The Sheikh's Christmas Maid: Shadid Sheikhs series, #1

By Leslie North

A holiday fling erupts into a passionate affair…

 

The snow is falling, the fires are blazing, and Poppy Milenne is hard at work. She and the other house maids are busy preparing for a wealthy guest. But she never dreamed it would be someone young and handsome, like Sheikh Shadid. This playboy prince ignites Poppy's romantic soul, and kindles her thirst for adventure. But giving in to temptation would mean risking her job…and her heart.

 

For Sheikh Samir Shadid, Christmas reminds him of a time he'd rather forget. And what better way to do so than with a beautiful woman in his arms. His father may have sent him away for safety, but that doesn't mean he can't enjoy himself while he's here. When the beautiful American maid catches his eye, Samir is determined to seduce her before Christmas Day.

 

Samir may be looking for a holiday fling, but Poppy soon becomes something more. And the more time she spends with him, the harder he falls in love.

But what happens when the holidays end, and Samir must return home?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leslie North
• Release date: May 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223692911

Book preview

1

P oppy!

I’m. Coming, Poppy huffed out under her breath, stretching to fit the sheet on the mattress.

There was more activity in the past hour at the house than the entire time that Poppy had worked there. Emine, the older house manager, shouted out orders, and the small staff jumped to do her bidding. The woman, with her black-and-gray-streaked hair and her weathered tan skin, was terrifying when she wanted to be. Like now.

Poppy! she roared. Where is that girl? She’s never around when I call.

Poppy rolled her eyes, straightened from the bed she was making, and considered making a run for it. There was already too much on her list to finish in the next hour, and she knew that Emine was about to ask her to do even more work.

This was supposed to be an easy job. When she’d graduated from her study-abroad program in Vienna, she’d decided to keep traveling. There were few anthropology jobs available for someone with as little experience as she had, and she wanted more independent study before she went back for her Master’s degree. Of course, that was before money became more of an issue than experience.

Finding herself in Al-Harmid, a small independent country in the Middle East, she’d found one of the only jobs that paid cash and didn’t require a work visa. Granted, she was subjected to an intense background check and had to sign a nondisclosure agreement, but it was worth it. As a maid for the royal family in one of their rarely used homes, she’d spent the past six months getting paid great money to do menial light housework. That was until a call came in three hours ago that someone from the family was on their way.

Poppy! Emine shouted again.

Coming, Poppy shouted, as she smoothed the last wrinkle out of the sheet and skipped down the stairs. Emine was busy putting away groceries and glared at her.

Where have you been, girl? I’ve been calling you for half an hour!

Poppy gritted her teeth and refrained from reminding Emine that at twenty-four, Poppy was hardly a girl. I was making the beds upstairs. I still need to get the guest room together.

When you finish with that, I need you to take the trash out back and try to find the delivery boy. He’s supposed to be here with the rest of the things the sheikh requires. Emine pulled at the apron strings around her wide girth and frowned. Well? Get moving, girl!

Yes, ma’am. Poppy scurried back up the stairs again. Emine always had an abrasive attitude, but she was usually more lenient. Poppy didn’t know much about the royal Shadid family, but only a VIP would make Emine panic.

Must be nice to be royalty, Poppy muttered.

The house was a large cabin nestled in a mountainous region along the border. While it looked rustic from the outside, it was completely luxurious inside. Poppy could easily imagine it gracing the cover of some sophisticated designer magazine. The sheets in her arms were a high-end thread count that felt like silk against her skin, and the furniture had designer labels that even she recognized. The king-sized canopy bed in the primary bedroom was truly a work of art with the four sculpted posts and matching head and foot boards. Even the imposing fireplace couldn’t dwarf the bed. The beautiful, handmade silk rug in the center probably cost more than she made in an entire year.

Two other bedrooms were nearly as nice, and she had to clean them every single day. All three of them had secret openings to a panic room, and Poppy didn’t think even Emine knew the codes to open the doors. She smirked slightly wondering whether Emine ever had the urge to dust the panic room.

Poppy made quick work of the beds in the two guest rooms at the end of the hall. Not as opulent as the primary bedroom, they still looked like rooms she’d find at a five-star hotel, complete with lavish ensuite bathrooms.

She was the only employee required to live on-site full-time. It was one of the reasons that she’d taken the job. She didn’t have a car to get around, and although Al-Harmid had more lenient rules when it came to females than some other places she’d been, she knew that a woman, living alone, would invite unwelcome attention. Additionally, the free room and board made it possible for her to save everything she earned, and she was halfway to covering the cost of her tuition. If she went home, she could possibly have a place to stay for free while she worked on her Master’s degree, but that would have its own set of complications that she didn’t want to consider. Shaking her head, Poppy reminded herself, You can’t go home again. Not now.

Pulling the gray coverlet over the bed, she took a moment to glance out the window. Night had fallen across the sky, and the moonlight glittered across the blanketed snow, giving the illusion of diamonds. The snow had started three days ago and had been falling almost constantly ever since. There was a little more than a week before Christmas, and Poppy rubbed her chest, feeling that annual heartache that always surfaced around this time.

At least here, where Christmas was sparsely celebrated, there weren’t so many reminders for her.

Poppy!

Emine’s shrill voice cut through her thoughts, and she hardened her heart and turned from the window. Poppy hoped that at least the sheikh would be better company than Emine. The old woman seemed to downright despise her sometimes.

All finished, she called back. I’m coming. Gathering the old sheets in her arms, her eyes swept over the room one last time before she hurried down the stairs. She’d take out the trash, call the delivery service, start a load of wash, and start scrubbing down the bathroom. Although they were already pristine since no one used them, Emine said that each room had to be freshly detailed before the sheikh arrived.

The elder house manager scowled at her, but she didn’t say anything as Poppy grabbed the oversized trash bag. Honestly, where had all this trash come from anyway?

Grunting under the weight, Poppy could only slide the bag across the floor and pray that it didn’t break open and leak everywhere.

Like a stick—way too skinny, Emine muttered. Poppy pretended not to hear her.

Opening the back door, she braced herself against the cold chill of the night air. The garbage bin was around the side of the house, but she hadn’t thought to grab a jacket. Blowing out her breath and shivering, she pulled the bag through the door and winced when it slammed behind her.

It’s only for a few days, she muttered through chattering teeth. Then everything will go back to normal, and it’ll be peaceful and quiet again.

Peaceful and quiet. She could go back to her books and dream about a future when she didn’t have to think about money.

The woods around the house were eerily quiet, and she glanced around uneasily. Normally, she wasn’t bothered by being alone, but tonight, she felt jumpy. Headlights washed over the trees as a car pulled up to the house. Poppy sighed in relief. At least the delivery guy was back. That was one more thing she could mark off her list.

There was a sound of muffled voices as Poppy grunted and slid the garbage bag along the snowy ground. When she reached the large bin, she opened the lid and took a deep breath. Short by most standards, Poppy would have to haul the bag up to get it into the bin.

Hey, she yelled in the direction of the delivery boy. Can I get a little help here? Silence met her request, and she frowned. Hello? Anyone there?

When no one answered her, she rolled her eyes and pushed her shoulders back. Was there no chivalry in this country? Fine. I’ll do it myself. Bending her knees, she lifted the heavy bag up and tried to swing it up. The bag shifted at the last minute and fell to the side. There was a male chuckle as she and the bag tumbled into the snow.

Are you okay? an amused voice asked.

The cold snow seeped through her clothes, and she gritted her teeth. "Do I look like I’m okay? she hissed as she struggled to her feet. I’m sprawled out in the snow. And where on earth have you been? You were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago with the supplies. Emine wants your head on a spike."

Does she now?

Poppy finally looked up and inhaled sharply. Delivery boy wasn’t an accurate description. The figure in front of her was all man. Tall and sculpted with gorgeous dark skin and glittering blue eyes, there was no shame in his face as he stared down at her in frank appreciation. Her near-frozen body warmed instantly as her cheeks flushed. Poppy hadn’t been this turned on by a man in a long time.

Turned on was probably an understatement. Poppy wanted to wrap her legs around the gorgeous man and let him take her against the side of the house.

I apologize for not assisting you, he said in a deep voice as he bent down to help her up. I did only pull up.

Embarrassed at her carnal reaction and praying fervently that he didn’t notice, she snatched her hand away and glared at him. Fine. Go inside and see Emine.

He gave her a lopsided smile. "You should probably go inside as well. You’re wet and cold." His eyes fell to her chest, and she immediately crossed her arms in front of her. She was wearing a bra. There was no way he could tell that her nipples were pointing and aching for attention.

Could he?

Chuckling softly, he moved back around the house, and Poppy stared at his retreating backside. He didn’t even throw the garbage bag away for her. Rudeness!

Shivering, she braced herself again and managed to throw the bag into the bin. Slamming the lid back down, she hurried back inside. As much as she wanted to chastise the deliveryman for not helping her, she had too much on her plate.

As she burst through the door, she breathed in deeply and welcomed the warmth of the kitchen. Emine was nowhere to be found. Pleased that she’d have no interruptions, she hurried to the laundry room only to stop short when she passed the living room. The gorgeous deliveryman was standing next to an even bigger man, and they spoke in hushed tones with Emine.

Poppy, Emine said suddenly and waved her hands. Come, come.

Surprised, Poppy let Emine grab her arm and pull her in. The older woman actually sounded pleasant and professional for a change.

This is Poppy Milenne. She’s my live-in staff member. If you’ll only allow one of us to stay, she’s your best choice. She’s a proficient cook and housekeeper.

Proficient? Did Emine just compliment her?

Poppy. Interesting name, the deliveryman said slowly.

I didn’t choose it, Poppy snapped.

Poppy! Emine gasped in horror.

She’s American? the other man asked with a frown.

She’ll do, the deliveryman said as he nodded approvingly.

What is going on? Poppy asked in frustration.

Poppy, Emine said nervously. This is Sheikh Samir Shadid. He’s the youngest son to Crowned Sheikh Jibreel Shadid.

Sheikh? The person she’d taken for a deliveryman was actually the royal VIP who would be staying here?

A million thoughts ran through her head. She probably should have lowered her eyes or bowed her head or curtsied. She certainly should apologize.

Instead, she swallowed hard and met his gaze. Oops.

2

Oops. Samir couldn’t help but laugh when he thought of the horror-stricken look on the beautiful woman’s face. He’d expected an apology, but she had simply scampered away. The older housekeeper stared in dismay after her, but Melka cleared his throat, and Emine snapped back to attention.

I’m sorry about that. I’d be more than happy to replace her if you’re not pleased, she stuttered.

Melka Fehisa, his bodyguard, nodded in