The Sheikh's Impossible Girl - completed.

Chapter Two

Poker-faced Tarazi, stood still, holding her hand. Never in his life had he been greeted in such a way. Her parents were horrified, her sisters gawking. The one in front of him, eyes wide as saucers, paled.

"Oh, no, not you." She waved her free hand over him.

Cheeks flushed, she pulled her hand free from his hold, one he was reluctant to release. This should be interesting. "I left the straightener on. I don't want to burn down the house!" Even in her panic, she kept the whispery tones. Yet something tugged at him. "So, if you excuse me," she stepped back, darting behind a sister, and dashed out of sight. 

The large pleat dress front, high in the front, lower at the back, with a fitted bodice, swished around her.

"Sorry about that, your highness, it's so unlike Ashley to be so flustered." Her mother stepped in.

Inclining his head, Gwen guided Tarazi away, meeting the rest of the guests. "We cannot have one burning down the house, can we?" he allowed with amusement.

"No, we can't," Gwen agreed, waving at her daughters behind her back to mingle, moving on from the faux pas.

Tarazi sensed Gwen Cosgrove wouldn't let the incident go. He felt sorry for her daughter. The youngest daughter Ashley Jade Cosgrove - twenty-three is the only unmarried daughter with long light tones of wavy toffee-brown hair and vivid tawny eyes. Unusual colouring.

He bet she never expected that to slip out. Straightener indeed. With those waves, no straightener was involved. So why the reaction? Also, trying to keep his head in the game. Focus on the people he was meeting, yet she kept niggling him.

Tarazi spotted her straight away when she tried to sneak back in under the radar, only to be swarmed upon by her sisters, followed by her mother. He signalled Yasser across.

"I think you need to rescue, Miss Ashley."

Yasser glanced over his shoulder. "Interesting."

"Yes," he had to agree, watching as Yasser headed over, splitting up the group and saw the relief in her eyes as they shot across, nodded and joined Yasser, back towards him. Yet kept her eyes lowered, when before he had felt her eyes burning, locked onto him. 

Something he was used to, however, from her it felt different, more aware, intense.

"Your Highness, so sorry about my little slip before."

"I don't think I am your problem, do you?"

She gave him a sheepish glance. "No, however, what I did was unforgivable. It won't happen again."

"One slight slip of the tongue, I am sure, is very forgivable."

"That is very generous of you."

He eyeballed her. "It will be if you do me one little favour." Her eyes popped, then eyed him, hands clasped together in front of the pleated front.

"Depends on what it is?"

"Normally I would be better prepared for who's attending." Shapely brows netted down, sobering, nodding. "It would be a tremendous help if I had someone at my side, who has their finger on the pulse. Keep me up with who's who." He watched her, closely. "I gather you know everyone here."

"I do, cream of the crop." Then bit her bottom lip. "I shouldn't have said that."

"That is what I like about you."

Surprise flashed through her eyes. "You do?"

"Slip of the tongue, also says as it is. Most people do not. It is refreshing."