The Sheikh's Pregnant Wife - Leslie North Page 0,10

success. If you can do that, you’ll see that the investment you’ll make in the center will come back to you a hundred-fold. It just might not be in hard dollars. It just might not be in the way you expect.”

“I see you have it all planned out.” Kara did have it all planned out. She had the blueprints. The construction firm stood ready, just waiting the go-ahead from him. The complex itself would be wonderful, but it wouldn’t win him the regard of his family or advisors. They would, as they always had, see him as the middle brother without much of a purpose. “This meeting is over. I’ll see you back at the villa.”

Yaseen turned and went out—through the hall and down the stairs and to the street where the SUV waited for him. He closed the door behind him and leaned his head back. Every inch of him longed to tear off his dress shirt and slacks, and more than that, he wanted to do it in the bedroom with Kara. Instead, he’d been cockblocked by a business meeting.

“Take me back to the villa,” he told his driver without opening his eyes. “Call for the second car to pick up Kara. I have to get out of here.”

5

It had taken Yaseen a full twenty-four hours to regain his equilibrium after the previous day’s fiasco, and he’d excused himself from the morning tour of the site. Now he stood in the foyer of the villa waiting for Kara to return from the tour. It was the only item on their work agenda for the day. Yaseen had planned it that way, in fact. He’d seen how hard she pushed when it came to work. She wouldn’t listen to him about slowing down, taking a little more time in light of her pregnancy. So he’d taken the matter of the schedule into his own hands. Of course, he didn’t plan to tell her that. Yaseen had a feeling it wouldn’t go over well. But while they were in Mennah, whether he told her or not, they’d have afternoons free.

No—not exactly free. He had a plan for this afternoon.

Kara breezed in, her curves accentuating her natural grace. She gave a wave to the driver, called “Thank you!” and turned to find him standing there. Her hand flew to her neck.

“Yaseen. Hi. I didn’t know you’d be ready to go this early.”

“I’m ready. Are you?”

Kara’s eyes flickered to the floor. “A quick change, and then I should be set to go.” She frowned. “Is there anything in particular I should wear?”

He hadn’t told her the specifics of their afternoon excursion. Anything, he thought. If possible, I’d love for you to wear nothing. Stay here with me. Forget about the sports complex, forget everything else—

“I haven’t planned anything incredibly formal. Something comfortable.”

Kara winked at him, and heat lit up his chest. “I’ll be right back. Not wearing a ball gown.” She laughed. “I don’t even think I packed any fancy gowns.”

“I had the staff pack everything you could conceivably need,” he said, the words sounding flirtatious and sultry even to him. “You might find a gown in the walk-in closet, if you’re in the mood. But you won’t need one for our trip.”

She brushed past him, her scent trailing behind—coconut shampoo and sunscreen, and the hint of something floral. While she changed, Yaseen focused on not letting that scent get the better of him. He kept his feet firmly planted in the foyer.

“Ready,” called Kara. She reappeared in a twin of the blue sundress, this one in a pale pink that reminded him of roses. She spun around—a little carefully, he noticed. “Think this’ll do?”

His words stuck in his throat. Want. Pure and strong, it burned at the center of him. Yaseen wanted to run his hands up under that dress, feel where the thin layers of underthings met her skin. He wanted to unbutton them all, undo the tiny hooks and let them fall to the floor. But he only gave her a nod. “You look lovely. Come to the car with me.”

Kara followed him out to the front, where a JEEP capable of handling the countryside outside Mennah waited. Kara gripped his elbow.

“You’re driving?” Her eyes flashed with delight.

“I wanted to feel the wind in my hair.”

She laughed out loud at that. “I can’t picture you wanting to be windblown.”

“Why not? Doesn’t it sound nice?”

Kara paused, as if she might come back with a retort, but instead she smiled at