The Sheikh's Collection. Оливия Гейтс

And after she glimpsed the tall man pushing the stroller up the guesthouse walkway, she blinked twice to make sure her imagination hadn’t commandeered her vision.

      But there he was, the man who’d haunted her dreams for the past four weeks. He wore a crisp tailored black shirt and casual beige slacks, his perfect jaw covered by a shading of whiskers, his slightly ruffled thick dark hair as sexy as ever. And she looked like something the cat had dragged into the garage.

      She barely had time to remove the paint-dotted apron and smooth the sides of her lopsided ponytail before the bell chimed. After drawing in a cleansing breath, she opened the door and concealed her shock with a smile. “To what do I owe this honor, Your Highness?”

      Adan reached into the stroller and retrieved the baby who had stolen Piper’s heart from the moment she’d first held him. “This future pilot insisted on paying a personal visit to the artist who presented us with such a fine painting.”

      She couldn’t believe how cute Sam looked in the miniature flight suit and tiny beige boots. “He really said that, huh?”

      “He did.”

      “Wow. I had no idea three-month-old babies could talk.”

      “He’s an exceptional child.”

      Born to an exceptionally charming father. A charm he’d clearly passed on to his son, evident when Sam kicked his legs and smiled, revealing his inherited dimples. “Well, don’t just stand there, boys. Come inside before you both melt from the heat.”

      Balancing Sam in one arm, Adan leaned over, retrieved the diaper bag from the basket behind the stroller and slipped the strap over his shoulder. “We are accustomed to the heat, but this humidity is excruciating, so I will gladly accept your offer.”

      Once he stepped into the foyer, Piper showed him into the small living area and gestured toward the floral sofa. “Have a seat, as soon as you give me the kid.”

      After he handed Samuel off to her, he claimed the end of the couch and set the bag at his feet. “This is a very comfortable yet quaint abode.”

      “A nice way of saying small,” she said as she sat in the club chair across from him and gently bounced the baby in her lap. “But the rent is cheap. Actually, it’s free. My grandparents live in the main house and this is the guest quarters.”

      “Yes, I know. Your grandfather greeted me as soon as we left the car.”

      Great. “Not with a shotgun, I hope.”

      He laughed. “Actually, he wasn’t armed. In fact, he was quite cordial. He’s still very pleased that he’s been granted the water conservation project, and that’s going quite well, by the way.”

      “So I’ve heard,” she said. “I spoke with Rafiq a few days ago.”

      “He never mentioned that to me.”

      “He had no reason to mention it, Adan. He’s well aware that once I met the terms of our arrangement I’d go back to business as usual.”

      “And I presume you’ve done that?”

      “Actually, I’m giving a few private art lessons, and I’m looking for a place to open a small gallery. Interestingly enough, my grandfather is willing to invest in the venture.”

      “How did you convince him to let you leave the company?”

      “I told him that it was high time I had a life of my own that included pursuing my personal aspirations. And then I bribed my grandmother into taking up the cause by helping her with a fund-raiser. Between the two of us, he finally caved.”

      “I’m glad you’re happy, Piper,” he said, a solemn note to his voice.

      She could think of one other thing that would make her happy, but that was only a pipe dream. “I am, for the most part. Are you?”

      He rubbed a palm over his jaw. “I’m happy that I have a son and a fulfilling career. Aside from that—”

      When Sam began to fuss, Adan withdrew a bottle from the tote, uncapped it and handed to her. “It seems he’s getting hungry more often these days. The books I’ve read clearly state that an increase in appetite in an infant signals a growth spurt.”

      “Spoken like the consummate father,” Piper said, bringing the return of Adan’s smile.

      “I am certainly trying my best.”

      “And you’re succeeding,” she said as she laid the baby in the crook of her arm and watched as he downed the formula with gusto. “He’s definitely grown. Before you know it, he’ll be riding a bike. I can’t wait to see that.” The statement left her mouth before she’d considered how unrealistic she sounded.

      “Perhaps he should learn to walk first.”

      That drew her attention back to Adan. “Yes, you’re right. Time is too short to wish it away.” After a bout of awkward silence, she added, “How is Elena these days?”

      He leaned back against the sofa and draped an arm over the back of the cushions. “She is doing well. We’ve had several discussions about my father. She insists he was proud of my accomplishments, and claims he had difficulty expressing his emotions. I’m going to endeavor not to do that with Samuel. He deserves to know that his father supports him at every turn.”

      “And I’m positive you’ll manage that just fine.”

      “You always have had more faith in me than most.” He studied her eyes for a long moment. “I didn’t realize how much I would miss your company once you left. But I have missed you. Very much.”

      She had no idea what to say or how to react. She certainly knew better than to hope. “That reminds me. I never saw where you released the statement outlining the reasons behind my departure.”

      His gaze drifted away. “That is because I never issued that particular statement. We led the press to believe you were on a sabbatical in the States, visiting family.”

      That made no sense to her at all. “What was the point in delaying the truth? You’re eventually going to have to explain why I left and never came back.”

      Finally, he brought his attention back to her, some unnamed emotion in his eyes. “Perhaps that will not be necessary.”

      She put the now-empty bottle on the side table and set Sam upright in her lap. “You’re hoping that if you sweep it under the rug, everyone will forget I ever existed?”

      “I am hoping after you hear what I have to say, you will realize my mission entails alleviating that necessity.”

      The man insisted on speaking in riddles. “By all means, continue. I’m waiting with bated breath for clarification.”

      He pushed off the sofa and stood before her. “And I pray I have not waited too long to do this.”

      As if she’d been thrust in the middle of some surreal dream, Piper watched in awe as Adan fished a black velvet box from his pants pocket and lowered to one knee. She couldn’t catch her breath when he opened that box to reveal a massive princess-cut diamond ring. “Piper McAdams, I have never met a woman quite like you, and I have never been in love until you. I probably do not deserve your forgiveness for my careless disregard, but I sincerely believe we both deserve to be together.” He tugged the ring from the holder and held it up. “Now, will you do me the honor of being my real wife, and a mother to my son?”

      Heaven help her, the cat that had dragged her into the garage now had hold of her tongue. She could only stare at the glistening diamond, awed by Adan’s declaration of love and the knowledge the fairy tale could soon come true. But then came the questions. Should she take this leap of faith? Could she trust that he really wanted her as his wife, not only as a mother for his child? Or was she overanalyzing everything? Then suddenly the baby reached back, grabbed a wayward tendril of hair at her nape and tugged hard, eliciting her involuntary yelp and Adan’s scowl.