The Sheikh's Tempting Assistant (Sheikh's Meddling Sisters 1)

Heat prickled her cheeks and she glanced back uncertainly at the bed, only to find it empty.

Raheem finished tying the belt of his robe before stalking over to yank the door open, his expression murderous. “What the hell are you all doing here? You have no right keeping tabs on me!”

“I could care less how you entertain yourself, brother,” Jess said, giving Laura another unflattering once-over. “But I thought you’d like to know that that production company of hers just filed paperwork to purchase the land you planned to use as your wildlife refuge over near the caves.”

“What?” Laura and Raheem said in unison.

“Yes. Feraz just got off the phone with them. He sent us up here to get you.” Jess crossed her arms and sneered. “I told you something wasn’t right with her, brother. Now we know. She was using herself as a distraction and feeding them information so that company of hers could buy the land out from under you.”

Cala and Najma muttered what sounded like an Arabic curse in Laura’s direction, while Razi just stood there, watching her with a narrowed, thoughtful gaze.

“That’s not right. That can’t be right,” Laura said, stunned by the information. She’d known her boss was a wily, sleazy, lazy mess, but she’d never suspected he’d stoop so low. And yes, maybe she had told him about the locations she’d visited while working with Raheem, but that was only to let him know that she’d done better for herself by choosing to work for Raheem instead of the production company while here. She’d never, ever meant for him to take that information and use it against her. God, she was such an idiot.

“Raheem, I—”

He held up a hand, forestalling her speech, his expression angry and shuttered.

“Where is Feraz now?” he asked his sisters.

“Downstairs, in the informal dining room,” Jess said. “He asked that you join him as soon as possible.”

“Fine. Let him know that I’ll be down momentarily.” With that, he closed the door in his sisters’ faces. He turned back to face Laura, any trace of the kind, caring, vulnerable man from the night before gone. “Get dressed. Meet me downstairs in the foyer in an hour. Don’t be late.”

“But Raheem, wait. Please. I didn’t know anything about this,” Laura begged, trying to take his arm as he walked out the door. “Please, you have to believe me.”

He shook her off, stopping in the hall, but not looking at her. “I don’t know what to believe at this point, Laura. Just do as I say.”

Raheem walked out and Laura closed the door behind him, then leaned back against it and slid down to the floor, tears welling in her eyes. How could such a beautiful night, such a rewarding job, such a romantic dream, turn into such a nightmare so quickly?

14

Raheem didn’t say much to Laura on the ride out to his beloved caves, the spot where he’d planned to set up a vista overlook so visitors could see the entire wildlife refuge below. What could he say, really? Part of him felt raw and betrayed after the incredible night he’d spent in her arms. He’d opened himself up to her, heart and soul, and it had gotten him nothing but a kick in the proverbial teeth.

His conversation with Feraz hadn’t gone much better than he’d expected. His oldest brother and ruler of Djeva had been too busy with running the country to pay much attention to Raheem’s passion project or the production company who was putting it all in jeopardy now. And Rehaj was no help either. All he’d been interested in was turning a profit for the land, not saving the native species. He’d told Raheem point blank—put up or shut up. Raheem had generous financial reserves at his immediate disposal, but nothing like the sum the production company was offering for the land. He’d expected to make up the difference, of course, through donations from his fundraiser, the campaign he’d hired Laura to run for him. But by offering Laura that outrageous sum, he’d tied his own hands. That was all gone by the wayside now though. No point in promoting something that was never going to come to fruition. He’d pay her, because it was the right thing to do, and

move on.

He felt hopeless and helpless and neither emotion sat well with him. He wanted to curse and punch something as hard as humanly possible, but it would do no good. And so they rode, out to his beloved cliffs where they’d meet with her production company and Feraz would sign off on the deal because Rehaj was convinced it was too good to pass up.

Laura, for her part, hadn’t so much as looked at him since their trip began over an hour prior. Her lovely eyes were red and puffy and her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. She’d pulled on the same clothes she’d worn the night she’d wandered into his family’s camp and left all of the souvenirs and things he’d given her to wear behind. It was just as well. If she’d only been with him to seal some kind of deal for her company, then their break should be clean, with no nasty reminders for either of them of last night’s indiscretions.

Except, damn if the ache in his heart didn’t feel like an indiscretion at all. Nope. If felt like pure unadulterated agony, truth be told. He’d truly grown to care for Laura over the few weeks they’d spent together, perhaps even to love her, and the thought of losing her now, after he’d only just gotten her was almost too much to bear.

It was his own fault. He should have listened to his family, not fallen so hard, so fast.

They pulled up to a parking area on a flat promontory and their little caravan of Range Rovers stopped. His brothers and their assistants got out of the first vehicle, his sisters and mother exited the second, and Raheem and Laura departed the third. Two other vehicles were parked nearby, filled with the production company’s crew.

Raheem got out and came around to help Laura down, but she was already out and walking over to join the others. He slammed the door and followed behind, noticing two men he’d not seen before—one tall and blond, the other short and squat. The short one had been Laura’s boss, if her descriptions of the man were accurate.

Feraz, as their leader took charge, introducing himself and the rest of the family to the men from the production company. “Gentlemen,” he said. “We are here to discuss the sale of this land to you.”

“Yeah,” the short, fat one said. Burt, Raheem thought his name was. All he could think of when he looked at the guy was that he’d treated Laura like dirt. Not worthy of being called by his formal title. “Nice place you’ve got here. Reminds me of the Twelve Palms downtown. Have you guys tried that place? Seriously the best damned coconut water this side of the Arabian Sea.”

Raheem stared at the little man with undisguised disgust. “You are not fit to swill camel piss in my country.”

“Excuse me?” The man gaped at Raheem in shock. “Did he just say what I think he said?”

Laura grabbed Raheem by the arm and yanked him off to the side. “What are you doing?”