by Holly Rayner
“Don’t you ‘What, Merle’ me! The strike ended last night—you’ll be happy to know that we’ve landed and can get back on schedule. Call Kaye and get to the main lobby. I want to start filming immediately!”
With that, Merle ended the call. Kaye glanced up at Amir, lifting an eyebrow.
“Another day, another dollar, huh?”
He grinned down at her, but made no other move to touch her as he stood and dressed. Taking his cue, she did the same, grabbing her key from her back pocket.
“I’ll see you out there?” she asked.
She hated how vulnerable she felt. They had finally spent a night together, but with that call, reality had crashed right into their world of no consequences. She hoped he wasn’t having regrets.
She certainly wasn’t.
“Sounds good,” he said.
When he didn’t say anything else, Kaye made a hasty exit, not wanting to be awkward. Her stomach roiled as she wondered if what happened between them was just a regrettable blip, something that Amir would do his best to forget about as they moved on with production. Her heart sank at the thought.
She made quick work of dressing, hoping her acting skills would serve her well as they moved to film with the crew. When she entered the lobby, Jesse was there, waiting with a red-faced Merle.
“About time,” Merle grumbled, but Jesse ignored him.
“Good to see you, Kaye. Let’s get some images of you doing some contemplative thinking on the beach, then we’ll do some one-on-ones.”
“Okay,” she said, casting a glance over to where Amir was.
He was being pulled in another direction, likely for his own personal interview. Kaye tried not to feel disappointed as they went their separate ways. She did her duty, playing the giddy bride as she spoke to the cameras, and the morning whiled away. They headed back to the lobby, where Amir was chatting with a few of the other crew members.
When they walked in, his eyes burned into hers. He excused himself, making his way over to her.
“Hey! Can I show you something over here real fast?”
Kaye nodded, confused as he pulled her into a side hallway. Pressing her back against the wall, he pressed his forehead against hers.
“I can’t go another minute without kissing you,” he breathed.
Kaye grinned, thrilled.
“Be careful—we might get caught.”
“I don’t care,” he murmured, lowering his head and pressing his lips to hers.
Kaye melted into him, but as she opened her eyes, she went stock still. Sensing her unease, Amir pulled back, and, seeing the direction of her gaze, turned to see Merle staring daggers at them both.
“I thought this show meant something to you, Al-Asfour. Thought this was supposed to be your big break, and a cash cow for me. All you had to do was keep it in your pants, and you couldn’t even do that.”
His voice was low and threatening. Kaye knew what he was saying was true. They had blown everything!
She looked up to see what Amir would do. He had every right to end things with her then and there, to continue with the project and move on as though nothing had happened. Instead, he reached for her hand.
“No offense, Merle, but screw the show. I’ve found something better.”
He gazed down at Kaye before kissing her again, deeply. When he broke off the exchange, he held tight to her hand, leading them past Merle.
“Air whatever you want, but I’m writing up a new contract for Kaye, and you’ll be signing it. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“You’re an idiot, Amir.”
“I know. Isn’t that the best?”
He waved sarcastically at Merle, and Kaye laughed as he pulled her back into his room before kissing her silly once again.
“Let’s go home,” he said.
“What, already?”
“Yeah. I want to try out this whole relationship thing, for real. What do you say? Want to give us a go?”
Kaye wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, her heart singing.
“I’d be delighted,” she replied.
Together, they packed their bags and made quick work of getting back to Amir’s jet, where they snuggled together the rest of the way home.
It was a reality far better than they ever could have imagined.
Epilogue
Kaye sighed happily as she stretched in her cozy hotel bed. She reached across the sheets, and when she found the side next to her empty, she frowned.
The night before raced through her head, reminding her of exactly why she was sleeping alone.
They’d had the rehearsal dinner on the beach, a private party set up just for them and their guests. Kaye and Amir had sat at a main table overlooking all the others, and Amir had stood, clinking his glass to get the room’s attention.
“All right, all right, I know there are a lot of you, but simmer down already.”
Various heckles had come from the myriad of tables with Amir’s massive family in attendance. He’d chuckled, and Kaye had beamed up at him.
“I wanted to make a little speech tonight before everyone gets too wild. Also, we are getting married tomorrow, so don’t go too wild. We don’t want any hangovers at the wedding, am I clear?”
He’d glared around the room, but all that had met him in return was a few quiet laughs.
“Right. Tonight, we’re here because a year ago, I was lucky enough to hire the best actress Hollywood has ever seen.”
There had been cheers, and Kaye had blushed.
“She was so good, in fact, that she managed to get me to fall in love with her, for real. You can’t get better than that, especially when you’re filming a reality show!”
“Get to the point!” one of Amir’s brothers had called out, and Amir had waved a dismissive hand at him.
“Anyway, I wanted to thank all of you for coming out to Barbados to celebrate our special day. Over the past year, Kaye and I have had quite the adventure, learning about each other and forging a new life together. It’s been amazing, and we couldn’t be happier to share it with you all this weekend. I want you all to enjoy yourselves, and to raise a glass to my stunning, beautiful wife!”
There had been a great cheer, then, with everyone lifting a glass. Kaye had smiled up at Amir as the crowd had chanted for her to give the next speech. She’d stood and cleared her throat.
“As many of you know, Amir and I have actually been married for a year, so really, this is more of an anniversary party than a wedding. Still, we want to do it our way. Tomorrow is going to be simple. It’s going to be about the love between two people from across the globe who happened to be lucky enough to find one another. I can’t wait to share it with you all.”
“Do the vows from the show!”
Kaye hadn’t been able to tell who’d shouted that one out, but she’d laughed.
“While those were quite lovely, I think we’ll be coming up with our own vows this time around.”
“You’re telling me reality TV is fake?”
Kaye had narrowed her eyes as she’d tried to spot the person initiating a conversation in the middle of her speech, only to find that it was her father, and she’d grinned.
“All right, someone cut off my dad’s drink supply. We need him upright and presentable for tomorrow.”
The room had laughed again, including her father. Kaye had been beyond grateful to see him there, happy and present.
After they’d returned to the States, Kaye and Amir had headed straight to Indiana to make amends with her parents after their fight. After a lot of tears and some heartfelt conversations, they had managed to make it through to the end, with hugs and apologies all round.
Kaye’s mother had stood, then, bringing Kaye out of her memories.
“When I first met Amir, I’ll admit it wasn’t the best of introductions,” her mother had begun.
No one laughed at that.
“As we were chasing an entire camera crew off our lawn, he approached us and he sai
d something that I’ll never forget. He told us that we had an amazing daughter, and that we may not agree with her all of the time, but that she would be back with all her love, and that we should be ready to accept it and give it back in return.
“It was one of the most eloquent speeches I’d ever heard from anyone, and in that moment, I had regrets about sending them away. I knew, if that was something he had to say when she wasn’t around, it was what he truly felt. I knew, in that moment, that they may have been filming a show, but that boy loved my daughter.”
Kaye and Amir had glanced at one another. Glasses had clinked so that they would kiss, and Amir didn’t wait. He’d smooched her silly until the room was cheering once again. Kaye had winked at her mother as she’d sat back down, and the festivities had continued as planned. As the night had drawn to a close, Amir had walked Kaye to her room, which was a few doors down from his.
“This is going to be difficult. I want you more than anything in the world,” Amir had growled as he’d wrapped his arms tightly around her.
Kaye had smiled into his shoulder.
“You have me already, you silly man.”
“You know what I mean.”
She did, and she felt very much the same way. They hadn’t spent a night apart since returning back home, and it had been glorious. Kaye couldn’t imagine a bed without Amir in it with her, holding her close. Still, tradition was tradition.
“We can’t see each another until the wedding,” she’d reminded him.
“We’re already married,” he’d reminded her, in turn.
“Yeah, but that one didn’t count. Let’s do it right this time, Amir. Our parents would be proud of us.”
Finally, he’d sighed, stepping back from her, even as he’d held onto her hand, not yet willing to let go.
“I’ll miss you.”
“I miss you already,” she’d said, beaming at him.
He’d closed in again, kissing her within an inch of her sanity before he’d stepped back and released her hand.
“If you keep doing that, it’s going to be a much rougher night,” Kaye had breathed.
“Just a little preview for tomorrow,” he’d said, with a cheeky gleam in his eye.
“Can’t wait!”
“Me either. Goodnight, my love. See you at the altar.”
“Goodnight.”
As Kaye thought back to Amir’s passionate embrace, her heart began to beat a little faster. While the day itself would be full of celebrations and fun, she very much looked forward to the evening ahead. It seemed that, with Amir, there was always something to look forward to.
There was a gentle knock at her door, and Kaye walked over to answer it, finding her mother on the other side.
“Ready to get dressed?” she asked.
Kaye nodded.
“Let’s do it.”
It was a far cry from the professional help she’d had with Jen on her team, but together, Kaye and her mother managed to curl and pin her hair in a delicate wave that flowed over her shoulders. Her dress was also very simple—just a long, white, fitted strapless gown. She slid into it easily, her makeup earth-toned, her feet bare. When she turned to face her mother, she found her with tears in her eyes.
“Mom,” Kaye murmured, her tone comforting.
Her mother grasped her hands.
“I’m just so proud of you, Kaye. You’ve come so far since your days living in Indiana.”
“I wouldn’t be who I am without them,” Kaye reminded her.
Her mother dabbed her eyes to stave off any makeup mishaps.
“Yes, well. Let’s go see if your father is ready, and we can get this party started.”
“How much did he have to drink last night, anyway?”
“Not enough to be dead to the world today, but enough to have a good time,” her mother said with a smirk.
Kaye laughed.
“Sounds like the perfect amount to me!”
They headed toward the beach, where an altar had been set up beneath a white gazebo just for the occasion. Peeking out from the lobby, Kaye could see Amir waiting in the gazebo, though he couldn’t see her. He was wearing a white linen suit, and looked as handsome as ever. She took a deep breath, excited to get going.
Her father approached, then, standing on the other side of her.
“Ready?” he asked.
It was so similar to the previous wedding, when Merle had hired an imposter to play her uncle. Kaye found this time to be so much better. She squeezed her dad’s arm.
“Absolutely. Let’s go.”
A string quartet began to play, and Kaye and her parents walked out to see the crowd. Some of the attendees were from Kaye’s side, but the vast majority was Amir’s enormous family. All of them grinned at her in admiration as she walked past, but she hardly noticed.
She only had eyes for the man before her.
As they reached the steps, they took them one at a time before Kaye’s parents released her into Amir’s waiting grasp.
“I never want to sleep another night without you again. Pure torture,” he whispered, and she smiled up at him.
“Ditto,” she agreed.
They turned to face the local priest they had found, an old man with a melodious accent. He gazed at them affectionately before he began the ceremony.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pride that I marry the couple from one of my favorite new reality shows.”
That elicited some laughs from the crowd.
“Oftentimes, we believe that love is something that is contrived, that isn’t real. We marry and discover that love is difficult, that it is something to be fought for, and fought with, for many years. There is never going to be a perfect day in this world. Life can have challenges that may be too much to bear. When these arise, it is love that sees us through. It breaks through barriers, and it finds a way through the walls we build up. It is the greatest gift of mankind.”
He glanced at Kaye and Amir.
“I believe that you have written vows for each other. Now would be the time to say them.”
He looked at Kaye first, and she pulled out a sheet of paper, not wanting to get her vows wrong. It was one thing to do it for a TV show, but it was entirely another when pledging her life for real.
“Amir, when I first met you, I thought you were quite the hunk. You were the only reason I was crazy enough to take a job on a reality show and marry a complete stranger. Your kindness, your humor, the man you are behind the camera when they weren’t telling you to be more macho, was the man I fell in love with. You may not have rescued me from a drunk guy at a bar, but you have in so many other ways, more than you’ll ever know. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Amir whispered.
“And now you, Amir,” the priest said.
The Sheikh gazed down at Kaye, adoration shining in his eyes. This time, he required no document to read from. He spoke directly from his heart.
“Kaye, I knew from the moment I met you that you were someone special. Your laughter, your smile, your determination to live your dreams, all drew me to you like a moth to a flame. I am enchanted by you, body and soul, and I pledge to make you the happiest woman in the world for all the days of our lives.”
The priest nodded.
“You already wear your rings, so we won’t bother with that. Instead, I will simply tell you that you are, have been, and always will be, man and wife. To the happy couple!”
Amir pulled Kaye into his embrace, then, kissing her with love and passion. Everyone cheered as the happy couple waved to their beloved friends and family, the sun bright with the promise of a shining future, filled with love.
It was a day they would never forget.
The End
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The Sheikh’s Forbidden Tryst
Lara Hunter & Holly Rayner
Up next, as promised, is mine and Lara’s recent book, The Shei
kh’s Forbidden Tryst, in full!
Copyright 2017 by Lara Hunter and Holly Rayner
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the explicit written permission of the author.
All characters depicted in this fictional work are consenting adults, of at least eighteen years of age. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased, particular businesses, events, or exact locations are entirely coincidental.
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Chapter One
Lucy
Could it get any better than this?
It was lunchtime, but I didn’t want to stop working. Sure, I’d only been in my new role for less than half a day, but already it seemed a lot more exciting than my old one had been.
So far, I’d ordered new suits, organized and reorganized meetings, searched for suitable downtown L.A. dining spots, and called a handful of business contacts and potential clients. All that in only two or so hours. Who would have thought being personal assistant to the CEO would be such a sweet deal?
As he worked at his desk, I watched him through the glass wall that separated us. Sheikh Khabib bin Samara, CEO of Samara Motors.
Even staring freely at his handsome honey-skinned face now, I could find nothing more about him than what I’d already encountered myself. I already knew he was hard-working, demanding, charming, alluring. Regardless, my crush was definitely growing from when I had worked in reception and only very occasionally dealt with him.
When I finally did tear my gaze away and focus it on my glossy black desk, the butterflies in my chest were replaced by a hornets' nest of apprehension. Having a crush on your boss was never a good idea, and working in close proximity to said boss was an even worse idea. But what choice did I have? I needed this job.
