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‘To prevent h the mire,’ he defended ‘After that was done, it was all about you’

‘And I’ her back, she folded her arms, as if to contain her emotions ‘Well, now it’s aboutaround to confront him, ‘which must be a considerable inconvenience for you’

‘It’s nothing of the sort,’ he assured her

She threw hiine the headlines: The Sheikh and the laundress expecting a baby, after the ruler of Khalifa returns to the UK to seduce the daughter of his brother’s victim’

‘A rather long headline,’ he observed, curbing his natural response He kneas hor this rant, but that didn’t make it acceptable

‘Don’t make a joke of this,’ she warned

‘And don’t you live in the past We have a child to consider now, and the future of that child is farthat’s happened to us previously’

Her lip tre her up short But not too much What he had said was true

‘I’ht I could discuss this with you calmly’

‘Because you can’

‘So long as I toe your line?’

‘So long as you state your case clearly and I state est we reconvene this ?’ Before she could answer, he stood up and walked to the door Opening it, he waited for her to leave After a moment’s hesitation, she did so

‘Nine o’clock to on the terrace for breakfast,’ he said

Lifting her chin, she walked past him without another word

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

KHALID HAD BEEN watching over her all these years? Millie didn’t knohether to be comforted or furious Back in the beautiful suite of rooms that had been allocated to her in his London home, she was consumed by blind fury and hor out

She’d told hi a child, and his response had been that they’d talk about it in thethat had ever happened to her: a baby, a farannie in the shape of Miss Francine, and honorary aunts galore She didn’t need any e loud and clear He wasn’t interested

He thought she was overwrought? Just let hioing to put a price on her baby Wrenching her ball gown this way and that, she now discovered that the zip was out of reach Forced to concede defeat, she realised she’d have to ask a maid to help her

At one o’ clock in the ?

She couldn’t ask anyone to get out of bed to help her undress Glancing at the house phone—palace phone, Millie ahts—she remembered the housekeeper said it was manned twenty-four hours a day If they’d tell her where the office was, she could go there and ask whoever was on duty to give her a hand

Lifting the receiver, she waited for the call to connect ‘Hello, I’m—’

‘Millie?’

She would have known that dark, husky voice anywhere Why was Khalidmy calls now?’ She sounded like a shreith a nail in its pad

A shreith a haatching her?

Everyone knehat happened when a haatched a shrew

‘Can’t you sleep?’ Khalid sounded amused

‘Can’t you?’ she countered

‘I happened to be passing the office, and was alerted to a call fro?’

‘Nothing you can put right,’ she assured him

She had to calm down, Millie realised as the silence stretched on Her horuest here and Khalid was her host, as well as the father of her child, and the best hope she had to save the laundry And she could hardly blaown ‘It’s a practical matter,’ she admitted crisply

‘Like you want a cheese sandwich?’ he suggested with genuine interest ‘Being pregnant these urges are natural The kitchens are open Just call down—or I can put you through, if you like?’

‘If you et out of my dress’

‘I’m sure I can help with that,’ he said

Before she had chance to argue the line cut, and seconds later, or so it see up and down, there was a knock on the door, and Khalid strode in

‘Do come in,’ she flared

He laughed Why did he have to do that? She could never resist his laugh He’d obviously taken a shower as soon as he got back, as his hair was daed into casual clothes, jeans and a top That was her clue He couldn’t sleep, either

‘It didn’t take you long to get here,’ the shrew inside her observed ‘Were youmy door, as well as the phone?’

‘Turn around,’ he instructed calmly

Khalid’s fingers on the back of her neck were incendiary devices to her senses, creating delicious little shocks that went streaking through her veins

Okay, so she’d let him help her with the zip, but then he must leave

‘You’re very tense tonight, Millie’