The Sheikh's Virgin Bride(72)

“A bottle of your best red, please,” he said, and Ali nodded before heading back inside.

She was quick to bring it, pouring a healthy glass for each of them before leaving the bottle behind. Amir lifted a glass.

“To…” he said, hesitating.

Kaye lifted her own glass.

“To success,” she said, and he nodded, clinking his glass to hers.

“To success.”

They stared at their menus, the silence between them filled with an ocean’s worth of unspoken words.

“So, I take it you’ll be getting the steak,” Kaye mused, perusing the menu.

“How’d you know?”

“Just a lucky guess,” she replied, her lip twitching.

She took another sip of wine as the waitress arrived, and they both ordered steaks, just as they had so many times before.

“Of course, it will be only mediocre, compared to the glory of your cooking,” Kaye joked, and Amir sat back in his seat, taking a sip from his own glass as he watched her over the rim.

His eyes were so stunning, Kaye felt her heart melt. She should have looked away, but instead, she indulged herself, allowing herself for one moment to live the life of the character she played.

“Of course it will. I am the master, after all.”

“I’ve still yet to find a reason to disagree with that,” she said, gazing back out at the ocean for the sake of her own sanity.

Their meal arrived in record time, and Kaye found herself in comfortable conversation with Amir as the wine flowed freely. He had always been so easy to talk to, and she was laughing at one of his jokes when the dessert menu came round, and they each ordered something different.

As a delicate chocolate mousse was placed before her, Kaye’s eyes lit up.

“This was a good life choice.”

Amir stared down at his cannoli with a frown.

“Well, now I have regrets,” he sighed.

“Have some of mine. I don’t mind,” she offered.

Amir leaned forward over the table. His face was an inch from hers as he reached for a spoonful of the mousse, looking up.

“It’s nice to share such a treat with my new wife,” he said, leaning in to kiss her.

Kaye held her breath. In that moment, he seemed to realize what he was doing, and he leaned back in his seat with a frown.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“You didn’t do anything,” she said.

“I know. It’s just, when I’m with you…”

Every instinct in Kaye’s body wanted to embrace him. She wanted to tell him that she had fallen for him hard, and that they could tell the show to screw it and be together for real. Then, she thought about her own livelihood, and that of all the people she had grown to care about on set—people whose jobs were on the line if she was careless about the contract she’d agreed to.

“We have to remember not to violate our contract. This project means too much to both of us, and to everyone involved. It’s important to remember that,” she reminded, as much to herself as to him.

“Yes,” he agreed, his voice distant as he seemed to fight his own inner battle.

Kaye knew then that with her inhibitions down, there would be nothing stopping her from acting on her feelings if they were to go home together. With a sigh, she stood.

“I should go,” she said.

“Home?” Amir asked, rising.

She held up a hand to stop him.

“Back to my apartment. I don’t think it’s a good idea to stay at your place tonight. I think it would be better to get a little space. There’s too much risk involved.”

Amir stared up at her as if he wanted to protest, to say something to change her mind. Instead, he sat back and nodded.

“You’re right, of course. Have a great evening, Kaye.”

“I’ll see you at the airport,” she said, and he nodded.

“Goodnight.”

Walking away, Kaye called for a cab, jumping in as soon as it pulled up. She wondered how they would get through filming their honeymoon, having to pretend to be madly in love, all while contractually obligated to ignore any real feelings that might be blooming between them.

The cab pulled up in front of her little apartment building, and she thanked and tipped the driver before making her way back into the tiny room that was hers. Her life for the past few weeks had been such a dream, and would be again when morning came. Until then, she had to remember the life that was waiting for her when the dream came to an end.





Chapter Nineteen





When Kaye opened her eyes the next morning, she thought she heard a car honking outside. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes, thinking about how she was going to survive a romantic paradise with Amir over the next few days. It was getting harder and harder to resist him, and based on his own behavior, she wasn’t exactly alone in that regard.

She wondered if they could write up a new contract.

Her doorbell rang, interrupting that thought, and she walked with bare feet over to the speaker.

“Yes?” she asked.

“It’s me. Pack your bag—I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Her heart fluttered at Amir’s voice, and she smiled into the speaker.

“It better be good.”