Khalid Sheikhs Series: The Complete Series by North Leslie

Author:North, Leslie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-09T16:00:00+00:00

15

It was a perfect day at the beach property that Imran had clued her in to. The sun was shining, the blue water was rolling up on the white sands of the beach, and the small pavilion between the beach house and the waves was swathed in white gauze, keeping off the worst of the sun while still letting in the cool breeze.

“It's one of Ziad's favorite places, whether he will admit it or not,” Imran had said with a grin. “It should help him relax a little.”

Indeed, when Laura had told Ziad that Jamila wanted to throw him a tea party on the beach, he had looked pleasantly gratified.

“I've not been there in more than a year,” he said in surprise. “That would be a good break.”

Things weren't quite normal with them yet, but Laura realized with a pang that there had never been anything normal between them. They were married because he needed a wife so he could adopt his children, they had devastating sexual chemistry, and lately, they had been butting heads over their kids' behavior more than anything else.

Still, there had been something wonderfully relaxing about going out to the beach as if they were just a normal family, something soothing about seeing Ziad relax as the children cheered about going someplace new.

“And how are you finding your tea?” asked Jamila in a tone Laura suspected Jamila had gotten from her grandmother. “Is it what you were hoping for?”

“It's lovely, thank you,” Ziad said with a smile. “Very good. May I have some sugar to go with it?”

“Of course,” Jamila said brightly, reaching for the sugar bowl, but Ziad shook his head.

“Two hands, Jamila,” he said. “It's impolite to offer someone older than you anything unless you are giving it to them with two hands.”

Laura flinched as Jamila drooped briefly, but then the little girl straightened again, putting her bright smile on and giving Ziad the dish with two hands as he told her to.

“And Laura, would you like another orange section?” she chirped, and Laura was relieved that she had not been upset at Ziad’s words.

“Of course, I would love some more oranges,” Laura said.

Jamila grinned and reached for the small dish of citrus wedges, but Ziad stopped her again.

“Don't reach over your brother,” Ziad said. “It's rude to reach over people.”

Jamila frowned.

“But Hasan is too small to pass the dish,” Jamila said. “I can't ask him to give me the oranges, and there's no other way for me to get it.”

Ziad lifted an eyebrow, and Laura felt a low pulse of frustration in the back of her head.

“Really?” Ziad asked. “Are there no other ways? Think about it for a moment. What else could you have done?”

Before Jamila could answer, Hasan, sensing a change in the air, banged on his sippy cup with Laura's spoon, and Ziad shifted his attention to Hasan.

“Hasan, stop,” he said firmly, taking the spoon away from him and setting it by Laura's plate again. “Don't take things from people.”

“You just reached over Laura to get her spoon from Hasan,” Jamila objected.

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