The Sheikh's Stubborn Lover (The Adjalane Sheikhs Series Book 2) by Leslie North Page A

and then gone? Wasn’t that how he liked all his affairs—brief and simple.
    But Michelle—he already wanted her again. He wanted to find out her favorite foods, he wanted to take her dancing under the stars, he wanted to stay up all night making love with her and watch the sunrise over the ocean.
    Instead, he was taking her back to her hotel room—and…and what? Giving up on her? No, that could not be right.
    Michelle Reynolds had just come into his life, and he did not want to let her leave so easily. But how could he keep her? Could he drag out this land swap? Or perhaps he would take her to yet another property tomorrow—and another after that? How long could he delay her departure.
    Getting into the Hummer, he got the engine stared. Michelle came out of the tent, dressed and smiling. It was all he could do not to carry her back inside.
    The storm had blown over and the moon was starting to rise. The desert at night was one of his most favorite places to be, but would she feel that way. There was so much he had to learn of her. Was this what had happened to his father? Had his father fallen in love so fast with a beautiful American woman?
    Smiling, Michelle took her seat. She had brought the last of the dates with her and she ate them—and fed a few to Adilan as he drove. At the hotel, she climbed from the Hummer and leaned into the open door. “Call me tomorrow. We can…talk business.”
    “I would rather have breakfast with you after staying the night.”
    She gave a laugh and shook her head. Closing the door, she headed into the hotel. He watched the sway of her hips and thought of how her legs had felt wrapped around him. Shaking his head, he forced his stare elsewhere, to the city his father and grandfather had helped to build. Al-Sarid’s capital was booming, but it could easily fade. So much depended on tourists, on providing comforts and fine restaurants. He frowned at the lights coming on in the city, at the bustle of people. He knew his father did not think him steady—he had shifted too easily from one passion to the next, even from one girl to another. And Malid…Malid thought himself the smart one of the family, the man who could best guide the company head.
    But Malid thought only of profit, of making his mark—he was too driven, Adilan thought. Just as I am not .
    Glancing back at the hotel where Michelle had disappeared, he rubbed a hand over his face. What did she think of him? Would she go for the trade? If not, he must think of something else. He must also be wary, for Malid would soon find out the taxes had been paid—and Malid would not give up the contest between them so easily.
    He sat in the Hummer for some time, thinking of Michelle, and of the competition between himself and his oldest brother, Malid. Pulling out his cell phone, he speed dialed Thomas Jenkins’ private line.
    Jenkins ran a private security firm, and his team was expert at ferreting out information. The Adjalane family had used the firm for a number of tasks, and the ties went deep. Even though it was evening, Thomas Jenkins answered at once. “Sheikh Adilan, how’s the weather?”
    Adilan skipped past the pleasantry. “Have you heard from Malid lately with any tasks?”
    “Should I have?” Jenkins sounded wary now.
    Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Adilan said, “I think he will contact you tomorrow. I’m dealing with a situation that has Malid and I competing for the same thing.”
    “Let me guess—you did an end run around your brother and he’ll now try a plan B, which may involve me? I’m not sure I want to be put in the middle between you two.”
    Adilan smiled. “Don’t worry. I just want to know if he contacts you—that’s all. And to perhaps keep you out of the middle. Malid…well, you know how much he hates to lose.”
    “Uh, more than you do and not as much as Nassir? Does this have anything to do with Michelle Reynolds being in Al-Sarid? I understand she looks a lot like her