“Malika has a weakness for beautiful men, and you’re also a man of honor,” Ali said.“She’s safe in your care.Besides, she’d never obey a woman.”
He hated being referred to as beautiful.Beau Jones liked to dig him about it, as if a pretty face was all he had going for him.While he might not be a famous musician like Beau, he still had a brain.
And Malika would never obey a man either, no matter how good-looking he was.Not according to the bruise on his arm.He suspected a rich man wouldn’t fare any better.
But he couldn’t say that.
He could, however, refuse.He gripped Side-eye’s reins in one hand and grabbed the horn of the saddle, stuck his boot in the stirrup, and prepared to mount.“Sorry, but I—”
Ali interrupted before he could finish.“Benny and Mavis have already agreed.You’re to look after my sister for eight weeks on my behalf and make sure she enjoys her adventure until I return.In exchange, I’ll pay Burning Scrub twenty-five million dollars.”
Twenty-five million dollars.
More than triple the town’s normal rate.Of course they’d said yes.The county hospital wanted to add a new wing.Benny wanted to get the town’s abandoned silver mine operational again, so they could add a new adventure.Jayce’s dad wanted to build a new barn.
His boot slid from the stirrup and dropped to the ground.His stomach landed on top of his boot.
It turned out that Sheik Ali did, in fact, have enough money.
Chapter Five
Malika
“And this isthe church,” Jayce said.
He opened the door into yet another simple building where no self-respecting architect had been consulted prior to construction.
The inside of the church proved a pleasant surprise to Malika.It had been decorated for the upcoming wedding, and garlands of wildflowers, bouquets of sweet grasses, and baskets of greenery adorned plain wooden pews and the steps to the altar.Light shining through the colorful windows added to the general appeal.
Despite the stark simplicity of its buildings and the unpaved streets, Burning Scrub was not without charm.Under other circumstances she might have considered a brief stay a pleasant diversion, especially with Beau Jones in town, but as soon as she met him and attended his wedding, she was leaving.The moon would be full tomorrow night, and Adeel would discover that all was not forgiven.
The skirt of her dress swirled enticingly around her legs as she inspected the church.She loved the way the dress highlighted the slenderness of her waist and added a pert hike to her breasts.The town’s seamstress was a genius.She had altered the dress for her from an existing supply and found shoes she could wear—she served as the town cordwainer, as well.Malika was amazed by the woman’s vast number of skills.She also had children to care for, and a husband to please.Where did she find the energy, let alone time?
“My children are feral,” Pearl said cheerfully, when asked.Something about Malika’s question amused her.“Linda has the run of the town, which explains her lack of manners.No one corrects her.And Grady”—who was her husband—“is ridiculously easy to please.”
Jayce should take lessons from Pearl’s easy-to-please husband on how to relax.
“The church was established in 1867,” the handsome cowboy droned on.“It also served as the schoolhouse, town hall, and theater until silver deposits were discovered nearby.The local silver mine turned Burning Scrub into a boom town and its population exploded.”
To what?The thirty-six proudly proclaimed on the town’s signage?
He seemed determined to bore her with facts and launched into a long story about the first minister to serve in the church.He’d never replace the irreplaceable Belle if he didn’t learn how to read women as well as he read horses.The skills weren’t so very different.For instance, he was wound tighter than an Arabian waiting for the signal for the race to begin.
She could help him with that.It would help pass the hours with the additional bonus of preparing her for her new career.An exchange of flattery was always a good place to begin.
She moved closer and pressed her hand to his bicep.She tightened her fingers a little, testing its firmness, because she couldn’t resist.Goodness, but it felt solid.He was exquisitely built.His eyelashes fluttered like the wings of a startled bird as his gaze flew between her hand on his arm and her face.Her heart fluttered in tandem.He had magnificent eyes too.
They could have so much fun together, if only he’d try.
“You know so much about the history of Burning Scrub and these mountains,” she said, tilting her chin and delivering a smile infused with an ego-bolstering admiration intended to charm him.Her sisters said their husbands loved to be praised, in the bedroom as well as outside it.“But I’m curious about the wedding that will take place tomorrow.Tell me more about the bride.According to Linda, she’s prettier than me.”
That was an easy one, cowboy.A genuine gift.
His cheeks turned a dull red.She waited.
“Belle’s perfect,” he said.
And to think the beautiful bride passed him up for Beau Jones.The man truly was hopeless.
