One More Night with Her Desert Prince...
Page 16
‘Only if it hurts you.’ His gaze was tender. ‘I love you, Sam, and I don’t care about your background. It’s important only in as much as I know how hurt you were when the story was raked up that last time.’
‘It did hurt. It hurt to be made to feel that I was somehow to blame for my family’s mistakes.’ She bit her lip. ‘One thing you need to understand, Khalid, is that I love my brother despite what he’s done and I refuse to turn my back on him.’
‘It’s no more than I would have expected.’ He kissed her lightly. ‘Maybe we can both help him to make a fresh start, if he’s willing.’
‘That would be wonderful!’ She returned his kiss then sat back in her seat. ‘I wish we weren’t on this plane. It will be ages before we land and we shall have to observe the proprieties.’
‘Hmm. No mile-high club for us,’ he teased her. He took her hand and held it lightly in his. ‘We shall book into one of the airport hotels as soon as we reach London and celebrate our engagement in the appropriate manner. Until then we shall be the very models of decorum. Agreed?’
‘Yes. So long as you don’t look at me that way!’
Khalid laughed as he bent and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. The flight attendant stopped by their seats just then and offered them coffee, which they both accepted. Sam drank hers slowly, savouring its richness. It was the best cup of coffee she had ever tasted, although she suspected that it was the thought of what was to happen when they reached London that had enhanced its flavour.
She glanced at Khalid and felt a rush of love consume her when he smiled at her. In that moment, she knew that it was going to be fine, that they would deal with whatever problems they encountered. They loved one another and nothing would stop them being together from this moment on. Happiness filled her as she rested her head against the back of the seat and closed her eyes. She and Khalid had a wonderful future to look forward to with their child.
EPILOGUE
Three years later
‘ARE YOU READY, my darling?’
‘Almost. I just need to finish brushing Jasmina’s hair.’ Sam looked up and smiled as Khalid came into the room, thinking that she would never tire of seeing him. She loved him so much and made a point of telling him that each and every day.
They had been married for three glorious years and tonight they were throwing a party to celebrate their third anniversary. She also had something to tell him, news that she knew would thrill him, but she would wait until they were on their own. Now she finished brushing their daughter’s hair and gave Jasmina a kiss.
‘Go and show Daddy how pretty you look, darling,’ she told the little girl.
She watched as Jasmina ran over to Khalid and held up her arms to be picked up. Jasmina had inherited her fair colouring and looked a picture in the pale pink dress that her aunt Mariam had bought for her. Everyone adored her and there was never a shortage of volunteers if Sam needed a babysitter when she was working.
The status of women in Azad had come on in leaps and bounds, thanks to Khalid’s determination to improve matters. Sam had returned to work on a part-time basis when Jasmina was a year old and loved her job at the hospital, working with expectant mothers. Although much had been made of her background when she and Khalid had married, these days it was rarely mentioned. Maybe it was the fact that she and Khalid were so obviously in love but most people ignored the difference in their social standing. Even Khalid’s father had accepted her and was proving to be a doting grandparent; Jasmina could twist King Faisal round her dainty little finger by all accounts! Life was working out extremely well and it would only get better after she told Khalid her news.
Suddenly, Sam knew that she couldn’t wait a second longer to share it with him. Standing up, she went and kissed him on the cheek. ‘I wasn’t going to tell you this till later but I can’t keep it to myself any longer. I’m pregnant.’
‘What?’ Khalid stared at her for a moment before his face broke into a delighted smile. Setting Jasmina down, he took Sam into his arms and hugged her. ‘When did you find out?’
‘This afternoon for certain, although I’ve had my suspicions for a few days now.’ She laughed. ‘I wanted to be absolutely sure before I told you.’
‘And you are? There’s no mistake?’
‘Nope! In seven months’ time you are going to be a daddy again. What would you like this time, a girl or a boy?’
‘I don’t care.’ He kissed her lingeringly then laughed. ‘I don’t care what it is. I shall love it with all my heart, just as I love Jasmina and her mother!’
He kissed her again, putting the seal on their happiness. Sam kissed him back, knowing how fortunate she was. Not only had she found the man she loved with all her heart but they had a wonderful future to look forward to together with their family. She couldn’t have wished for anything more than what she had.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460341384
One More Night with Her Desert Prince…
Copyright © 2014 by Jennifer Taylor
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