Sheikha's Determined Police Officer: The Botros Brothers Series, #4

By Leslie North

One last chance for love…

 

Aaliyah Botros is beginning to wonder if she'll ever get her chance at love. Her two best friends are both in happy relationships. But Aaliyah's insanely overprotective family seem determined to fend off any potential suitors.

 

When she bumps into her old flame Joseph, she's delighted to find that he's just as charming as ever. In fact, he's even more handsome, muscular and disarming than she remembered. But despite the connection she still feels in her heart, Aaliyah knows her family will never approve.

 

Joseph can't believe his luck, running into Aaliyah after all this time. He never stopped thinking about her after high school. While he may be a respected police officer in his community, he knows it won't be so easy to earn the respect of the aristocratic Botros family.

 

It only takes one magical night to reignite the passion between Aaliyah and Joseph, but with her strict family standing in the way, is their relationship doomed from the start?

 

Previously published as Sheikha's Determined Police Officer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Relay Publishing
• Release date: Dec 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502229441

Book preview

1

Sara tapped her foot impatiently as they waited at yet another red light. Leaning her head back against the headrest, she grumbled at the traffic.

Relax, Aaliyah told her. We have plenty of time. We’ll be out of the city soon enough.

You do not understand how much I have been looking forward to this, Sara replied as she grumbled at the cars in front of them.

As one of the vice presidents for Botros Oil, she rarely had the opportunity to travel. Her work and family kept her busy at home. But when this project came up, she decided to combine the work trip with a much-needed girls-only outing. She’d invited her sister-in-law, Soraya; her cousin by marriage, Aaliyah; and her friends Keira and Kaleena, to come with her. This way, work would not seem like work. That was the plan, anyway. Since giving birth to Leylah less than three years ago, quickly followed by the twins, Nabil and Nasim, she had not had much of a break.

When Sara had first moved to Kithab to work for Botros Oil, she’d never anticipated she would marry the oldest Botros brother, Tariq. And while their relationship had gotten off to a rocky start, they’d grown to love each other deeply. Sara thanked her lucky stars every day that Tariq was in her life, and she adored their beautiful but lively children.

Sara pulled out her phone to call Tariq and check on the children.

We’re fine, Tariq said to Sara as soon as he picked up. He knew exactly why she was calling him.

Sara laughed. I was not calling to ask if you were fine, she lied but knew he would not be convinced.

Yeah right, Aaliyah, Tariq’s cousin, said from the driver’s seat. Everyone knew how much Sara loved her family and that she had spent very little time apart from them. It was natural for her to be worried.

If you say so, Tariq replied. Sara could hear Leylah singing in the background.

Hey, baby, Sara shouted.

She just ate, so she is happy.

I bet she is.

She is her mother’s daughter, Tariq joked. Sara had not even been away from Tariq for more than an hour and she was already missing him.

Thankfully, she also looks like me.

Woman, what do you mean, thankfully? You melt at the very sight of me.

Sara laughed, even though it was very true. Don’t flatter yourself, baby, she said to him. It’s the heat that makes me melt. How are the boys?

They’re sleeping.

That’s good. Sara worried about Tariq being alone with the children for the first time. They were still babies, and when both boys started crying at the same time, it was hard to calm them down. Sara was getting better at it, but she was grateful for their nanny every single day. Two babies and a toddler were a handful for anyone. Luckily, Fiddah had offered to visit and promised not to make it look like she was checking up on how things were going while Sara was away.

Hurry back, Tariq said after a few seconds. He couldn't bear being so far away from his wife.

I will, love you.

"I love you, habibti."

Sara put her phone away as Aaliyah rubbed her arm. The two of you make such a lovely couple, she told her.

Thank you, she replied.

I am the only single one here, it’s not fair. They were finally reaching the outskirts of the city, and Aaliyah pressed down on the gas pedal, getting free of the traffic. They would have a smooth four-lane highway until they turned off for the little town where they were staying. Sara relaxed in the seat next to her with a sigh.

Finally, we’re moving! You will find someone soon. Don’t rush it, cuz, Sara said and rubbed Aaliyah’s shoulder. Soraya giggled. Sara turned to look at her. Why is she giggling? she asked.

She has been messaging her husband non-stop since we got in the car, Kaleena said.

You see, everyone is happy, Aaliyah said with a little sadness in her voice. Kaleena and Keira had both gotten engaged the previous New Year’s Eve, but they weren’t quite as infatuated with their fiancés as Soraya was with Amir.

You're a beautiful girl. You won't be single for long, Keira said.

If I can find someone, you can, and you will. There is no need to rush, Sara said as she sipped her drink. Suddenly they heard the quick whoop whoop of a siren. Aaliyah looked in the rear-view mirror and saw a police car behind them with its lights flashing.

Is that siren for us? Soraya asked, her head popping up.

She finally lifts her head up from her phone, Kaleena joked. Soraya laughed and put the phone in her purse. She had been married to Amir for a year, and they were still in their newlywed phase.

Aaliyah saw the police car flash its headlights, and the siren gave another burst of sound. She slowed and put on her turn signal, showing she was pulling off to the side of the road. She hoped the car would just whizz right on past them, but no. The police car stopped behind them.

We were probably going too fast, Keira said.

Oh, maybe. Aaliyah hadn’t been watching the speedometer. Tariq and Amir always told her she drove too fast, but she’d never paid them much attention. Maybe she should have.

Check him out, Sara said and nodded in the direction of the police officer as he approached the driver’s side. Aaliyah opened the window and looked at the officer. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She simply stared at him. Joseph. She was almost positive it was Joseph. She dropped her gaze to his nametag and read his last name. J. Samara.

Her first love. The only person she’d ever slept with, back when all that mattered was what her heart told her to do, not her brain. Then their paths had diverged, and she’d suffered the kind of heartbreak only a first love could cause. She’d wondered what had happened to him ever since.

She could see some answers for herself. He’d filled out, become chiseled, square-jawed and stern. His dark eyes still held hints of moss green and desert gold. And his lips—just looking at them revived the feel of them on hers.

He was staring right back at her. Help!

Good afternoon, officer. Is there a problem? Sara asked, leaning forward and speaking across Aaliyah.

He blinked and cleared his throat. Miss, you were driving over the speed limit, he finally said. I need to see your driver’s license.

His voice had deepened since high school, Aaliyah noted. It made her belly rumble now. The three women in the back seat leaned forward to look at him.

Were we? Aaliyah asked and cleared her throat. I guess I lost track, once I got out of the city traffic. She ripped her gaze away from his face to search for her license and registration. Did he recognize her? Her heart twisted at the thought that he might not. Surely seeing her name on her license would remind him.

Is it hard being a police officer? Keira asked cheekily, completely oblivious to Aaliyah’s emotional hurricane.

It has its moments, he replied.

It looks like you can handle it, Kaleena said.

He looks built for the job, Sara said with a grin.

Aaliyah looked at her wide-eyed and tried to communicate to her friend that she just wanted to get through this quickly without saying the words out loud.

You ladies sound like trouble, he said. Aaliyah handed him her license. She felt a tugging feeling in her chest as their eyes met. The corner of his mouth quirked up for a fraction of a second, the hint of a smile that seemed to be only for her. Just the way he used to look at her.

Oh, we’re not, Sara said with a mischievous smile on her face.

He smiled as he inspected the documents, which gave Aaliyah a chance to study him. Sara was right. His muscles filled out the uniform well. He had thick, dark hair that curled slightly at his ears. He used to wear it longer, but she supposed he had to keep it short for his job. He handed the documents back to Aaliyah.

I’ll let you off with a warning this time, he said as he stared at her. Please be more careful. It would be a shame if you were in an accident. And I can’t make any promises about what might happen if we meet again.

He walked away.

Bye, the other four chorused together as Aaliyah buried her head in her hands. She had no idea what had just happened. No idea if he remembered her. Or if his parting words had been some kind of hint. There was probably some rule about not bringing up previous relationships when he was talking to someone who broke the law.

That is one handsome man, Sara said. Aaliyah shook her head as she started the engine.

I think he knows you think so, Aaliyah said.

Me? You were so taken by him, you could barely speak. The other girls laughed and agreed.

It wasn’t that. He just looked familiar, is all. Aaliyah decided she would hold on to this secret for a little while longer. She needed to sit with it before letting the others in on the story. She knew they’d be full of questions and teasing, and she wasn’t ready for that.

Well, he was staring at you too, Soraya said. Maybe you’ve met before.

He didn’t even care about us teasing him, Sara added.

Oh, he’s just my first love, driven away by my family’s expectations. It’s nothing.

But it wasn’t nothing. Not in the slightest.

2

Aaliyah spotted the resort’s sign just outside a pretty little town. She noted several cute shops and appealing restaurants. Strings of fairy lights were strung along the storefronts.

Eager to get checked in, she turned into the luxury hotel’s driveway and pulled up in front of the main entrance. A valet and two bellmen approached, ready to manage their luggage and park the car.