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Chapter 46
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 47
When he next spoke, she could hear the tightness of his vocal cords. Excuse me, ladies.’ With those polite parting words, he bore her away, taking hold of her arm and clasping it tightly enough to prevent her escaping but not so hard as to hurt her.Eyes followed them as they walked in silence to the far corner of the garden, the part where discreet benches were placed amongst the blooming flowers for lovers to be alone. With every step she took, Dianne forced her mind to concentrate, to remember the words she’d spent the day rehearsing.Being here with him was a thousand times harder than she’d imagined it would be.The last time she’d seen her husband had been exactly six hundred and thirty-three days ago.The last time she’d seen her husband, they’d been screaming at each other, real hate and fury spilling out like a bunch of fireworks detonating in one big bang. She’d left that night and hadn’t seen him since.She’d thought all the hurt and anger from that evening and everything t
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 48
He waited for gratification to hit him, but all he felt was something akin to guilt, although why that should be the case he couldn’t begin to fathom. Dianne had left him. After three years of his lavishing his money on her, helping her to improve herself, supporting her, giving her everything she desired, she’d refused him a child.After three years of stringing him along, dangling the promise of a child over his head, she’d finally admitted the truth. She didn’t want to have his baby.Their whole marriage had been a lie, reduced to nothing but a cauldron of recrimination and hate.And now she had the nerve to ask for his help.Yet, staring at her now, her skin as pure as alabaster under the moonlight, Taylor had to clench his hands into fists and hold them tightly to his sides to prevent them reaching out to touch her.The first time he’d met her, he’d just taken over the running of the Moore Hotel chain, the family business run by his father until he’d suffered a major stroke. Desp
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 49
As he rejoined the party, the sight of her hurt, shocked face played heavily on his mind.His date, Evelyn, stared at him coolly, taking a long drag of her cigarette. ‘What was that about?’He looked at her. They’d been dating for almost a month, his first foray into the dating world since Dianne had walked out.Evelyn was tall, lithe, and stunning, frequently topping polls of the sexiest women.She was poised, cool and considered, and looked fantastic on his arm.Dianne was inches shorter and considerably curvier. She was warm and impulsive, with a laugh that warmed you to hear it. She smelled of fresh vanilla.He could still smell her now."Well?" Evelyn demanded, crunching her cigarette out of the ashtray.Dianne had always smelled gorgeous, especially first thing in the morning when the vanilla had turned to musk and mingled with the scent of their night’s lovemaking.He hated the smell of smoke. Was it any wonder he’d been loath to even kiss Evelyn?A dart of red crossed the perip
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 50
For a moment, she was too stunned to move or say anything else.Seeing him in full daylight, gorgeous in a dark blue suit and light blue shirt that made the colour in his eyes gleam, threatened to knock what little stuffing she had left out of her heart.This wasn’t a coincidence. It couldn’t be. Over the years, Taylor had wined and dined all the major players in the New York banking system. He had all the best contacts. His web is covered everywhere.He’d probably known the outcome of her meeting before she had.Suddenly, it became clear what he was here for.She marched over to him. "Here to gloat, are you?"He unfolded his arms and straightened, his pale blue eyes fixed on her without expression.‘No, Dianne.’ The faintest of smiles tugged at his sensuous lips. I’m here to offer you a lifeline.She studied him carefully, trying to read his face."What kind of lifeline?" she asked, not hiding her wariness."The kind of lifeline that will save your center."Taylor watched a dozen emo
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 51
She wanted to demand answers but forced herself to think rationally. Right now he was being cordial towards her, his attitude a marked improvement from the loathing he hadn’t bothered to hide at the party. He was here and, if he was as good as his word, prepared to help her. At that moment, that was all that mattered. Anything else she could worry about later? Antagonizing him would accomplish nothing.If she had to suffer his company, then for the children’s sake she would gladly accept it.Her head might have termed it "suffering," but her body had a different word for the reaction provoked by being in the close confines of the car with him. It was familiar torture: her lungs tight, her pulse loose, her skin alive with awareness.She breathed out slowly and peeked at him from the corner of her eye. Her heart swelled to see his sleeves rolled up, his tanned left arm resting on the ledge of the open window. Unlike most people with his wealth, Taylor preferred to drive himself unless h
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 52
Helping himself to a little of everything before them, Taylor took a bite of some bread, then fixed his eyes on her as he ate. Once he’d swallowed and taken another drink of his wine, he answered. ‘I am prepared to give you the money you need to buy the building and for all the renovations that will be needed to make the daycare centre fit for purpose.’She returned his stare, waiting for the catch that was surely coming."When do you have to get the renovations done by?" he asked. ‘Four months, was it? ’"Yes." The new owners agreed to give us six months to relocate. She watched him with caution. "Two of those months have already gone."The owner of the building that housed Solace daycare center had died unexpectedly, leaving the team that worked there rudderless. Worse still, his family had not shared his sentimentality and opted to sell to a developer, only telling the staff about it when it was a done deal.‘Four months to complete the purchase and the renovations?’It sounds like
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 53
The wildness he’d sensed in her from that first look had translated into the bedroom. Making love to her had always been out of this world. Whether it was hard and fast or slow and sweet, their passion for each other was unquantifiable."This is your pride talking, isn’t it? Because I had the nerve to leave you? You want to humiliate me?’He answered with deliberate smoothness, counteracting the vibrations emanating from her delectable frame. A charge flickered through his loins to see her face become the same colour it rose to when in the throes of passion. You want my help and I’m prepared to give it to you, but in return I want payment—and the only form of payment you are in a position to make is with your body.’She pushed her chair back as if she’d been scalded and got to her feet. "You want me to prostitute myself?"I’m merely requesting that you, my wife, return to the marital bed for a fixed period, and during that period you make yourself available to me wherever and whenever
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 54
That his words were true only served to shame her further, which she knew for certain was his intention. She’d humiliated him by leaving him, and this was the price he was forcing her to pay.The worst of it was, her treacherous body was eager to pay the price.‘I hate you.’‘I know.' He dipped his head and nipped her earlobe. "Imagine how incredible it will be, all that hate fueling all that lust. "Sensation filled her, every crevice of her coming alive at his touch and the whisper of his breath on her skin.Without this for two years...Somehow, someway, she managed to pull her hands free from his grasp, fully intending to use them as weapons to push him off her. Instead, working of their own accord, they hooked around his neck to pull him in for her hungry lips to connect with his. She had no sane understanding of what she was doing, instinct taking over to seize what her body so desperately wanted.In that instant, any sort of rationality dissolved from her mind.In a mesh of lip
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MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 440
He moved suddenly, turned to her, and gripped her arms; she glimpsed the desperation in his eyes as he dragged her against his chest. "I will do whatever it takes to win you back, Kalila." "You are my wife, the love of my life, and I won’t let you go." His warm breath fanning the curls that framed her face, he pressed his lips to her temple, his eyes briefly closing as if in pain."I have told my father to name his brother Sulim as the interim ruler of Qubbah in the event of his dying before Hazem comes of age." Kate stared at him, shocked beyond words. "But... but why?" she finally stumbled.I thought that you were to rule until Hazem was older. "You are the King’s only son, and it is your duty." Ahsan shook his head. "My first duty is to my wife, and my father agrees." Even if he did not, I would still be here for you."Don't you understand, Kalila?" he asked urgently. "You are more important to me than Qubbah, my father, everything." You, me, and Hazem are a family, and the only thin
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 439
The still silence in the garden that followed his astounding statement was broken by the piercingly sweet song of a blackbird. Kate licked her suddenly dry lips, her heart beating so fast she was sure it would explode. "I don’t understand.""It’s quite simple." He sounded impatient and stared at her haughtily. But to her amazement, streaks of dull color highlighted his cheekbones, and his eyes veered from hers as if he were afraid to meet her gaze. "I love you, Kate."Her rebuttal was fierce and immediate. "No, you don’t.""I should have known you would want to argue about it, Kalila." A little of his tension left him, and his smile stole her breath."You don’t love me," she said again. It was probably some cruel trick, and she had more sense than to be fooled. "You married me for Hazem." You love Farrah. Malika said so.Malika said a lot of things, most of them untrue. Ahsan’s voice was suddenly harsh."But not the things she said about me," Kate said thickly. "My mother was a prosti
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 438
The blue sky was dotted with cotton wool clouds, and the warm breeze carried a scent of lavender and old-fashioned roses. There was no place on earth more beautiful than Ingledean on a spring day, Kate mused—except an oasis in the middle of the desert, where palm trees provided shade from the scorching sun and an azure pool glinted beneath a cloudless sky.She had been home for a month—although Ingledean no longer felt like home without Hazem. The image of his huge brown eyes and impish smile caused the familiar agonizing pain in her chest, and she bit down hard on her lip, tasted blood, and cursed the tears that slid unchecked down her face. She couldn’t cry forever. Somehow she was going to have to find the strength to move on, pick up the threads of her life, or maybe make a new one, far away from Ingledean and all its memories. But since she had left Qubbah, a terrible lassitude had settled on her, and she could not plan anything when the only two people she loved were far away on
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 437
In less than an hour, she was expected to attend the lavish dinner organized in honor of King Kabir’s recovery and his return as supreme ruler of Qubbah. And somehow she was going to have to do so without revealing that she was breaking up inside, which Kate acknowledged despairingly as she stared in the mirror at her paper-white face and red-rimmed eyes.When she first returned to the palace after her explosive confrontation with Malika, she locked herself in her dressing room and recalled, in stunned disbelief, everything the young Arab woman had told her. Could it be true? Had Ahsan always intended to divorce her once he’d gained custody of Hazem and marry his beautiful advisor?She did not know how long she’d sat there, but eventually her maid had knocked on the door and reminded her that it was time to prepare for the banquet. She should have made the excuse that she was ill—no one who saw her pallor would fail to believe her. But the steely backbone of pride that had seen her th
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 436
Despite the warmth of the early-evening sunshine, Kate shivered. "You’re talking nonsense," she said firmly, striving to sound confident despite the sudden lurch of her heart. She was perfectly aware of why Ahsan had married her, but he had given no hint that he wanted a divorce. Ahsan told me he was never engaged to you. She lifted her chin and glared at Malika, trying to ignore the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach."He wasn’t," Malika agreed, looking surprised. "I was engaged to Farhan; Ahsan was engaged to Farrah."The world seemed to tilt alarmingly for a few seconds, and Kate actually gripped the edge of the wall for support. Ahsan and Farrah! It couldn’t possibly be true, could it? "Jamila told me that Ahsan was in love with his fiancée," she said faintly. "She doesn’t know why the marriage didn’t take place."Malika gave a careless shrug. ‘Jamila knows. Everyone at the palace knows that Ahsan adored Farrah and that she eloped with his brother on the eve of their wedding.
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 435
He was suddenly aware that the children had finished their dance and everyone was waiting for his response. Kate had turned her head to him, frowning at his inattention, and he quickly clapped his hands in applause. Once the dancers had filed out of the marquee, his personal assistant Zaid appeared at his side and informed him that a group of local potters had brought their best work for his gracious inspection. Stifling a sigh, he led the royal party out into the blazing sunshine.The garden party continued all afternoon, and Ahsan was not in the best of moods when he strode back to the palace. He suddenly realized that he was too far ahead and slowed his pace, waiting for Kate to catch up with him. He frowned when he noted how pale she looked beneath her wide-brimmed hat. She made no attempt to speed up, and the dejected droop of her shoulders fueled his impatience."I appreciate that an afternoon spent admiring traditional crafts and customs is not likely to top your list of exciti
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 434
Her feet briefly touched the floor, and he spun her around, tugged her zip down her spine, and removed her dress before she had time to catch her breath. Her bra went the same way before he lifted her again and threw her onto the bed as if she were a rag doll, his eyes glittering with a mixture of anger and sexual hunger that made Kate’s stomach dip."At night, I’m happy to give you all the attention you could possibly want," he growled, his shoes, trousers, and shirt hitting the floor with barely controlled savagery until he stood in his silk boxers. "This is the only bed you’ll ever sleep in." The boxers joined the rest of his clothes, revealing his powerful, unashamedly aroused body in all its glory. "But I wouldn’t bank on sleeping for many hours yet."Kate stared up at him, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she struggled to control the wild excitement that was pounding through her veins. She was conscious that she was wearing nothing but a pair of tiny lace pants and the pric
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 433
Clearly embarrassed, Aaliyah determinedly changed the subject to Hazem and how fast he was growing. But although Kate smiled and made token conversation, her mind was whirling. If Malika’s family had expected her to marry Ahsan, was she the woman he had been engaged to years ago—the woman Jamila had said he had loved? But, if so, why had they not married? It didn’t make sense, and she brooded miserably as she stared at Ahsan. He was smiling at Malika and clearly enjoying her company. Perhaps they had argued and broken off their engagement. Was he now regretting his lost chance to marry a beautiful, clever Arab girl who would have made him the perfect wife?From that moment on, the party became a blur of faces and stilted conversation with people she had never met before. She was sure they viewed her as an oddity, with her pale skin and vivid hair—and her glaring lack of sophistication. But until his father had recovered, Ahsan was king, and one of her wifely duties outside of the bedr
MARRYING MY BEST FRIEND'S FIANCEE Chapter 432
As Ahsan had predicted, his team of advisors was waiting for him when they arrived back at the palace. Even on the journey across the desert, he’d had his mobile phone clamped to his ear, and Kate had sat silently beside him, lost in her thoughts. The honeymoon was over, and he had made it abundantly clear that he now saw her role as his wife as a walk-on part—or perhaps a lie-down part, she thought bitterly. But what had she expected? She had married him for Hazem, and he had married her for sex, and they had each gotten what they wanted.At least she had Hazem, she told herself later that evening, when she tucked the toddler into bed. She had missed him desperately, and his evident delight that she was back was a comforting balm to her raw emotions. She was Ahsan’s wife, a member of the Royal Family of Qubbah, and no one could ever take him away from her now.But as she prepared for the state banquet, her insecurities returned, and she felt sick with nerves. She had been horrified w
