The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(127)

“Lucky guess,” he answered, setting the book on the table. “Yvonne, this was a perfect Christmas. Thank you. What a wonderful way to spend the holiday. I will have to bring some of these traditions to my own table next time I am at home.”

“I’m glad to hear it. There’s one more tradition we always do that you have to try out—follow me,” she said.

Yvonne led him into the kitchen, quickly taking the pie out of the oven and putting it on the counter to cool. Then, she reached into the turkey and pulled out the wishbone, holding it out to him.

“Whoever gets the largest part of the bone gets their wish. So far, I’ve won the wishbone twice this year. Let’s see if third time’s the charm.”

Zadid grinned as he pinched the end of the wishbone with his fingers.

“Make a wish then, Yvonne,” he said.

She closed her eyes, deciding to stick with the theme she’d already established.

I wish I had a family of my own.

She took a breath and opened her eyes to find Zadid staring at her. With a competitive smile, she pulled, and he tugged his own side. When the bone broke, Yvonne found herself the winner once again.

“Ha!” she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes with glee. “Three times in a row! I can’t believe it!”

Zadid’s smile was good-natured as he set his bone back on the counter.

“You must have a wish that absolutely needs to be fulfilled. Are you going to share it with me?”

She crossed her arms.

“I will when it comes true. Until then, that’s bad luck.”

“Ah, I understand. Your wish didn’t by chance happen to be for an angel for your tree, was it?”

She chuckled, pulling the angel from its box.

“Come to think of it, that’s what I wished for last year!” she joked. “Shall we put it on?”

“Of course,” he replied.

The duo walked over to the little tree, Yvonne placing the angel delicately on the top. It was the perfect finishing touch.

As they stared at the tree, Yvonne could feel the evening stretching, and she knew he’d be calling for a cab soon. The thought of him not being there pulled at her heartstrings, though of course, he would have to go.

Both of their phones dinged in that moment, catching their attention.

“What’s going on?” Yvonne asked, thinking it was something work-related.

As they looked at their phones, both of their gazes turned toward the windows. Quite without their knowledge, a blizzard had blown right in.





Chapter Seven





Hazardous weather alerts had popped up on their phones, and they walked back to the balcony, Yvonne opening the door so they could step outside.

What had started off as a gentle flurry had snowballed into a massive storm. A gust of wind blew around them, and Zadid reached for Yvonne’s hand, tugging her inside. She nearly crashed into him, placing a gentle hand on his chest to balance herself before blushing and pulling the door closed.

They continued to watch the storm together through the glass, though Yvonne stepped aside slightly.

“I was just about to call a cab,” Zadid murmured with a furrowed brow.

Yvonne suddenly realized that there was a chance her daydreams might actually come true—if he was willing, that was.

“Would you…like to stay the night?” she asked timidly.

He gazed down at her, his eyes searching. She knew her gaze would give away how much she wanted him to stay, but she didn’t care. She had wanted Zadid since the moment she’d laid eyes on him.

After a heavy pause, he nodded.

“I’d like that very much. Thank you. Traveling in this looks treacherous.”

“No need to put yourself in danger when I have a perfectly comfortable couch right here. Now, why don’t we keep this party going? Do you like board games?”

His lip curled up in a half-smile, revealing that sexy dimple again. With champagne coursing through her, Yvonne’s guard was thoroughly down, and she stared at his mouth for a moment before she reminded herself to look back up into his eyes.

“I do,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind losing, though.”

“When have I ever lost a game we’ve played?”

“When have we ever played a board game?”

“That work party last year, you brought out a few for the group and I managed to win every round.”

His brow creased as he worked to remember, finally snapping his fingers as the memory arrived.

“Ah, yes! But I wasn’t playing. I was simply the referee.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that I won.”

“Well, let’s just see how well you compete against a master player.”

“Let’s. But first, eggnog.”

“I’ve never had it,” Zadid admitted, and Yvonne mock gasped.

“You don’t know what you’re missing! The board games are on that shelf by the TV—pick one you think you can win and I’ll grab us some eggnog while preparing to defeat you.”

“Confidence, I like that in a woman.”

Yvonne smiled to herself as she nearly skipped to the kitchen. Zadid was going to be spending the night! She poured fresh eggnog into two small tumblers and brought them out to the living room.