Sheikh's Baby Bombshell Read Free Page A

she turned away from the palace and began walking with dogged steps towards one of the tour buses. ‘ Abby?’
    As if she heard him, the slim girl turned and gave the palace one last wistful look before turning back to the bus again.
    Talib quickly phoned his personal assistant Isham. ‘There’s a young Englishwoman getting on tour bus number twenty-two at the palace gates. Her name is Abigail Wright. Take her to my private residence in the desert. Make sure no press or anyone knows she is my guest. Tell her I will join her shortly.’
    ‘Yes, Your Highness.’ There was a slight pause. ‘Erm...will you require a chaperone?’
    ‘No.’

CHAPTER FOUR
    A BBY TRIED TO quell her panic as she was transported to a remote desert residence by a robed man who had said only five words to her since he had whisked her away from the other passengers on the bus: He will join you shortly .
    She felt as if she had stepped into an Arabian Nights fantasy. The desert stretched out as far as the eye could see in rolling dunes of blindingly white sand, initialled by the wind’s ten thousand playful fingers. A bird of prey rode the thermal currents above, its lonely cry piercing the hot dry silent air.
    There was a stark, almost savage beauty about the desert. It was untamed, wild, unexpected and treacherous.
    ‘This way.’
    The robed official ushered her into a blessedly cool foyer where a large indoor fountain trickled over a marble statue. The floor and walls were all made of gold inlaid marble, and ornate bronze sconces were lit at various points, their leaping tongues of flame creating a golden glow across the area.
    Abby turned in a slow circle to take it all in. ‘It’s so beautiful....’ She stopped and put a hand up to her throat when she saw a tall dark figure step out of the cool shadows. ‘Oh!’
    Talib’s expression was impossible to read. ‘That will be all, Isham,’ he said to his servant. ‘I do not wish to be disturbed for the next twenty-four hours.’
    Abby waited until the servant had gone before speaking. ‘I would’ve called, but I didn’t have your number and then I worried that someone would listen in and then I thought I’d just fly here and then I—sorry. I’m babbling....’
    ‘Why are you here?’
    ‘Um...’ Oh God, she couldn’t just dump it on him. She had to work up to it a bit. Garner her courage. ‘I was in the area and I thought I’d pop in and say hello?’
    His frown brought his brows together. ‘It is very dangerous for you to be here. I am breaking ancient cultural mores by allowing you access to my private resort. Only royal family and dignitaries are allowed here.’
    Abby took affront at his cool and distant manner. ‘You’re the one who had me brought here. I was just another tourist until I was whisked away. I didn’t know if I was being kidnapped or used as a hostage. I was scared out of my wits.’
    ‘I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but no one must know you are here. No one. Do you understand?’
    ‘Right. Got that.’
    ‘Isham will clear things with your tour company,’ he said. ‘When do you fly home?’
    ‘A week from today.’
    He studied her face for a beat or two. ‘I didn’t expect to see you again.’
    Abby still wasn’t able to make out his mood. His face was as unreadable as the four walls of marble that surrounded them. ‘I didn’t expect to see you again, either. I kind of hoped I would.... I mean that’s why I came out here, to see you. If I could...’
    He came over to her and stopped right in front of her. Her breath stalled in her chest as he tipped her face upwards, his thumb moving over her chin in rhythmic fashion as his gaze held hers. ‘Why didn’t you leave a note or a number so I could contact you?’
    Abby blinked at him in surprise. ‘You were going to contact me?’
    His thumb stilled before he dropped his hand from her face, his face masklike again. ‘I would’ve liked the option.’
    ‘Yes, well, I’m not up-to-date on