wait.'
'Are you sure? How long have you known this?'
'I've been having symptoms for a while now, but I didn't want to say anything in case I was wrong. I'm about eleven weeks along...so Dr Saffar thinks.'
'My own physician know about this before I did?'
'Don't look so put out,' Gina teased, brushing an imaginary speck from the front of his dark blue robes. 'Of course he knew before you. He's my doctor as well now—remember?'
Zahir shook his head. He was trying to pretend he was annoyed, but the edges of his well-cut lips kept tugging upwards and betrayed him. 'You are a little minx, giving me this news at such an awkward time.'
'Why is it awkward?'
'Well, if you don't mind me demonstrating my pleasure to you in front of an audience of interested strangers, then just say the word.' He purposefully lowered his head towards her, and there was a distinctly lascivious gleam in his eye.
Gina put her hand against his chest to stop him. 'Perhaps this isn't the best time,' she agreed, feeling suddenly hot.
Zahir's expression turned serious for a moment, prompting her to hurriedly enquire, 'You don't mind...about the baby, I mean?'
'Mind? You know it is the news I have dreamt about hearing ever since you agreed to be my wife—the news every man who loves the woman in his life beyond reason hopes to hear... But you certainly know how to choose your moments, my love!'
'Well...' She let him tug her closer into his side. 'You delight in surprising me...now it's my turn. So you're pleased then?'
She almost held her breath as his glance became serious again. Yes, she knew how much it meant to him for them to have a child together, and wanted it as earnestly as Zahir, but sometimes the doubts of the past would occasionally surface and threaten to take away her happiness. Bit by bit she'd resolved to ignore those doubts and simply dwell on her good fortune instead and be glad.
Zahir was smiling warmly down at her again, and the depth of that incredible smile chased away all Gina's doubts. When her husband utilised that smile it was as though blazing sunshine appeared from behind a bank of stormy grey clouds and lit up the world.
'Pleased?' he answered. 'I am almost speechless with happiness. I just have to take it in for a moment. How you now expect me to give a talk about the Heart of Courage after hearing such news, I do not know.'
'You'll be fine.' Grinning mischievously, Gina stood on tiptoe to plant a tender kiss at the side of his mouth. 'You faced a horde of unruly rebels without a blink... If you can do that then you can easily talk about your family heirloom to a crowd of curious visitors. It'll be a piece of cake!'
'Sheikh Kazeem Khan!' someone called out from behind them. 'Can we have a picture of your and your lovely sheikha now?'
They turned together to face the sea of flash-popping cameras. Zahir slipped his arm protectively round his wife's still slim waist. 'The sooner we return to Kabuyadir and relative anonymity, the better I will like it,' he whispered low in Gina's ear.
She glanced up at him and her blue eyes were infinitely tender, and somewhat teasing, too. 'Even if you weren't the Sheikh of the kingdom, you couldn't be anonymous if you tried, Zahir. You're far too imposing for that!'
'Imposing, but friendly,' he joked, and kissed her then and there on the lips, for everyone to see...
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
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First published in Great Britain 2011
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Maggie Cox 2011
ISBN: 978-1-742-90730-7
Table of Contents
Cover
‘What did you think you were doing trying to make a fool of me like that?'
FRONT MATTER
ONE DESERT NIGHT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DEDICATION
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
COPYRIGHT
Table of Contents
Cover
‘What did you think you were doing trying to make a fool of me like that?'
FRONT MATTER
ONE DESERT NIGHT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DEDICATION
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
COPYRIGHT