And of course she did. Zara had been blessed with the finest the gene pool had to offer. As if being tall and model slender wasnt enough, she also had long, dark hair and beautiful brown eyes. Then there was the whole smart-funny-nice thing going on with her. If Cleo didnt adore her sister, she would have backed the car over her years ago.
As they were technically only foster sisters, Cleo found herself about as far from tall, slender and dark-haired as physically possible. She was short, curvyokay, plumpwith short blond hair that she generally wore sort of spiky. Her lone claim to beauty was her big blue eyes. Zara would say that her big boobs were an asset, too, but Zara would be wrong.
Hey, little sister, Rafe said, moving in for his greeting.
Rafe Stryker, American hunk, honorary sheik, rich guy and deeply in love with Zara. Cleo sighed. Some girls had all the luck.
She hugged her brother-in-law to be, then fought back hormonal tears.
Thanks for coming to get me, she said, hating herself for wondering if Sadik had bothered to make the journey to the airport, as well. Not that she had to look around to check. If hed been there he would have muscled his way to the front and monopolized her attention. He was an arrogant, self-centered, generally annoying guy. So why was she disappointed he hadnt bothered to come say hi?
Zara linked arms with her as they headed out of the royal familys private terminal. Cleo knew that her suitcases would have already been put in the trunk of the waiting limo. If only real life could be this good.
Im so glad youre here, Zara said. She motioned for Cleo to slide onto the back seat of the limo first. The last few months have been hectic. Ive been spending time with my father, getting to know him. Zara paused and grinned. My father. I still cant believe Im saying that.
Its pretty great, Cleo said, and meant it. She was happy that Zara had found her father after a lifetime of wondering who he was. If a part of her was envious, she supposed she would learn to live with it. Unfortunately, she happened to know that her father had died before shed been born. There wasnt going to be the same happy ending in her future.
Then there is all the wedding stuff. Zara shook her head. Its been a planning nightmare.
Rafe sat in the seat opposite. I told her we should elope, but would she listen?
Zara dismissed him with a wave. He says that now, but hes pretty excited about the wedding.
Cleo gave her future brother-in-law a doubtful glance. He doesnt look excited. In fact Rafe looks like hes going to bolt.
He might want to, but he wouldnt leave me.
Zaras confidence sent a little ping of envy bouncing through Cleos chest. It was intensified when Rafe gave his fiancée a look of such love and devotion that Cleo had to turn away. The moment was too personal and intimate to be shared.
Thats right, he said easily. Zaras stuck with me for the rest of her life.
That sounded pretty good to Cleo. Oh, not with Rafe. She thought he was nice and all, but hed never made her heart beat faster. But with someone. All shed ever wanted was to be the most important person in someones life. As if that was ever going to happen.
Tell me about the wedding, Cleo said to change the subject. Her hormones were on overdrive, and she was about three seconds from bursting into tears.
People are coming from all over the world, Zara said, shaking her head in bewilderment. Its crazy, and scary. I like my dress, but the flowers arent anything I would have picked. Way too big and ornate. But there are certain flowers we have to use and others we cant.
Tell her about the
cake, Rafe said with a wink that promised a fun story.
Zara launched into a convoluted explanation about flavors, colors and size. Cleo tried to pay attention, but part of her had already skipped ahead to arriving at the palace. While shed been a little disappointed that Sadik hadnt come to the airport, she didnt mind putting off that first meeting. One would think that in the nearly four months theyd been apart she would have been able to recover from a brief two-week affair, but one would be wrong.
She hadnt been able to forget him. Not for a second. So in addition to keeping everyone from finding out she was pregnant, she had to make sure she was cool and indifferent in his presence. She wasnt convinced that was even possible, but she had to try. Not so much for the sake of her pride, but because of the baby.
She didnt know much about Bahanian law, but she suspected everyone would be cranky if they found out she carried Prince Sadiks baby. After all, she was pregnant with a half-royal offspring. Her worst fear was that they would take the child from her.
So she would act completely normal. And in control. With any luck her morning sicknesswhich did not confine itself to morningwould continue to fade. In two short weeks she would be leaving Bahania. She would return home to her regularly scheduled life. Just her and her baby. No one the wiser. Probably not even her.