The Sheikh's Christmas Present (Shadid Sheikhs 2)

As she tried to brush past him, he reached out and grabbed her elbow. “Maria,” he said quietly. “Whether you like it or not, we’re stuck together. The least we can do is be civil to each other.”

Sighing, she nodded her head. “Dinner would be nice, but I’m paying.”

He looked like he was going to argue, but he simply nodded his head. The skies were already dark when they stepped out to hail a taxi. “There’s a restaurant that I eat at frequently right around the corner of my hotel.”

Jarik opened the taxi door and gave her a quizzical look. “You come here a lot?”

“It’s a decent mid-point between several countries, and I have quite a few clients who prefer the relaxed customs atmosphere,” Maria said dryly.

“Really?”

Maria shrugged. “I won’t carry anything illegal, but there are no inspections for antiquities, which makes the process of moving them from country to country cheaper and quicker. I’m in Al Marfa two or three times a year. What about you?”

“I’ve been here before,” he said vaguely. When she rattled off the name of the restaurant, Jarik frowned, but he didn’t say anything.

The building was as brightly lit as she last remembered; only this time, instead of neon lights, it was brightly wrapped in Christmas colors. Garland swung from the ceiling, tied with bright red bows.

“Really?” Jarik muttered as he paid the taxi driver. Maria almost said something about him paying, but his response to the Christmas decorations was too intriguing.

“What’s that supposed to mean? While it may not be as popular, I’m sure there are those who celebrate Christmas.”

“I haven’t since…never mind,” Jarik muttered. “Come on. Let’s eat.”

He immediately opened the door to the restaurant, and Maria couldn’t help but smile. He might toss his money around like a jerk, but someone taught him manners.

The inside of the restaurant was just as decked out and festive as the outside. Motion activated figurines lit up, danced, and sang as they walked by. Even Maria, who loved Christmas, thought it was a little over-the-top, but the annoyance on Jarik’s handsome face was too good to ignore.

She half expected him to order someone to take them all down.

Instead, he glared as they took their seats in the corner. His eyes scanned the area.

“Looking for someone?”

“Just looking,” he muttered.

“Why do you hate Christmas?”

Jarik gave her a pointed look. “I don’t hate Christmas. At least, not the sentiment behind it.” He paused, seeming to weigh his answer. “I find that the older I get, the holidays seem to become more about how much money people can throw around on useless items that will only end up broken in a matter of hours. Personally, I can think of far better ways to spend money than on silly…animatronics,” he finished, as he waved his hand at the dancing figurines.

Maria hid the smirk on her face as she watched the look of utter disdain sweep across his face. That was definitely not the response she expected. “You’re jaded.”

“Just figure out what you want. I’m starving.” He dropped his head to look over the menu refusing to make eye contact until after the waiter took their order.

Maria nearly purred when their waiter poured their wine. Although she was nervous about Tessa going to Syria without her and the fact that her brother hadn’t called her back yet, she knew there was nothing that she could do.

Hopefully, the wine would help her relax.

“Explain something to me,” she asked after she’d downed half a glass. “How is it that a member of the royal family is flying without security?”

“I can take care of myself,” he said easily.

“What’s in Lebanon?”

Jarik shook his head. “Inquisitive little thing, aren’t you? I would think you could dampen that curiosity for the amount of money that I’m paying you.”

Maria immediately stiffened. “I would think that you’d be a little nicer considering that I am your only option for getting to Lebanon.”

“I could have taken the other flight with Tessa.”