The Nanny and The Sheikh

“Do you know where my room is?”

Alaya nodded.

“In the future, wait there if you need to see me. Or leave me a note. But no more spying; it’s wrong.”

Alaya nodded. Hamid looked at his sister, then nodded solemnly as well.

“Now, what’s up?” Melissa asked, smiling at the children.

“We wanted to see if you would read us a story,” Hamid said. “Annis only reads in French and we don’t understand.”

“Or she speaks Arabic and we only know a few words that Mummy and Daddy taught us,” Alaya said.

“You will feed to learn the language if you’re staying here,”

Melissa said. She started walking to the stairs leading to the third floor. “Maybe we’ll ask Annis to start Arabic lessons in the morning. Tonight, I’m happy to read you a story. Is Nadia already in bed?”

“Yes. She was sleeping when we came down,” Alaya said. “I wish we didn’t have to stay here. Everything’s so different from home.”

“You’ll get used to things in time, then it will be like having two homes. The one you had in England, and your new one here. Do you have friends back at home?” Melissa asked.

Alaya nodded.

“Have you written to them about your new place?”

The little girl shook her head.

“That would be fun for them to receive a letter from you telling them all about this house, your uncle and Annis. I bet none of them have ever been to Qu’ Arim. Maybe you could get some photos to include in the letter.” Melissa smiled as the enthusiasm started to show on Alaya’s face. “This house is fantastic. Just a photo of the front would look like a museum or something.”

“I’d like to write to Sally and Marta. You think they’d write back to me?” she asked wistfully.

“I’m sure of it. First thing tomorrow, I’ll have Annis make sure you have paper and pencil. You write as much as you wish and then we’ll get your uncle to post it,” Melissa said.

“I should be delighted,” Surim said behind them.

CHAPTER THREE

MELISSA turned around, surprised. “I thought you and Max were in the living room.”

“He had a call to make before it got too late in London. I thought I heard voices, so came to investigate.” He looked at Alaya. “If you wish me to post a letter, I’m happy to do so.”

“Thank you, Uncle Surim,” she said shyly, moving closer to Melissa.

“Uncle? We’re cousins,” he explained.

“Easier for them if you’re Uncle Surim and your new bride will be their new aunt.” Speaking softly, Melissa leaned closer. “They don’t want a replacement for their parents just yet.”

He raised an eyebrow. “My new bride,” he said evenly.

Melissa swallowed. Was that some secret? She shouldn’t have said that.

“I heard you were looking for a wife,” she said, feeling embarrassed, as if she’d been caught gossiping behind his back.

His face was impassive. “That is the plan.”

Heat turning her face bright red, Melissa was thankful when Hamid interrupted. “Melissa is going to read us a story,” he said firmly. “Come on, Melissa.”

“You have a way with the children,” Surim said. “Don’t let them pester you.”

She glanced sharply at him. “They aren’t pestering me, for heaven’s sake. They just want some adult attention. You should be reading them their stories. Annis’s English is limited. She only reads French stories; they don’t understand those.”

“She speaks English,” he said, his brow creasing.

“And stop frowning, it scares them,” she said.

He looked at her in astonishment.

Melissa almost cringed. She needed to watch her tongue or she’d be asked to leave so fast her head would swim. This was a sheikh, not some bumbling idiot.

“Sorry, but I do think you should try smiling more.” She bit her lip and looked at Alaya.

Surim stooped down until he was at a level with Hamid. “Should I read to you?” he asked gently.

Melissa was the astonished one. She’d never heard such gentleness in Surim’s voice, nor expected him to do something so kind to a little boy.

Hamid seemed undecided. “Can you both read to us?”

Surim smiled and nodded, glancing up at Melissa.

Melissa was struck dumb. When he smiled his entire face changed. He looked younger. And much more appealing. A flutter of nerves centered in her stomach. He would have no trouble wooing some woman to become his wife if he smiled at her once a day.

Rising to his full height, he continued looking at Melissa, a hint of amusement in those dark eyes. “You have a way with children; do you have any of your own?”

“Of course not, I’m not married.”

“Neither am I, but I seem to have acquired three.”

Melissa wanted to point out he planned to ship them off to some school, but she kept quiet, conscious of the presence of the two children. Maybe if Surim spent some more time with them, he’d find he couldn’t send them away.

“Come on, then, let’s read these children to sleep,” he said.

It was oddly intimate, Melissa thought, to be with Surim tucking the children in bed. Almost as if they were the children’s parents. Surim had dismissed Annis when she’d rushed out to see to the children. Melissa glanced across the bed to watch as he patted Hamid on his small shoulders. She thought it was the first time for the man.

“Sleep through the night, little one,” Surim said, almost as an order.

Melissa hid a smile. He might be trying, but his manner needed polishing.

She selected two books, and handed one to Surim. “Want to start?” she asked.