The Sheikh's Green Card Bride by Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter Page A

whatever came of it.
     
    Her phone dinged as a text from Bahir came through, indicating that he was waiting in the car out front whenever she was ready to come down.
     
    She slid into a pair of jeans and a gray T-shirt she’d found after digging through her closet before brushing her teeth and heading down to meet him.
     
    Bahir had opted to take the limo again, the driver holding open the door to Nicole as he patiently waited for her to get in, which she did, handing the man her bag to store in the trunk. When she slid into the car, Bahir was gazing at her with wide eyes.
     
    “Good morning,” she said, covering her mouth as she fought to suppress a yawn.
     
    Bahir took the cue and yawned himself, covering it with his own hand. Nicole noticed he was wearing a nice pair of slacks and polo shirt similar to the outfit he’d worn on their previous excursion.
     
    “What?” Nicole asked as he continued to stare at her.
     
    Bahir’s face reddened. Was he…blushing?
     
    “I’ve just never seen you in jeans before,” he said with a sheepish smile.
     
    “Sure you have. I must have worn jeans at some point during our time together,” she said, trying to ignore the giddy feeling she got at being able to make him blush. Was he saying he liked seeing her in jeans?
     
    “I most certainly would have remembered,” he said, and Nicole was struck with doubt.
     
    “Is this inappropriate? I figured I would dress comfortably, since we’re traveling and this isn’t really a work trip…sort of,” she stammered.
     
    Bahir shook his head. “Not at all. I just…you look nice,” he said, fumbling slightly over his words.
     
    They were like a couple of nervous newlyweds. While that wasn’t far off from the reality of the situation, Nicole tried to remind herself that this was a man she could speak with easily. She’d been doing so for ages! Or at least it seemed like ages. Six months really wasn’t all that long to know someone was it? At least, not before tying the knot.
     
    They stared out the window, occasionally sneaking glances at one another as the limo made its way down already busy city streets toward a small, private airport near the water. When they arrived, the driver held open the door, handing them back their travel bags and bowing as he headed back toward the driver’s seat of the car.
     
    The airport was a wide, open hangar with a small office for pilots and passengers to check in and wait for their planes to take off. Bahir opened the door for Nicole as they entered the little building, which housed all of three chairs and a desk with an attendant.
     
    The attendant looked up when they entered, recognized Bahir, and gave him a respectful bow. “Sheikh Al-Jabbar. It’s a pleasure to see you again, sir.”
     
    Bahir gave the man a winning smile, and Nicole resisted placing a hand on her heart to slow it down. Why had he not had this effect on her until now?
     
    “It’s good to see you, too, Fadel. Is the plane ready?”
     
    Fadel nodded. “Just about, sir. The pilot is finishing his final testing of the equipment, but he should be in to escort you to the plane very soon. Please feel free to take a seat while you wait. Would you like some coffee?”
     
    Bahir looked to Nicole, who shook her head. Her stomach was churning with nervousness as it was; there was no need to add acid to the fire there.
     
    He glanced back to the man behind the desk. “I think we’ll pass for now, thank you Fadel.”
     
    “Very good, sir,” Fadel said, turning back to his computer screen as Bahir and Nicole each took a seat in the waiting area.
     
    They sat quietly for a few minutes before the plane’s pilot arrived in a white suit and hat.
     
    “Sheikh!” the man said, his tone jovial. “How long it has been since we’ve flown together!”
     
    Bahir stood, smiling at the man as he accepted his strong handshake. “Jamil! How many times do I have to tell you to call me Bahir?” he asked, and the