The Sheikh's Bride

The Sheikh's Bride
Sophie Weston

Leonora Groom is an heiress in disguise, desperate to be loved for herself and not for her father's money. Yet she finds her cool facade cracking as the irresistible Amer el-Barbary woos her under the velvet Nile sky.Bored with dating shallow women, Amer sees Leonora as a tempting breath of fresh air. But how will Leonora react when he reveals that he is a sheikh, a true prince of the desert, who wants her for his bride?

“Shall I tell him to go away again and leave us alone for a couple of hours?” Amer said softly.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Leonora spoke with difficulty.

He was so close she could feel his little puffed breath of frustration. She thought, why doesn’t he touch me? But still he did not.

Instead, he murmured, “That’s the first lie you’ve ever told me,” and she felt a sort of agony at his words.

She held her breath. But Amer rolled aside and sat up. He gave the boatman a few orders. He did not sound annoyed. He did not sound as if he cared much at all.

Leonora smoothed her hair with a shaking hand. She had never been so intensely aware of sensation before, nor of her own sensuality. Never realized so totally that she was a physical creature. Never wanted….

Dear Reader,

Let your imagination take flight as Sophie Weston brings you a truly delicious touch of Eastern promise.

Amer el-Barbary is an Arab prince, a true lord of the desert—every woman’s fantasy man. He’s rich and masterful, living life on the edge of danger. And he’s about to capture Leonora Groom’s heart—and your own—in this most romantic of stories, The Sheikh’s Bride.

The Sheikh’s Bride

Sophie Weston

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

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE (#u7a745bbf-2e4d-515b-811f-5fd077fa2289)

CHAPTER ONE (#ua2a0931d-72b6-5a05-a890-f57bc034d867)

CHAPTER TWO (#u354c6f2b-ffdd-552a-8c4a-0de7224f7c98)

CHAPTER THREE (#u88e1127b-e34f-5fd8-b279-34e27d11a1d7)

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)

PROLOGUE

‘WHAT are we waiting for?’ asked the co-pilot.

The pilot looked down from his cockpit at the Cairo tarmac. In the early morning, the dust was tinged with diamond light and the roofs of the distant airport building gleamed. A couple of men in dark suits were doing an efficient sweep of the apron on which their plane had come to a halt.

‘Security,’ he said briefly.

The co-pilot was new to flying the Sheikh of Dalmun’s private fleet. ‘Do they always go through this?’

The other man shrugged. ‘He’s an influential guy.’

‘Is he a target, then?’

‘He’s megarich and he’s heir apparent to Dalmun,’ said the pilot cynically. ‘Of course he’s a target.’

His companion grinned. His girl-friend regularly brought home royalty watching magazines.

‘Chick magnet, huh? Lucky devil.’

The security men had finished their surveillance. One of them raised a hand and a white stretch limousine came slowly round the plane. The pilot, his cap under his arm, stood up and went to shake hands with the departing passenger.

An early-morning breeze whipped the Sheikh’s white robes as he strode towards the limousine. In spite of the entourage that followed, he looked a lonely figure.

The pilot came back into the cockpit.

‘We’re on stand-by,’ he said briefly.

Other cars arrived. The security team swung into them then the limousine drew away, flanked by its guardians.

The pilots sat back, waiting for an escort to the plane’s final parking place.

‘What’s he doing here?’ asked the co-pilot idly. ‘Business or pleasure?’

‘Both, I guess. He hasn’t been out of Dalmun for months,’ said the older man unguardedly.

‘Why?’

The pilot didn’t answer.

‘I heard there was a bust up. His old man wanted him to marry again?’

‘Maybe.’ A second monosyllabic answer.

‘So what do you think? Has he been let out to find himself a bride?’