“Does father know?” Jarik rubbed his thumb across Maria’s knuckles in an attempt to steady himself.
“Not yet. We got in this morning, and he’s not here.”
“This morning?” Jarik whistled and looked around. “You’ve been busy.”
“The servants were more than happy to help out.”
Jarik could see the tension in Samir. For a moment, Jarik didn’t know what to say. He’d never known his young brother to take charge like this. Finally, he softened. “I’d forgotten how beautiful everything was. You did well, brother. Want to explain the blonde under your arm?”
“Want to explain the brunette under yours?” Samir shot back.
Samir’s woman stepped forward and shook her head. “Why don’t we relax and have a few drinks,” she offered with a chuckle. “I’m sure you two have some catching up to do, and we still need to trim the tree.”
“Oh, I’d love to help!” Maria offered with a big smile. Stepping away from Jarik, she squeezed his hand before joining her. The two women linked arms and wandered away as they chatted about the decorations.
“It’s good to see you, Samir,” Jarik admitted. “It’s been awhile.”
“It has. Maybe it’s time we put an end to that.”
“Maybe it is.”
Samir put out his hand to shake his brother’s, but instead, Jarik enveloped him in a big hug. “Merry Christmas, Samir.”
“Merry Christmas, Jarik.”
“Come on. Let’s finish decorating the tree.”
Together, the two men started sifting through the ornaments. There were some ornaments that the boys had made together when they were younger, and Jarik tried to piece together Samir’s fuzzy memories of the events the best that he could.
He’d long ago given up the idea of Christmas miracles, but here was one right in front of him.
Suddenly, a small blur streaked across the room. Jarik and Samir both gasped and froze as a small child headed straight for the Christmas tree. Before anyone could react, she wiggled under the tree.
“Does anyone know who this monkey belongs to?” Jarik bellowed as he grabbed her ankles. “I think she’s trying to climb the Christmas tree.”
He pulled the girl and flipped her over. Rather than be upset, she smiled and reached up to touch his nose.
There was something oddly familiar about her dark blue eyes. Picking her up, he set her quickly on her feet.
“Arella! You come back here this instant!”
Jarik frowned and turned to the door as the unfamiliar voice boomed down the hall. A second later, a couple came racing into the room, and for the second time that day, Jarik was completely blown over.
It appeared that Kashif was no longer in Alaska. The next crowned sheikh stood in the doorway, and it was clear from his expression that he was just as shocked as his brothers.
What the hell was he doing here? And more importantly, what was he doing with a woman and child?
Epilogue
One year later
“Jarik, where are you? We’re going to be late.” Maria paced back and forth in front of her empty plane staring at her watch. They needed to be wheels up in less than two hours and Jarik was nowhere to be found. “Dammit, Jarik. We should have been loaded by now.”
“He’ll be here,” Tessa told her consolingly.
Turning around to respond, Maria pushed her sunglasses down to look at Tessa. “What on earth are you wearing?”
“It’s an elf hat. Like it? Don’t worry, you have a hat too. Jarik left them before he….” Slapping her hand over her mouth, Tessa backed away.