The Desert Prince by Jennifer Lewis

Author:Jennifer Lewis [Lewis, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Man Of The Month, Category
ISBN: 9780373730063
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2010-02-08T23:00:00+00:00

Celia called Salim on his cell first thing in the morning. She didn’t even say hello. She didn’t want to lose her nerve. “Can we drive to the site together at nine?”“Um, I have a meeting at ten and a…Perhaps Hanif can drive you.”

“Can you meet me at the site?” Maybe that was better. Less chance of causing a major road accident.

“Sure, I can be there by four. I’ll drive you home.”

“Fine.” She hung up, fingers trembling. No turning back now.

As four o’clock rolled around she began to regret not telling him back at the hotel. At least there it was cool and she didn’t have grit under her fingernails and no place to wash it out. She shoved a lock of damp hair off her forehead.

Luckily there weren’t many people around as she’d sent her staff home early. The construction crews had knocked off for the day. A few painters and electricians worked here and there in the complex of elegant white buildings.

The muffled purr of an expensive engine made her skin prickle.

I have something to tell you.

How did you come out and say it? Each time she tried to find the words, it sounded more dramatic and shocking, and she felt more ashamed that she’d kept the truth to herself for so long.

The engine stopped.

He’s here. No turning back now.

She strode toward the parking area in front of the future “marketplace” with her head held high and her courage screwed down tight. “Hi!” She hoped her breezy wave hid the sheer terror throbbing in her veins.

Salim climbed from the car with a warm smile. “Hello, Celia. Things have been busy the last couple of days. I’ve missed you.”

He wore khakis and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, looking deceptively Westernized and infuriatingly handsome. His dark eyes flashed with pleasure, as if he was genuinely pleased to see her.

Which she knew he wasn’t. He just wanted to flush her out of his system like a nasty virus.

Shame he was about to find it had lingering effects—like fatherhood.

“Salim, there’s something I have to tell you.” Her heart hammered against her ribs.

“Oh?” He cocked his head, his expression quizzical. He strode closer, the outline of his sturdy thighs visible inside the thin khakis. A smile tugged at his powerful mouth. “I’m all ears.”

If only he was. Ears would be a lot easier to deal with than bronzed muscle and chiseled cheekbones. “Three years ago…” Her voice trailed off.

Come on, you can do it.

“Yes?”

“A little over three years ago, I had a baby.”

His eyes narrowed. “What?”

“A baby. I gave birth.” Why on earth was she explaining like an idiot? He knew what a baby was.

“I don’t understand.” His proud bearing had stiffened, as if he knew something was up, but he couldn’t figure out what.

Celia swallowed hard. “After our…reunion at the Ritz Carlton, I learned I was pregnant.”

His lips parted, but no words came out.

“We have a daughter. Her name is Kira.”

“Impossible.” The word shot from his mouth.

Celia felt like she’d been slapped.

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