A Family Affair by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online Page A

of the girls had loaned her. Real diamonds, but only half a carat each. Still, they were diamonds. Her hair, now, that was another story altogether. Fortunately, she and her sister had been blessed with natural curly hair, thanks to their father. What that meant was that she could style her hair just about any way she wanted to, and it would stay in place. The only thing she had to do was highlight it from time to time, something she’d done the day before coming to the Arabian Peninsula.
    The next thing she knew, she was out in the garden, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm her nerves. She wondered if Malik was as nervous as she was. Probably not. Men played it cool and didn’t get emotional the way women did.
    Fifteen minutes to go.
    Trish walked up and down the little stone paths. She stopped often to smell the flowers and finally ended up picking a vibrant scarlet flower she’d never seen before. She stuck it in her hair, over her ear, then giggled. Soraya would probably frown. Malik would probably grin. Damn, she could hardly wait to see him. That first moment, she knew in her heart, in her mind, in her gut, would tell her why she was there. That first one-second look would say it all. The girls back in Vegas had agreed when she told them that. Just one second, and she would know her destiny.
    Her adrenaline was at an all-time high. She knew when she crashed, it would be for twenty-four hours. Then she’d miss out on a whole day of her vacation. Was there an alarm clock in her bedroom? She couldn’t remember seeing one. Maybe she would need to tell Nada to wake her in the morning. Jet lag was awful, just awful.
    Ten minutes. Trish continued to walk in the garden.
    Five minutes.
    Three minutes.
    Trish headed back into the suite and walked to the huge sitting room. She just stood there, her eyes glued to her watch.
    Two minutes.
    One minute.
    Trish almost jumped out of her skin when she heard the knock on the door.
    Nada appeared out of nowhere and opened the door. A tiny little lady wearing a pale yellow gown of some sort smiled and motioned for Trish to follow her.
    Nada whispered to Trish as she swept by. “You look ravishing, Miss Holiday.”
    Startled, Trish swung around and hugged her new maid. “Thank you for saying that. I was worried I might . . .”
    “You look perfect. Enjoy your dinner.”
    Like that was really going to happen. She wouldn’t be able to eat a bite of food. She was absolutely sure of it.
    “Where are we going?” Trish asked nervously after they had walked for over five minutes, up one hall and down another, then around a few corners.
    “To Sheik Malik’s apartments. He wanted dinner to be informal this evening. Normally, dinner is served in the dining room. Tomorrow or the next day, Nada will show it to you. My name is Lily, Miss Holiday. I am Princess Soraya’s personal maid.”
    Trish wondered if Malik had maids or male stewards.
    “Ah, here we are. Do not be nervous, Miss Holiday. I can feel you shaking as you stand next to me. The sheik and the princess are wonderful people. They will put you at ease. I am going to knock on the door now, then leave you. Have an enjoyable dinner and a pleasant evening.”
    Trish didn’t trust herself to speak. She had to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, then opening the door. Which she did.
    And there he was, striding toward her with his arms outstretched, his sister behind him. He was dressed in creased khakis, loafers, and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to mid-arm. Trish locked her gaze on him as he did with her. This was the second she’d been waiting for from the moment she received the invitation to come to Dubai. She didn’t know what Malik was seeing in her eyes, but she knew what she was seeing in his. She smiled from ear to ear, her knees turning to rubber as she stepped into his arms, his grasp tight.
    Patricia Holiday, also known as Trisha or Trish, had just met her destiny.
    Malik