The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(49)

“They told me to ready the guest house for you. I thought you had planned on staying there for the shoot,” the Sheikh explained.

Remembering that conversation, Kaye lowered the hand holding her car keys.

“Oh yeah, but I only brought a small bag, which is…somewhere.”

“I’ll help you find it, and anything else you need, we can send Joshua to get as well.”

“Are you sure that’s okay? I don’t want to do anything that might put me in violation of the contract.”

“No need to worry about that—you’ll be staying in a different building from my room, after all. I would be honored to have you as my guest,” he said, turning as he gestured back toward the house.

Kaye thought about her dingy apartment, comparing it to the rather comfortable bed she had seen in the guest house. With a nod, she joined Amir, and they began searching the house for her missing bag.

They found it in the downstairs bathroom where she’s had her hair and makeup done. Kaye grabbed it, then Amir led her out back and to the doorway to the guest house.

“I hope you’ll find everything to your liking here. I do like my guests to be very comfortable, so anything you need, just say the word.”

“Thank you, Amir. You’re a gracious host.”

“I will be having quite a few guests for a very long time around here. I should be nothing if not gracious.”

His smile was warm. Behind him, the sun was sinking toward the horizon, lighting the back of him like a golden halo. Kaye realized that she was staring, and she blinked, bringing herself back to reality.

“Well then,” she said, not sure how to end the conversation.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

In that moment, Kaye realized she hadn’t actually eaten anything all day. Her stomach instantly protested.

“Yes, but what will we eat? You’ve got a fridge full of rotten food, if you remember.”

The corner of Amir’s lip twitched, and he leaned in conspiratorially.

“Good thing the actual kitchen is in a much better hidden place. Come on.”

He turned and made his way back toward the main house, and Kaye had no choice but to follow. After all, a woman needed to eat, right?





Chapter Eight





Amir led the way through the various open spaces of his mansion until they reached a subtle corkscrew staircase discreetly tucked into a corner. He waved for Kaye to follow him down.

“This is quite the secret, as you can tell,” he said, stepping carefully as they wound their way down, muted light coming from below.

“It’s not terribly well-hidden, then,” Kaye observed.

“Ah, but it is. Everyone is always so distracted by the glamour of the floor above, that they fail to notice this little corner in the back. In all the parties I’ve had—and I’ve certainly had a few—no one has ever managed to find me when I sneak down here for some peace and quiet.”

They reached the bottom, and Kaye gazed around at her new surroundings.

It was a cozy space, almost like an in-law suite, but for the mega-rich. There was another comfortable living room, a posh-looking kitchen toward the back, and a door that presumably opened up to another bedroom.

“This is quite the hideaway you’re sharing with me then,” she observed, curious that he would do so.

After all, for all their engagement mumbo jumbo, Amir and Kaye were practically strangers to one another. He shrugged one shoulder, leading the way toward the kitchen.

“You are my fiancée, after all. We should have no secrets. Also, when Merle gets to be a bit too much, now you know where you can hide.”

Kaye grinned at that as she took a seat at the kitchen counter, watching as Amir pulled out a series of ingredients from the surprisingly well-stocked kitchen.

“A bit too much?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“I think there are words one could use for Merle that go well beyond the realm of polite conversation,” Amir said, setting out a cutting board and plopping a series of vegetables in front of Kaye.

“Now, chop chop,” he said, gesturing toward the veggies.

“Now, knife knife,” Kaye replied, and Amir turned, procuring a sharp cutting knife and handing it to her.

She accepted it and began chopping vegetables as he seasoned some steaks.

“You really like steak,” she observed, breathing in the scent of the herbs. “Are you going to grill that?”

Amir nodded, still focused on his food prep.

“It is one of my favorites. While the restaurant I took you to has a good selection, you’ve never had a good steak until you’ve had one of mine.”

“Humble, aren’t you?” she teased, and Amir smiled.

“You’ll see,” he said.

A dimple appeared with his grin, boyish and handsome, and Kaye nearly cut her finger as she stared at it for a moment too long.

A minute later, Amir turned with the seasoned steaks on a plate.

“Are you ready to be amazed?” he asked.

She stared at him with a deadpan expression. Unfazed, he turned and opened what had appeared to be another set of cabinets, but was really a built in indoor grill.

“Wow!” Kaye exclaimed, and Amir laughed. “Are you going to grill these too?” she asked, gesturing toward the cut vegetables.