Promised to a Sheik Read Free

mentally added. “He’s quite handsome and he wants to have lunch tomorrow to discuss our future together.”
    â€œSo, have lunch with him and keep your mouth shut.” Even through the steam, Cara could see the bright sparkle of her sister’s eyes. “Oh, Cara, have a little fun with this!”
    â€œI couldn’t do that,” Cara said softly, although Fiona’s words held a provocative appeal. “He should know the truth.”
    â€œWhy? Why does he need to know that I got tired of writing him letters and you kept up the correspondence with him?”
    She grabbed Cara’s hands in hers. “Your life is such a bore. I’m not saying you have to actually marry him, but you’re twenty-seven years old and have never had anything exciting happen in your life—other than that dreadful incident last year in school. Wouldn’t you love to have a great story to tell your grandchildren someday?”
    The “dreadful incident” was what had prompted Cara to decide not to renew her contract as an English teacher at the high school for this year.
    â€œThe way my love life is going, I’ll probably never have grandchildren,” she replied softly.
    â€œOf course you will,” Fiona exclaimed. “You’rethe type who will eventually fall madly in love and settle for a life of simple domesticity, complete with kids and a dog.”
    Cara grinned. “You make it sound like a fate worse than death.”
    â€œIt’s fine for other women.” Fiona grinned impudently. “I just have loftier ideas for myself.” Her grin faded and once again she reached for Cara’s hands. “Go for it, Cara. How many times in your life are you going to be able to be engaged to a sheik?”
    Cara said nothing, for a moment remembering the warmth of Omar’s hand around hers, the sweet appeal in the depths of his eyes. Would it be so terrible to pretend for just a couple of days to be Elizabeth Fiona Carson instead of Elizabeth Cara Carson?
    Certainly she would love to get an opportunity to talk in person to the man whose letters had so touched her heart. She would love to spend just a little bit of time being somebody special in his life.
    â€œGo for it. I’ll even make it easier on you,” Fiona said, pulling Cara from her inward thoughts.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    Fiona took the hand towel and dabbed at her forehead. “I’ve been so utterly bored the past couple of weeks that I’ve been toying with the idea of taking a little vacation. First thing in the morning I’ll hop a jet to Paris for a week or two. That way I’ll be out of town and there will be no chance that Omar will realize you aren’t me.”
    Cara was silent for a moment, thinking of all the reasons she shouldn’t indulge in such a subterfuge,yet unable to still the sweet anticipation that rushed through her as she realized she was going to do it.
    â€œAnd, Cara, if you are going to be me, please do me justice,” Fiona said dryly. Then she placed the towel over her face and once again stretched out on the bench.
    Just for a couple of days, Cara told herself minutes later as she showered, then dressed once again. She would pretend to be the woman Omar had been so taken with at the cotillion, the woman whose signature she’d signed to the dozens of letters she’d written him.
    Just for a couple of days she wanted the opportunity to shine in somebody else’s eyes. In Omar’s eyes. Eventually she would tell him she couldn’t marry him, and he would return to Gaspar none the wiser.
    It seemed a foolproof plan, but Cara had a feeling the only fool in the whole plan might just be her, for even contemplating such an adventure.
    Â 
    As Cara Carson left the Lone Star Country Club, two waitresses in the country club’s Yellow Rose Café went on break together.
    â€œSo, Daisy, do you have any big plans for the rest of