Falling for the Sheikh She Shouldn't

‘Okay, I can understand preferring to be here than hospital.’ But that didn’t explain her cousin’s agreement when most people would realise the twins needed more observation too.

‘I do feel a little less alone now Prince Zafar has arrived.’

‘Prince Zafar.’ Carmen blinked. Prince of what? ‘Like Prince Charles?’

‘From the desert. Zafar is fourth in line to the throne of Zandorro.’

‘A sheik?’ That explained a lot. ‘So you’re from this Zandorro, too?’

‘My family were from a small but powerful country in the desert. My father is dead, my mother left five years ago and brought me to Australia with her, but she sadly passed away not long after we arrived.’

So much drama and tragedy for one woman to cope with. But why was Fadia so unsure it was a good thing her cousin had found her?

She’d known Zafar was someone out of the ordinary, but it wasn’t an everyday occurrence to run into a prince. Or be trapped in a lift with one. Or be almost kissed by one.

No wonder he expected to be obeyed. And she’d coolly told him to leave. She struggled not to smile. Too funny.

She needed to think about this. ‘So if he’s your cousin,’ Which made Fadia…? ‘Does that make you a princess?’

‘Yes.’

She pointed to her sons. ‘I’m guessing they’re princes too, then?’ She looked at the babies. ‘And you walked into the hospital at the last minute alone to deliver twins?’

A cloud passed over Fadia’s face and her voice lowered until Carmen strained to hear her. ‘Unfortunately, when my husband died, I was alone and pregnant and the only help I’ve had has been from friends of my husband, but I’m starting to think I don’t really trust them.’

‘Tom told me I was being followed and I moved out of my flat close to the hospital into a hotel for what turned out to be the last day of my pregnancy. The poor driver was beside himself that I would have my babies in his taxi.’

Carmen could imagine it. She’d bet he was terrified. ‘You were lucky they weren’t.’ Crikey.

Fadia’s eyes filled. ‘I think Tom didn’t want Zafar to find me. Zafar is here to take me back to his country, and I am starting to think that is a good thing, but it will separate me from the memories of my husband and mother. Yet my sons need their heritage. Tom said he will help me stay in Australia.’ Her voice became a whisper. ‘But I’m not sure that is what I want.’

‘So when is your husband’s friend—Tom, is it?—coming?’

‘Today. And I’m scared for my sons.’ Fadia began to shake and Carmen frowned as the woman struggled to pull herself together. ‘I hate being weak. But I seem to have lost my strength since my husband died.’

Poor Fadia. And, boy, she was really in the middle of something here, Carmen thought. Then the twin in his cot screwed up his face and let out a blood-curdling wail as if aware of the tragedy of his mother. At least she could do something while her brain raced.

She unwrapped the little boy and checked his nappy before she re-wrapped and lifted him out of the crib. ‘Don’t be cross, little prince.’ Then she tucked him into her neck and gently patted his bottom. The unconscious rhythm soothed them both.

She needed to understand how she could help Fadia. ‘So do you want me to keep this Tom away?’

Fadia’s eyes widened. ‘Can you do that?’

‘Midwives are very good at screening people without upsetting them.’ Carmen shrugged. ‘Lots of times a mother’s labour is going slowly because of an inappropriate person in the birthing room.’ She grinned. ‘Like a scary mother-in-law or a friend she couldn’t say no to.’ She smiled. ‘We suggest they have some time out and they don’t get them back in until the mother asks us to.’ She spread her hands. ‘I could hold Tom off for you. But isn’t your cousin better for that?’

Fadia stroked the bed sheet with her fingers. ‘No. The situation could escalate more than I want’

A strange thing to say but Fadia’s fingers twisted and turned and Carmen held her tongue. ‘Or Zafar might do something to him.’

Carmen barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Oh, come on. This isn’t the Middle Ages.’

‘You don’t understand.’

‘Okay. So, this Tom? Have you got a photo of him?’

Fadia thought for a moment and then nodded. She reached for her purse and removed a photo of a smiling couple, the woman Fadia.

‘Your husband?’ Fadia nodded. Carmen looked at the third person in the photo and there was something about him that reminded her of her ex. Carl. A hardness around his eyes, a sleaziness in his smile. She was good at picking that up now.

Fadia was shaking and Carmen felt for her. That was enough emotional drama for this exhausted mum. ‘Fadia. Can I borrow this? I’ll copy it and give my friend downstairs a copy. We’ll keep an eye out and and nobody will be hurt. But for now…’ she held the baby towards his mother ‘… we could get these boys fed because this little one is going to bring the roof down if he really gets going. And you’re not going to have time to worry about annoying Toms, or frowning Zafars, because these boys will keep you on your toes without them. And after that you get to rest.’

Fadia nodded and some of the strain left her face. ‘You’re right. Thank you.’

An hour later, when Carmen opened the door of Fadia’s room, a tall man in a flowing robe stood up from the chair at the end of the corridor and stared at her as she hesitated in the doorway. What was going on here?

Good grief. This was getting worse. She was guessing Zafar had put a guard on Fadia so maybe there was more she needed to know.

They were infecting her with their dramas but the last thing the new mum needed was more tension and Carmen needed to know what she was up against.

Carmen stiffened her shoulders, let the room door shut behind her and marched up to the guard. ‘I’m assuming you’re Prince Zafar’s man?’

He bowed his head, though his expression remained anything but subservient. ‘Yes, madame. I am Yusuf.’

‘Then, Yusuf, perhaps you could take me to your prince, please.’

‘No.’

‘No?’

‘I think not.’ The guard raised his eyebrows, looked her up and down, as if to say she was only a woman and a servant at that, and Carmen’s usually dormant temper flickered. She glared at him. This was really beyond a joke.

Any minute now Fadia could poke her head out and see she was under guard.

Her voice firmed. ‘I think so. Right now, thank you. I’m quite happy to use the stairs.’ She smiled sweetly. ‘The prince and I do know each other.’ A white lie. Serve Zafar right for flirting with her.

She and Yusuf, her new best friend—not—stared at each other for a moment and she could see a faint scar running the full length of the man’s face. He was probably extremely used to defending his prince.

There was stalemate as the silence went on and she threw caution to the winds. ‘I’d hate to have to pass on my displeasure.’

The man’s face tightened and he shrugged fatalistically. ‘As you wish. This way.’ He opened the door to the stairwell and allowed her to precede him. Carmen could hear the swish of his robes behind her, even though his footsteps were silent.

‘Please wait.’

She glanced back and Yusuf held up his hand.

She paused at the top of the stairs and the guard leaned forward and opened the heavy door for her. That second of waiting gave her time to realise she had no clear agenda for her visit with the prince when she arrived. Was it enough of her business to barge in? What on earth was she doing here?

On the seventh floor Carmen could see another guard standing outside the door to the presidential suite and the reality sank in a little further about how different this man’s life was from hers. And how out of her depth she really was.