The Sheikh's Diamond (Sheikh's Wedding Bet Series Book 1)

by Leslie North

Mouthing the words silently, she went through her translations until she found the short paragraph that referenced the garden. In brackets, she had noted that the original scrolls had a few numbers scratched next to it. In modern times, it would have represented a citation to another text. The problem was that there was nothing else other than numbers. She stared at it until her vision started to blur.

  A sudden knock on the door broke her out of her concentration, and she jumped. “Who is it?” she called out as she tore her gaze from the laptop.

  “Bruce. Where have you been?”

  She frowned and crossed the room to open the door. “I went to talk to Masoud,” she muttered.

  “And?”

  “And,” she said slowly. “There have been some changes. Masoud has reason to believe there’s evidence that the diamond exists, and he’s willing to help me find it.”

  Bruce stared at her. “Fleur, we were just here to check out the dig. If he’s promising you evidence, he wants something in return.”

  “He just wants to help me find the truth,” she said vaguely.

  “What evidence does he have?”

  Fleur hesitated. It would be easier to show him the letter, but that felt like she was betraying Masoud. For some reason, she wanted to help him keep his secret. It was important to him, and that made it important to her. “It was just something that his great-uncle used to say. The garden where the diamond was found might exist, and Masoud is willing to help me find it. He’s got quite a bit of primary literature on Solomon.”

  “The garden that you think is an undiscovered oasis in the middle of the desert?” Bruce shook his head. “Fleur, be realistic.”

  “You said you’d support me,” she snapped. “Now, if you’re just here to give me monetary support, then I don’t need you, and you can go home. But if you want to give me moral support, then you’re welcome to join me.”

  “I am,” Bruce said as he put his hands up. “I’m here to support you. You know I’d do anything for you, Fleur, even if it means helping you collect the stars.”

  Stars. She cocked her head and stared at him. “Stars. My God. Bruce. You’re a genius!” Rushing back to her desk, she fumbled for a piece of paper and scribbled the numbers down. Shifting her search, she began scrolling through data. “Yes. Yes!”

  Bruce leaned over her shoulder. “You can read that?” he muttered.

  “What?” Frowning, she looked over at him. “Yes. Back up and give me space. It’s ancient Aramaic. Oddly enough, it’s the legend for an Egyptian map.”

  “You can speak Aramaic and Egyptian?” he asked in disbelief.

  Fleur tried not to roll her eyes. “Coptic. It’s the form of the Egyptian language that was used between the second century up to the seventeenth century. I can’t speak it, but I can read and translate it.”

  “The second century is a little late to have information on Solomon,” he said in a condescending tone.

  “Bruce, back up,” she muttered. “I can’t think when you’re so close. I’m not looking for information on Solomon. I’m looking for information on an oasis that might still be in existence and was probably still in existence in the second century. Scholars at that time would have utilized the Coptic language, but they would have adapted the Aramaic skill of mapping. These brilliant people used the stars.” She looked up and smiled. “Stars!”

  “Okay. Still not following.”

  “I thought these notes on the side referenced another source, but they don’t. They reference coordinates.” She scanned the map carefully and wordlessly mouthed the translation. Her heart hammered against her ribcage as she tried to keep calm. If she was right, she was about to blow her thesis wide open. Her hands trembled as she scribbled down the translation and scrolled through the map.

  Exhaling softly, she closed out the map image and opened up a modern map. Following her scribblings, she typed in the parameters and held her breath. If the computer didn’t find anything, she was wrong, and she’d be back at square one.

  But when the computer dinged, her whole life changed. “Bruce. Pack your bags. We’ve got some caves to explore.” She looked up and smiled until an idiotic laughed bubbled up inside her. “I think I can find the oasis.”

  She could barely sleep that night. Part of her wanted to call Masoud with the good news, but she didn’t want to get his hopes up until she knew for sure that she was right. But when they packed their bags into their truck, they were quickly blocked in by five dark cars.

  “What is this?” Bruce growled.

  Fleur felt her heart skip a beat as Masoud climbed out of one of the cars. Even dressed casually in dark jeans and a Polo shirt, he was devastatingly handsome. His clothes hugged his body like a second skin, and she couldn’t help but compare him to her stepbrother. Where Masoud walked with the grace of a big cat, Bruce was… well, Bruce. While she couldn’t see his eyes behind his dark sunglasses, the knowing smirk on his face as he looked at her made her blush.

  Now was not the time for her to fall for someone. Not when she finally had the resources available to her. She averted her gaze when he gave her another knowing look. And definitely not him.

  “Good morning, my flame,” he said with an easy grin. “Where are we going?”

  She frowned. “I didn’t know that we were going anywhere,” she said as she emphasized the we. Surely, he didn’t want to go with her?

  “You didn’t think I was going to let you have all the fun?” he asked casually. “Where you go, I go.”

  “And your security detail?” she asked with a raised eyebrow. It would be hard to be discreet if twenty men were tramping about the caves. He shrugged, and she sighed. “Very well.” She handed him the maps. “We are going cave diving.”

  “And what do you think we’re going to find in a cave?”

  “An oasis,” she said with a wide grin.

  “I’d point out that’s impossible, but I have a feeling that you’re the type of person who needs to find that on her own. When were you planning on telling me about this oasis?”

  She reddened. “I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure that I was on to something. I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”

  Masoud smiled and reached up to brush a finger along her cheek. It was a surprisingly intimate gesture, and she inhaled sharply. “You don’t want to disappoint me. I appreciate that. Does he have to come with us?”

  “We’re a team,” Bruce said quickly. “Where she goes, I go.”

  Masoud narrowed his eyes and studied Fleur. “If it’s his money that is compelling this union, you don’t need it,” he said softly.

  “It’s not just money. He’s my support team.”

  “I’d rather this not fall into the hands of someone I don’t know. If you’ll hand over the maps, I’ll let you know what we find,” Masoud said as he held up his hands.

  Fleur felt a streak of anger as she held the maps close to her chest. “Do you speak Aramaic or Coptic?”

  The Sheikh hesitated. “You don’t have a translation?”

  “I don’t need one.”

  Masoud chuckled. “I see. You speak Aramaic and Coptic, and you’re not going to share your knowledge.”

  “You told me you need me,” she said slowly. “You can’t shut me out now.”

  “Very well. You’ll travel with me. Your partner,” his eyes slid toward Bruce and he frowned, “can travel with security.”

  “Now hold on,” Bruce protested, but security was already loading their bags. Fleur couldn’t even hear Bruce’s complaints. She was too excited about this next step in her adventure.

  Research, she reminded herself as she climbed in the car. This was research, pure and simple. Researching an undiscovered oasis in a foreign land with a sexy Sheikh.

  Sounded more like an adventure to her.

  Chapter Seven

  Masoud watched as Fleur tapped her finger nervously on her knee as they pulled to a stop. He could see all the passion and excitement pent up in her, and h
e wanted to unleash it in a far more carnal way. In the past, he never cared much for academic types. They simply plundered his country and took what they wanted in the name of knowledge without ever asking for permission.

  The monuments and artifacts spoke of the rich history of his country and people. He wanted desperately to keep them out of the eager hands of the Western world, and yet when he watched Fleur, he realized how different she was. She’d spent her entire life looking to prove Solomon’s Diamond was real, and he was desperate to know why.

  She grabbed the door handle and jumped out. Holding her hands over her eyes, she scanned the area. “We’re probably going to have to split up and search the area. I can go with Bruce…”

  “I don’t think so,” Masoud said with a shake of his head. “This area is still relatively wild, and you’ll need to be with someone who is familiar with the local animal life and vegetation. Split up in twos. Someone partner with the annoying male American. Fleur is with me,” he announced.

  “You should have security with you,” one of the men protested, but Masoud held up his hand. “We’re in the middle of the wilderness. I doubt there will be any assassins hiding in the caves,” he said dryly. “If you find the site, you are to call me immediately. Do not touch anything. Is that clear?”

  Everyone agreed except for Bruce. “Fleur?” he growled. “Don’t you think we should be sticking together?”

  She hesitated. “He’s right, Bruce. We’ll cover more territory if we split up, and you and I would get hopelessly lost. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

  Masoud put his arm around her and smiled. “She’ll be fine,” he echoed.

  “Really,” Fleur muttered as she shrugged off his arm. “We have a diamond to find, remember? Stow the male bravado.”

  Masoud chuckled and followed her around the rocky terrain. The cave dwellings were well known in this area, but they were rarely explored. Nothing but dirt, sand, and rocks for as far as the eye could see. The series of caves went for miles and miles. It was impossible to explore them without months’ worth of water, and if the dehydration didn’t kill them, the many different snakes, spiders, and other poisonous creatures would. The farther into the area they went, the more treacherous the land became for unprepared explorers. Masoud grew up playing in the rocky areas, but his redheaded beauty was far less stable in her footings. More than a few times, her foot slipped on the rocks.

  He reached out to steady her, and she fell against him. “Easy,” he murmured huskily in her ear. He could have easily reached down and brushed his lips against hers, but she didn’t even seem fazed by him as she pulled away and scanned the area. “I should have worn hiking boots. Do you have any idea how far back these caves go?”

  “Miles, I suppose. I could always carry you if you’d like,” he offered teasingly.

  Fleur turned that pretty mouth to him and frowned. “Interesting request, but we won’t get very far if you’re carrying me. I’m sure I’ll get my footing eventually.” She pulled away from him, and he raised an eyebrow. What exactly did it take to get this woman’s attention?

  “So what should I be looking for?” he asked with a sigh. If she wanted to talk about the oasis, they would talk about the oasis.

  “Listen for the sound of water trickling on the rocks. An oasis will have to have the right combination of water, shade, and sunlight.” She ducked in between two of the cave formations and looked up. “If I can get up, I might be able to get a better sense of what we’re dealing with.” She planted her foot in a nook within the rock and grabbed the ledge to hoist herself up. Masoud reached up to grab her waist and gasped when he saw a snake slithering out from a hole near her hand.

  “Fleur,” he yelled as he yanked her back. They both went tumbling to the ground, and he held her close so that he would cushion her fall. Hitting the ground hard, he groaned as the rocks bit into his back. Pain ricocheted through his muscles and down his legs.

  “Masoud,” she cried out as she wrenched her body around. Straddling him, she immediately lifted his head and ran her hands over his hair. “Are you okay? What the hell were you thinking?”

  “Right now I’m thinking that this is one of my favorite positions,” he managed with a smile. She narrowed her eyes and smacked her hands lightly on his chest, but his smile faded when she moved slowly over him. She reached again to move her hands through his hair. She obviously didn’t believe that he wasn’t hurt.

  “Fleur, I’m fine,” he said softly. Her eyes darkened as she looked at him, and for a moment, he thought she was going to lean down and kiss him. He yearned for it.

  Then, she blinked. The spell was broken and she rolled off him. Shaking his head, he couldn’t even begin to imagine what was going on in that mind of hers. Carefully, he got up and took stock of himself. He’d be sore in the morning, but there were no open wounds. “There are quite a few species of poisonous snakes in the cave formations,” he said as he lifted himself into a standing position. “You need to be more careful where you step and put your hands.”

  Fleur glanced at the snake slithering away and nodded. “Understood. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Why don’t you let me go first, and I’ll help you up,” he muttered as he reached up for the ledge. The pain was already ebbing. Climbing up, he scanned the area. She wasn’t wrong. They had a good vantage point. Turning, he held out his hand, and she grabbed it and climbed up.

  “It never ends, does it?” she muttered as she glanced around. There was nothing but sand and caves for as far as the eye could see.

  “We have to be careful about how long we stay out here. If we go in too deep, we might run out of water. Two more hours, Fleur. If we don’t find anything in two hours, we’ll have to come back better prepared. Deal?”

  She nodded, but her shoulders drooped. It seemed an impossible feat, and he reached out and pushed a few strands of hair out of her face. “I believe in you. We will find it,” he said softly. He didn’t like to see her pout.

  Straightening, she nodded. “You’re right. We will find it.” Flashing him a smile, she sat on the ledge and scooted down to the ground on the other side. He scrambled after her. If he didn’t keep an eye on her, she was likely to get in trouble again.

  He almost hated to admit it, but she reminded him of his mother. Determined, sharp, logical. His mother also never fit into the family. He imagined that Fleur probably felt the same way. Still, he reminded himself that her feelings weren’t his concern. He was here for the diamond. Nothing else.

  A subtle flash of light caught his eye, and he turned sharply. Grabbing his phone, he texted his security guards to find their status. They all responded that they were fine.

  Maybe it was just a trick of the light, but it looked like someone was messaging someone with a mirror. And none of his people would need to do that.

  Feeling uneasy, he turned and followed Fleur into the shade of one of the bigger caves. Her safety was his only priority.

  Chapter Eight

  Fleur tried to focus on the project at hand. Find the oasis. Find the diamond. Write her paper. Graduate. Rub it in her colleagues’ faces.

  No. Scratch that last part. That wasn’t very professional.

  But then again, neither was lusting after the potential distraction of the dangerously sexy, dark man who followed her every move. When he wasn’t touching her, she could feel his eyes on her. She would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t enjoy it.

  He excited her.

  The light barely filtered through the cave they were exploring, and he moved ahead of her to check out an opening. She took the opportunity to study him. Who was she kidding, gawk is more like it. Fleur knew that she was attractive, but she never considered herself the type to attract a man like him. Someone who could have anyone he wanted at the curl of a finger. So, why was he so interested in her? No one took her theories seriously. Why now?

  Why did he have to be so sexy?

  She didn’t trust him. He wasn’t telling h
er something and both her credibility and future career were at risk. For her to pursue this and then to fall flat on her face would mean she’d never find a position at a teaching institution, much less a position on a dig. But if she was right…. This was everything she ever dreamed and to have permission to search on his family’s land was a boon she couldn’t turn down, even if it meant Masoud was part of the agreement. And she knew without a doubt that he rarely heard the word no.

  And the woman beneath her jeans and flannel shirt appreciated the way he looked at her. How he kept her within arm’s reach to make sure she stayed safe. Although she tried to be flippant, it meant a good deal to her that he wanted to protect her.

  Another flash of light hit the cave wall, and she stiffened. Luckily, Masoud didn’t react this time. As subtly as possible, she pulled out her phone and texted Bruce.

  Who is following us?

  She wanted more than anything to believe that the light wasn’t trying to get Bruce’s attention, but she knew him too well. If he suspected that the diamond was real, he would have called someone. Except that there hadn’t been enough time for him to realize that Masoud had told her, so something else had to be at play. Keeping a close eye on the Sheikh, she glanced down at her phone again

  I’m sorry, Fleur.

  Sorry? She felt panic well up in her chest and tried not to freak out.

  WHO IS FOLLOWING US?

  It took another few minutes before Bruce finally responded.

  Anton.

  “Fuck,” she cried aloud. Masoud whipped his head around just as she was stuffing her phone in her pocket.

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  Blushing furiously, she tried to smile at him. “Sorry. I lost my footing,” she lied. Lying never came easy to her, and she prayed he thought her red cheeks were simply flushed from the heat. Anton Negatin was a collector, and not the old man kind who paid millions of dollars for their shiny things.

  Anton was a thief. An incredibly dangerous one.

  She’d run into him during her studies when she heard rumors that he’d actually acquired Solomon’s Diamond. In excitement and disbelief, she’d contacted him and asked to inspect it. It was months before he got back to her, and only after he ran an extensive background check on her and had her followed. The problem with Anton was that his collection was illegal, and he could never brag about it. Believing that she wouldn’t go to the police, he invited her back to his place for a chance to inspect the diamond.