The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(54)

“I’ll be right out,” she said.

Amir nodded, turning back toward the house as Kaye closed the door behind her, making quick work of changing into a comfortable pair of jeans and a blouse. She had her suitcase already sitting by the door, and she took a minute to brush her teeth before heading back outside. She walked around the mansion to the front courtyard, where a limo was waiting.

Standing beside it, Amir turned when he heard the wheels of her suitcase. He held two paper cups of coffee in either hand.

“Bless you,” Kaye breathed as she accepted one of the proffered steaming cups.

“Any time. Allow me,” he said, gallantly opening the limo door as the driver took her suitcase, placing it in the open trunk.

Kaye slid in, wishing she had packed a sweatshirt. The morning air was cold, and she shivered as she scooted over to make room for Amir. Noticing this, he removed his own jacket and handed it to her.

“Here,” he offered.

She held out a hand.

“Really, I’m okay,” she protested.

“Your cheeks are turning blue,” he said, still holding it out to her.

Instinctively, Kaye’s non-coffee-holding hand darted to her face, and Amir’s eyes glittered with humor in the dark of the car.

“Very funny,” she said, swiping the jacket out of his grasp.

She wrapped it around her shoulders, embracing the warmth of him, her belly filling with butterflies as his clean scent enveloped her, seeping into her skin.

“I’m nothing if not humorous,” he said, settling back into his own seat and turning on the heat.

“That’s not true. You are strong and assertive, and I just seem to know how to handle that,” she joked.

Amir grinned, flexing a muscular bicep. Kaye swallowed.

“You know me. The pinnacle of strength!”

She chuckled, gazing out the window. A small thought began to tickle the back of her mind, and she ignored it, instead focusing on the city lights as they twinkled below them, the car winding back toward a private airport Amir had mentioned earlier.

They enjoyed the ride in silence, each sipping on their coffee as Kaye warmed back up with the help of the hot beverage and Amir’s large jacket. The limo pulled into the private airport, where a series of jets were parked. Beside them, a plethora of black cars were set up in a row, the camera crew and team milling about as they waited.

“Are we all going together?” Kaye asked.

“I’m not sure what’s going on,” Amir replied, his eyes narrowed.

The driver pulled up to the series of cars, parking before he jumped out to open their door. When Amir stepped out, he held a hand out for her to take, which she did, quickly releasing his grip once she was standing.

They were getting dangerously comfortable with one another. Kaye couldn’t rely on any ideas that Amir might actually be interested in her romantically. She needed money, and she needed the promise of future work. Neither of those things would be within her grasp if she allowed herself to continue on as they were, getting friendlier every day.

She had to be professional.

“I knew it!”

Kaye and Amir turned at the sound of Merle’s voice. The little man stormed up to them, pointing a meaty finger at Amir.

“You never think, do you? How exactly are we going to get the entire cast and crew to Al Rayyan in one of your dinky little jets? This will set us back hours!”

Amir stared at him, giving a gentle shrug.

“Didn’t consider it. That’s your job.”

“You’re the executive producer!”

“Which means I give you money to make me a successful show. That doesn’t include flight planning.”

“Nevertheless, we need to get a move on, and we’re not all fitting in that tiny little plane!”

Amir and Kaye exchanged a glance before he nodded.

“No, I suppose we won’t. Suggestions are welcome.”

“You’re lucky I have connections,” Merle hissed.

As he spoke, a larger commercial airline came into view, landing stealthily on another runway not far from them. It pulled up into a spot as airline workers scrambled to guide it in the right direction, then the cabin door opened, and a grumpy-looking pilot poked his head out.

“You better pay handsomely for this one, Merle. I could lose my job for this.”

“Of course I’m going to pay you! The entire airline will be compensated, just get us to Al Rayyan!”

The crew lugged their bags and supplies up the staircase, and Merle huffed one more time.

“You owe me big, Sheikh,” he grumbled, heading toward the airplane stairs.

Amir stared after him, watching as the limo driver set their suitcases near the hood of the car.

“I guess we’ll be traveling commercial, then,” he said, moving to grab both of their suitcases.

“I can do that,” Kaye said, reaching for her luggage.

Amir shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re the leading lady. We can’t have you getting injured.”

“By a rolling suitcase?” she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.

“Or by a falling suitcase. Whatever,” he said, and while his voice was nonchalant, there was still that sparkle of humor in his eyes.

Kaye filed into the plane behind him, taking note of the fact that every staff member had claimed a row to themselves, and there was still plenty of room. Amir set their suitcases in an overhead bin before sliding into a row. Kaye yearned to slide in next to him, but that feeling alone meant that it was something she absolutely shouldn’t do. Instead, she chose the row across from his, stretching out as she reached for a scratchy airplane blanket.