The Sheikh’s Tempted Prisoner by Holly Rayner Page 0,45

didn’t end in, say, permanent exile and removal from the royal throne.

“My father will be joining us, as well,” Atnan said as they walked out of the market together, their shopping completed.

“Wow, this really must be serious.”

“Indeed,” Atnan agreed.

He loaded the back of Lily’s car with the groceries, since it was much more practical for that kind of thing. After pressing his lips to hers, he headed toward his car.

“See you at home, my love,” he called.

“Yes, you will,” Lily replied, sliding back into her car and following him as they made their way to the private garage.

Together they prepared an exquisite meal, Atnan preparing the main course as Lily worked on a flaky pastry dessert. When the bell rang, Atnan wiped his hands on a towel and walked over, opening the door.

“Father!” he greeted, leaning in to embrace him.

The old Sheikh stepped inside, followed by two burly bodyguards, who stood silently by the door.

Sheikh Amman was a tall man with dark, gray-flecked hair and his son’s dark eyes. When he saw Lily, his smile warmed.

“Lily, it’s good to see you,” he said, holding out a hand for her to take.

She quickly dusted some flour off her hands before grasping his outstretched one and giving him a welcoming grin.

“It’s good to see you, too. Are you excited to meet your future daughter-in-law?” she teased.

Amman grinned. It hadn’t taken long for Lily to learn that he was a spry old man with a great sense of humor.

“We shall see. If all goes well tonight, he will introduce her to his mother next. Once that happens, all bets are off.”

“I was wondering where she was tonight,” Lily said, heading back toward the kitchen to place the pastry in the oven.

“According to tradition, a man must introduce the girl he intends to marry to his family first, but his mother will always get the final say. I imagine it will be quite stressful for them both. Kaveh’s mother is very protective of her boy.”

Lily smiled, thinking that Kaveh was anything but a boy. As Atnan guided his father to a chair at the table, the two hosts continued to prepare the meal. The doorbell rang again as they set the hot meat and veggies on the table.

“Here we go,” Lily said, feeling excited. Part of her relished in being the settled couple and hosting the family. As she considered Atnan’s words, though, she realized she had met every one of Atnan’s family members, but would never get his mother’s final approval. How did that factor into their future?

Before she had time to think about it, Atnan opened the door for Kaveh and his guest, a lovely-looking woman with dark brown hair and caramel-colored eyes. She introduced herself as Kaya, and Lily shook her hand with a supportive squeeze.

They sat together at the table, Kaya and Kaveh particularly shifty in their seats.

“So, what are your intentions with my son?” the eldest Sheikh asked without preamble.

Lily nearly choked on her wine. Kaveh looked mortified, but Kaya sat tall, her gaze confident.

“I intend to love him for the rest of my life, Your Highness.”

“Ah, well then. If that is the case, you may call me Amman.”

Lily and Atnan laughed, and Kaveh grinned shyly at his partner. Lily watched them closely, intrigued to see the hardened police chief’s softer side. With his relationship with Atnan patched up, the man had let up a bit on his crime and punishment agenda, but everyone knew that breaking a law in Al Yibri was still going to be met with consequences. Crime had never been lower.

As they sat around the table together, Lily had never felt more at home. They laughed as the Sheikh told joke after joke, putting them all at ease. It didn’t feel like she was sitting with a table of princes and kings. It simply felt like she had a family that loved her, and Lily felt nothing but pure joy as she continued to laugh at Amman’s wonderfully dry humor.

As the evening passed, Amman declared Kaya a delight, and the table cheered as the new couple cast private glances at one another. After dessert, Kaya helped Lily clean everything up before they said their good-byes and spoke about their next meeting, which might involve Kaveh’s mother.

“I wish you the best of luck,” Lily said, hugging them both.

Lily always packed two boxes of leftovers for Amman’s guards, and they always refused to take any. She held out a bag to one of them, who looked down