Falling for the Sheikh She Shouldn't

Carmen shared her own frown. That tone. That arrogance. She wasn’t sure why it goaded her so much but thankfully she wasn’t one of his underlings. ‘Yes. To all the mothers’ rooms so they don’t have to get up to let me in.’

She tilted her head at him. ‘Of course I always knock first.’

Now inscrutable, his ‘I’m sure you do’ left Carmen seething again. What was it about this man that pressed her buttons? Normally the easiest-going person, just a glance from him was enough to raise her blood pressure, and yet his actions were almost reasonable in the circumstances. So why wasn’t her response more tranquil?

She narrowed her eyes at him. Did he think she was in collusion with Tom? ‘I hope Fadia is able to rest between feeds. Having you come so often, that is.’

‘My cousin would be able to rest if the midwife came immediately when she was asked.’

So now we get to his Excellency’s displeasure. Tsk, tsk. Real world. ‘Unfortunately, your cousin is not my only patient.’

His lips tightened and he glanced at his watch. ‘Then I will arrange it to be so.’ There it was, his red rag to her bull.

It’s not all about you, buster. ‘You will do no such thing, Your Highness.’ She stressed the title, more to calm her own urge to throttle him than out of respect. Was this guy for real? The most annoying part was that she couldn’t let it show because drama was the last thing Fadia needed. She smiled at her patient before she turned back to the royal pain.

‘Perhaps this topic is best saved for a time that isn’t taking up your cousin’s.’ She moved past him. ‘Now, Fadia, would you like to show me your baby’s rash?’

Zafar’s voice floated over her shoulder, blandly. ‘I have already told her it is erythema toxicarum, a rash very common in the first three days in newborns.’

Carmen blinked but didn’t turn to look at him. Obviously he had a medical advantage he hadn’t mentioned. Typical.

‘My cousin is a paediatrician and established the new children’s hospital in Zandorro before he was recalled to his duty to the monarchy,’ Fadia explained.

That would explain his knowledge and also a little more about why they’d let the twins out so early. She looked at the red pimply rash on Harrison’s neck and arms. So he knew what he was talking about.

‘He’s right. And mums are naturally concerned.’ She smiled at Fadia. ‘You might find that the rash moves with heat. So if you were to hold Harrison’s leg while you changed a nappy you might find the rash had suddenly become more prominent there and less prominent from where it showed a minute ago.’

Zafar was over harmless rashes. ‘I agree that my cousin looks tired. Is there a nursery where the babies can go while she sleeps?’

And who had made it easier for her to leave the hospital ward too quickly? Carmen thought. Hmm. ‘I’m afraid we don’t have that option here. This facility is for transition to home. If Fadia wanted to have the babies minded she could return to the hospital or have a relative stay in the room while she rests.’

She spread her hands. Her look said she doubted Fadia would relax while he was watching over her.

‘Or I could hire a mothercraft nurse for you again. Surely that would be easier?’ Zafar queried his cousin, but Fadia’s eyes pleaded as she shook her head. ‘No. Please.’

‘For the moment we will do as you wish.’ Zafar frowned and Carmen wondered if he was regretting he’d hurried her here.

She watched his face but he gave nothing away. ‘I will discuss this with your midwife later today.’ It seemed Zafar was choosing to leave this time or was he wary of her asking him to go. Either way, Carmen was pleased she didn’t have to fight about it.

Left to their own devices, the women had the babies fed and settled within the hour. Despite a tantrum from Harry that rattled the windows and an inclination from Bailey to sleep through the feed, finally the curtains closed so Fadia could have a rest.

‘You can ring me if they wake and I’ll help you get sorted for the feed.’

Fadia nodded sleepily.

‘Ring the midwife’s room if you get stuck. If I get tied up, the other midwife will be here and I’ll see you tomorrow.’

The day seemed to stretch for ever, not unusual after Carmen’s run of night duty was finished, but tonight was the second of the four in her week when she could fall into bed and sleep the night through.

As seven o’clock drew closer, she found herself looking forward to a break. Handover took longer than normal for the night midwife because the intricacies of Fadia’s case involved so many layers. Finally she was riding down in the lift to the basement on her way home.

‘You look exhausted.’ Zafar was leaning against her car.

Was that a coincidence or did he really know it was her vehicle? Tiredness suddenly took a back seat to nervous energy. ‘I’m feeling a little wired after today. Strange men who recognise my car make me even more cross.’

He smiled, unperturbed, but offered no explanation as he watched her.

She tapped her foot with irritability—not nervous energy. She wished he’d go away. Almost. ‘Did you want something, Prince Zafar? Apart from to tell me that I look tired, which was very kind. Thank you.’

Zafar pushed himself off her bonnet and loomed in front of her. ‘I wish to invite you to walk with me. Even tired, you are lovely.’

Yeah, right. Lovely with little sleep. She resisted the urge to step back. A walk? ‘Now? It’s almost dark.’ She narrowed her eyes. Kidnapping had been mentioned. ‘Why?’

He shrugged. ‘Because it would be good to get out of the hotel. Walk along the cliff top. What is it you say? Blow away the cobwebs? That is one of the things I miss most about Australia. The graphic expressions.’

So he’d lived here before. It had been an endless twenty-four hours but his background and history couldn’t but intrigue some part of her. Had he lived here before he was a prince perhaps? A young doctor? That made him more normal. She met those every day.

The idea of walking in the fresh air before driving to her solitary flat was tempting. Let the stresses of the day be whisked into the salty breeze that blew a mere hundred metres away. It held some attraction, as did the idea of hearing a little about this enigmatic man in front of her.

‘Perhaps a short one. I sleep better with exercise.’

‘So obliging,’ he mocked gently.

Carmen glanced at her car, shrugged her shoulders, and added, ‘Or I could go home now.’

He smiled. And what a smile. The most spontaneous grin she’d seen. ‘I am walking. Would you care to accompany me?’ Still optional, and it seemed she did want to go because her legs made their own decision and followed him up the ramp like she was on a string.