The Sheikh's Pregnant Wife - Leslie North Page 0,15

up and down and clapped his hands. “Come on, Sheikh Yaseen! Toss it in!”

A shock of recognition went through the boys and girls on the field. Kara laughed. They hadn’t heard the principal before, that much was clear. But now they did. Far from making them nervous, though, she saw the new knowledge light up their eyes. Soccer with Sheikh Yaseen? Good, she could practically hear them thinking. Let him try to beat us. An air of confidence floated toward Kara, bringing a huge smile to her face.

Yaseen lifted the ball over his head and threw it into the center of the field. He raced after it, light on his feet. Kara put her hand to her mouth. She had never seen him move like this. She’d been past their home gym once or twice when he’d been exercising, a furrowed line in his forehead. Out on the field, Yaseen was all fluid movements and quick strides. He went after the ball with an intensity that set her own heart racing. Yaseen could play.

He got control of the ball and dribbled it down the field. The smart-mouthed girl called for a pass. Yaseen shot it to her with laser-like precision, and a moment later, she passed it back. Yaseen took it toward the goal, dribbling and passing his way down the field. He made sure every child caught a pass from him at least once. The new strategy send the ball wheeling through all the children running after it—children who were also good at playing soccer. One of the children kicked it back to Yaseen, who caught it with his foot in midair and brought it back under control.

The two men sparred on the way to the goal, Alvan doing his best to thwart Yaseen and the children shouting all around them. The team he’d joined was ecstatic. The opposing team had determination painted over their faces. Yaseen took the ball down the final stretch. Kara saw the way he slowed down, and at the last moment lobbed the ball straight at the goalie. The child caught it in his hands, going pink with pleasure.

“I got it!” he cried. His teammates surrounded him. For the moment, this game was the most important match of the year. Yaseen jogged around the field, giving high-fives to the rest of the kids and ending up back at the goalie. He shook hands with him. The young boy looked up at him, awestruck. Then Yaseen returned to Kara, Alvan a few paces behind.

“It’s a rough field,” he said, smoothing a hand over his hair. “Not conducive to a proper football match.” He met her eyes. “It would be nice for the kids to have a smooth playing field.”

“Yes,” she said, wanting to spin around and clap her hands but knowing it would be a terrible idea. “They’re going to love it.”

The principal came over, waving the children back into play. “Thank you, Sheikh Yaseen.”

“My pleasure.” Yaseen’s chest still rose and fell with the exertion of the game. Kara had never been more attracted to him. “It seems there is work to be done here. A new field is a clear need.”

She placed both her hands over her heart. “We’ll gladly welcome any project for the benefit of the schoolchildren.” A spark came to her eye. “But as you can see, they love football. Your sports center is an excellent choice.”

7

Who would have thought Yaseen had so much community interaction in him? Not Kara. The joy in her chest was a silvery burst. Deep inside, connecting with people came naturally to Yaseen. He just hid it beneath facts and figures. She couldn’t wipe the smile from her face, and she didn’t want to. Kara glided through the front door of the villa, light on her feet and light in her heart.

“You looked great out there.” The cool of the villa’s entryway settled silkily on her skin. “It came so easily to you, talking with those kids. And the village leaders can’t get enough of you.”

“My, my.” Yaseen closed the door behind them with a click that echoed off the high ceilings. He’d officially shut out the world, leaving the two of them alone. “I’ll go to brunch and play football all the time if it makes you this happy.”

She faced him with a twirl of her dress and a saucy lift to her chin. “It does. And you should know something else.”

He slipped his hands into his pockets and sauntered toward her. “What’s that?”

That you