Read Online The Sheikh's Reunion Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs 4) by Cara Albany - Free Book Online
Authors: Cara Albany
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Adult, series, Billionaire, Bachelor, multicultural, Arranged marriage, best friend, Sheikh, second chance, reconciliation, society, reunion, older brother, tycoon, Forever Love, Single Woman, Qazhar Sheikhs, Three Brothers, Love Search, Summer Fling, Cousin, Crisis Looming, Captivated, Forgotten, Hurtful History, Forgiven Past
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had caused this change in him? Had Mia misjudged him so soon after renewing their friendship?
Rafiq drew his hand away and settled back in his chair. He pressed a button on the side of the chair and immediately the door to the galley opened.
Rafiq turned to Alina. "We'll have the food now, Alina," he said firmly.
Rafiq turned back to Mia. "Hungry?" he asked.
All Mia could do was sigh and admit defeat. "I'll have something," she agreed.
Then she turned and stared resolutely out the window. It was going to be a long and difficult trip to Qazhar.
CHAPTER FIVE
"Welcome to our humble abode," Rafiq said to Mia as he led her into the main hallway of his parents' palace. Finally they'd arrived.
Mia gazed around in wonder at the ornate decoration, the vaulted roof, the high, steeply angled windows, the colorful mosaics. The sheer expanse of white marble overwhelmed her senses. This was opulence on an altogether different level than anything she'd ever seen. A beam of golden sunlight streamed in through one of the wide, high windows above the doorway. There was so much detail that her eyes just couldn't take it all in. It was a feast for the senses. She'd always known that Rafiq came from a wealthy family, but this was a wholly different kind of affluence.
The air inside was cool compared to the heat outside, although they had been sheltered from that oppressive warmth during the short drive from the airport.
Mia dropped her bag on the floor at her feet and gazed around. She'd never seen anything like this place. It was simply the most exotic, wonderful interior she had ever been inside. From the outside, the buildings and wings of the palace had seemed to stretch for hundreds of yards. It was surrounded by luxurious, immaculately tended gardens, all contained within a high, walled enclosure that protected it from the broad expanse of desert.
The limo had deposited them at the front door and Rafiq had helped Mia with her bags, leading her into his family's home.
Mia realized that she and Rafiq were still alone. Since their arrival no-one had come to greet them.
"Where are your parents?" she asked. "And the rest of your family?"
"They're visiting friends for a few days," he explained. "It means you can focus on what's important. Less distractions."
Mia frowned and then realized he was teasing her. "We're not completely alone in this palace, right now, are we?" she asked tentatively.
Rafiq grinned. "Of course not. We have over a dozen servants."
Mia nodded. "Of course. How could I be so stupid. Servants. This is a palace, after all. I wouldn't expect you to be cooking and cleaning, would I?"
"Now I believe you're teasing me," Rafiq said with a grin. "Again," he added emphatically, but he didn't seem displeased.
Mia sighed and lifted her bag. "I take it I have a room?"
"Of course you do," Rafiq said. "The best in the palace."
"The best?" Mia asked incredulous.
"Well, at least the best of the guest rooms."
"And you?" Mia asked.
Rafiq's brows furrowed. "What?"
"Do you you have a room here?"
Rafiq squinted at Mia. "Of course I do. This is where I grew up. I still have my old room."
Mia smiled. "And your old toys?"
Rafiq smirked. "I gave up childish things a long time ago."
"And replaced them with other kinds of toys?" Mia teased.
Rafiq sighed and shook his head. "What am I going to do with you?" he asked rhetorically.
"I'm not going to answer that," Mia said giving Rafiq an admonishing look.
"Let me show you to your room," Rafiq said leading the way toward the wide staircase.
"Upstairs?" Mia asked.
"Of course. That is where the best rooms are. You'll love the views. Let me help you with those," Rafiq said bending down to pick up one of Mia's cases.
She quickly grabbed both of them. "I'll be fine carrying those myself," she said lifting them.
Rafiq smiled politely and nodded. He started toward the staircase, and Mia followed behind.
As they made their way up the stairs she couldn't resist watching
Rafiq drew his hand away and settled back in his chair. He pressed a button on the side of the chair and immediately the door to the galley opened.
Rafiq turned to Alina. "We'll have the food now, Alina," he said firmly.
Rafiq turned back to Mia. "Hungry?" he asked.
All Mia could do was sigh and admit defeat. "I'll have something," she agreed.
Then she turned and stared resolutely out the window. It was going to be a long and difficult trip to Qazhar.
CHAPTER FIVE
"Welcome to our humble abode," Rafiq said to Mia as he led her into the main hallway of his parents' palace. Finally they'd arrived.
Mia gazed around in wonder at the ornate decoration, the vaulted roof, the high, steeply angled windows, the colorful mosaics. The sheer expanse of white marble overwhelmed her senses. This was opulence on an altogether different level than anything she'd ever seen. A beam of golden sunlight streamed in through one of the wide, high windows above the doorway. There was so much detail that her eyes just couldn't take it all in. It was a feast for the senses. She'd always known that Rafiq came from a wealthy family, but this was a wholly different kind of affluence.
The air inside was cool compared to the heat outside, although they had been sheltered from that oppressive warmth during the short drive from the airport.
Mia dropped her bag on the floor at her feet and gazed around. She'd never seen anything like this place. It was simply the most exotic, wonderful interior she had ever been inside. From the outside, the buildings and wings of the palace had seemed to stretch for hundreds of yards. It was surrounded by luxurious, immaculately tended gardens, all contained within a high, walled enclosure that protected it from the broad expanse of desert.
The limo had deposited them at the front door and Rafiq had helped Mia with her bags, leading her into his family's home.
Mia realized that she and Rafiq were still alone. Since their arrival no-one had come to greet them.
"Where are your parents?" she asked. "And the rest of your family?"
"They're visiting friends for a few days," he explained. "It means you can focus on what's important. Less distractions."
Mia frowned and then realized he was teasing her. "We're not completely alone in this palace, right now, are we?" she asked tentatively.
Rafiq grinned. "Of course not. We have over a dozen servants."
Mia nodded. "Of course. How could I be so stupid. Servants. This is a palace, after all. I wouldn't expect you to be cooking and cleaning, would I?"
"Now I believe you're teasing me," Rafiq said with a grin. "Again," he added emphatically, but he didn't seem displeased.
Mia sighed and lifted her bag. "I take it I have a room?"
"Of course you do," Rafiq said. "The best in the palace."
"The best?" Mia asked incredulous.
"Well, at least the best of the guest rooms."
"And you?" Mia asked.
Rafiq's brows furrowed. "What?"
"Do you you have a room here?"
Rafiq squinted at Mia. "Of course I do. This is where I grew up. I still have my old room."
Mia smiled. "And your old toys?"
Rafiq smirked. "I gave up childish things a long time ago."
"And replaced them with other kinds of toys?" Mia teased.
Rafiq sighed and shook his head. "What am I going to do with you?" he asked rhetorically.
"I'm not going to answer that," Mia said giving Rafiq an admonishing look.
"Let me show you to your room," Rafiq said leading the way toward the wide staircase.
"Upstairs?" Mia asked.
"Of course. That is where the best rooms are. You'll love the views. Let me help you with those," Rafiq said bending down to pick up one of Mia's cases.
She quickly grabbed both of them. "I'll be fine carrying those myself," she said lifting them.
Rafiq smiled politely and nodded. He started toward the staircase, and Mia followed behind.
As they made their way up the stairs she couldn't resist watching
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