The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(40)

“Smart girl,” Amir said, and Merle glared at him.

Crossing his arms, he huffed impatiently as Kaye began to read the document. As her eyes scanned the words, they began to register, and she nearly choked.

“This is a prenuptial agreement!” she gasped, looking up with wide eyes at the producers.

Merle’s expression remained bored.

“Are you done yet? We have work to do here.”

“Are you kidding me? I’m not signing anything until someone tells me what’s going on here!”

The entire experience had been beyond sketchy, and Kaye was kicking herself for not bailing sooner. Of all the women there, she had clearly been the densest.

Merle glared at her, entirely unsympathetic.

“This is the deal, Miss Kearney. You don’t like it? There’s the door.”

Heat rose up Kaye’s face, and she could just imagine how red her cheeks were. She felt like a complete and utter fool! How had she allowed her situation to get so desperate that she would ignore every red flag that had brought her to that moment, where she was about to sign a shady marriage contract instead of a legitimate job offer?

Kaye stood, preparing to make her grand exit. If she had to wait tables, she had to wait tables; nothing was worth the degradation she had experienced that day.

She felt a hand on her forearm and was surprised to see Amir standing too, his gaze beseeching.

“Kaye, wait.”

Unable to resist, she hesitated, staring up at him, waiting for an explanation.

“This document…it’s not for a real marriage. We just need it to make sure that the show will be believable.”

“Then why are you being so shady about all of this? You do realize what kind of world this is for a woman, right? Why should anyone trust what you say when you won’t even tell people what the job is?”

Amir nodded.

“You’re right. It isn’t fair. Allow me to take you out to lunch and explain the premise of the show properly. I’m sorry about this whole experience. We’re still learning the best methods, as well.”

“Well, I can tell you this one sucks,” she replied, not moving.

His hand hadn’t moved from her arm, and the skin his fingers touched tingled a little. Kaye kept her concentration up, ignoring the sensation.

“You’re right,” he agreed.

“Ahem? You’re taking her out to lunch? We have a deal to get signed here!”

“Honey over vinegar, Merle. I’m taking her out to give her the details. If she’s still on board by the end of it, we’ll be in good shape. If she isn’t, we’ll find better methods of casting after this.”

“That would be my recommendation,” Kaye said, enjoying the puce color staining Merle’s cheeks.

“Shall we?” Amir asked, holding out his arm for her to take.

Kaye glanced back at Merle.

“I’ll let you know my decision,” she said, placing her hand over Amir’s arm.

Beneath her fingertips, she could feel toned muscle. She thought about what that muscle might look like beneath the smooth fabric of his suit, and shook the thought from her mind.

They left Merle in the dust, Amir bringing her toward the back of the warehouse. When he opened a door, she saw a sleek yellow sports car waiting in a bay.

“Hid this one out back, did you?”

Amir gave her a sideways glance.

“One gets used to hiding when the paparazzi are around—which is always.”

Kaye felt a pang of sympathy for the man. He opened her door for her, and she slid in, the seat cushy and comfortable. As he slid in next to her, he turned the key in the ignition, meeting her gaze.

“Now, where to?”





Chapter Four





Kaye hesitated on her answer, unsure what to suggest.

The truth was, she basically hadn’t been out to dinner pretty since she’d arrived in L.A. Since that moment, she had been forced to save everything she had just to hold on to her apartment while she tried everything in her power to live her dream. Amir waited a beat, then filled the silence.

“Never mind, I know the perfect place,” he said, pulling out of the parking lot and heading back toward the city.

“Is Merle going to be mad at you?” Kaye asked, not really sure what else to say.

Amir chuckled.

“Merle is always mad. Or didn’t you notice?”

“Mad, deranged… I suppose it depends on the way you define the term.”

That got another laugh out of Amir, and Kaye found herself cracking a guilty smile.

“Yes, he certainly is something. We’ll get into that over lunch, though. Tell me more about yourself, Kaye.”

“What, more about how I don’t have any illegitimate children or a checkered past that might come up and bite you once I sign onto the show?”

“While that is useful information, I meant more about you. What do you like to do for fun?”

“What, when I’m not desperately searching for acting work?”

“Precisely.”

Kaye sat back in her seat, thinking about what she did for fun. How long had it been since she’d really enjoyed herself?

“I suppose I like going to the beach,” she hedged.

“The beach! Good answer. I love the ocean,” Amir replied, reaching up and pulling a pair of designer sunglasses from seemingly out of nowhere.