The Sheikh's Kidnapped Bride (The Sharqi Sheikhs Series Book 3) by Leslie North

cages.
    “Sheba is a spotted leopard that came to us when she was but four months old.” Carolyn immediately spotted the cat, who had heard their approach and was now happily pacing from one side of her cage to another.
    She watched in awe as Mahil spoke to the cat and then reached his hand inside the cage to scratch her ears. The leopard rolled over onto her back, nuzzling his hand as he scratched beneath her chin and her belly.
    Mahil glanced back at her and urged her forward, “Come here and pet her. I promise she won’t hurt you.”
    Carolyn took a step forward, but Teri shoved her way past and quickly slipped in next to Mahil, “I’ve been wanting to pet her since I got here. I can’t believe she’s so tame.”
    Mahil smiled down at the assistant and then stepped back, motioning for Carolyn to take his place. “Come on, Cara. Come pet her.”
    Cara? That was a new nickname even for her, but coming from Mahil, she found she liked the sound of it. She stepped in front of him, but Teri was insistent on keeping Mahil’s attention solely on her. Carolyn slipped her hand inside the cage and petted the animal’s soft fur, but she quickly pulled her hand back when the cat surged to her feet and began pacing the cage once again.
    “Isn’t that sweet? She knows you weren’t petting her any longer. Too bad. I would have loved to have petted her for a bit more.” Teri gave Carolyn a smug grin and then directed Mahil’s attention to several other problems the young woman seemed to be having with some of the newest animals.
    Carolyn found herself following behind them down the stone path that led back to the administration building, listening and watching as the young research student flirted with Mahil without a conscience.
    She was taken aback by the level of jealousy she was feeling. She was attracted to Mahil, but it was only a sexual response. Her emotions weren’t engaged, so why was she feeling jealous?
    She’d long ago decided that now was not the time for relationships and she certainly wasn’t going to tumble into one with her captor. No, Teri was welcome to him. If she wanted to be with someone, there was any number of men back home, and just as soon as she could convince Mahil to fly her there, she’d do just that!
                                                                                        *****
    Mahil listened to his newest research student continue to talk about everything and anything she thought might keep his attention focused on her, all the while wishing Carolyn would assert herself and tell the young woman to back off.
    As they reached the administration building, Ahmed intercepted them, “Sir, your meeting has been postponed. It seems a sandstorm has shut down the capitol city. They’ve asked to re-schedule it for next week.”
    Mahil was happy and smiled, “That will be fine.”
    “Does that mean we can tour the rest of the facility together?” Teri asked enthusiastically.
    Mahil had spent more than enough time in her chattering presence and nodded towards Ahmed, “Why don’t you show Ahmed around? I’m sure he’d love to meet the newest arrivals.”
    Teri looked like she wanted to argue, but seeing the firm set to Mahil’s mouth; she nodded her head and then turned a dazzling smile upon Ahmed, “Let’s go see Sheba first.”
    “Do not attempt to pet her without me there. The last person who did that required sixteen stitches in their hand and forearm.” Mahil made sure Ahmed got the message and then turned his attention to Carolyn.
    “Would you like to see more, or visit the gift shop?”
    Carolyn looked at the building and then answered him, “Gift shop, but if this place is not open to the public, why have a gift shop?”
    “We open the sanctuary up to school groups and research teams from around the world. The gift shop serves as a focused form of advertising for what we do here.