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

She blinked, and he saw understanding bloom in her eyes. “There’s no waiting period to get married in Connecticut.”

“Exactly.”

Catelyn met his eyes and straightened her back. “Are you certain there are no…alternative solutions?”

He gave her an amused grin. “If you have any that would cover all the bases, so to speak, I’d be open to some discussion.”

She grimaced. “You’re so…insistent. On covering all the bases. But why should I accept a deal that’s so one-sided? You’d get far more out of this than I would, even businesswise.”

“Are you entirely sure about that? It’s a bit crass to mention the private jet again, or the international lifestyle—both of which would give you untold credibility in your industry. You’d be the most informed wedding planner in the business, without a doubt. What bride wouldn’t want a wedding with chic international flair?”

Catelyn studied him. “What did you do, research wedding planning, too?”

“Yes.”

“You know,” she said with a wry grin. “It’s not considered very polite to tell other people how to do their jobs.”

“I would never presume to do that.” Rami leaned back in his chair. “I’ve laid out my offer. A wedding in Connecticut, five hours from now. Or you can delete the blog, and we’ll both weather the fallout.”

“That would mean a very rocky time for both of us. And our families,” said Catelyn softly. “Not to mention Laura and Daisy…”

Rami waited.

“Fine,” she admitted, standing up. “There’s no other way out but through. Let’s get married. For real, this time.”

6

They were running behind.

Catelyn checked her watch, her heart fluttering behind her breastbone. To be fair, they were only three minutes behind schedule, but that didn’t matter much to her. It was Catelyn’s style to be prompt in everything. It was a habit developed at Morris International, when she’d done her level best to impress Lydia, and it had given her a good reputation with the brides she worked for.

Until this business with Rami, though, it hadn’t been enough of a reputation. Maybe she should have taken out more ads. But where? In the phone book? No. Nobody had phone books anymore. A social media site, maybe, but that seemed more daunting than arranging entire grand events.

It was all irrelevant now. In this moment, at least, in the car with Rami heading toward Connecticut.

She could feel his eyes on her and felt a sudden flash of shyness. It was a business arrangement, this wedding, and nothing more. But sitting in the car with him, breathing him in like this—it made her feel as awkward as he’d acted at Lydia’s party.

Not that either of them needed to think about that on the way to their…second…wedding.

“What are you thinking about?” Rami spoke quietly, his voice low, and it sent a thrill of pleasure through her core as if she were a tuning fork and the words had struck her in the sweet spot.

Catelyn looked at him then. Rami’s dark eyes held a flash of worry. “This all happened fast,” Catelyn said wryly. “I’m just…thinking it through again.”

Rami reached out and patted her just above her knee. It was a casual, teasing touch, but goosebumps rose along her skin. “It’s only cold feet. All brides go through it.”

She laughed out loud. “All pretend, second-time brides?”

“It won’t be pretend for long.” He took in a half breath. “Though I still don’t understand—”

“Why certain states have waiting periods and others don’t?”

Rami shook his head with a bemused smile. “Why it wasn’t enough just to show up and get married.”

“That’s what we’re doing.”

“That is not what we’re doing,” Rami said, laughing. “Unless you want to call the last few hours ‘showing up and getting married.’”

She gave him a pointed look. “You basically proposed when you were surrounded by three wedding planners. What did you think was going to happen?”