The Sheikh's Borrowed Baby (Book Three): The Sheikh's Borrowed Baby, #3

By Holly Rayner

He needed a baby to close a business deal,
But Sheikh Karim is about to get way more than he bargained for…

Karim Al-Ahsan has a problem; he's caught in a lie, having told an old-fashioned business partner that he's a family man, with a wife and baby of his own. Now with little option other than to find and hire a mother and son to portray his family, Karim searches for the perfect candidates to prove that he's a man of integrity…

Hallie Jameson is a single mom, working double-shifts to make ends meet. When a charismatic stranger saunters into her life, offering her an enormous check for just one evening of her and her son's time, she's powerless to resist. Swept away for a weekend of luxury, and a brief taste of how the other half live, this Philadelphia nurse soon realizes that she doesn't want the fantasy to end.

As Karim falls deeper into his lie—and as Hallie falls ever deeper for her fake husband—it soon becomes clear that neither party will walk away unscathed. Can Karim figure out that this little family isn't just a prop in his spun fiction, but a warm and precious treasure, that'll finally make him whole?

This is the third book in The Sheikh's Borrowed Baby series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Holly Rayner Romance
• Release date: Mar 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201436148

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Whether it was five of fifty minutes later when she made her escape, she wasn’t sure. She had fled to the break room—thankfully empty, at that hour—poured a cup of coffee with shaking hands, and paced while she consumed it. Her thoughts might have been a series of aircrafts in a crowded flight plan, buzzing around overhead, so flustered was she; her veins felt filled with ice water, and she was light-headed from her irregular breaths.

What were the chances?

She plunked herself down at the rickety table, head in hands, trying to remember how the conversation had ensued after that first ghastly moment of recognition.

Medical treatment must necessarily come first; she could not deal with the personal aspect of her surprise meeting with Chip Griffin until she had determined just what was going on. Blood pressure readings, pulses, monitors, this check and that one; information immediately detailed to the attending physician who had just made an appearance.

After a thorough examination, Dr. Nelson had given the opinion that this was probably not a heart attack but anxiety, heartburn, or both. A lot going on? Ah. Celebrating a wedding anniversary, eh? And a supposed retirement, as well? Possibly this was just the result of too much partying. But the pain had eased for the present, yes? Well, good. He wanted Mr. Griffin kept in bed, and he would return a little later to follow up, after the patient had had time to rest.

And that was when Chip Griffin had ripped into her.

What the hell! he’d roared.

Hallie winced, now, remembering his expression and his tone.

Please, Mr. Griffin—Chip—it isn’t what you think, she’d tried to plead, all the while attempting to quiet his fury and keep his condition—whatever it might have been—from worsening.

You don’t know at all what I’m thinkin’, young lady, he had snarled back at her. A nurse? You’re a nurse in this hospital? Can you kindly explain your position?

I’m—well, yes, I’m a nurse, in this hospital, actually, and I’ve—

And what about Karim Al Ahsan? And your position as a society wife? Are you married to him, or ain’t you?

Closing her eyes in despair, Hallie had swallowed hard and tried to answer.

Well, I’m not exactly what you—

Ha! He’d pounced. Figuratively, of course. Were it possible, and he physically able, she’d feared he might have leaped over the rails and attacked her, so purple was he with rage.

A lie. That whole show you put on Saturday night was a lie!

Sir, please don’t get yourself upset. You’re here for medical care, and we’re doing our best to provide it, but you mustn’t—

From right here in this bed, things are not lookin’ too damn good for you and your—and your—exactly what title should I give that lying snake you passed off as a husband, anyway?

The curtain surrounding his hospital bed had provided a semblance of physical privacy. But sound carried, and she’d known everyone who could was probably listening with avid interest to every word.

Oh, don’t be that way, I beg you!

Poor Hallie had been miserable. Supposedly, the contract had been signed, the deal was done. But what if…? Oh, dear Lord, what if?

The old mind might have been clairvoyant, reading her mind to yank every swirling thought right out of her brain so he could pore over and dissect them to his satisfaction.

Everything has been signed, Hallie Whatever-Your-Real-Name-Is. It’s true that we’ve finished our business, the Sheikh and I. Griffin had leered in a manner that had struck terror into her wobbly heart. But only to a point. You ever hear of the right of rescission? Yeah? Then you know I’ve got me three days—three whole days—to cancel the whole damned shebang.

But, Chip—Mr. Griffin—you can’t blame Karim for this mess. I beg you to reconsider. She had wrung her hands until they were nearly red.

Well, who the hell should I blame, missy? You? the patient had demanded. No, he lied to me all the way through, claimin’ he was such a family man, all gung-ho about buyin’ my company and doin’ somethin’ good with his project. Well, he ain’t pullin’ the wool over my eyes any longer. I have had it with such rotten cheap tricks. I’m done, do you hear me? Done! Consider the sale canceled, for all and good!

She had caught her breath on a deep surge of pain. All that Karim had worked for,