The Sheikh's Pregnant Wife - Leslie North Page 0,23
not. But a keynote speech, as opposed to a normal panel? That would give Community Connections a lot of extra publicity. Extra publicity could mean more money, and more money was especially important now. If the royal family ultimately declined to give any financial assistance, Kara wasn’t going to let the project fall by the wayside. Not now, not ever.
“I do approve.” She traced over the date in her book again, noticing for the first time a note at the bottom of the calendar for that date. “Oh, shoot.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yaseen won’t be able to make it. That’s all right. Tell me what else you have on your list.”
Jean ran through a few more items with her and headed back out to the main office. Kara pursed her lips. She’d wanted Yaseen to be there, but his schedule in three weeks was tight. His flight to Geneva would land a few hours before her original appearance as a panelist. It mattered, though. It mattered that he wouldn’t get to see her talk in a way that sent a shock through her. Her heart felt heavy with disappointment.
Maybe they had more than a marriage of convenience after all.
Kara only hesitated a moment before she picked up the phone and called his palace office. Yaseen’s cell was an option, of course, but Kara wanted his secretary if he wasn’t available himself. The woman answered on the first ring.
“Sheikh Yaseen’s office,” she said smoothly. “Shall I put you through, Kara?”
“Is he busy?” Nothing had ever felt stranger than this, right now. Calling for her husband, who was also a prince, and suddenly feeling a little shy about the whole business. Shy! She was pregnant with his baby, and they’d done things in the bathtub last night that had not been the work of a woman who felt shy about anything at all. And yet somehow... “I don’t want to interrupt him if he’s in an important meeting.”
Yaseen’s secretary gave a light chuckle. “No such thing. He’s given me instructions to put all your calls through if you don’t call him directly on his cell. It’ll just be a moment.”
“Thank you. I didn’t—” Before she could finish speaking, a click sounded over the line.
“Do you miss me already?” Yaseen’s low, rich voice came over the line like a physical thing, brushing possessive fingertips down the back of her neck. “I’m surprised at you, Kara. It’s only been a few hours.”
She laughed out loud, heat painting her cheeks. “I am missing you. I got to spend so much time in your presence over the last week that I must’ve gotten used to it.”
Who was this version of Yaseen, who teased and played and clicked his tongue? “If you miss me so much, then why are you still at work?”
“Because there’s a lot of work to be done.” He must know, somehow, that Kara wanted to get the first car back to the house and throw herself into his arms. Maybe he wanted the same thing. “I’m calling because I got some news that I wanted to share.”
“News about the baby, or about work?” A note of caution crept into Yaseen’s voice. She could practically see him leaning forward over his desk, mouth turned down with concern.
“It’s not bad news,” Kara said quickly. “Well—bad in one way, great in another way. My speech at the conference has been moved up to be the keynote on the opening day. So you don’t have to fly in. I know you could just barely make the original date.”
“Could you hold on for a moment?”
She blinked. “Yeah, of course I can.”
The call clicked off, and Kara wrapped the phone cord around one finger. Hopefully, he’d come back soon, and then they could go back to the delicious flirting. She wouldn’t say no to more of that from him. Maybe she could say something saucy about how he could make it up to her later. So many options.
“I’ll be there.” Yaseen’s return to the call cut into her thoughts. “My schedule’s been rearranged.”
“What?” A burst of excitement flashed through her veins. “You already rearranged it?”
“Barring an emergency, I should be able to make it. I don’t want to miss your first major speech as my wife.”
Kara thought she might burst with this emotion. Joy? Pride? Joy and pride mixed together in what felt like an explosion of light? “I’m so happy,” she managed. “I’m so glad you’re going to be there.”
“Do you know what I’m glad for?”
“What?”
“That you’re coming home to me