His Stubborn Lover by Leslie North Read Free Book Online Page B

decades—she basically ran the palace, supervising everything. If anyone knew the scoop on all of the guests, it would be Maela.
    Keira stepped into the cavernous kitchen and glanced around. Three chefs seemed to be working on dinner, with two more cutting and prepping the food. The place looked like a zoo—well, okay, more like a commercial kitchen, given all the stainless steel and Aga ovens. Keira stepped out again and headed for the dining room. She found an older woman who had to be Maela in a server black suit, directing three young men in black shirts and pants on how to set the table.
    Putting on her best smile, Keira stopped in the doorway. “Wow, looks like twenty for dinner.”
    Maela turned a dark-eyed stare on Keira. Her face tightened and for an instant, Keira had the feeling she’d already met this woman—and had made an enemy. She shivered. The older woman’s face relaxed, and Keira could almost believe she’d imagined that instant of enmity.
    Smiling, Maela said something to the young men and walked over to face Keira. “Dinner won’t be until eight. You might want to take a walk in the gardens until then.” She turned away, and Keira knew she’d been dismissed. So much for striking up a friendship.
    Keira deliberately made her way to the library—not the gardens. She spent her time on her smart phone, doing additional background research on the country, its customs, and its uncertain relations with its neighbor in Sumari. It was the sort of stuff anyone might look up; so if anyone was tracking her smart phone, they’d think she was coming up with dinner conversation.
    By the time a bell sounded to announce dinner, Keira’s stomach was growling and she was regretting not having eaten lunch. She rose and stepped from the library in time to see Brock coming downstairs. He’d dressed up in a suit and tie—and Keira almost forgot about food. Brock wore his suits like a second skin. His broad shoulders filled out the jacket. The dark blue of his suit set off his red-gold hair. A faint dusting of beard glowed gold on his cheeks.
    He came to her and offered his arm. “Regretting not eating that candy?” he asked.
    “Maybe.”
    He took her into dinner. PJ was already here, but Talib wasn’t. “Duty,” PJ muttered, rolling her eyes. The other guest drifted in, including Shira and Khalil. Those two seemed to have eyes only for each other—they looked more like the newest newlyweds, Keira thought.
    They also wouldn’t have noticed a threat if it came in riding a tiger. Keira decided she’d better double their security. The sheikh and Erin were the last to arrive. Scattered applause met them. Sheikh Kamal bowed, but it was Erin who just about glowed.
    Hell, if every woman in this palace doesn’t know she’s pregnant, I’ll eat my Jimmy Choo’s, Keira decided.
    Erin ate next to nothing, but Keira tucked in as if she weren’t a model looking after her figure. A woman next to her watched her take thirds of something that smelled like lamb and mint, and Keira smiled. “I can always throw up later,” she said. The woman turned away, looking horrified. Keira felt eyes on her and turned to see Brock smile and lift his water glass to her.
    The food was better than great—spicy with flavors Keira had never tasted before; she tried everything. She figured out the lamb, rice, and the chicken, but the side dishes stumped her. Most of them had vegetables—and fruits—chopped so finely it was impossible to tell what was in the mix. Some things had been blended or mashed. She tasted mint, garlic, and was that turmeric in one dish? She gave up trying to figure it out and just decided to stuff herself.
    Conversation drifted to the price of oil, to a new shopping center opening, and then to political issues, and the rebels in Sumari. Keira glanced up and saw Erin’s face pale. The sheikh must have seen that, too, for he put his hand over Erin’s, rose, and excused them, asking everyone to please stay