The Sheik's Secret

And he was absolutely right, Hassan admitted. Western women did not belong in the narrow restrictive world of his country.

“Darling, you’re here!” Mrs. Whitman rushed into the living room, forestalling any more questions on Kali’s part for which Hassan was grateful.

“And you must be Karim.” Mrs. Whitman beamed at him. “My goodness, you’re tall. For an Arab, I mean.”

“Mom, his family calls him Hassan. Hassan, this tactful soul is my mother and—Where’s dad?” Kali looked behind her mother.

Mrs. Whitman grimaced. “One of his patients went into labor, and he had to leave. And, what’s worse, since it’s her first, he has no idea how long it’ll be. So annoying when he was looking forward to meeting your fiancе.” She smiled at Hassan.

“And I was looking forward to meeting him, Mrs. Whitman,” Hassan said cautiously. It sounded as if Kali’s father was an obstetrician, but he couldn’t be sure. Nor could he ask, because he didn’t know if Kali had already told Karim. Which meant his best bet would be to stick to social platitudes, he decided.

“Oh, call me Mom,” Mrs. Whitman said. “After all, you’ll soon be one of the family. I mean, it’s not like last time when…um…Do come in and meet Kali’s sister,” Mrs. Whitman said hurriedly.

“Mom is not known for thinking before she speaks,” Kali whispered to Hassan as they followed her mother into the family room. “But she means well.”

As he did with this impersonation, Hassan thought, having a great deal of empathy for Mrs. Whitman.

“Kali, I’m so glad you could make it.” Annette looked up from the couch where she was giving her son a bottle of juice.

“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Kali put her arm through Hassan’s and drew him close to her, almost losing her train of thought when she felt the hard length of him pressing against her side.

“Annette, this is Hassan Rashid, my fiancе.” Some of the excitement she was feeling colored her voice, giving it a sensual quality that sent a shiver of awareness through Hassan.

Responding to it, he put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her even closer. She fit perfectly against his side. As if she’d been created expressly for him, he thought fancifully.

“I’m glad to meet you, Hassan.” Annette didn’t sound any too sure of the fact.

“And I you,” Hassan said. “I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Annette blinked uncertainly. “Me?”

“Yes, if you hadn’t married her first fiancе, I would have missed the love of my life.” Hassan said smoothly.

“You’re welcome. Don’t you think Eddie has grown, Kali?” Annette seemed eager to change the subject.

“Definitely. He’s starting to look more like a person and less like a baby.”

Eddie reacted to her pronouncement by bursting into tears.

“Here, Hassan, you can hold him.” Bart plucked his howling son out of Annette’s arms and handed the baby to Hassan. “It’ll give you a chance to practice.”

To Kali’s surprise, Hassan not only took Eddie, but he also competently cradled him against his shoulder as if holding screaming children were something he did every day.

“Hey there, sport, what’s wrong?” Hassan gently rubbed the baby’s back.

Eddie let out a tremendous belch, hiccuped once and then snuggled his small head against Hassan’s broad shoulder.

Kali felt her heart contract at the sight of the large man and the tiny baby. Someday that would be their child Hassan would be holding. A baby that they had made together. The very thought made her feel lightheaded.

“You’re very good with children, Hassan,” Mrs. Whitman said. “Do you have any yourself?”

“No, I’ve never been married,” Hassan replied.

“Marriage isn’t what makes babies,” Bart chortled.

“Here, let me take him before he dribbles all over that nice suit of yours, Hassan.” Annette hurriedly took her son. “Kali, I think he needs changing. Want to come and help me?”

“Yes, dear. Go help your sister,” Mrs. Whitman urged. “Bart and I will entertain Hassan for you.”

Entertain didn’t describe Bart’s conversation so far, Kali thought as she reluctantly followed Annette. She had definite misgivings about leaving Hassan in Bait’s company. For some reason, Bart had taken a dislike to Hassan the moment he’d set eyes on him.

Kali stifled a sigh. It promised to be a long day. Especially without her father there to keep the conversation on an even keel.

“What time is the ceremony?” Kali asked.

“About three. Everyone else will meet us at the church. We’re having the reception in the church basement so Mom doesn’t have to clean up the mess.”

Annette put the baby down on the changing table and picked up a clean diaper.

When she was finished, she turned to Kali and said, “Kali, are you sure about…”

Annette gestured toward the door.

“Yes,” Kali said, rather surprised at the vehemence with which the word came out. But it was true. She really was sure. The doubts that had sprung up while Hassan had been in Australia had completely vanished now that he was back home. She was not only sure that she was doing the right thing by marrying him, she also could hardly wait.

“Oh, I know he’s handsome…”

“Very handsome,” Kali amended. “He’s also sexy as hell.”

“That is obvious. He reminds me of that book we read when we were young. You remember the one about the sheik who kidnaps the English girl and winds up marrying her.”

“Sorry to deflate your fantasy, but Hassan is most definitely a man of the twentieth century,” Kali said, ignoring her earlier doubts.

“But he’s foreign.”

“So am I, from his perspective.”

“Yes, but…”

“But what?”

“Well, Bart thinks that Hassan is just marrying you to get his green card.”

Annette was wrong. Bart didn’t think! Kali held on to her temper with a real effort. Mainly because she knew that Annette loved her and really did worry about her. About Bart’s motives Kali wasn’t so sure.

“Annette, Hassan has been in this country since graduate school. He certainly doesn’t need marriage to me to give him any legal standing. Now how about letting me hold my favorite nephew.”

Annette giggled. “He’s your only nephew. Are you and Hassan going to have any kids?”