Seduced by the Sheikh Surgeon Read online

  It was a huge thing for her to say.

  Yet she knew she couldn’t live this life for ever.

  To pay for the nursing home and the legal fees when the other family involved in the accident had sued, the family home had been sold and Adele now shared a small flat with Helga and James.

  Adele had deferred her studies for two years, but they had been spent dealing with the aftermath of the accident. She hadn’t had a holiday in years. Any weekends or leave had always been taken up with other things, such as university, work, visiting her mother, getting the house ready for the market or dealing with lawyers, doctors and real estate agents.

  Finally, when her mum had been placed in this home and things had started to settle, Adele had started her role in Accident and Emergency.

  Now she felt as if she was coming up for air and she simply wanted to get away and maybe just grieve for her mother.

  Of course she would still visit, Adele thought as she walked the small distance home to her flat.

  But she had to work out some sort of balance.

  Helga was in the kitchen, making an enormous fry-up for herself and James, and she had her music up loud.

  Adele was so tired but she lay on her bed, trying not to think of what she had just told her mother and trying to consider where to go on holiday.

  Greece perhaps?

  She woke to that thought.

  Adele took out her laptop and looked at several destinations and then saw a wonderful package deal for the South of France.

  Oh!

  It was more expensive than she had planned for.

  Then again, she hadn’t really planned to be going away.

  Walking towards the bus stop, she saw that a one-bedroom flat nearby had just come up for rent.

  Perhaps the money would be better spent moving out than on two weeks overseas.

  Arriving at work, she smiled at Janet, who was waiting for the rest of the early-shift staff to arrive before they had handover, which wouldn’t take long, given that the place appeared dead.

  Zahir was sitting on hold on the phone and not looking in the sunniest of moods.

  ‘How’s the holiday planning going?’ Janet asked as Adele came over.

  ‘I’ve seen something nice for the South of France.’

  ‘Ooh, la la,’ Helene said as she joined the group. ‘Will you go topless?’

  ‘I might.’ Adele said. ‘And I might find myself a nice French man...’

  ‘What about Paul?’ Janet checked.

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Adele said, her voice a touch deflated.

  ‘You’ve got your hot date tonight!’ Janet reminded her, and Adele rolled her eyes. ‘Where’s he taking you?’

  ‘No idea.’ Adele shrugged.

  Zahir tried to ignore the conversation. Adele was going out on a date, well, of course she was.

  She was beautiful, seriously so, and it had nothing to do with him what she did in her free time.

  But this wasn’t her free time.

  ‘Is it appropriate,’ Zahir said tartly as he hung up the phone, ‘to be discussing topless bathing and dating in a corridor.’

  ‘Er, Zahir.’ Janet, who knew a thing or three, and had been enjoying winding him up, answered with her own version of tartness. ‘There are absolutely no patients around. I can handle my nursing staff, thank you.’

  She smiled as Zahir stalked off.

  Oh, yes.

  She knew full well that he liked Adele.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  IT WAS A busy morning and lunchtime soon came around. Adele made good on her promise to visit Leila.

  ‘You are looking so much better.’ Adele was delighted to see the other woman sitting up and that she had some colour in her cheeks. Her hair was up and, despite wearing a hospital gown, she looked amazing.

  ‘I am feeling it,’ Leila agreed. ‘Thank you for all your help yesterday. Honestly, I shudder to think what might have happened. We could have been at afternoon tea!’

  ‘Don’t think like that.’ Adele smiled.

  ‘It’s hard not to,’ Leila sighed. ‘There’s not much else to do here. It is so nice to have you come and see me. I am used to being very busy. To just lie in bed is so frustrating. Zahir and Dakan have been in, of course, and the nurses here are very kind, but I am so bored.’

  ‘Will your husband come and visit you now that he knows you’re having surgery?’

  ‘No.’ Leila shook her head. ‘He does not like hospitals.’

  It must be lonely for her, Adele thought.

  ‘He was going to send one of my handmaids but I have told him not to. I have asked Dakan to bring my embroidery from the hotel. That will take my mind off things.’

  Leila was so easy to talk to. She was the complete opposite of Zahir, who, Adele guessed from the little she had gleaned, took after his father. Leila was more open and outgoing, rather like Dakan.

  ‘So you have days off this weekend?’ Leila asked.

  ‘I do.’ Adele nodded. ‘Then I’m on night duty for a fortnight.’

  ‘They must be tiring,’ Leila said, and then looked at Adele and saw the smudges under her eyes and her pale features. ‘Though you look tired now, even before you have started your night duty.’

  ‘I am tired,’ Adele admitted, and not just to Leila but to herself. It had been an exhausting few years and Janet was right to insist that she take her leave. ‘I’ve got a holiday coming up.’

  ‘That’s exciting. Are you going anywhere nice?’

  ‘I haven’t decided yet. I’ll have a think about it this weekend.’

  As they chatted Adele revealed that she was going on a date that evening.

  ‘A first date.’ Leila beamed.

  ‘I’m actually not looking forward to it,’ Adele admitted. ‘I’m thinking of cancelling but I can’t come up with a good enough excuse.’

  ‘What do your parents think of him?’ Leila asked.

  ‘They...’ Adele paused. ‘I think your idea of a first date and mine are a little bit different, we’re just going out for dinner.’

  ‘Oh, yes.’ Leila nodded. ‘I sometimes forget. By the time I had my first date with Fatiq he was already my husband.’ She laughed.

  ‘Had you met him before you married?’

  ‘Yes, there was a selection ceremony two months before the wedding. I knew though that I would be chosen. Or rather I hoped. From when I was a little girl I always knew who I would marry. I told him that I came with conditions, though,’ Leila said, and tapped the ruby at her throat.

  Adele guessed Leila meant she had told Fatiq that she must be kept in splendour.

  ‘Well, I can’t see myself ever marrying Paul,’ Adele admitted. ‘I can’t even picture getting through dinner.’

  ‘Your parents haven’t met him, then?’

  ‘No.’ Adele shook her head. ‘My parents divorced when I was very young and my father has never had anything to do with me.’

  ‘And your mother?’

  ‘She was in an accident,’ Adele said. ‘She’s very unwell and is in a nursing home. I see her every day.’

  ‘And you’re visiting me too!’

  ‘No, I like visiting you,’ she said, and then closed her eyes on the sudden threat of tears.

  Adele never cried but she was suddenly close to it now as she had practically admitted the truth—she didn’t like visiting her mum.

  Leila’s hand went over hers.

  It was unexpected and also terribly kind, given what she had just said.

  ‘She can’t talk or react,’ Adele told Leila. ‘She’s just a shell of herself. I don’t even think she knows that I’m there.’

  ‘You know that you’re there for her, though,’ Leila said. ‘That’s the
important thing.’

  Finally, someone who understood, Adele thought.

  Her family, friends and colleagues all encouraged her to step back. Even the nursing staff at the home gently implied that Adele didn’t need to visit quite so much.

  Adele knew that she had to sort out her life—she didn’t need to be told that but it was so nice to have someone understand.

  ‘I’m worried about going on holiday,’ she admitted.

  ‘Can I tell you something?’ Leila offered. ‘I want to have a holiday. I love my country and my people but because of certain ways...’ She hesitated and then explained. ‘Always there must be a royal in residence. Fatiq was already a king when we married so I never even had a honeymoon. Now one of my sons steps in if we have to go away for formal occasions. Usually it is Zahir, but both of them have busy lives, so they only return when they must. I know that a holiday would be rejuvenating. I dream of having some time away with my husband to replenish myself, although I can’t see it ever happening. Take some time for yourself, Adele, and you will return refreshed and better able to take care of your mother.’

  It helped to hear that.

  The wise, gentle words made Adele feel better about taking a short break.

  ‘I must get back to work.’ It had been nice talking and before she went Adele wished Leila well for her operation on Monday.

  ‘I doubt you’ll be up to visitors on Monday night but I’ll come in after my shift on Tuesday morning.’

  ‘I shall look forward to it,’ Leila said. ‘Enjoy dinner tonight.’

  Adele did.

  Her date went well, in fact. Paul was nice, and perfectly fine, except she didn’t fancy him.

  Not a bit.

  And it neither started nor ended with a kiss.

  It just wasn’t there.

  For Adele at least.

  Monday came and in the afternoon Adele lay in bed, trying to get some sleep before her night shift.

  Then Helga and James started to row.

  Again.

  She had gone to look at the one-bedroom flat, along with many others. She had put an application in and all Adele could do now was hope.

  Oh, Leila was right, she needed a break.

  She had two weeks of night duty to get through and then the world was her oyster.

  Not quite.

  She sat up and reached for her laptop and checked her bank account.

  Still, it didn’t stop her from daydreaming. She liked the look of Greece though she was still considering the South of France when an advert for exotic honeymoon destinations caught her eye.

  Well, not the honeymoon word. Adele couldn’t even get the excitement up for a second date. Paul had called over the weekend, suggesting that they go to the movies, but she had said no.

  There was no point.

  No, it was the destination that had her pause.

  Mamlakat Almas.

  That was where Zahir was from.

  Adele clicked on it and immediately she was swept away.

  She found out that the name translated to Kingdom of Diamonds.

  It looked incredible. Adele watched a short film. It was taken from the air and she saw the azure water and the pristine white beaches. From snatches of conversations when she had worked with Dakan and from the odd comment Zahir had made, she had thought it was all ancient buildings and desert. And, yes, there was all of that—the film led her through the desert and she saw a caravan of camels and Bedouin tribes as well as colourful souqs. The city skyline, though, was modern, with golden high-rise buildings that shimmered in the sun.

  And there, most beautiful of all, was Qasr Almas.

  Diamond Palace.

  Zahir’s home.

  It was spectacular—an imposing white residence with beach and ocean on the one side yet the desert started directly behind and spread into the distance.

  The palace was dotted with stones, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires and some diamonds too.

  Adele wanted to see it and she wanted to be there in the souqs and especially out in the desert.

  She read the comments and most agreed it was an amazing destination. There was a certain magic to it, many said, and it was perfect for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.

  Then Adele read the negative comments and they were all pretty much the same.

  Don’t get taken ill there!

  Bring your own medication!

  And one was aimed at a tour guide.

  He couldn’t even answer why the palace is called Diamond Palace and yet it is mainly coloured stones.

  Oh, she would love to go there.

  Right now, though, she needed to sleep.

  It was bad enough trying to sleep when she was working days—her flatmates liked to party hard, it didn’t matter what day of the week. Trying to sleep during the day was almost impossible—there were doors slamming, arguments breaking out. After a fitful sleep Adele woke to the sound of the television blaring and loud chatter from the kitchen as supper was being made.

  She was tired before her shift even started. It was going to be a very long night.

  * * *

  Zahir also wasn’t having the best of days.

  While he was grateful that his mother’s operation had gone smoothly, he was furious that it had to come to this.

  There was only one small hospital in his home town. Zahir had had several architects working on plans for a new one, yet his father had halted him every step of the way and in the end the project had been abandoned.

  The whole health system in Mamlakat Almas needed to be addressed and better ways implemented.

  The main reason that Zahir and his brother had chosen to study medicine had been so that they could knowledgeably implement the changes that were needed, yet they were thwarted at every turn. Their father refused to move forward and over and over he came up with reasons why the plans for the hospital could not go ahead.

  Zahir had now had enough.

  Finding out that his mother had had to travel to another country just to get suitable treatment did not sit well with him.

  He looked at his mother, drowsy from anaesthetic, and was told by Mr Oman that surgery had gone well. ‘I’m surprised she waited so long,’ the surgeon commented.

  Zahir was sure his mother had been struggling for a long time and it meant his mood was not the most pleasant as he made his way back to the emergency department after visiting her.

  And Zahir’s already dark mood did not improve when he saw a woman holding a large bouquet of flowers asking one of the nurses if they could be delivered to Adele Jenson.

  ‘She’s not on duty till tonight,’ the nurse said, taking the flower arrangement. ‘But I’ll see that she gets them.’

  Once the delivery woman had gone a debate took place as to who had sent the flowers.

  ‘She had a date with Paul on Friday,’ someone said.

  Zahir did not want to think about that but the flowers seemed to follow him everywhere.

  They were in the nurses’ station as he wrote his notes. And when, having checked on his mother again in the late afternoon, he went to make a drink, someone had moved them through to the staff kitchen.

  He went to his office to make a call to his father.

  The King.

  He sat at the desk for a long moment, thinking hard. There was a lot on his mind. Admin were demanding his signature on a new contract, as they had every right to do.

  Zahir knew, though, that he needed to go home and not just for a visit this time.

  He was thinking of going head to head with his father so that he could get the hospital under way.

  There was another reason, though, that he hadn’t signed his new contract—Adele.

  The attraction ha
d been instant and troublesome. He could still vividly remember the first time he’d laid eyes on her. Working on a patient, usually nothing could have drawn his attention, yet for a fleeting moment she had.

  Her china-blue eyes had met his and Janet had explained that Adele was there for an interview.

  He hadn’t wanted her to get the job.

  That was how much he was attracted to her. Even before they had spoken, he would have preferred that they never had. Of course she had been given the role and two weeks later he had walked into the nurses’ station to the sound of her laughter and her fresh fragrance.

  ‘Zahir,’ Janet had said. ‘This is Adele. She is a graduate nurse...’

  ‘Adele.’ He had responded with a brief nod.

  ‘Hi!’ She had smiled.

  ‘Adele did her training here,’ Janet had explained, ‘so she’s familiar with the place.’

  Zahir had shut her out at every possibility. He’d asked for more senior staff when possible. He’d ignored her slightly wacky humour and had not rewarded it with a smile.

  He’d dated sophisticated beauties and he’d told them upfront that he was in no position to settle down.

  Currently he was dating Bella.

  That was about to end and he knew Bella sensed it. He had used the excuse of his mother being sick this weekend not to see her and now she had come up with tickets to the theatre next week.

  He would end it before then.

  Soon he would marry a bride considered suitable.

  Of course he would be consulted, but the effect of her laughter on the edge of his lips would not be taken into consideration. Neither would the fact that the mere scent of her made him want to turn around.

  There would be a more logical thought process when it came to the selection of the future Queen. Perhaps her country would have a considerable army, for it would be a marriage of countries rather than hearts. Of course Zahir was not considering Adele for such a role. Yet, on sight, his guard had gone up and he’d known he’d have to be wary of the attraction he felt.

  It was an attraction so intense that over the last year every time he had driven past her at the bus stop he had wanted to slow down and tell her to get in. Not to take her home but to take her to his bed.