The Sheikh's Pregnant Wife - Leslie North Page 0,25

you,” he told her, looking her dead in the eyes. “The project just isn’t feasible at this time. No matter how many times I run the numbers, it doesn’t meet the government’s standards for an investment.”

“Standards?” Kara swept her napkin from her lap and balled it up in her first. “The government of Raihan has standards that would prohibit you from making immense positive changes for your citizens?”

“Of course not,” shot back Yaseen. “Of course I want to make positive changes in the lives of our citizens. But I have to do what is right financially for all of Raihan, not just a single village. A sports complex in a place as remote as Mennah only benefits a small number of people. It’s a conflict with my overall duty to the people all across the country.”

His actions had already caused enough turmoil within the royal family. He’d gotten Kara pregnant out of wedlock, forced his brother to marry before he’d planned to, and very nearly dishonored the family. Now, more than ever, he had to stick to the script. He couldn’t make risky decisions.

But he still couldn’t bear the disappointment on her face. Yaseen reached for her hand and held it gently in his. “There are certain things expected of me as a prince of Raihan. Look at me, Kara.”

She snapped her blue eyes back to his.

“I don’t want this to drive a wedge between us.”

Kara pursed her lips, and he thought he saw the slightest quiver to her chin, but she said nothing. Yaseen could feel her disappointment drawing the tension between them tight enough to snap. His heart beat in a raw rhythm. He’d never wanted to go against his family so badly in his life. But at the same time, he’d also never wanted to prove himself to them so much. The force of it threatened to tear him in two.

“Listen.” He took her other hand in his and held them both, trying desperately to connect with her. Sadness battled with the disappointment on her face. His heart ached with it. “If Community Connections can raise enough funds through private partnerships, I’ll personally see to it that you have all the necessary permits and approvals to make it a reality.”

Kara looked away, glancing down at her belly, then back up at him. “Fine,” she said. “We’ve already started making contingency plans in the event that you decided not to work with us.” She lifted her chin half an inch. “I’ll let my colleagues know. Thank you for telling me now, before we wasted any more time.”

Her words hit him like a fist against an open wound. He hadn’t even realized he had an open wound, but there it was, smarting under what she’d said. “I don’t consider it a waste of time. It was a worthy idea to explore. It just didn’t meet the standards for royal investment.”

Yaseen wanted her to give him a gracious nod and agree with him, but he knew she wouldn’t. Kara looked at him with fire in her eyes.

“Yes, I understand that.” She took a shallow breath, and for a moment Yaseen thought she might say more—might run through her argument again. Might take out her phone and show him a new PowerPoint with more data points to convince him. But she only squeezed his hand—perfunctory, quick—and picked up her fork. Her cheeks reddened, but Kara stayed silent, taking one deep breath after another.

She lifted a carrot on the tip of her fork and put it between her lips, chewing it thoughtfully. “The chef did well on this recipe.”

Earlier in the day, she’d had a craving for carrots the way her grandmother used to prepare them—soaked in butter and brown sugar for twelve minutes. Yaseen wasn’t sure where the twelve-minute stipulation had come from, but he’d passed the instructions along to the chef with a seriousness that had probably surprised the man. He usually reserved that kind of intensity for work and upholding the family honor.

Getting the words out felt like lifting a heavy boulder. Don’t be disappointed, he wanted to say. And if you’re angry at me, don’t push it down like that. But who was he to say anything to her about the fact that he’d decided against the project?

“Did he? I’ll give him the news.”

“Yes.” Kara looked at him, her expression firm. “He got it exactly right.”

12

Kara stood in the meeting room with her team, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Her back ached if she sat down