by Albany, Cara
"Word gets around," Zayed said.
Tariq didn't like the tone of Zayed's voice. There was a definite hint of suspicion in his brother's words.
"Really. Who's doing the talking?" Tariq asked.
"You know who likes to get to the bottom of everything," Zayed said.
Tariq sighed and shook his head. "Aliyah."
Zayed grinned. "Yeah. Our baby sister. She just can't resist getting involved."
"I seem to recall she had something to do with you and Chloe getting together," Tariq said.
"Raz and Ella, too," Zayed said shaking his head.
Tariq leaned against his horse and fixed Zayed with a look. "And now, its my turn. Doesn't she know I'm already married?"
"I think she has noticed," Zayed said with a grin. His features darkened slightly and he paused. "But, seriously, Aliyah's bothered by something."
"What?" Tariq said feeling a knot of anxiety in his gut.
"She wouldn't say. But, she's seeing Zoe this morning."
Tariq stared at Zayed. "Seeing her?"
"Zoe and Aliyah were supposed to be having breakfast together earlier this morning. Who knows what they were talking about."
Tariq sighed. That was the last thing they needed. If there was one person who could find out the truth of Zoe and Tariq's arrangement, it was Aliyah. His sister was relentless when it came to getting to the bottom of things, especially if they were matters of the heart.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Zayed said peering at Tariq.
He shook his head and forced a smile. "It's nothing. I'm sure they had a lovely time."
Tariq started to lead his horse toward the stable entrance. Zayed followed alongside him. Tariq could see that Zayed was thinking hard about something. Maybe it was time to let Zayed and everyone else in on the truth, Tariq said to himself. The urge to let all of his family know what was happening between him and Zoe had been burning inside him these last few weeks. Just as much as the ache that had eaten away at Tariq by being kept apart from Zoe.
Tariq couldn't believe he'd held out so long. Six weeks had seemed like an eternity. Not once had he gone near Zoe. And, every time anyone had asked how she was, Tariq had had to resort to bending the truth to hide the fact that he and Zoe had been living apart. It couldn't carry on like this for much longer, he told himself. It wasn't fair to his family, and especially on Zoe. It was disrespectful, to say the least. She deserved better.
Maybe it was time to call off their arrangement. Tariq had kept his side of the bargain, and had paid off the debts of her father's company. She was free to go her own way.
The thought of losing Zoe forever made that familiar ache pulse in Tariq's heart. What else could he do? He'd kept his word; she'd kept her side of the bargain. They were free to do what needed to be done under the circumstances.
Tariq paused at the stable entrance. He turned to Zayed and looked at his brother. "There's something I need to tell you, Zayed," Tariq said.
Zayed's brows rose. "Really? And, what's that, Tariq?" Zayed said.
Tariq peered into Zayed's eyes, searching for any clue that his brother suspected what Tariq was about to tell him. Had Zayed already guessed the truth about Tariq and Zoe? Had his entire family guessed?
Tariq drew in a deep breath and prepared to speak, but was halted by the ringing of his cell phone. He frowned at Zayed as he lifted the phone to his ear.
Tariq felt his heart race upon hearing Zoe's voice. "Tariq?" There was an urgency in her tone.
"Zoe? What's wrong?" Tariq demanded stepping away from Zayed.
Tariq heard Zoe's breathing at the other end of the line. Something was wrong! He could sense it. She wouldn't have called him otherwise.
"Tell me what's wrong, Zoe. Has something happened?"
He heard her gasp and almost laugh ironically. "You could say that," she replied.
"Where are you, Zoe?" Tariq demanded. He felt a sudden urgency. He needed to be with her, whatever the reason that had prompted her to call him out of the blue.
"I don't know what to say," she replied. "It's all very confusing," Zoe said.
A desperate urge to know surged inside Tariq. "Are you at the apartment?" he asked.
She sighed. "I'm in the penthouse now. I just got back. When can you get here?"
Tariq dipped his head and spoke into the phone. "You just got back from where?" he asked.
"I'll tell you that when you get here," she replied.
"Are you alone?"
There was a long pause. Then Zoe spoke. "Aliyah's here with me now. She says she can wait until you get here. Then we need to speak alone."
Tariq frowned. It seemed like he and Zayed had been right. Their sister had been busy this morning.
"I'll be there as fast as I can," Tariq said urgently. He wanted to say so much more, but right now wasn't the time.
He disconnected and turned to Zayed. "I have to go," he said starting to lead the horse back into the stable. His pulse was racing. An image flashed into his mind of Zoe crouched in the apartment, waiting on Tariq. She'd sounded as if she really needed him. There had been an unusual vulnerability in her voice.
Zayed frowned. "Problem?"
Tariq shook his head. "I'm sure it's fine. Zoe needs me," he stated. That sounded sweet, he reflected. Zoe needed him. And, he had to get to her as quickly as possible.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
How was she going to tell him?
The question whirled around relentlessly inside Zoe's mind.
Zoe sat on the couch in the apartment, a cup of tea held tightly in her hand. She gazed out the open expanse of the windows at the city beyond. Aliyah had retreated to the kitchen having sensed that Zoe needed time to think, a chance to reflect on what had happened that morning.
They'd gone to the local clinic and Zoe had been seen by the Al Kharif family doctor almost immediately. Then, things had progressed at a rapid pace, and before she knew what had happened Zoe had been given the results.
She was pregnant.
Upon hearing the news from the smiling doctor, Zoe had felt her world shift around her.
Pregnant with Tariq's baby.
Emotion had overtaken Zoe, and the tears had come. Joy and confusion had filled her all at the same time. She'd felt a brief instant of panic, terrified by what the news really meant. But, almost as quickly a curious and surprising contentment had settled upon her. She was going to be a mother. What an incredible thing, she'd told herself.
And, of course, it had been that night in the encampment when she and Tariq had created new life, a fresh beginning.
Zoe had taken a while to recover from the news, but eventually she had emerged from the doctor's room to be met with the kindly figure of Aliyah. Zoe had said nothing to Aliyah, making it clear that she had to speak with Tariq.
She'd called him. His voice had been filled with a genuine concern, and now he was on his way to her. She was about to give him the most momentous news, and she wondered how he would react.
The light above the door of the private lift came on. Tariq was on his way up. Aliyah emerged from the kitchen. "Are you okay?" she asked Zoe.
Zoe nodded. "I'm fine. Tariq is here," she said feeling a warm certainty spread through her body at the prospect of seeing him.
Aliyah picked up her bag. "I'll be heading downstairs. You two need some time alone," she said.
"Thank you for your help, Aliyah," Zoe said.
Aliyah smiled. "It was a pleasure, Zoe. You take care, now," she said.
The lift door opened, and Tariq emerged in a rush. His gaze immediately found Zoe, and he dashed toward her. Tariq glanced from Zoe to Aliyah, who smiled at her brother and walked past him, touching Tariq gently on the shoulder. "I'll call you later, Tariq," Aliyah said softly.
Tariq's brows furrowed as he watched his sister walk toward the lift. Then he turned and came to Zoe. He sat down next to her. Zoe waited for Aliyah to enter the lift and for the doors to close, leaving her and Tariq alone.
"Wh
at's wrong, Zoe?" Tariq said breathlessly. There were beads of sweat on his forehead as if he'd been running.
Zoe faced Tariq and smiled. She reached across and laid a hand softly on her husband's arm. "Nothing's wrong, Tariq. In fact, it's quite the opposite," she said.
She saw Tariq frown. "What do you mean. I thought there was some kind of trouble," he said.
Zoe laid her other hand across her belly. "There's no trouble, at all, Tariq," she said with a knowing smile on her face.
His eyes narrowed, and his gaze drifted down to where her hand lay on her stomach. "Are you ill?" he asked.
Zoe had to contain the urge to laugh. "I thought I was. But, it turns out I'm not."
"What do you mean?"
"I was ill this morning when Aliyah arrived. But, she kindly took me to see your family doctor," Zoe said.
His eyes widened. "The doctor!" he exclaimed.
Zoe nodded and smiled. "But, everything's fine. Really, it is," she said softly.
"What did he tell you?" Tariq asked.
Zoe smiled. Why was it that men were so slow on the uptake when it came to announcements like this? Even if he was a sheikh, Tariq was still a man like any other.
"I have something to tell you, Tariq. Something wonderful," Zoe said.
His gaze was intense, and she was sure she could see a flicker of understanding dawning in those dark eyes.
Zoe leaned closer to Tariq and peered into his eyes. Emotions tumbled throughout her body, and she wondered briefly how he would react. Then, she summoned her strength and spoke to him. "We are going to have a baby," Zoe said softly.
Tariq's mouth opened in astonishment, and his eyes brightened, gazing intently at Zoe. "A baby!" he exclaimed.
Zoe nodded vigorously and smiled. "Isn't it wonderful? A baby."
Tariq looked as if he had been floored. She heard him gasp, and his face flushed with excitement. He took her hands in his own and stared at Zoe, smiling broadly. "Is it true? You are really going to have a child? Our child?"
Zoe could barely contain her excitement. Their eyes met, and she saw the love there, the adoration she had always known he had for her.
Tariq wrapped his arms around her and hugged Zoe. "That's wonderful, Zoe. I can hardly believe it," he said. His voice was shaking with emotion.
Then he leaned back and gazed at her in wonder. His gaze drifted to her lips, and then his head dipped. His kiss was tender and loving. His lips caressed hers softly. Zoe felt her body warm to his touch.
Their lips parted, and Tariq gazed deeply into Zoe's eyes. "I love you, Zoe. I have always loved you, and I always will. You are everything to me. The sun, the moon, the stars. All are nothing compared to you. I promise that I will do whatever I have to do so that you will be happy and content and safe forever. I devote my life to you. You belong to me."
Zoe gasped upon hearing his wonderful, joyous declaration. She gazed into the eyes of this amazing, astonishingly handsome man who had meant so much to her for so long. He was her sheikh; he was her husband and the father of their child.
She loved Tariq. It was that simple. It had just taken a very long time for her to admit that fact, and she knew she had to tell him. Right now.
"Tariq. I love you so much," Zoe said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I know we've had to travel a difficult road, but I want you to know that I love you now, and I always will love you."
Tariq smiled broadly, and there was that look again; that look of complete, sublime adoration. She knew she'd never tire of seeing that look in his eyes.
Tariq hugged Zoe and then pulled suddenly away from her, glancing anxiously down at her belly. "I don't want to hug you too hard," he explained.
Zoe laughed. "Don't be silly. I won't break."
Tariq gazed into Zoe's eyes. "You know what this means, don't you?"
She squinted at him. "No."
"You're coming back to the palace with me. For good," he said. There was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. Did he doubt that she wanted to be with him? After all that she had just told him?
Zoe smiled at Tariq and reached across to move those fetching locks of dark hair away from his furrowed brows.
"I am coming back, Tariq. And, in eight months, we're going to have someone very special to look after."
Tariq grinned and reached across, laying his hand gently on her belly. "That sounds wonderful."
"I think this will put to rest any doubts your family might have been having about us. Don't you think?"
Tariq nodded. "They're going to be very happy."
"But not as happy as we're going to be, my love," Zoe said.
Tariq shook his head and smiled. "We're going to be happy forever, habibti," he said. She recognized that word, knew the significance of it to him. Zoe was his love. That much she knew for sure.
Tariq stood and looked down at Zoe. "Are you well enough to come with me to our home?" he asked.
Zoe gazed up at him, taking in the sight of his handsome figure, his even features, his adoring gaze. She reached up, and he took her hands, lifting her gently to her feet.
They stood face to face, gazing into one another's eyes, knowing that their love had triumphed.
And then, Tariq turned and started to lead her toward her new life, the only life she had ever wanted.
By the side of her beloved sheikh.
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
They stood on the balcony of their bedroom in the palace. Zoe held their baby in her arms and gazed across the desert landscape. It was going to be another beautiful day.
Next to her stood Tariq, his arm curved around Zoe's back, holding her close. He gazed down at his son, Kamal. Named after Tariq's father. The little boy smiled up at Tariq. He had the same bright eyes as Tariq and those little fists looked like they were ready to take on the world.
Pride filled Tariq's heart. How good it felt to be here with the woman he loved and his recently born son. They would be happy here; he would protect them both as if his life depended on it. In fact, he realized that wasn't far from the truth. Tariq owed his life to this amazing woman standing alongside him. If she hadn't come back into his life, demanding that he marry her, holding him to his long forgotten promise, then none of this would have come true.
It was like a dream.
He owed her everything, and he loved her dearly. She was his desert princess, and she had given him two priceless treasures.
Love and family.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it," Zoe said gazing up at Tariq.
The baby gurgled in agreement, and they both looked down at him, wonder and love filling their eyes.
Zoe lifted her head and looked up at Tariq. His eyes narrowed in that sweet way they always did when he wanted to make sure she knew he loved her.
And, when he dipped his head toward her, she opened her lips and welcomed the soft, tender kiss, knowing that she and Tariq and Kamal would all be together forevermore.
THE END
THE PREVIOUS TWO VOLUMES IN THE QAZHAR SHEIKHS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE
THE SHEIKH'S FORBIDDEN BRIDE
AND
THE SHEIKH'S PRETEND BRIDE
ALSO AVAILABLE
Book 1 in The Qazhar Sheikhs series. Three brothers and their search for love
THE SHEIKH'S FORBIDDEN BRIDE
A Second Chance For The Sheikh To Claim His Lost Love
Feisty and determined, Chloe Stirling had once loved and lost Sheikh Zayed Al Kharif. But that is all in the past now.
Or, is it?
Chloe's work brings her to Zayed's kingdom where she must find a way to resist a former lover who will not be denied.
Zayed is an untamed Sheikh determined not to waste this chance to possess the only woman he has ever loved. Forced to abandon her once before, he's not about to make the same mistake again. He will use everything he can to win her back, even if Chloe is determined to deny him a second chance.
Can Zayed seize his second chance at love, and overcom
e the barriers to finding a happy ever after with a woman who is now so close to becoming the love of his life?
Each novel in the series is a complete standalone story with a happy ending and no cliffhangers.
Book 2 in The Qazhar Sheikhs series
THE SHEIKH'S PRETEND BRIDE
Enemies in public. Lovers in private.
Feisty Ella Brant never thought that the sheikh she had come to expose and publicly shame would become more than an enemy. He would become her lover.
Sheikh Raz Al Kharif has been happy for every woman to believe that he's a man who can't be tamed. Life has been too good to allow any woman to bring him to his knees and marry.
But, Ella isn't just any woman. She's not just another pretend future wife.
The spirited American woman has made it her mission to teach Raz a very important lesson. Can she do it while keeping the sheikh at bay?
Can Raz break down the barriers between himself and the amazing woman who is driving him to distraction? And, can he stop her from turning his world upside down?
Each novel in the series is a complete standalone story with a happy ending and no cliffhangers.
THANK YOU
Thank you for reading The Sheikh's Rebellious Bride. I hope you enjoyed it.There will be further volumes of Sheikh romances over the coming months . If you would like to know when future books are available please sign up for my new release email newsletter.
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