One Night with the Sheikh

One Night with the Sheikh
KRISTI GOLD

‘I have never forgotten that night.’Once he’d chosen duty over love. Now, to escape his guilt and grief, widower Sheikh Rafiq Mehdi searches out the comfort of his old flame Dr Maysa Barad. Her passionate surrender makes him realise that Maysa is the woman he should have married; instead his marriage of convenience brought nothing but pain and heartbreak.But Maysa – beautiful, devoted, compassionate – is now considered too independent to be a sheikh’s bride. Rafiq might be ready to defy his kingdom to have Maysa this time, but the truth about Maysa could turn Rafiq’s world upside down…Discover more atwww.millsandboon.co.uk/kristigold

“We said no touching.”

Rafiq inched his palm higher. “You said no kissing.”

“Rule two: no touching.”

Despite Maysa’s assertions he did not bother to lift his hand, and she did not bother to shove it away.

“Yet you have been touching me.”

“As a physician.”

“And I have reacted as any man reacts to a woman’s touch.”

“For that reason I should go now.”

Rafiq had predicted that she would stand and leave, but she remained positioned next to him, both hands still resting lightly on his shoulders. He straightened, bringing their faces close. Their gazes connected immediately. He saw indecision in her eyes, as well as a spark of need.

And then Maysa did something Rafiq did not expect—she broke her first rule.

One Night

with the Sheikh

Kristi Gold

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

KRISTI GOLD has a fondness for beaches, baseball and bridal reality shows. She firmly believes that love has remarkable healing powers and feels very fortunate to be able to weave stories of love and commitment. As a bestselling author, a National Readers’ Choice Award winner and a Romance Writers of America three-time RITA

Award finalist, Kristi has learned that, although accolades are wonderful, the most cherished rewards come from networking with readers. She can be reached through her website at www.kristigold.com or through Facebook.

Recent titles by the same author:

FROM SINGLE MOM TO SECRET HEIRESS

THE RETURN OF THE SHEIKH

THE CLOSER YOU GET

Did you know these are also available as eBooks?Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To my beautiful daughter, Kendall.

One of the best athletic trainers in the business, one of my biggest fans, and one of my major sources for chocolate.

Contents

Chapter One (#u53033255-b243-5acc-af1f-7c108892bb1a)

Chapter Two (#uc8b515aa-5de1-581f-9d9e-027b37622ea7)

Chapter Three (#uc3074c96-9775-5044-8190-49088cf29611)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

One

King Rafiq ibn Fayiz Mehdi possessed keen intelligence, vast power and infinite riches. Yet none had aided him in preventing a devastating tragedy—a tragedy for which he had been partially responsible.

As the sun began to set, he stood on the palace’s rooftop veranda and peered at the panorama stretched out before him. The diverse terrain he once revered now seemed ominous, inviting disturbing recollections that cut into his composure like a well-honed blade.

A dark, winding road at midnight. Silence and dread. Flashing lights illuminating the bottom of a cliff. The twisted metal wreckage...

“If you believe you’ll move mountains by staring at them, I assure you it will not work.”

At the sound of the familiar voice, Rafiq glanced back to see his brother standing only a few steps behind him. “Why are you here?”

Zain claimed the space beside Rafiq and leaned back against the stone wall. “Is that how you greet the man who so generously handed you the keys to the kingdom over a year ago?”

The same man who had abdicated the throne for the sake of love, an emotion Rafiq had never quite embraced. “My apologies, brother. I was not expecting you for another month.”

“Since I completed my initial preparation for the water conservation project, I felt the timing was right for my return.”

Under normal circumstances, he would appreciate Zain’s company. Lately he preferred solitude. “Did you travel alone?”

“Of course not,” Zain said in an irritable tone. “I do not travel without my family unless absolutely necessary.”

Rafiq had never believed he would hear his womanizing brother utter those words. “Then Madison is with you?”