The Sheik & the Bride Who Said No

The hurt of a decade of indifference from her family swept through her. “Nobody came to my college graduation. Did you know that? They were all still angry because I’d refused to marry you. And they hated that I became a vet. No one even acknowledged my finishing school and going to work. My mother didn’t say a word in the Christmas newsletter. She didn’t mention me at all. It’s as if by not marrying well, I’d ceased to exist.”

She felt the light brush of his lips on her head. “I am sorry.”

She sniffed. “I’m only their child when I do what they want. I was afraid it would be the same for Brittany. I wanted her to be happy and strong so I tried to let her know that I loved her no matter what. That my love wasn’t conditional on her marrying the right man.”

“I’m sure she knows how much you care.”

“I hope so. Laurel said she would be heartbroken.”

Murat chuckled. “Not to marry a man twice her age whom she has never met? I suspect you raised her better than that.”

“What?” She lifted her head and stared at him. They were far closer than she’d realized, which was really stupid—what with her being in his arms and all.

“I didn’t raise her,” she said. “She’s not my daughter.”

“Isn’t she?”

It was what she’d always believed in her heart but never spoken of. Not to anyone. How could Murat grasp that personal truth so easily?

“I know all about expectations,” he said, lightly tracing the curve of her cheek. “There was not a single day I was allowed to forget my responsibilities.”

Which made sense. “I guess when you’re going to grow up and be king, you aren’t supposed to make as many mistakes as the rest of us.”

“Exactly. So I understand about having to do what others want, even when that means not doing what is in your heart.”

“Except I wasn’t willing to do that,” she reminded him. “I did what I wanted and they punished me. Not just my parents, but my sisters, too. I ceased to exist.”

His dark gaze held her captive. She liked being held by him, which was crazy, because he was the enemy. Only, right this second, he didn’t seem so bad.

“You exist to me,” he said.

If only that were true. Reluctantly she pushed away and stood on her own.

“I don’t,” she said. “I have no idea what your engagement game is about, but I know it’s not about me.”

“How can you say that? You’re the one I’ve chosen.”

“Why?” she asked. “I think you’re being stubborn and difficult. You don’t care about me. You never did.”

He frowned. “How can you say that? Ten years ago I asked you to marry me.”

“What does that have to do with anything? If you’d really loved me, you wouldn’t have let me go. But you didn’t care when I left. I walked away and you never once came after me to find out why.”

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