The Sheikh's Second Chance Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 5) by Cara Albany

"You can't fool me, Lana. I've seen the way Malik has been looking at you." Lana felt the heat rush to her cheeks. Was it so obvious? "I don't know what you're talking about."
      Mia led Lana across the floor through the crowd of guests. As Mia passed Rafiq, Lana saw Mia give her fiance a knowing look. There was something going on. Lana could tell that Mia was up to something. Maybe her friend just wanted a heart-to-heart talk. Maybe she wanted to warn Lana about Malik. After all, it was Mia who had mentioned that Malik had a "reputation" to be wary of.  
    Lana followed Mia down the long corridor until they came to a private room. Mia closed the door behind her and gestured to the sofa in the center of the large room. "You and I have to talk," Mia announced.
    Lana sat down on the sofa and Mia eased down next to her. She could see the earnestness in her friend's eyes, and Lana wondered just what Mia was about to say.
    Mia sighed. "Now, I knew it would come to this."
    Lana looked at Mia. "Would are you talking about?"
    "Malik is not the kind of man who can be ignored."
    Lana knew that already. Malik had an uncanny way of taking possession of her attention.
    Mia reached across and laid her hand gently on Lana's arm.
    "But, Malik has problems of his own," Mia said. She suddenly looked serious. Lana squinted at her friend and felt a chill. What was Mia talking about? Did Malik have some kind of dark secret that only Mia could know about? After all, Mia was marrying into the family. Perhaps there was some unpleasantness that Lana needed to know about.
    "Malik is just an acquaintance," Lana said defiantly.
    Mia smiled warmly. "I understand you hardly know him at all. But, this is his country. This is where he belongs, where he feels most at home. Even it's a strange land for the likes of you and me."
    Lana nodded. "That's an understatement. I've never experienced anything like this place before."
    Mia nodded. "It's both wonderful and scary at the same time."
    Lana reached across and laid a reassuring hand on Mia's arm. "I think you're so brave," Lana said.
    Mia squinted. "I'm not brave at all," she replied. "I'm just in love."
    Lana laughed. "I suppose there is that," she admitted.
    Mia looked suddenly serious once again. "But really, what I wanted to tell you was that Rafiq mentioned something to me. And I think you should know."
    Lana frowned. "Is it about Malik?"
    Mia nodded. "It's about his father." Mia laughed. "My future father-in-law."
    Lana felt the twist of anxiety settled in her middle. Once again she thought about the possibility of some kind of dark family secret. Lana looked at Mia. Her friend did not seem the slightest bit worried about her own choice. It seemed to Lana that Mia was more concerned about what Lana was about to do.
    "Malik has a problem?" Lana asked, unsure whether she really wanted to know.
    Mia nodded. "You could say that. If you think that being instructed to find a wife is what you'd call a problem."
    Lana gasped. "Find a wife!"
    Mia nodded. "Rafiq told me that his father has ordered Malik to find a wife."
    "Just like that?" Lana exclaimed.
    Mia shrugged. "That's the way they do things here. They have different rules here. Especially when it comes to marriage."
    Lana recalled the conversation on the terrace with Malik. She realized that some of his words had been ambiguous.  
    "Malik has led quite a life," Mia continued. "And I think his father has drawn a line in the sand, so to speak."
    "So what is Malik going to do?"
    Mia shrugged. "Malik will do what he always does. Exactly what he wants. He's that kind of man."
    Lana nodded, recalling the feel of Malik's embrace, remembering the sensations that had flooded her body as he had kissed her like no other man had done. Exactly what he wants!
    Lana felt Mia examining her closely. Then Mia spoke quietly and almost in a matter-of-fact manner. "I think Malik likes you," Mia said bluntly.
    Lana tried to contain her surprise but failed miserably. "He