One Hot Desert Night by Kristi Gold Read Free Book Online Page B

communication. She honestly doubted Rayad Rostam would be that man because soul-deep, she suspected he had his own serious flaws and secrets.
    Tonight she would converse with him, be cordial and try her best to ignore his charms. How hard could that be?

Four
    T he man’s name should be Bond. Sheikh Bond.
    Exactly Sunny’s first thought when she glanced to her right to witness Rayad Rostam’s grand entrance. She hadn’t seen this much neck-craning since she’d been involved in a twenty-car pileup in Los Angeles.
    He’d shaken and stirred almost every female in the packed ballroom—every size, shape, age and nationality—as they seemed to instantaneously notice the darkly gorgeous, debonair man dressed in black tie. She tried not to notice, honestly she did, but he was extremely hard to disregard.
    When Sunny caught his glance, she refused to count herself among his admirers, even if she’d like nothing better than to go to him and request he take her away from the crowded ballroom. For that reason, she immediately turned her attention back to Maysa Mehdi, who looked beautiful in her flowing aqua gown, her waist-length brown hair woven into a loose braid. She also looked as if she could give birth at any minute. “Do you need to sit down?”
    The queen pressed a palm into her lower back. “I
need
to go into labor.”
    “Hopefully not at this moment.”
    Maysa smiled. “That would definitely make the evening much more interesting.”
    Sunny couldn’t argue that point. “When are you officially due?”
    “Two weeks. As a physician, I know it’s best if I complete the gestation period. As a woman with swollen ankles, tomorrow would not be too soon.”
    Standing not far behind Maysa, Sunny noticed the darkly handsome and somewhat fierce-looking man she’d last seen at Piper and Adan’s wedding reception. “It seems Tarek Asmar is still on the guest list for all important royal events.”
    “Yes, he is. My husband is quite impressed with his business acumen.”
    “And that young woman seems quite impressed with him, too.”
    Maysa subtly glanced over her shoulder. “That is Kira. She basically runs the palace now that Elena has decided to retire.”
    The woman looked as if she’d like to run off with the billionaire. Or perhaps she was only being polite to an honored guest. Nope. Sunny recognized serious flirtation when she saw it.
    Maysa presented a bona-fide frown, something she rarely did. “I believe you are being summoned, Sunny.”
    She followed the queen’s gaze straight to Rayad, who was holding up the wall adjacent to the double doors, towering over several people in his vicinity. When he crooked a finger at her, she laid her hand above her breast and mouthed, “Me?” He answered with a nod.
    She could fail to respond to the request, or she could see what he wanted. At the very least she should wait a bit so as not to appear too eager. But as if he’d morphed into some high-powered magnet, Rayad drew her toward him with only a sly, sexy smile.
    As Sunny attempted to work her way through the crush of people, Piper clasped her arm, halting her forward progress. “Are you leaving so soon? We haven’t even sat down for dinner yet.”
    Food wasn’t quite as appealing as a striking guy in a tux. So much for ignoring Rayad. “I’m just going to grab some fresh air. It’s a little warm in here.”
    “Will you be gone long?”
    Not if she could help it. “I’ll be back before the first course.”
    As soon as she reached Rayad, he clasped her hand and guided her to a corner away from the crowd. “May I say you look very beautiful tonight?”
    She couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. “Yes, you may, and I’ve heard that one before.”
    “It certainly bears repeating, and often.”
    Odd how he knew all the right things to say, and she felt the need to return the favor. “You look very handsome yourself, Your Highness.”
    He also looked as if he’d eaten a mouthful of pickled eel. “I prefer