The Sheikh's Secret by Barbara McMahon

Author:Barbara McMahon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

FOR a moment everyone froze. The tableau would have been the ideal setting for a drawing room farce, only the perplexed expressions on three of the faces didn’t fit comedy.

“You know Tal?” Laura asked.

Jenna let her hand drop, looking from Yuusuf to Tal.

“He’s my cousin. I didn’t know you were in the States. Last I heard—” Yuusuf looked at Jenna then at Tal.

“You’re here because of me, aren’t you? Dammit, leave me alone. This time it’s different.”

“You said that in Los Angeles,” Tal said evenly. He carefully set the two bottles of wine on the table near the door. “Grandfather sent me.”

“What’s different?” Laura asked. She turned to Tal. “You’re Yuusuf’s cousin? I thought you were from England.”

“Oh God,” Jenna said. She sat on the sofa, looking at Laura with concern.

“With a name like Talique bin Azoz bin Al-Rahman you thought he was British?” Yuusuf asked.

Laura felt the world tilt beneath her. She looked at Tal. “You said your name was Smith. I thought Tal was a nickname.”

He looked at Yuusuf. “Grandfather saw the pictures in the newspaper, sent to him by someone in the embassy in Los Angeles. He dispatched me yet again to get you out of trouble.”

“I am not in trouble. What pictures?” Yuusuf asked, going to stand near the sofa. He handed Jenna a glass of water, put his on the table and glared at Tal. “I’m definitely not in need of any rescue.”

“The pictures were of you and Laura at some fancy party. He did not want a repeat of the previous incidents,” Tal said evenly.

“What incidents? What’s going on?” Laura asked. Tal seemed to withdraw, to hold himself apart from the rest of them, grow more remote.

“Sit down, sweetie. I don’t think this is going to be good,” Jenna said, patting the sofa beside her.

“I’ve just spent the weekend at Lake Tahoe with Laura. Does that sound like she’s in love with you?” Tal asked Yuusuf harshly.

Laura sank beside Jenna, a dark premonition building. She couldn’t take her eyes away from Tal.

“I hope she’s not, it would sure complicate things,” Yuusuf said.

“What?” Tal looked nonplused for a moment.

“I’m engaged to Jenna. We’re flying home next weekend so mother can meet her, but they’ve already spoken a couple of times this week on the phone. I don’t know what pictures you’re talking about, but I’m not seeing Laura. Never have been.”

Tal looked at Jenna.

She nodded, raising her left hand. “The picture I think you mean was taken at a party we were all attending—Laura working, Yuusuf and me as guests. They were standing together when the photographer snapped the shot. Laura, you remember, we laughed about it when we saw the gossip beneath.”

Laura nodded. It didn’t seem funny at the moment. She felt sick.

Tal looked at the engagement ring. “You’re the one Yuusuf is seeing? There was yet another picture in last Saturday’s paper coupling Laura and Yuusuf. How do you figure into all this?”

Laura heard the incredulity in his tone. She bristled in defense of her friend.

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