The Sheikh's Stolen Bride-To-Be

by Holly Rayner

  Finally, standing alone at the water’s edge, she found him.

  He had come.

  Mehdi stood, his shoulders slumped, staring out at the fading sun. He looked crestfallen, and Steph could hardly keep herself from jogging over to him. She gave in and did so, though he continued to look out at the sea, totally distracted. When she reached him she gave herself a brief moment to catch her breath before stepping up next to him and looking out at the ocean.

  “Room for one more?” she asked.

  Mehdi’s eyes widened as he realized who was standing beside him.

  “Steph?” he asked, as though trying to prove to himself that she was real.

  After a pause, his face broke out into a wide, delighted grin as he wrapped his arms around her and swung her around, her feet landing in the lapping waves.

  “You came!”

  Steph laughed as she rested in the circle of his arms. She lifted a hand to stroke his cheek.

  “Of course I came. Did you really think I wouldn’t?”

  Mehdi looked sheepish as he placed his fingers on top of hers, which still rested on his face.

  “I thought for sure you would stick with duty and do as your parents asked. I’ve been in that position… I know what it means to have to make that choice.”

  Steph stared lovingly into his green-speckled eyes, doing her best to memorize his features, to capture the moment with perfect clarity.

  “I choose you, Mehdi. You’re the one I want.”

  At her words, Mehdi smiled so deeply that both his dimples showed. He tightened his grip around her as he dipped his head to claim her lips in a kiss, sealing their fate, once and for all.

  The sun finally set, and a few pinpricks of stars poked out against the night sky before Mehdi was willing to release Steph from his arms so they could walk along the beach together, hand in hand.

  “So, what do we do now?” Steph asked.

  Mehdi looked ahead, swinging her arm a little as they walked.

  “Well, that’s the beauty of it, I suppose,” he said, glancing down at her with gleaming eyes. “Anything we want.”

  NINETEEN

  Steph

  “I think I see them!”

  Stepping out from the cabana, Steph cupped her hand over her eyes to stave off the glaring light of the midmorning sun. Mehdi joined her shortly afterward, his eyes searching the skies. A small helicopter came into view, and he grinned.

  “Yes. That should be them!”

  Steph could hardly contain her excitement. After meeting Mehdi on the beach that day, several months ago, the two of them had gone to her parents and asked if she could stay in El Farah while she got to know the Sheikh better. Jerry and Elora hadn’t taken much convincing, though it had been a tearful farewell when Steph saw her parents back to Vermont. Her father still had a job there, and he didn’t want to shirk his duties. Mehdi had surprised them with a private jet for the plane ride home, much to Steph’s delight, and from that moment on her world had completely opened up.

  Not wanting to break with tradition even more, Steph and Mehdi had opted to live separately while they dated.

  “Where is a good place to stay?” Steph had asked at the time.

  Mehdi had smiled, pulling a set of keys from a pocket and handing them to her. “I’ve got a tidy little apartment downtown that will do just the trick. It’s not the palace, so you can renovate it however you’d like. Just tell them to put it on my bill.”

  Steph had taken one step inside the place—an expansive penthouse with a beautiful view of the city—and decided not to change a single thing. It was clear that the clean, classic style was much more in line with Mehdi’s personality than the palace’s decor, and that made her like it all the more.

  Next, Mehdi had introduced her to some of El Farah’s greatest fashion designers. At a meeting with a notable couture house, the owners were thrilled with Steph’s sketches and immediately took her under their wing. At first, Steph had been skeptical that they were only helping her launch her own line because of her connection to Mehdi, but he laughed that suggestion off.

  “You think I have any power over the fashion industry here? Hardly. Believe me, if they didn’t think you had what it takes, you would know. Those women do not mince words. It’s one of the reasons I like them.”

  Steph’s new line would be coming out in a few short weeks, and she had been living in a whirlwind, working to get everything made and ready for the big launch event. Somewhere in between design meetings and seamstress discussions and drawing sessions, Steph slowly acclimated to life in El Farah, which was so different, but really only in the best of ways.

  That might have had a little to do with dating the Sheikh, though.

  The new couple had spent countless evenings out at the theater, more on the beach, and had even made some desert excursions. Mehdi took the courtship process very seriously, and he did everything in his power to ensure that they enjoyed themselves together, doing fun things and getting to know one another as their love blossomed more every day.

  Now, standing on the leaf-shaped island where they had first gotten to know one another, Steph’s stomach was filled with butterflies as she waited impatiently for the helicopter to land. As it dropped closer to the ground, she saw her mother’s face pressed against the window, and she waved furiously while Elora waved back.

  Once the helicopter landed and the blades stopped turning, Elora threw open the door and ran straight into her daughter’s arms. Steph laughed and wiped away a tear as she hugged her mother tight. Jerry approached, then, and she hugged him just as fiercely. She had never been away from her parents for so long.

  After their joyful greeting, Jerry gave Mehdi a firm handshake.

  “Thanks for flying us out, Your Highness.”

  Mehdi winced. “Please, ‘Mehdi’ is just fine. And it was no trouble at all. We have lunch prepared, if you’re hungry?”

  Jerry grinned. “Famished.”

  “Perfect. Please, right this way.”

  Mehdi led the way as Steph laced her arm with her mother’s and caught her up on everything that had been going on since she and Jerry had left El Farah. Elora listened with rapt attention, holding her daughter close.

  They sat at the table, which was set with plates of seafood and fruits and vegetables that were perfectly chilled to compensate for the sunny weather. Mehdi popped a bottle of champagne and Steph held four flutes as he filled them. She then handed them out, and Mehdi raised his glass.

  “To family, to life, and to love!”

  He was met with smiles as they all lifted their flutes and said, “Cheers!”

  Jerry’s blue eyes were wide as he gazed at the beauty around them. “This place is incredible.”

  After a sip, Mehdi sat down and reached for Steph’s hand under the table.

  “This is where I fell in love with your daughter,” he said.

  Elora tilted her head in confusion. “You’ve been here before?”

  Steph laughed. “Yes, Mom. This is where Mehdi brought me when I was ‘kidnapped.’”

  “Ah, yes. That I do remember,” Elora said with a pointed stare at Mehdi.

  “And I cannot apologize enough for your worries, Mrs. O’Hanlon. I’ll certainly do my best to make it up to you.”

  “You better,” Elora said, though there was a small twinkle in her eye.

  They enjoyed a leisurely lunch, after which the four of them took a dip in the warm waters. Mehdi pointed to the secluded island and told them of the algae that glowed within the caves.

  “Perhaps another time I will have the energy to swim that far. As it is, these old bones would like nothing more than a peaceful day on the beach,” Elora said, glancing wistfully back at the cabana.

  “Would you like some company, Mother?” Steph asked.

  Elora nodded, heading back in that direction. “I would, thank you.”

  The two women made their way back to the cabana, and Mehdi spent some time chatting with Jerry out in th
e water. As Steph settled into a comfy chair, basking in the sun, she stared out at her handsome boyfriend, grateful for the changes in her life over the past few months. It was better than she could have ever dreamed.

  “How is Vermont?” Steph asked, and Elora shrugged.

  “Cold, as usual. We got several feet of snow the other day, and all I could think about was getting out here to enjoy the beach. Of course, flying in Mehdi’s private jet was wonderful, too.”

  “He flew you out in the jet?” Steph asked, surprised.

  Elora nodded, taking a sip of iced tea. “He did, and I have to say that I quite approve of this relationship. How are things going with you two?”

  Steph smiled, thinking about all of the wonderful adventures they’d had so far. “Amazing,” she said, sighing.

  “You should get married so you can secure him and your future,” Elora said, and Steph laughed.

  “Mom, I have my own fashion line coming out, and many of my designs have already gained traction in the right circles. I’m making a good living for myself, doing exactly what I want to do.”

  Elora smiled at her daughter and reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  “I’m so proud of you, Stephanie. I love you very much, you know.”

  “I know, Mom. I love you, too.”

  Steph watched as Mehdi and Jerry made their way in from the water. Mehdi looked happy and relaxed, while Jerry’s expression was unreadable. But Steph thought nothing of it as they rejoined the group and spent the rest of the afternoon chatting, laughing, and enjoying the stunning waters.

  As the sun began to set, Mehdi pulled Steph aside.

  “Could I speak with you for a moment?” he asked.

  Steph nodded, following him as he took her hand and led her a short distance from the cabana.

  “I was speaking with your father earlier,” Mehdi said, and Steph nodded.

  “Yes, I saw. I’m so glad you got to spend some time together. Did you have an interesting conversation?”

  Mehdi nodded, and Steph noticed that his hand had gone a little clammy in hers, which was strange, because Mehdi’s hands were never like that. Was he nervous or something?

  “I did, actually. It was a very important conversation to have.”

  Steph looked up at him, noticing the tiny, almost imperceptible beads of sweat on his upper brow. She was about to ask him what was wrong when Mehdi stopped walking and bent down on one knee, producing a small jewelry box from his pocket.

  “I asked him if I could have his permission to marry you, and I am happy to say that he gave his blessing. Now that I have it, Steph, I can ask you if you would be willing to make me the happiest man on earth by becoming my wife.”

  Steph looked from the glittering ring to Mehdi and back again before her eyes landed on his and she beamed.

  “Of course I’ll marry you!” she said, laughing even as she cried.

  His face broke out in a beatific smile as he stood and hugged her tight, kissing her silly before he placed the ring on her finger.

  Steph looked out at the sunset and laughed, brushing more joyful tears from her cheeks. “How many sunset beaches have we met on now?”

  Mehdi kissed her again, letting his hand linger at the base of her neck as he stared adoringly into her eyes. “I think we deserve a whole lifetime of them. Don’t you agree?”

  Steph stared up adoringly into her fiancé’s eyes, knowing in a moment they could turn around and celebrate with her parents. It couldn’t have been a more perfect proposal.

  “I do,” she said.

  And with that, they turned back to see Steph’s parents smiling behind them, and the happy family came together to celebrate the non-arranged marriage of their only daughter.

  The End

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  And now, as promised, are the first few chapters of my previous novel, Single Mom And The Sheikh. Enjoy!

  ONE

  Sam was already half asleep by the time I asked which bedtime story he wanted me to read. He didn’t want to fall asleep. I could tell because his little eyelids drooped, their long lashes brushing against his cheeks, but he steadfastly refused to acknowledge the fact that he wouldn’t be able to stay awake for the whole story.

  “Tell me about the adventure you’re going on, Mommy.” His delicate hand clasped mine. “Are there going to be dragons?”

  I chuckled. “No, Sammy. No dragons.”

  “What about wild animals?” He blinked wearily. “Like lions, or bears?”

  The thought of leaving him tugged at my heart. I didn’t want to go. He thought I was going on some sort of crazy adventure, but really I would just be drinking out of an inappropriate straw with a few girls from college—all the while wishing I was at home with this little guy.

  “I don’t think I’ll see any lions or bears,” I said, “but who knows? It’s a pretty crazy place. It’s out in the middle of the desert, where almost nothing can grow.”

  “Why does Auntie Sarah want to go there?” Sam asked. “It doesn’t sound very fun.”

  I reached forward and brushed a stray blond curl off his forehead. I hoped his hair would darken as he got older; the contrast of my raven hair to Sam’s golden locks always reminded me of his absent father.

  I smiled down at my son and pushed those thoughts to the back of my head. There were always going to be things that reminded me of Sam’s father. It was no use getting upset over them.

  “Many years ago, a bunch of people looked at the desert and decided they wanted to build something fun,” I explained. “So they built a huge playground, for grown-ups. Each year, it gets bigger and bigger, and now it takes up so much space that I probably won’t even see any sand.”

  Sam’s eyes widened. “A playground?”

  “A playground for grown-ups,” I reminded him. “There isn’t much there for little boys to do. You’d get bored.”

  I could tell he wanted to ask more, but his eyelids were drooping heavily now. I took him in: his small button nose, those pink cheeks, his delicate, curving lips. God, I was going to miss him so much.

  “Mommy,” he breathed, “do you really have to go?”

  Pinpricks of tears stung my eyes. I didn’t want to go. What was there for me in Las Vegas?

  “I do, honey. But I’ll bring you back something, okay? Would you like that?”

  “I’d like it more if you stayed here,” he replied, his voice muddled by sleep.

  Of all the things Sam could have inherited from his father, the ability to inspire guilt like a pro was probably one of the better things.

  “I’d like that too, pumpkin, but sometimes Mummy has to do things even when she doesn’t want to.” I leaned down and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You sleep tight, Sammy. I love you.”

  “I love you too,” he murmured. “Don’t forget to come home.”

  My heart clenched. It was going to be my first time away from the little guy. Sure, I wouldn’t be forgetting to come home, but the sentiment still tugged at my heartstrings.

  “I won’t forget,” I murmured, pushing myself to my feet. “I’ll be wishing I was home the whole time.”

  I padded quietly out of his room, flicking off the light on my way out. The nightlight sent an effusive glow over Sam’s face. He looked like an angel. My little angel.

  I had another hour before I had to leave for work, and I figured I’d grab a quick dinner and finish packing. I had no idea what I’d need for a weekend in Las Vegas. My friend Sarah, whose bachelorette party it was, had said to wear something sparkly, but I hadn’t owned anything sparkly since before Sam was born.

  My father, Bill, was out in the kitchen, which surprised me. He’d been fast asleep in front of the TV when I’d gone to put Sam to bed.

  “You’re alive,” I commented.

  He mad
e an amused snort. “So my doctor keeps assuring me. Where do you keep the snacks around here, kid?”

  I raised my eyebrow at him, but he continued rooting through the cupboard.

  “Are you asking me where Sam’s snacks are?” I inquired.

  Dad nodded, peering at the contents of the cupboard from beneath his wispy, graying eyebrows. “Sam told me you’ve been giving him applesauce, and now I’ve got a mighty hankerin’ for it.”