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

“How’d the three of you meet?” Rami said, leaning back in his chair with his glass of seltzer. He wasn’t drinking, which was no surprise to Catelyn, but he’d loosened up, too. He wasn’t sitting quite so straight and looking seriously at everyone. “University?”

Catelyn caught Laura’s eye across the table, and the three women cried in unison: “Alpha Beta Pi, till I die!” and dissolved into laughter.

Rami surveyed all this with a bemused expression.

“Our sorority,” Catelyn explained. “We were all in the same pledge class, and we stayed friends after college.”

“And went off to better jobs, I’m assuming,” Rami said lightly.

There was a beat of silence.

“What does that mean?” Laura asked, taking a long sip of her cocktail.

“Catelyn worked for Morris International before the three of you started the planning business. Didn’t the two of you also leave similarly good jobs before leaving to become wedding planners?”

Daisy looked at him through narrowed eyes. “I don’t follow. Why do you think wedding planning isn’t a good job?”

“Event planning isn’t without its charms,” he continued, as if it were painfully obvious. “But the business model you’ve set up isn’t a good one. And the industry focus itself is too narrow, in your case. It could be done better. More profitably.”

Daisy and Laura gaped at Rami, then exchanged a look.

“You’re wrong,” Laura said flatly. “Our business—”

“You know what?” Catelyn cut in. She was desperate not to let the excitement of the day slip away. It had already careened into a bit of a sour ending, but it was better to get out now rather than let it devolve into a heated debate. “I think we should call it a night. Which hotel are we booked at?”

Laura tore her eyes from Rami, and despite his comments, a little smile flashed across her face. “You two are booked at this hotel.”

“No way. This place is booked out months in advance.”

“I made some arrangements,” Rami said, and she turned to find a triumphant smile on his face. “In fact, we’re staying in the VIP suite.”

There was a chorus of goodbyes, during which Daisy whispered, “You have got to teach him to keep his mouth shut,” into her ear. “But he’s hot, anyway.” Then they only needed to walk down one long hallway and take an elevator up to the top floor.

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sp; Rami put the key card in the slot and held the door open for her.

“Oh, my god,” Catelyn breathed. “This is…beyond.”

She’d planned a few over-the-top weddings in her life, but this suite? It even smelled like riches. A subtle floral scent danced over the air in the suite, which was centered on a wide living area with graceful sofas and a gleaming coffee table set with a crystal vase full of delicate pink roses. A few steps in, and Catelyn could see into the small but well-appointed kitchen and the master bedroom, where a king-size bed waited with a pure white coverlet. What was the thread count on all that?

Her heart beat faster as Rami shut the door behind them, and she felt like she’d stepped fully into her new husband’s world. Was it going to be as easy to navigate as Lydia’s cocktail party? Nervousness pricked at her palms.

“Do you like it?”

Rami came up beside her, and she found herself going a little weak at the knees. He was…so tall. They were so alone. He smelled so good. And that kiss at the wedding?

It was too much.

“I’m going to bed,” she blurted out. “I’m—I’m really tired. I hope you don’t think I’m being rude.” It was a strange thing to say on their wedding night, and she knew it.

Rami’s eyebrows rose, but he said nothing as she turned and went into the bedroom.

* * *

Rami watched her go. “Good night,” he called the moment before she shut the door to the bedroom behind her with a firm click.

“Good night,” she called back, her voice muffled. And then she was quiet.