STOOD UP!
Hazin had sat alone in Dion’s, where they were supposed to be meeting for their long-awaited date, but Flo had not shown.
Now he stood in the theatre foyer as the last call for patrons to take their seats sounded.
He glanced at his phone.
Ten minutes
Flo had sent that text twenty minutes ago!
* * *
To the chagrin of her fellow passengers, Flo did her lipstick and make-up on the tube and then ran up the escalators, changing into her heels when she got to the top. Once out on the street she ran a brush through her hair as she raced to get to the theatre.
It was supposed to be a hand-holding romantic night—their official first date!
And yet she was so late they’d missed dinner and would now have to be one of those wretched couples who were shown to their seats late with a torch as everyone pulled in their knees and silently tutted.
But then, there he was, and the world clicked into place with his easy, welcoming smile.
He was wearing a suit and just as stunning to her eyes as he had been on that first night.
‘I’m sorry I’m so late.’ Flo had been all primed to leave on time, but births worked to their own timeline and at the end of the day she had chosen to stay. ‘I couldn’t leave her...’
‘It’s fine. All I ask,’ Hazin added as he gave her a kiss, ‘is that you’re a little more punctual for our wedding.’
The wedding was next week.
It was to be a huge white wedding in London in spring, with all the trimmings and the complication of royal guests too.
Flo could not wait to see Maggie and little Bassam.
Tomorrow was her final day at work and then there was her leaving do to squeeze in.
It was bliss to take their seats and be entertained for a couple of hours.
Except Flo couldn’t switch her mind off.
She had just found something out.
It wouldn’t be that much of a shock. She had come off the Pill after all, for this very reason.
Flo wanted to work, even after she married Hazin. He had not liked what was happening under his father’s rule and had stepped back. Now that the leadership was transitioning toward Ilyas, Hazin wanted to step up.
With conditions, though.
They would have two homes. Flo loved London and her family and that wasn’t going to ever change.
But, as Hazin said, it didn’t have to. He had practically been raised there too and loved it as much as Flo.
They had found a stunning apartment that would be their London base, and the rest of the time would be spent in Zayrina.
Flo could still do the job she loved while in London, and just as he pushed for her to follow her path, she pushed for him to follow his.
Ilyas had raised an eyebrow when his younger brother had told him that he would be commencing studying part time.
‘We have a lot of ancient heritage,’ Hazin had told him. ‘I want to better understand it.’
They had decided that while juggling so many balls, yes, they both wanted a baby, so why not throw caution to the wind and see what happened?
She had just found out that it had.
Happened.
They sat in the dark and watched the performance unfold. The show was very good, so very good that the momentous news she had to share suddenly slipped backstage.
His hand was in hers and she loved his easy laugh.
When she had bought the tickets, Flo had thought she might sit through this performance alone.
She well recalled collecting the tickets for a performance that was months away, thinking that she might be the one standing in the foyer, waiting for him to show; that she might sit alone in the dark in the knowledge he did not want her love.
Yet Hazin did want it.
And over and over he showed her that.
It was there in all the little things he did.
The squeeze of his hand at a funny part.
The easy sharing of smiles and chocolate treats.
His love was there waiting, even when she was late.
And she was not nervous to tell him she was pregnant. Simply impatient, for she wanted the world gone, and then to be alone with him at home so she could share the news.
Yet it was only the interval.
‘I love intervals,’ Hazin suddenly said.
‘Why?’
‘I get restless.’ He smiled that sexy smile. ‘I start to smell your perfume. I start thinking of things that I shouldn’t.’
‘Like what?’ Flo asked, assuming he would start the seduction now.
‘You’re late.’
‘I told you, I had a mother who was stressed...’ And then she halted as she realised he wasn’t referring to her delayed arrival tonight.
In the dark, as her mind had been racing, his had been too.
‘How late are you?’ he asked.
‘Enough for me to take a test at work.’
‘And?’ he asked.
She nodded.
Just a little nod was all it took.
A little nod that conveyed a huge message and then she felt his arms wrap around her.
It was bliss to be there, wrapped in his arms and breathing in his familiar scent, and to share the happy news.
‘Do you know when it’s due?’ he asked.
It was early days yet, of course, but Flo had naturally worked it out. ‘Around Christmas.’
‘Well, then, we’d better make sure we have Christmas here,’ Hazin said, and all the little flutters of nerves about where the baby would be born were laid quickly to rest. ‘It’s the best news, Flo.’
‘It’s not too soon?’ she checked, albeit a little to late.
‘Not at all,’ Hazin said. ‘You’ve been keeping me up all night.’
‘You loved every minute,’ Flo said. ‘And we don’t stop just because I’m pregnant.’
‘That’s very good to know.’
Now there was a choice to be made. They could celebrate the news in the way they did best or answer the call of the bell that was sending them back to their seats.
‘Do you want to go back for the second half?’ Hazin asked.
She thought for a moment and Flo decided that she did.
‘It’s our first official date!’ she reminded him.
‘Do you generally sleep with men on first dates?’ Hazin asked, and as always he made her smile.
‘Certainly not!’ Flo said as they walked back to their seats. ‘I’m offended that you asked.’
‘Pity,’ Hazin said as the lights dimmed. ‘Because I’ve asked for the same table at Dion’s and I’ve booked my old suite in the hope that you’re easy.’
It was the very best of first dates.
For love was already sorted. They had the rest of their lives together now.
* * * * *
Look out for the previous story in Carol Marinelli’s RUTHLESS ROYAL SHEIKHS duet
CAPTIVE FOR THE SHEIKH’S PLEASURE
available from Mills & Boon Modern Romance
And, if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Carol Marinelli
THEIR ONE NIGHT BABY
THEIR SECRET ROYAL BABY
PLAYBOY ON HER CHRISTMAS LIST
SEDUCED BY THE SHEIKH SURGEON
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from HER KNIGHT UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Annie O’Neil.
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