The Sheikh's Christmas Maid (Shadid Sheikhs 1)

Slumping in despair, she leaned her head against the window and let loose her tears. Sobbing, she wrapped her arms around herself.

Did you really think that someone like me would fall in love with someone like you?

If she’d only stuck to her guns, she wouldn’t even be in this mess. She wouldn’t have ever let herself get hurt.

Something reflected in the side mirror, and she lifted her head and stared.

Headlights!

“Yes!” Pushing the door open, she scrambled out of the car and waved her hands. “I’m here! Help!” she screamed. A snowplow barreled down the road, and she felt a glimmer of hope. If she could convince the driver to take her, she could put all of this behind her.

The plow slowed to a stop, and she jumped for joy. Reaching for the door, she yanked it open and stared. When she saw who was driving it, she recoiled.

Samir?

For a moment, they stared at each other. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. “Have you thought of something else that you can say to hurt me?”

Anguish filled his eyes. “I’m sorry, Poppy. Please give me a chance to explain.”

“Yeah? Like you gave me a chance to explain? I don’t think so.” She slammed the door shut and started marching to the house. The irrational voice in her head decided that she’d rather freeze in the snow than get in the plow with him.

The door slammed shut. “Poppy, please wait. Even if you don’t forgive me, let me get you some place warm.” He chased after her.

“Go away! You’ve made your opinions of me very clear!”

“I deserve every hateful thing you want to throw at me, but I think it would be better if we found shelter. Poppy, I’m minutes ahead of the storm. It’s only going to get worse. Please get in the snow plow.”

Stopping in her tracks, she closed her eyes and shook her head. Her teeth were already chattering. Turning around, she avoided his gaze as she

stomped past him. Yanking open the door again, she climbed inside and slammed it shut.

The relief was evident on his face, but once he climbed in, she turned her head. “Don’t say a word. Just get me to the house to get my things, and at least grant me the courtesy of staying until the snow lets up before throwing me out of your country.”

“Poppy.”

“Not. One. Word!”

He fell into silence, and the vehicle slowly rolled forward. It didn’t take long before the plow shuddered and stopped. Poppy whirled her head in alarm. “What? What happened? Please tell me we’re not stuck.”

Samir frowned. “We’re not stuck.”

“Then why aren’t we moving?”

“We’re out of gas,” he sighed and looked out the window.

“Out of gas? How can you be out of gas?”

“I didn’t really pay attention to the important details when I took Taj’s plow. I’m sorry, Poppy. I was only thinking of how quickly I could get to you.”

He was thinking of her? It would have been sweet if she wasn’t once again stuck in the snow.

And if he hadn’t said horrible things to her.

The cabin,” he breathed. “The cabin that we found that day when we were out walking. Do you remember?”

Remember? Now that he mentioned it, every detail of that day started playing in her head. The night before. The night after. Her cheeks flushed. “What about it?”

“We were heading south through the woods when we found it, and we weren’t far from the road. It should be right through those woods. Come on.”