shrugged. “I think one of the best things I can do is give money to charitable causes. It’s certainly within my budget, and there are plenty of places that need the funds.”

&n
bsp; “Your parents don’t believe in charitable giving?”

  “They do, it’s just that I tend to do it anonymously. If I got press out of it, or if I did it in conjunction with business connections, I think they’d be happier.” Raffaele sighed. “Plus, I’m under pressure to get married and start a family.”

  Maggie raised her eyebrows. “You don’t want a family?”

  “I do, but I’d like to find the right woman instead of getting married simply because it’s expected of me. Getting married is good for our public image, but I think it’s worse for our image if we do things only for show.”

  “It must be difficult to always be in the spotlight.”

  Raffaele gave her a half-shrug. “I’ve never known anything different.” He looked at her. “What about you—do you want a family?”

  Maggie leaned back and sighed.

  “Yes, but I’ve been so busy with the restaurant that I haven’t even found time to date.” She looked pointedly at him. “You were my first date in ages.”

  Raffaele grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “You should. I don’t ditch inventory for just anyone.” Maggie grinned back at him.

  She found herself getting distracted again as she looked into his eyes.

  Maggie shook herself out of it as their server brought dessert and decided to change the subject. “So, what charities do you support?”

  Raffaele told her about the causes he cared about and the organizations to which he sent money. Maggie listened, realizing that the Prince put a great deal of time and energy into his philanthropy.

  The more Maggie learned about Raffaele, the more she liked him. And, the more she found herself falling for him, really. He was an amazing man—the kind of man she’d been waiting for—and as Raffaele offered her his arm while they were leaving the restaurant, she wondered if he was indeed the man she was meant to be with.

  Raffaele started the car, then looked at her before starting to drive. Maggie looked back at him, wondering what was going through his mind.

  “There’s a spot on the water that I like to go to. It’s a little bit out of the city, and it’s quiet.” He hesitated. “May I take you there?”

  Maggie smiled. “I’d like that very much.”

  “If you’re tired or ready to go home…”

  Maggie laughed at that.

  “It feels like mid-afternoon to me, so I’m wide awake. I don’t think I could sleep right now.” She tilted her head and shrugged. “Plus, I’m cooking for you tomorrow, so it’s your responsibility to distract me tonight so I don’t stress over a meal for 300 members of royalty.”

  Raffaele grinned at her. “Technically, they’re not all royalty.”

  He pulled out of the parking lot and drove in the direction of the beach.

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “Oh, yes, that’s helpful.”

  The beach was exactly how Raffaele had described it: quiet, secluded, and peaceful. Maggie could see why he spent time here. Raffaele opened Maggie’s door and helped her out of the car.

  “Do you come here often?” Maggie asked.

  Raffaele shrugged. “Not often enough. Mostly, I like to come out here at night when fewer people are around.”

  He offered his arm to her, and Maggie took it, once again enjoying the feeling of being close to him. The full moon made the water sparkle, and shone brightly enough so that they could see as they walked on the sand.

  “I hope I’ll have the chance to show you more of our beaches later in the week, but since you were inside all day, I thought you might like some fresh air and a walk before heading back.”

  She leaned against him a little as they walked, touched by his thoughtfulness. “I’m thrilled to be outside, and a walk sounds perfect.”

  Raffaele led them down closer to the water. Maggie let go of him while she knelt down to trail her fingers in the surf.

  “It’s cold!” She shook the water off her fingers and laughed. “I guess I was thinking the water was always warm in the Mediterranean.”

  Raffaele held his hand out to pull her up. “Give it a few months. The water is perfect then.”

  He looked out across the water and Maggie watched him. When he turned to her, he smiled and Maggie’s breath hitched. She covered it up by turning to look down the beach.

  “It’s beautiful here.”

  Raffaele responded, “Yes, very beautiful.”

  Maggie turned back to find him watching her instead of the water. She knew her cheeks were turning red under his admiring gaze.

  Raffaele reached out and brushed a strand of hair off her face.

  “You know, I’ve never brought anyone out here before,” he said.

  Maggie tilted her head. “Really?”

  Raffaele nodded.

  “This is my spot to get away from everything. I don’t have to impress anyone here.” He brushed his fingers over her cheek again. “But I find myself not wanting to get away from you.”

  Maggie leaned against his hand. “I don’t particularly want to get away from you, either.”

  “So, if I kissed you…”

  “I would like that very much.”

  Raffaele slid his hand around so that it rested gently on the back of Maggie’s neck. He leaned toward her, brushing his lips against her mouth once, and then again. Her breath quickened and when Raffaele dipped his head again, she opened her mouth against his.

  The touch of his tongue was electric and Maggie got lost in the sensation of his hand on her skin. Time stopped. Maggie felt like she could stay like that forever.

  When they broke the kiss, Raffaele leaned his forehead against hers, and Maggie tried to catch her breath. Her skin tingled and all she wanted at that moment was for Raffaele to hold her close. She touched his face and he leaned his cheek into her hand.

  She kissed him again lightly and shifted so she could lean into him. Raffaele wrapped his arm around her tightly, pulling her up against his body. He deepened the kiss and stroked his fingers down Maggie’s back.

  Maggie’s head spun, but before things could get more intense, Raffaele pulled back a little. She raised her eyebrows in question, and he shook his head.

  “We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. I should get you home.”

  Maggie nodded. She wanted to stay, but he was being a gentleman and she wasn’t going to push. Besides, he was right. Tomorrow would be a long day, and she wanted to cook the best possible meal for him—he deserved her absolute best.

  So, she gently kissed him again, smiled, and let him lead her back to the car.

  Chapter 11

  Raffaele

  The first thought Raffaele had on waking was about Maggie. Their evening together had been magical and all he wanted to do was see her again.

  There was as knock on the outer door, followed by his secretary and a porter carrying a large tray with coffee and pastries.

  “Good morning, Your Highness,” Albert called from the other room.

  Raffaele sighed and rolled out of bed. Even on his birthday, he had responsibilities to take care of, so his pleasant thoughts about the lovely chef would have to wait. He quickly dressed and went into the sitting room.

  Albert looked up with a pleasant smile.

  “Happy birthday, sir.” He handed Raffaele a cup of coffee.

  Raffaele nodded. “Thank you, Albert.”

  He sat at the table and looked at the pile of cards on the table next to the tray of pastries. Raffaele picked one up and studied it.

  Albert looked pointedly at the pile.

  “I thought you might look over some of the more personal cards over breakfast. You have more official greetings and a few things from the public to look at later.”

  Raffaele opened one of the cards and smiled. It was from his sister, and although the card itself was proper, the message she had written on the inside would no doubt make their parents roll their eyes. He loved it.

  “Your guests begin arriving in a few hours. Your mother has asked that
you join her for a ride this morning, and your uncle requested a few minutes of your time after lunch.”

  “Will you tell my mother that I’ll be down shortly, and my uncle that I’m available at his convenience?”

  Albert nodded and left the room. Raffaele continued to flip through the cards and notes while eating breakfast. He didn’t want to make his mother wait, so he quickly finished the coffee and food, and changed into riding clothes.

  The morning went by quickly. Because of the elaborate dinner later, lunch was casual and light. Raffaele grabbed a quick bite, then went to meet with his uncle.

  King Filippo wished him a happy birthday and then reiterated what his father had told him a few days before; Raffaele assured his uncle that he was ready to serve in the Spiaggian military. He ran into his aunt on his way out and she hugged him and made him promise to save her a dance at the party.

  Guests were starting to arrive, and Raffaele knew he only had a few minutes before he had to change clothes again and start circulating among the family and friends attending his party.

  Raffaele ducked into the kitchen and found his favorite chef studying a platter of mini fruit tarts. He cleared his throat, not wanting to startle her. When she looked up, her face lit up in a smile and he couldn’t help but smile back.

  “Do you have a moment?” he asked.

  “Of course! But first…” She looked slyly off to the one side, then the other, like she was checking to see if anyone was watching, then grabbed his hand and tugged him toward a little alcove.

  Raffaele went along with her, not sure what she was doing, but willing to follow her anywhere. When she got to the alcove, she stopped suddenly and turned around before he could see inside.

  “Hang on. Close your eyes.” He raised in eyebrows in question and Maggie grinned. “Trust me. I won’t let you fall.”

  Hearing his own words from her, Raffaele couldn’t resist. He closed his eyes and Maggie took his hand again, leading him forward.

  She stopped carefully, and without letting go of his hand said, “Okay. Open your eyes.”