I Married a Sheik

by Sharon De Vita

  "Ahh, but you liked the last one," he said, sitting up and taking her with him.

  "That's only because I'm a sucker for candy, soda and chips."

  "I think you will like this present a bit better." Oblivious to his nakedness, he slid from the bed and crossed to the doors that connected their rooms. Faith watched him, letting her gaze soak up his magnificent body. As males went, she had to admit he was one incredible specimen.

  When he returned, he handed her a small black velvet box. She eyed it warily. "What is this?"

  "You won't know until you open it, now will you?" He touched her cheek. "Open it."

  She did, and gasped. "Good Lord, what on earth is this?"

  He laughed. "It is a ring, Faith. Your engagement ring."

  "No," she said with a shake of her head. "This is a miniature ice skating rink." The diamond glinted and sparkled like a wondrous star. "Exactly how…how…" She was afraid to ask. "How big is this?"

  His brows drew together thoughtfully. "I believe almost ten carats."

  She almost dropped it. "I can't accept this." She pushed the box toward him with nervous fingers.

  He stared at her. "And why not?"

  "Good Lord, Ali, what if I lose it?" The mere thought had her stomach hitching.

  He shrugged. "Then we will simply replace it."

  "Replace it," she repeated, unable to take her eyes off the magnificent ring. It was a slender platinum band, with one single spectacular diamond set in the middle, surrounded by a slender braided band of platinum.

  He took the ring out of the box and reached for her hand. "You are supposed to be my betrothed." He slid it on her finger, then smiled in approval. It fit perfectly as he knew it would. "I certainly cannot give you a cigar band for an engagement ring."

  "Well, I'd probably feel more comfortable." She couldn't stop staring at the ring, her heart aching because she knew this was pretend…this was all pretend.

  He kissed her forehead, then drew her close. Her naked breasts pressed against his bare chest and he groaned, wanting her all over again. "It is a pity, but we must get ready." He ran his hands up and down her bare back. "Or else my mother will no doubt be up here wanting to know what's taking us so long."

  "Your mother?" She scrambled for the sheet to cover herself. "Good Lord, your mother can't see me like this."

  He laughed, then pressed another kiss to her brow before standing. "We are engaged, Faith. Trust me, my mother would not be alarmed to find that we have made love. It is merely a way to show and share our love. Now I'll go to my own room and prepare for the evening." If he didn't leave now, he was afraid he might not. "You will be all right?" he asked with some concern.

  "Fine. Just fine." Dragging her gaze from the ring, she lifted it to his, then smiled at his concern. "I'll be fine, Ali, really." She waved him away with her hand. "Now scoot so I can get showered and dressed."

  * * *

  True to his word, Ali never left her side all evening. Holding her hand, he introduced her to friends, answered all the questions, filled her dinner plate, tended to her drink, and was the ultimate attentive fiancé. By mid-evening, Faith's nerves had fled and she was actually enjoying herself. Tibi and Omar's friends were pleasant and pleased that Ali had finally decided to settle down. They were nothing but kind to her.

  His parents had treated her as one of the family, proudly introducing her to everyone, making it clear that they couldn't be more pleased with their son's choice.

  Now, as the evening wound down, Faith found herself feeling exhausted, enormously grateful most of the guests had gone and just a bit guilty.

  Sipping a glass of wine, she slipped away from Ali and walked out onto the patio where they'd had drinks that afternoon.

  The night was a perfect pitch black with stars glistening as brightly as the diamond on her finger. It had been a perfect evening, she realized sadly. Too perfect.

  Guilt over their deception, and the fear that she would not be able to hide her true feelings for Ali much longer had Faith gnawing her lip in worry.

  What had started out as a simple favor had turned into something far more complex. She glanced up at the stars and felt tears sting her eyes.

  There was no denying how she felt about Ali. She couldn't deny what was in her heart, and now, knowing they'd made love, knowing just how wonderful they were together, had only made it worse.

  He could never love her, he'd admitted it.

  She had to accept it, but how could she accept it while she was playing the role of the loving fiancée?

  Faith knew she couldn't. She couldn't bear to go on with this, couldn't bear to see the joy and relief in his parents' eyes, knowing it was going to break their hearts when they learned the truth. She couldn't bear to know that he could never love her as she loved him. Couldn't bear the thought that she had fallen hopelessly, heedlessly in love with him.

  Realizing she couldn't go through with this any longer, Faith turned from the patio and, with a heavy heart, headed inside. She had to put an end to this deception for all their sakes.

  The only question was how.

  Thirteen

  She was gone.

  Ali awoke to an empty bed. He had spent the night in Faith's room. They had made love again and again, and then somewhere near dawn they'd fallen asleep in each other's arms.

  But now the bed beside him was empty. Rubbing his eyes, he glanced around, noted her suitcase, which had been sitting on the floor in the now-open closet door was gone, as were all her clothes.

  Panic had him climbing out of bed. "Faith?" He searched her suite, but she was gone and every trace that she had ever been there was gone as well. "Faith?" There was panic in his voice, in his heart. He went to his own room, pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt, and headed downstairs, racing barefoot through the house. There was still no trace of Faith, and his panic increased.

  "Mom?"

  "In the kitchen." She was pouring herself a cup of coffee, while his father sat, reading the morning paper.

  "Where's Faith?" he asked, glancing around.

  "She's gone, Ali," his mother said quietly.

  "Gone?" He scowled. "Gone where?"

  "She told us the truth, Ali," his mother said softly, glancing at him. "Everything."

  Guilt hit him with the force of an anvil and he sank down on a chair. "Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

  Feeling sorry for him because he looked so utterly miserable, she patted his shoulder.

  "I understand, son. You were concerned about our welfare." She cast a quick glance at Omar, who continued to read his paper. "I understand you did what you did out of love. Perhaps I don't agree with it, but I do understand." She poured him a cup of coffee, then handed it to him. "However, I cannot so easily understand how you could hurt Faith."

  "Hurt Faith?" The coffee was so hot it almost scalded his tongue. "I never meant to hurt her," he grumbled, dragging a hand through his hair.

  "She loves you," his mother said softly, causing him to glance up at her sharply.

  "No, Mom." His laugh was soft and bitter. "On this you are wrong. She hates me," he said glumly, realizing it was true. "She thinks that I'm immoral and a liar."

  Tibi nodded. "I understand the liar part. Ali, you have had better days," his mother admitted with a smile. "But you're wrong if you do not believe she loves you." She touched his hair. "Son, your father and I knew all along that you and Faith were not truly engaged."

  "What?" Stunned, he merely stared at his mother.

  She nodded. "We are not fools, son. But when we met Faith, we realized how perfect she was for you, how right. I knew you were not telling me the truth about the engagement—a mother always does." She smiled. "But I could see how much you loved her. I arranged this weekend as a means to get you to realize your feelings for Faith."

  "Mom." Ali shook his head. "I will never fall in love again."

  Tibi sighed. "Ali, I know how devastated you were when you lost Jalila, but that was a very long tim
e ago, and you were just a boy. You are a man now, and should not allow the pain of the past to deny you happiness in the future."

  "Mom, love is not necessary for a happy life or a happy marriage." He glanced up at her. "Look at you and Father."

  Tibi's elegant brow arched upward. "Excuse me?" She stared at her only son in surprise. "What does our marriage have to do with this?"

  Ali shrugged. "You and Father have not shared love. Oh, you have shared so many other wonderful things together, been true partners, but you are proof that love is not necessary to make a marriage work."

  "I see," she said with a nod. "Omar?"

  "Yes, dear." He continued to read his paper, turning a page. He had known his wife for too many years to not know when there was a fire simmering within her, and he had no wish to willingly step into the cinders.

  "Did you perhaps drop our only son on his head when he was a child, and neglected to mention it to me?"

  "No, dear."

  She turned to Ali. "Then there is no excuse for such stupidity, my son. If you believe that your father and I have no love between us, then you are a blind fool. While it is true our marriage was arranged, your father and I have shared a deep and abiding love almost from the moment we met."

  Ali merely stared at his mother in surprise. "You and Father…love each other?"

  Annoyed, Tibi gave Ali a gentle smack to the back of his head. "You are too wise a man to be so blind, Ali. How could you not know how deeply your father and I love each other and you?" Feeling sorry for him, she sat down in the chair next to him and laid a hand on his arm. "You are in love with Faith, are you not?"

  "No." He shook his head, unwilling to admit what his heart already acknowledged.

  Her eyes widened. "Do not lie to yourself, Ali. A man who cannot admit the truth to himself is merely a fool."

  Ali swallowed a sip of his coffee, too miserable for words.

  "Do you love her, son?" Tibi persisted, and Ali blew out a breath, feeling as if he was standing on a shaky edge of a cliff.

  "Yes." He shook his head, unable to believe that the feelings he'd tried so hard to avoid had snuck up on him, catching him unaware. "Yes, I love her," he admitted glumly. "And I…I do not know what to do now."

  Miserable, he realized he had done the unthinkable, the unforgivable—he'd fallen hopelessly in love with Faith—and knew she would never, ever forgive him, or believe that he was not the immoral man she believed him to be.

  Tibi laughed, patting his hand. "You are resourceful and headstrong, son, as well as bright, on occasion," she said with a mother's love. "I trust you will figure out what it is you should do." Tibi reached in her robe pocket and laid the black velvet box on the table between them. "I think this belongs to Faith?" She glanced at the box, then at her son. "I think perhaps you should return it to her, and this time, make sure it stays where it belongs."

  * * *

  Nervous as a cat, Faith paced in front of the window, not knowing what to do with herself. It had been over a week since she'd fled Ali's parents' Palm Springs home, a week of ignoring his calls, his flowers, his e-mails. Heartsick, she couldn't give in, wouldn't give in. She loved him and deserved to be loved back.

  He couldn't love her; he'd admitted it, and she refused to accept anything less in her life.

  She didn't want to see him or talk to him, but today was their meeting with Abner Josslyn. Mr. Josslyn had called and asked if they could meet at her office since he was pressed for time and on his way to the airport. He wanted to get a look at her operation, he'd said, and then casually mentioned he wanted Ali at the meeting.

  She couldn't refuse, not without looking totally unprofessional, something she wouldn't do, not for anyone. Especially now that her company was poised on the verge of major success, thanks to the bonus from the El-Etra contract.

  So now she paced, waiting for them to arrive. She went to the window again, pressed her nose against it, waiting, watching for Ali. When she realized what she was doing, she felt the sting of tears in her eyes.

  Just like her mother.

  Sitting at a window, waiting, watching for a man who had lied to her, deceived her.

  Swallowing the lump in her throat, Faith stood up, swiped at her eyes, then slipped her hands in the pocket of her pantsuit.

  "Faith."

  She whirled at the sound of his voice, stunned to see Ali standing in the doorway of her office. She'd never even heard the door open. Her eyes greedily drank him in and her heart ached even more.

  "How did you get in?" She pressed a hand to her pounding heart. "How did you get past Martha?"

  He smiled slowly, stepping into the room and shutting the door softly behind him. "I bribed her," he said simply, making Faith gape at him. He laughed, slowly crossing the room to her. "That was a joke, Faith." He wanted to haul her into his arms and kiss away the shadows and tears that he saw in her eyes, her face.

  "It wouldn't surprise me if you resorted to bribes," she snapped, restless and annoyed. She began to prowl the room, afraid to stand still, afraid to let him get too close.

  "Where is Mr. Josslyn?"

  "He is not coming."

  Her gaze shot to his and her temper simmered. "What do you mean he's not coming?"

  Ali shrugged. "He canceled."

  Disappointment now joined heartbreak. "Then what are you doing here?"

  "I came to talk to you."

  "Did it occur to you that I don't want to talk to you?" She kept moving, unable to stand still.

  "Yes, Faith, it did, since you refused my calls, did not respond to my e-mails and basically have ignored me for over a week."

  "And I intend to keep ignoring you."

  "I was wrong, Faith."

  That caused her to pause. She was standing with her back to the windows. "Wrong?" She never thought she'd ever hear him admit he was wrong about anything. "About what?" she asked suspiciously, making him laugh.

  "About you. About me." He moved closer, pinning her between him and the windows so he could talk to her. "I was wrong about being able to love."

  She frowned. "What do you mean 'being able to love.'" She shook her head and pressed a hand to her temple. "You made it very clear that you could never love a woman like me."

  He moved closer, causing her to retreat until her back was pressed against the windowsill. "No, I did not say I could not love a woman like you, Faith," he said softly. "What I said was that I could not love." He sighed, desperately searching for the right words. "After Jalila died, I felt as if I had died as well. I had loved her very much, Faith, and knew that I could not go through that kind of emotional pain ever again." He smiled sadly. "I did not ever want to be vulnerable to a woman, to know that she could mean the world to me and I could lose her." He shook his head. "Such a thing would simply devastate me."

  "Are you saying that you made a decision not to fall in love because you didn't ever want to get hurt?"

  "Something like that," he admitted. No longer able to be so close to her without touching her, he stroked a finger down her cheek. "But that was before I met you, before you stormed into my office, stormed into my life and tossed it upside down."

  Hope slowly began to bloom, but she cautiously tried to stem it. "What are you saying, Ali?" She caught his hand as he stroked her cheek, clinging to his warmth, loving his touch, loving him.

  "I am saying, dear Faith, that I love you." His eyes closed and the enormous shackle that had manacled his heart for so long simply slid away, leaving him feeling free, hopeful and very happy. "I love you more than anything in this world. You are the world to me."

  "Oh, Ali." The tears came now, but this time they were tears of joy.

  "I do not ever want to make you cry again," he said, alarmed by her tears. Lifting his free hand, he wiped away the dampness from her cheek. "I want you to marry me, Faith, to live with me, to love me, to have my children—our children—to grow old with me, and stay with me, and…and walk beside me no matter how unsteady the ground." His g
aze searched hers, his love visible in his eyes. "Please believe me, Faith, that I am truly an honorable man, and will honor you all the days of our lives. Please say that you will marry me."

  "Oh, Ali." She flung herself in his arms, clinging to him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and holding on for dear life. "I love you, too, with all my heart. And yes, yes, I will marry you."

  "Faith." Relief weakened his knees and he dragged her closer, feeling as if the world had once again righted itself. "You are all I have ever wanted but never thought I could have. All that I have ever needed." He pressed kisses all over his face, framing it with his hands. "I shall love you for an eternity, Faith Martin. And then some."

  "And I will love you for an eternity, Ali." She kissed him back, her heart soaring. "And then some."

  Drawing back, he laughed. "And now we shall go to my parents and tell them the news." He reached in his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box. "I believe this belongs to you."

  With a sigh, Faith slipped her ring back on her finger. Where it belonged. Where it had always belonged.

  "I will want a quick wedding, Faith. I do not want to wait any longer than necessary."

  She nodded in agreement as he guided her toward the door. "Fine with me. Ali, where are we going?"

  "To celebrate," he said with a smile. "And to tell my parents. My mother will be so happy. She will finally get those redheaded grandchildren she has always wanted."

  "Let's get the wedding over before we start having grandchildren." Faith slid her hand in his as they walked together toward the elevators. "But then I'd like to start as soon as possible."

  The elevator doors opened and they stepped in. "Yes, Faith, as soon as possible. Oh, I almost forgot." He reached in his pocket and pulled out some papers, handing them to her.

  "What is this?" she asked suspiciously.

  He laughed and kissed her nose. "It is a contract for you to update all of Abner Josslyn's systems. For all his companies," he specified, making her gape at him.