The Prince & the Pregnant Princess by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

to happen. I’m not in the market for an arrogant prince, no matter how handsome he might be.”
    “Oh. So you think he’s handsome.”
    Cleo pressed her lips together. Trapped by her own stupid words. “He’s okay.”
    “Uh-huh. Sure.” Sabrina laughed. “Zara, we might have to do a little matchmaking with this one.”
    Cleo thought about how Sadik was so hot to get her into bed now but hadn’t once bothered to get in touch with her after she’d left. In four months there hadn’t been a word from him.
    “No matchmaking for me. Like I said, arrogant princes aren’t my style.”
    “Too bad.”
    Sabrina scribbled a few notes about the bowl, then helped Zara collect the wrapping paper and throw it in a trash container at the side of the table. The bowl, along with the letter and the paperwork, went onto a display table. Zara brought over another box.
    Sabrina studied the accompanying letter. “This one is from the crown prince of Lucia- Serrat . It’s an island in the Indian Ocean. The crown prince of the island is a cousin of the king of Bahania .” She waved a hand. “Don’t ask, it’s complicated. But this guy is good-looking and a widower with four sons.” She glanced at Cleo. “He needs a wife.”
    “Too bad I’m not looking for a husband.”
    “You will be eventually. Although now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’d want to recommend my brothers. After all, our father was a bit of a playboy.”
    She frowned. “He was devoted to your mother, Zara. And he loved Reyhan and Jefri’s mother, at least that’s what I’ve been told. Of course Sadik has been faithful in his own way.”
    Zara opened the package. Inside the box was a flat jewelry case. She opened it and caught her breath. “Can I accept this?”
    She pulled out a stunning diamond necklace. Hundreds of glittering diamonds dangled, forming a vee shape. There were matching earrings and a bracelet, as well.
    Sabrina touched the earrings and sighed. “Someone has fabulous taste. And, yes, you can accept it. If he’s related to Dad, he’s family, remember?”
    Zara looked at Cleo. “At times like this I think about running for home.”
    “This is your home now,” Cleo reminded her. Although she had to admit the necklace intimidated her, as well. But she had more important things on her mind.
    “Sabrina, what did you mean about Sadik being faithful in his own way?”
    Sabrina put the earrings back in the jewelry case. “Just that he’s continued to mourn Kamra all these years.”
    Cleo was glad she was sitting down. The room tilted suddenly and her stomach began to flop over. “ Kamra ?”
    “ Sadik’s fiancée.” Sabrina sat back in the chair and picked up the clipboard.
    “They were engaged. It was an arranged match, but they seemed to get along well.
    She was killed in a car accident about three weeks before the wedding. Sadik took it pretty hard.”
    “Cleo, are you all right?” Zara asked.
    Cleo forced herself to keep breathing. “Fine. So you want to keep the necklace or is it going in the discard pile?”
    Her question had the desired effect. Zara was distracted. When the next box turned out to be a half-dozen camel bridles from one of the nomadic tribes, Sabrina explained that there were actual camels to go in them. That sent the two women off into a discussion as to whether camels were a better or worse gift than elephants.
    Cleo tried to participate. She nodded and occasionally added a word or two. She even managed to smile. But inside, she felt numb, and just beyond the numbness was a gaping pit of intense pain and betrayal.
    Sadik had loved another woman. That woman had died and now he mourned her. No wonder he only wanted Cleo in his bed. He’d already given his heart to someone else.
    She’d always known there couldn’t be anything serious between them, but somehow finding out that he had never been available made the situation worse. All her life she’d dreamed of being the most important person in