The Sheikh's Diamond (Sheikh's Wedding Bet Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

his guards away too soon.
    “Fleur!” The call came again as the figure of a man came into view. Masoud straightened and viewed the approaching man critically. Shorter than six-feet. Academic looking but everything on him screamed money. Designer and trendy black-framed glasses. Silk tie. Shiny leather shoes. Pressed pants and shirt. He was attractive with dark coiffed hair and auburn stubble around his cheek. “Are you okay?” he panted.
    Unaccustomed to hard labor. Masoud narrowed his eyes. He could easily take the man. Although Masoud himself didn’t often indulge in laborious activities, he kept in shape through fencing. He could slice this man to ribbons.
    Provided that he had a weapon.
    “It’s okay,” Fleur said. Her hands were still on his chest, and she jerked them away. “This is my stepbrother, Bruce. He’s traveling with me and helping finance the trip. Bruce, this is Sheikh Masoud Khalidizack. He graciously offered me a private tour of the ruins. Isn’t it beautiful?”
    Bruce’s face darkened as he looked over the candles. “A private tour alone in the dark with a man you just met?” he hissed.
    “He owns this land,” she whispered urgently as she cast a wary glance at Masoud. Masoud kept a relaxed stance, but his fingers were slowly balling into a fist. He didn’t understand the relationship between the two, but if felt more than platonic.
    “His father owns this land.” With a sigh, Bruce took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to disrespect you, but I expected her back at the hotel hours ago, and when I didn’t hear from her, I started to get worried. I’m sure you understand. Come on, Fleur.”
    Masoud stepped in between them. “She’s in no danger. After we finish here, I’ll make sure that a driver sees her safely home.”
    Bruce pushed his glasses up on his face. Striding past Masoud, he grabbed Fleur and yanked her away. “Look, I don’t know you. I’m not comfortable leaving you two here alone. If she stays, I stay.”
    That would certainly put a damper on things. With a sigh, Masoud nodded. “We’ll continue things tomorrow afternoon,” he said with a sigh. “Please don’t come to the site without me. My security detail is under strict orders to keep everyone away unless escorted by someone with the proper authorization.”
    “Then give us authorization,” Bruce protested.
    Masoud raised an eyebrow. “That’s never going to happen.”
    “Bruce, it’s fine. Really.” She gave Masoud a small smile. “It’s probably for the best anyway. We want this to be as strictly professional as possible. Thank you for listening to my stories. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”
    “I look forward to it,” he said softly and watched as the other man whisked her away. He stayed long after the candles died out. No doubt, his security would have informed his father of everything that Fleur had just said. He almost dreaded going home.
    There was no way his family was going to let her walk away now.

Chapter Five
     
    Fleur glared at her stepbrother as he drove to their hotel. He must have felt her displeasure. “Why are you so pissed off? Masoud was about to take advantage of you!”
    “Take advantage of me? We were talking, Bruce. And I was getting somewhere with him. I want to be a part of this dig, and he’s my way in. You barging in did not help.”
    “Talking? So when I got there, he wasn’t about to kiss you?”
    Fleur shifted uncomfortably. She was almost positive that Masoud was about to kiss her, and the truth was that she wanted it. Was she more upset that Bruce interrupted her meeting with Masoud or her kiss with him? “We just got caught up in the moment,” she muttered. “And who I kiss is none of your business!”
    “Look, the Khalidizack family is nothing but a bunch of rich, spoiled, and arrogant idiots. They have no idea what they have here, but if you think batting your eyes and seducing one of the sons is going to get you in, you’re wrong.