The Sheikh's Blackmailed Bride (Sheikhs of Al-Dashalid 2)

Catelyn flicked her eyes back to her lap.

“With the spotlight on you, I suppose you’ll have a chance to prove your worth. Lydia was pushing hard to poach you for her own company. I assumed it was because your business had been a resounding success, but perhaps she was throwing you a lifeline.”

Catelyn arched an eyebrow and let the insult slide by. “I’m still surprised you remember that. It was—what, one sentence over the course of the whole conversation? And I was nobody to you then.”

That was hardly true.

“I remember everything about that meeting,” Rami said. There was no use in being coy. “I’ve thought about it many times since then.” His words smoldered with meaning, and Catelyn took another deep breath.

“Still,” she said, and her cool tone snapped both of them back on track. “Marriage is…a lot to ask. I could call Lydia on your behalf, or even go to Texas with you. I’m assuming that’s where your invitation is for. Her estate, right?”

“Accompanying me to that weekend wouldn’t solve the other issues,” he reminded her. “I only have three months until I turn thirty, and I need to be married by then.”

“But if you want to divorce after a year—”

“Irrelevant.” Rami gave the word a confidence he didn’t feel. “You’re my only prospect now. I haven’t been…hunting for a wife. But you know what they say. People want what they can’t have.” He hated the thought of having to return Catelyn to her life, if she did agree to this plan. But what he said was true. “I’m sure a more…traditional bride will appear by the time our agreement ends.”

She gave him a look of pure disbelief. “Nobody wants to marry you?”

“Nobody that’s been vetted. And I haven’t employed a matchmaker.”

Catelyn shook her head. “I don’t believe that for an instant. You’re wealthy, royal, smart, and…” Her voice trailed off.

“Do tell,” Rami said. “I’m dying to know what’s last on your list.”

She blushed furiously. “You’re very attractive.”

“As much as I like to hear that, I do have my flaws.”

Caitlyn snorted in amusement “That’s a relief. I can’t imagine how you’d be if you were perfect.”

Rami laughed out loud. “You American women are bold. But like I said—I’m not everyone’s dream husband. I can be…a little overbearing. It’s something I’ve been aware of for some time. My brothers are not afraid to tease me about it.”

Catelyn nodded slowly, and he could tell she was remembering the brief time they’d spent together at the party. “I didn’t think you were overbearing. I thought you could use some practice reading a room.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“You know—listening to other people. Watching for their reactions. If you did that, you’d be pretty near perfect.” She grinned.

He leaned forward, flashing her the smile he’d used in a hundred magazine photo shoots. Naturally, a magazine photo couldn’t ruin t

he moment by talking. But Rami sensed that he was holding his own in this discussion. “I know the ideal person to help me with that.”

Catelyn raised her chin. “Who’s that?”

“You.” He watched her carefully as she spoke. “Making this marriage official would be beneficial on multiple fronts.”

“I think the advantage is weighted heavily in your favor.” She gestured around her. “It’s not like I can marry you and leave my business behind for a year. By the time I got back, it would be gone.”

“Who said anything about leaving your business? I can provide anything you need to work while we’re out of the country. Anything.” Rami took note of the way her eyes widened, and her breathing quickened. “A new laptop. High speed wifi. A jet, if you think that would improve things. I’d never stand in your way.”

“Ha,” she retorted. “You hold all the cards. If I say no, you can sink my entire business.”

“This is all business. Naturally. Each of our interests depend on the other. Wouldn’t you say?”

She gave him a hard look, her blue eyes seeming to darken a shade. “That’s all this marriage would be. Purely business.”

It stung to hear those words from her mouth with that heat in her eyes, but Rami put on his best offended expression. “Of course it would be. I have no desire to fall in love. My only desire is to marry you in Connecticut five hours from now.”