Bought And Paid For: The Sheikh's Kidnapped Lover

by Holly Rayner

But she didn't stay seated for long. She continually stood up and paced around, to the window and back to her chair, her arms wrapped around herself. It was maddening, having to wait, unsure what was happening just a few floors away from her.

  Jenna felt her phone buzz in her pocket and pulled it out to look. It was Adina, trying to find out what had happened. She quickly typed out her reply.

  Balal was shot. At the hospital. I will call as soon as I know something.

  She hit send, and as soon as she did, she noticed more messages. She hadn't emailed her parents since her first night at the hostel, but she had told them she would probably only have a chance to email them once a week when she was overseas. They had been understanding, but it felt like an eternity since she’d last spoken to them.

  She opened the most recent email from her mother, asking a million and one questions about her trip, and felt tears well up in her eyes again. She couldn't keep going with this lie—she knew that she had to tell them. They deserved to know the truth. All of it.

  So, she spent the next hour writing out an email to them, explaining everything. She told them that she had set out alone, and not to Paris, but to the Middle East. She told them what had happened to her, and how Balal had saved her. She told them how she and Balal had rescued another woman, and she told them how they had found Balal’s long lost brother, and said that Balal had been hurt, and that now she was sitting in a hospital waiting to see what had happened.

  When she sent the email, she knew that she was going to have to face a lot of fallout when she got home. But she was willing to deal with it, knowing that she would deserve whatever wrath her mother would have in store, and whatever disappointment from her father.

  More than once, a doctor in a pristine white coat stepped into the waiting room, but each time, he read a name that was not hers or Balal's. It ate her up each time, and she thought for sure that she would go utterly mad with frustration.

  She was helpless; all she could do was sit there and try not to bite her fingernails all the way down to the quick.

  Jenna had just started to nod off from pure exhaustion when they finally called out Balal’s. She nearly cracked her skull on the wall behind her, she lifted her head up so fast.

  Jumping to her feet, she made her way over to the doctor. He was a kind-faced, gray-haired man with tired eyes, and he smiled gently at her. Jenna searched his face for truths that his words might not convey.

  He asked her a question, and Jenna was sure that he had asked her if she was Balal’s wife. She nodded her head vehemently, and the doctor nodded as well.

  “Come,” he said in Arabic, then he turned around and led her down the long, white hallway.

  As he opened up the double doors at the end of the hall, Jenna felt her heart begin to hammer against her chest.

  “Is he okay?” she asked, and when the doctor looked at her, not understanding, she tried again in Arabic.

  “Better,” is all the doctor said. He smiled at her once more and stopped at room number 301. He motioned for her to go in.

  When Jenna stepped inside, she was surprised to see Balal sitting up in bed, at least partially. He had a tray in front of him, with a small plastic cup full of ice and a little pitcher of water beside it.

  “Oh, Balal,” Jenna breathed, then she dashed across the room to him. She threw her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder.

  “Easy, now,” Balal said as he patted her shoulder. “I just had stitches.”

  She pulled away, her face streaked with tears. She knew she looked a mess, but didn’t matter. He was alive!

  He smiled easily at her, and she searched his face.

  “I can’t believe it,” she said, still blubbering. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket.

  Balal reached up and cupped her face with his hand. She nuzzled into it like a child.

  “What, you thought that a wound like this would be the death of me? Come now, it will take more than that.”

  Jenna’s lip trembled, and Balal laughed softly.

  “I’m quite all right, Jenna. Truly.” He shifted, then, and she could see that it pained him.

  She held out her hands, attempting to help, but at a loss as to how.

  He exhaled heavily, and then laid back against the pillow. “Apparently the bullet didn’t hit anything vital, but I lost a lot of blood. I had to have a transfusion.”

  She felt her fingertips grow cold and the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

  “But you’re okay?” she asked nervously.

  Balal nodded. “I’m okay, but I’m going to need to stay here for a few days so they can monitor my vitals and make sure I’m not losing any more blood.”

  She saw that his face had paled since he’d tried to move.

  “Here,” she said, and she poured him some water from the pitcher.

  She passed him the glass. He took it, then he smirked at her over the top of the cup.

  “What?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

  Balal lowered the glass and looked at her with a curious expression.

  “I heard what you said to the EMTs…about being my wife.”

  Jenna’s cheeks burned red, and she tried to cover them.

  She felt Balal’s hand on her cheek, and he tilted her chin back up to him.

  “I also heard a lot of what you said in the ambulance. About how I rescued you, and how you needed me.”

  Jenna swallowed hard. He wasn’t supposed to hear any of that!

  Balal’s face softened, and she held his gaze. He lowered his hand to his lap.

  His eyes were deep brown now, with flecks of gold like sunlight. She had almost been sure she would never see them again.

  “I need you too, Jenna,” Balal whispered. “I realized that I needed you the moment I met you, and my life has been full ever since.”

  She wasn’t sure that she had heard him correctly.

  “I have been giving this a great deal of thought…” He smiled a wry smile, and he looked down at his hands in his lap. “And perhaps I have completely lost my mind. I realize that this is going to sound entirely mad, especially given what we have just gone through…”

  “What?” Jenna asked, taking one of his hands in hers. She squeezed it gently. “Please, you can tell me anything.”

  He looked up at her, and she saw something new in his eyes, something she had not seen before. A deep sort of contentment, as well as love, clear as day.

  “Jenna Jackson…” he murmured, pulling her gently toward him. “I was wondering…if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Jenna felt her heart leap inside her chest. She had to grab onto the side of the bed to keep herself from tumbling to the floor.

  Did he…did he just propose?

  “I know I don’t have a ring, and that I’m not going to be able to get down on one knee right now, but…” He laughed, and Jenna was surprised to see a tear run down his cheek. “After all that has happened, after everything with Ahmad, it just made me realize…that I wouldn’t have had the chance to tell that you that I love you. I need you to know that, Jenna. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Jenna threw her arms around his neck, the tears coming once more, fast and joyful.

  “Yes!” she cried. “Yes, Balal, yes!”

  Epilogue

  The sunlight was brighter than usual that afternoon. The sounds of the city drifted up the side of the building, and Jenna felt as if she could have stood on the balcony all day, sipping her wine, taking in the view.

  “It never gets old, does it?”

  Jenna turned, and there stood Balal, at the door to the penthouse. He wore a perfectly tailored suit, a royal blue tie, and a crisp white shirt. He crossed the distance between them, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her gently on the lips.

  A year had gone by since Balal proposed, and still she melted in his arms every time.

  Once Balal had recovered and been released from hospital, Jenna had return
ed home to explain everything to her parents. Once their shock had passed, to her amazement, they had understood her actions, even apologizing for being “overprotective” of her—something she never thought she’d hear them say.

  Balal had been another issue entirely. Jenna’s mother had thought she was insane, agreeing to marry someone after less than a week, and to prove that she wasn’t crazy, Jenna had invited the Sheikh to come and stay with her and her parents in Maine for a week.

  They had quickly warmed to Balal as they got to know him; his handsomeness, wealth and success certainly helped, but Jenna knew that the real reason they accepted him—and eventually came to love him—was because he had saved her life.

  Jenna had had to remain in the States for a few weeks until she could get her visa renewed, and the couple had spent every day of their separation on the phone, or video chatting, since their time of day was so different. Jenna had struggled with the distance, but Balal reassured her, over and over, that things were going to work out just fine.

  Jenna sighed into her fiancé’s chest and grinned. “I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of this view.”

  Balal kissed the top of her head. “Well, my darling, I’m afraid you’ll have to admire it from the dinner table for the time being; I’ve just pulled everything out of the oven, and as with most dishes from this lovely city, they are best enjoyed hot.”

  Jenna smiled. “If you insist,” she said, and reluctantly let him pull her back inside.

  Balal was a wonderful cook, and she had enjoyed all of his cooking lessons so far. But tonight, since it was a special occasion, he had promised to cook everything.

  As always, he pulled her chair out for her and helped her push it in. She loved it when he did that. It made her feel like a princess.

  “Balal, this looks wonderful,” Jenna breathed, beaming up at him.

  He turned from the table to face her, clutching two different wine bottles.

  “White or red, my darling?” he asked.

  “Red, please,” she answered, and gave a happy sigh of contentment as he opened the bottle.

  After filling both of their glasses, Balal lifted his glass in the air.

  “To my gorgeous fiancée, the woman I finally get to wed tomorrow. May our marriage be long, prosperous, and happy.”

  “Hear, hear!” Jenna said, and she went to take a sip, but Balal continued.

  “And we cannot forget the amazing accomplishment of my wife to be,” he said, smiling down at her. “Congratulations to you, my love, for being accepted on the M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Al Mezinda.”

  Jenna’s face flushed as he clinked his glass against hers.

  “Oh, Balal, you are too sweet,” she gushed.

  “When do your classes begin?” he asked, as he took the seat opposite hers and began to spoon ladles of food onto her plate. The smells that came up from the plate were enough to make Jenna’s mouth water.

  “The last week of August,” she told him. “So, we will have a few weeks after our honeymoon to get adjusted to married life first!”

  Her heart fluttered in her chest. It was reality! It was really going to happen!

  “I am just so excited to be studying here. It’s going to be so wonderful! The firsthand experiences I will have will give me the best basis for my papers, and…”

  She saw Balal staring at her across the table, an amused expression on his face.

  “What?” she asked, taking another sip of her wine.

  “Just admiring you,” he explained, his voice low and warm.

  Jenna giggled like a schoolgirl.

  “I’m so glad that you are pursuing your dreams, darling,” Balal said.

  “I couldn’t have done it without you!” Jenna replied. “You, and your connections.”

  Balal waved her comment away. “Nonsense. You could have passed that test if you have applied online. You didn’t need my help.”

  “Sure, I didn’t,” she replied coyly, and she laughed.

  A comfortable silence fell between them as they ate. Jenna was constantly impressed with Balal’s ability to make lavish, delicious meals. They were always so well balanced, and she was impressed that he always pushed for the healthier options. With a body like his, she wasn’t exactly surprised.

  “So, how was your visit with your brother?” Jenna asked.

  Balal finished chewing and wiped his mouth with his napkin. He sighed, but she could see that he wanted to talk.

  “It was…better. He actually seemed interested in our conversation today, and stayed almost the full thirty minutes. And he looked me in the eye more than once.”

  Jenna nodded. “That is good. That must make you feel better,” she replied.

  He moved his fork around on his plate.

  “It does. According to his doctor, he has spoken a few times in his therapy group. It’s taken months, but he is making progress. The doctor said that some men go through the therapy group and never say a word.”

  “Did the doctor say what he was talking about?”

  Balal looked down. “Apparently, it was something about me, and how I was able to see right through him.”

  Jenna felt her heart sink, remembering that fateful day. “You mean about what you said in the bunker that day?”

  The Sheikh sighed, shrugging his shoulders. “That’s what I’m thinking. But do you know what that tells me?”

  “What?” Jenna asked.

  “That I was right; that he was still in there, deep down. My brother, the kind, good-hearted man who loved his family.”

  “How long will he be in jail for?”

  Balal sighed again.

  “A long time. And he should be, to pay for what he has done. His psychiatrist thinks that there is potential for true change, but it is going to be a long, hard road.”

  He shifted in his chair.

  “I think that he is going to have to want to change. I didn’t see that when I spoke to him. He hardly talked with me at all, but he listened. I told him about our wedding, about your acceptance at the university. I told him that I wished things were different.”

  Jenna reached across the table and squeezed his hand.

  There was a click at the door, and Jenna and Balal looked over. Adina stepped inside, closely followed by Jenna’s mother and father, who had come over to help with the wedding preparations.

  “Oh, honey, look!” Lori cried, holding a bag high in the air. “Look what I found at the market!”

  “Hey, Mom,” Jenna said, hugging her when she came scurrying across the living room.

  “Look at these beautiful scarves,” Lori gushed, pulling a handful of brightly colored material from the depths of the bag. “And they were so well priced, too!”

  Jenna beamed. She never thought she would see the day where her mother understood her love of the Middle East and all it had to offer.

  “Oh, honey, you were so right,” her mother continued. “That little coffee shop a block away? Just perfect. I got a lovely espresso, and your father was so pleased to try some of their tea. Oh, sweetheart, it was a lovely afternoon. And Adina!” Lori exclaimed, waving her over. “She took such good care of us. She would make a wonderful tour guide.”

  Balal stepped over and smiled down at Lori.

  “She would indeed, but then I would lose the most important member of my staff. I couldn’t function without her.”

  Adina grinned up at him, reaching up and pinching him on his cheek. Balal smiled and rubbed the spot as Adina turned and went into the kitchen.

  “And what about you, Dad?” Jenna asked, turning to him. “What did you find in the market?”

  “Fish!” he replied, and then he laughed. “I tried more fish, cut in different ways, cooked in different ways, than I ever have in Maine. And that’s saying something!”

  Jenna laughed with her mother, and Balal joined in as well. She wasn’t sure she’d ever thought she could be this happy.

  “Well, I hope you two are still h
ungry,” Balal said as he gestured to the table. “I made dinner.”

  “Oh, you are such a sweetheart,” Jenna’s mother said, patting the Sheikh’s arm affectionately. “But wait! We bought you a gift as well, Balal; our way of thanking you, for everything you’ve done.”

  Lori reached into her bag and pulled out a slender white box, tied up with a golden ribbon.

  “You didn’t have to get me anything,” Balal replied, but he took the package after Jenna’s mother insisted.

  He slowly undid the ribbon, and then pulled open the lid. Inside, white tissue paper covered the gift. He pulled it away, and then Jenna saw his jaw drop.

  Slowly, he lifted out a glass heron, poised for flight.

  “I thought that this might look nice on your mantel there,” Lori murmured.

  Jenna and Balal exchanged a look. She understood his shock completely.

  “Mrs. Jackson…” Balal began, and Jenna wasn’t surprised to see that he had tears in his eyes. “Thank you so much. This is a most precious gift.”

  Lori seemed pleased, but Jenna knew she would never truly understand the significance of the gift she had given him. Something in Balal’s heart had just fallen back into place. Jenna could see it as clearly as if she had laid the piece of the puzzle herself.

  Balal took Lori’s advice and gently set the heron statue on the mantle above the fireplace. Jenna saw his jaw tighten, and his eyes glistened for just a moment. But then he grinned and lifted his hands.

  “Come, my new family. Let us eat together in celebration of what is to come,” he boomed happily, and everyone eagerly agreed.

  The next morning started more beautifully than Jenna could possibly have hoped. The park where they had chosen to have the ceremony was lush, green, and full of sunshine. There were two dozen white chairs with red ribbons tied across the back, enough to seat the people that she and Balal cared most about.

  Jenna had purchased the wedding dress with her mother in Boston. It was simple but elegant, with a strapless front, a short train, and a lovely crystal detail around the waist. She and Lori had both cried when she’d tried it on. They had known, immediately, that it was the one.