The Sheikh's First Christmas - A Warm and Cozy Christmas Romance

by Rayner, Holly

  They sat down, and the hostess gave each of them a menu—they had a choice of à la carte items or a lunch-sized tasting menu. “How long do you want to be here?” Rami asked her.

  “Considering we were in Dr. Farber’s office for over an hour and you didn’t forget about going shopping, I don’t think it matters how long we’re in here.”

  Rami grinned. “You’re starting to figure me out!”

  Mia laughed. “Maybe a little bit,” she admitted.

  “The tasting menu here is amazing. Seasonal, incredibly fresh—the chef is just a wizard.” Mia looked over the fine calligraphy on the menu in front of her and saw a dozen things she barely recognized, names and cooking terms that she could parse mingled with others that she wasn’t sure she could pronounce.

  “No wine, though,” Mia said, glancing at the suggestions that accompanied the various dishes.

  Rami shrugged. “Have you really missed it?”

  Mia considered. “Not really. One of these days though, after this is all over, I’m going to do one of these tasting menus the way it’s really supposed to be done.” Rami chuckled.

  “You’ll have a million dollars. You could do all of the tasting menus in the U.S. with that—wine included.”

  The waiter arrived at their table and both Rami and Mia ordered the tasting menu. Out of courtesy for Mia, Rami got water with his meal. Mia relaxed as one perfect, tiny item after another arrived at their table: salads perfectly dressed with vegetables she must have eaten before, only they’d never tasted so good; game, meat and fish in three-bite portions, all cooked to perfection; sauces that danced bright, rich flavors across her tongue. Over the many courses, she and Rami discussed which shops they would go to, and their plan once inside each one.

  “At Nordstrom I will have to make sure my personal shopper is there. She is sure to know exactly what will be best for you even as you start to show—although, maybe we’d better go shopping again if you start to outgrow your clothes.”

  “Rami,” Mia said, blushing as she took a bite of medium rare filet of grass-fed beef, “No. I will buy my clothes with my own money from a maternity store if I have to. I am not going to let you take me on another shopping spree.”

  “How are you going to stop me?” Rami asked with a little grin.

  “I’ll refuse to go and by then I’ll be so heavy you won’t be able to make me.”

  Rami laughed. “Fine. Only this once. But I think we’d better go to Macy’s too, for some everyday things.”

  “This was just supposed to be for New York! You are not giving me a whole new wardrobe, Rami. No, you’re not doing it.”

  “It’s my money,” Rami pointed out. “I can spend it how I like.”

  “I don’t want you spending it on me in the first place!” Mia looked around, taking a sip of her water to cover the embarrassment she felt at raising her voice. “I just…I’m not used to this, okay? I’ll let you buy me clothes for New York because you’re insisting on it, but please don’t make me feel guilty by giving me a lot of clothes I don’t need. No one ever sees me except you, my mom, Dr. Farber and the people at the grocery store.”

  “Okay Mia, you win,” Rami said, though a gleam in his dark eyes suggested that he hadn’t quite given in on the idea of giving her a complete wardrobe. “So just Nordstrom and Saks, maybe Bloomingdales?” Mia sighed.

  “Fine,” she said. “But I’m giving you a limit. You’re not spending more than…a thousand dollars. Okay?” Rami shook his head.

  “Not going to agree to that; what if I find the perfect everyday dress for you and it’s three hundred? That’s almost a third on just one thing!”

  “You are not buying me an ‘everyday dress’ for three hundred dollars!” Mia insisted.

  “Let me use my judgment,” Rami said firmly. “I won’t buy more than you can wear in New York for like… a week. That’s how long you’ll be there, right?” Mia sighed, putting the plate in front of her aside.

  “Yes,” she said. “Okay. A week’s worth of clothes, that’s it.” She still felt weird accepting extra gifts and attention from Rami, but after three months of meeting with him on a regular basis, she knew arguing about it wouldn’t get her anywhere.

  Sold To The Sheikh can be read for free in Kindle Unlimited, or purchased here:

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  Thank you for reading, and look out for more of my Sheikh Romance stories in future!