Chapter 10
The island of Kadrishan was absolutely gorgeous surrounded by glittering blue water and white sand beaches. It was the first thing Libby noticed as the jet began its descent. But once she stepped off the plane she thought maybe she’d landed in paradise. Like Bali, the weather was warm, almost balmy with a soothing warm breeze. From the top steps of the jet she could see big leafy palm trees reaching for the sky, smaller but just as green shrubs and plants seemed to touch every free space.
One deep inhale of pure tropical oxygen and she let the stress of the flight and the past few days go. She couldn’t be upset with Amir about wanting her to look her best for his parents. It was the sole reason for this charade, to convince his parents…of what she didn’t really understand anymore. He’d said he wanted to choose his own fiancée but if that were true, he could have found a woman he was interested in to date. It all sounded more suspicious by the second. “This place is special.”
“It is,” his deep voice sounded beside her. “And it is home.” One hand rested low on her back, so low she could feel him through the linen turquoise sundress she wore and the other waved to the media and throngs of well-wishers who had shown up to greet him.
“They really love you, don’t they?”
He smiled. “They do, I’m afraid. We will spend some time greeting them, but say nothing to the press.”
“Got it,” she told him and slowly walked down the stairs with a beauty pageant smile fixed on her face. By the time they arrived at the palace, which was a monstrous building so ornately decorated she thought it must be a museum, she was exhausted. The people had been eager to see her up close and learn more about her. They wanted any details they could on the wedding and for a moment she felt a pang of regret that she wouldn’t be marrying Amir.
That pulled Libby up short. Why should she feel regret when she’d known going into this phony relationship that it wouldn’t end in marriage. Of course I want to marry him, I love him. She stayed where she was, rooted to the spot to let that thought ping around her mind for a moment. She loved Amir. Oh no, I went and fell in love with him!
“Everything all right Libby? Don’t worry, they already love you.”
Yeah, and I love you and it’s not going to turn out so well for me. “Sure.”
He stopped in front of her, big hands resting on her shoulders and his dark eyes shining with sympathy. “I promise you things will be fine Libby.”
She didn’t believe it for one second, but she couldn’t tell him that so she smiled and nodded. “Of course they will.” She spotted a woman hovering nearby who could only be the Sheikh’s wife and gave her a polite smile. “Hello.”
“Oh Amir, she’s even lovelier in person.” The Sheikha practically ran to her eldest son and wrapped him in her arms, squealing in delight when he picked her up and spun her around. “I am so happy to have you home. Introduce me to your woman.”
With an indulgent smile he grabbed Libby’s hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckled. “Mother I would like to introduce you to Liberty Birch, my fiancée. Libby this is my mother, Malika Randatha, Sheikha of Kadrishan.”
“It is very nice to meet you, Sheikha. You have a lovely country from what I’ve seen so far.”
“Oh, I agree. It is so lush and green and the humidity does wonders for one’s skin. Of course that is not something you have to worry about just yet, but when you are my age you will learn to appreciate.”
Libby smiled at her effusiveness, feeling instantly at ease at the woman’s calming demeanor. But Malika’s words gave her pause as her months of lying had finally caught up with her. This woman was telling her all the reasons she would love making Kadrishan home, when it would never be. I will not be sad about the inevitable, she told herself and flashed a smile. “I guess my skin will glow so magnificently that everyone will ignore my frizzy hair.”
“Oh dear, I have the perfect pomade for that. Your attendant will put it in your room. It is right beside Amir’s.”
Servants moved about silently, hardly making their presence known and Libby wondered if that was something she could have gotten used to. If she’d been a real fiancée. “Thank you, Sheikha.”
“None required. Now let’s go meet the rest of the family!”
By the time she met Amir’s brothers and sister, in-laws, nieces and nephews she felt exhausted. And guilty. The next few days would test her kills and wreak havoc on her karma, but it was all part of the deal she’d made so she had to see it through.
And then I can get on with my life.
* * *
“Your bride to be has made quite an impression on the people, Amir.” His father leaned back in his favorite leather club chair, one leg crossed at the knee and a scotch in his hand. He looked more relaxed than Amir had ever seen him.
“Yes, I am aware, Father.” Though they hadn’t been there long she had made quite the splash at the dinner last night, talking with the farmers and their families, sharing her own tales of herb gardening. The so-called commonness they loved in Amir was quadrupled when it came to Libby. The largest paper in Kadrishan had dubbed her “The Sheikh’s American Princess” and featured quotes from partygoers on her many amazing attributes.
“You chose well son.”
He had chosen well, perhaps a little too well. Libby was great, which he’d known from the beginning. What he hadn’t realized was that she was perfect for him because she didn’t stand on ceremony, she didn’t care about his wealth or status and she seemed to genuinely like him. “I think so too.”
“We should plan on a wedding by the end of the year. It will coincide nicely with the end of year celebrations and provide us with much luck for the coming year.”
Amir remained silent, wondering how he would ever explain this to his father. Libby had been right about one thing, lying from a distance was much easier than right to the face of the man who’d raised him and turned him into a man, a savvy businessman, and one day a Sheikh. “Sounds good,” he answered, not really hearing much of what his father said.
“But first I imagine that you will have to convince Libby that you want more than a phony relationship.”
Amir gasped, unable to hide his surprise even a little. “What are you talking about?”
His father smiled smugly. “We raised you, do you think we don’t know you? That you would go out and find a woman we would never accept to make one of your ridiculous points?”
“You knew? Mother too?”
He nodded. “It was Malika who arranged this whole thing. She knew you’d reject Nissa but she also knew that it would make you finally choose a woman you could settle down with.”
Unbelievable. Amir laughed at his scheming parents. “And what would you have done if I’d chosen one of my normal women?”
He shrugged. “You would have to marry Nissa. But your mother knew exactly how to push you.”
He barked out another laugh. “I chose Libby because she was completely unsuitable. I knew the moment Mother got a look at her, she would have a fit at the long, flowing dresses and curly hair. The whole bohemian thing, I figured would be a disaster for a Sheikh’s wife.” Amir shook his head as he could now see how flawed his thinking was. “But she’s perfect father. Absolutely perfect for me.” He couldn’t even believe it. He’d gone out to find a beautiful woman who would make a terrible Sheikha and he had found the only woman who had ever intrigued him for more than a night.
“You must tell her before it is too late.”
He finished off his scotch and shook his head. “I need to think first to make sure my mind isn’t clouded by other things.”
“She won’t wait forever, not if she feels for you the way I suspect she does. The way your mother is certain she does.”
“Not forever, Father, but we have time.”