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

likes me?"
    Mia nodded. "Perhaps even more than like," she said.
    Lana peered at Mia, growing disbelief emerging from within her. "You're not seriously suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?"  
    Mia raised one brow.
    Lana grunted in disbelief. "That's ridiculous! I don't even know him. He's a total stranger."
    Mia groaned. "But you have to admit he's quite an attractive stranger."
    Lana stood up quickly and started to pace back and forward. "Are you saying that he has an interest in me?"
    Mia shrugged. "I suppose that is what I'm saying. If you put it like that."
    Lana shook her head. "That is just so ridiculous."
    "It didn't look ridiculous when he was kissing you, earlier, Lana," Mia said evenly.
    Lana froze on the spot and gazed in disbelief at Mia. "You saw that?"
    Mia merely nodded, saying nothing.
    Lana groaned so loudly that the sound of it echoed around the room. "This isn't real," Lana exclaimed. "I mean, Malik isn't even my type."
    Mia gave Lana a disbelieving look. "I would say Malik is exactly your type."
    Lana sat down next to Mia. "You know my history with men," Lana said.
    "Maybe it's time to move on from that," Mia said.
    Lana sighed. She pushed away some of the memories that threatened to come flooding back in again. There was no sense in thinking about the past. Especially that part of her past. Was that why she had impulsively decided in New York to test herself with Malik? Had she been trying to prove to herself that she could resist even someone as handsome and unbelievably gorgeous as Malik? Surely it could not be as simple as that, she told herself.
    Lana could see that Mia was trying to be patient, perhaps even trying to help. Help? By suggesting that Lana entertain the idea of spending some time with Malik while she was here? There were too many risks associated with such a choice, Lana said to herself. Spending any time alone with someone like Malik could only end in disaster. He was such a dominating, powerful presence that Lana wasn't even quite sure she could keep such a man at bay. Because that was what she'd have to do. Keep him at arms length. If it was possible.  
    Mia looked at Lana. "You're going to be here anyway, for the next few days. Maybe it would be nice to spend some time with Malik."
    Lana peered at Mia. "Is this some kind of matchmaking that is going on?"
    Mia laughed. "You can take it any way you like," Mia said with a broad grin.  
    Lana rolled her eyes. Lana suddenly reminded herself why she was here, in Qazhar. She looked at Mia. "You know that I'm really here for you," Lana said. "Not to date a sheikh."
    Mia nodded. "And I'm so happy that you're here. Maybe, while you're here, though, you could have some fun."
    Lana squinted at Mia. "Fun? Trying to keep Malik at bay?"
    "That doesn't sound like the worst thing in the world," Mia said.
    Lana groaned and smiled. "We'll see how things go. I don't want to be rude, and I don't want to cause anyone to get upset. After all, we are all here for the same thing. We are here to celebrate your wonderful union with Rafiq."
    "So, I can ask Rafiq to tell Malik that you and he might go on a date?" Mia asked enthusiastically.
    Lana shook her head vigourously. "Not a date! Just good friends. Acquaintances, if you like."
    Mia sighed. "I think you and Malik are going to get on like a house on fire."
    "Nothing is going to be set on fire," Lana said with a barely contained giggle.
    "You try telling Malik that," Mia said. "One thing I know about Malik is, he knows how to have a good time."
    "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Lana asked incredulously.
    Mia reached across and patted Lana's hand. "Just giving you a heads-up," she said.
    The door opened, and Rafiq leaned his head into the room. Mia stood and went to her fiance. Rafiq looked surprised to see the women alone in the room. "What's going on?" he asked.
    Mia kissed him on the cheek. "Lana and I were just having a private girl talk."
    Rafiq's brows rose. "Anything I should