The Sheikh's Collection. Оливия Гейтс

I am also growing impatient.”

      She pulled Sam up from her lap and turned him to face her. “What do you think about this whole thing, little boy? Should I say yes?”

      When the baby squealed in response, Adan said, “I do believe he agrees that you should.”

      She turned Sam around in her lap to face his father and held out her left hand. “I do believe you’re right.”

      After Adan slid the ring into place, he stood and motioned for Piper to join him. Then with baby Sam nestled between them, he kissed her softly and smiled. “I do love you, Piper. More than my MiG-20 jet.”

      He could be such a cad. A very cute cad. “And I love you more than my purple fluffy slippers that you always found so comical.”

      His ensuing smile soon disappeared. “On a serious note, as soon as we are wed, I want you to legally become Samuel’s mother.”

      “I would be honored,” she said. And she would.

      His expression remained overtly somber. “He has a right to know about Talia, although I am at a loss over what to tell him.”

      “That’s simple. When he’s old enough to understand, we’ll say that his mother loved him enough to give him up because she felt it was the best thing for him. And if I’ve learned anything at all, I suppose in some way that’s what my own mother did for me and Sunny. She wasn’t equipped for parenthood.”

      “But you are,” he said. “And I’ve come to realize that not knowing about Elena did not discount the fact she was always the best mother a man could ask for. She’s also a very good grandmother, and she is dying to have you as her daughter-in-law.”

      Piper couldn’t ask for more. “Any idea when we’re going to take care of the wedding business?”

      “As soon as possible. Perhaps before we return to Bajul.”

      “We could always hold the ceremony in the family backyard. I provide the groom, and my grandfather provides the shotgun.”

      Adan laughed as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “No need for that. I am a willing participant in establishing a future with you.”

      And very soon she would no longer be his pretend wife. She would be the real deal.

       Epilogue

      If a woman wanted to live in a palace, the gorgeous guy standing a few feet away could be just the man to make that come true. And three months ago he had—in a civil ceremony surrounded by her grandparents’ lush gardens, sans shotgun. Now Piper McAdams was more than ready to legitimately assume her role as his princess during the elaborate reception held in their honor.

      For the past twenty minutes, she’d been schmoozing with wealthy strangers while shamelessly studying her husband’s assets. He wore a navy suit adorned with military insignias, a pricey watch on his wrist and a wedding band on his left hand. His usually tousled dark brown hair had been neatly styled for the occasion, but it still complemented the slight shading of whiskers framing his mouth. And those dimples. She’d spotted them the first time she’d laid eyes on him six months ago in the Chicago hotel bar.

      And as it had been that night, he was currently speaking to a lithe blonde wearing a chic red sparkling dress, only she didn’t see this woman as a threat. In fact, she saw her as simply Madison Foster Mehdi, her sister-in-law and recent addition to Piper’s ever-expanding gal-pal club.

      Speaking of expanding, a woman dressed in flowing coral chiffon that didn’t completely hide a baby bump stood at the ballroom’s entrance. She’d come to call her Maysa while most called her queen, and aside from the duties that came along with the title, she served as Sam’s stellar doctor and Piper’s confidante. The man on her arm, also known as the king, hadn’t been as easy to get to know, yet he’d been warming up to his youngest brother’s wife, slowly but surely.

      All in all, Piper couldn’t be happier with her new family. And she couldn’t be more pleased when her husband started toward her with that sexy, confident gait that threatened to bring her to her knees.

      Once he reached her side, he leaned over and whispered, “I have another gift for you.”

      “Giving it to me now would be rather inappropriate, don’t you think?” she whispered back.

      He straightened and smiled. “I’ll reserve that gift for later when we are safely ensconced in our room. But this particular present is totally appropriate for the occasion.”

      Piper took a quick glance at her left hand. “I really think the boulder on my finger is quite sufficient, and so was the wonderful honeymoon in Naples.”

      “Have you forgotten our time on the beach?”

      She faked a frown. “All right, that thing you did to me on the beach was very unforgettable.”

      “I thought you enjoyed that thing.”

      She grinned. “I did!”

      He pressed a palm against the small of her back and feathered a kiss across her cheek. “Remain here while I retrieve your surprise.”

      As he headed across the room, Madison came to Piper’s side. “Where is he going in such a hurry?”

      “He says he has a gift for me.”

      “Oh, that,” Madison replied. “I was beginning to wonder when he was going to get to that.”

      Piper’s eyes went wide. “You know what it is?”

      “Yes, I do. In fact, I assisted in acquiring it. And don’t look so worried. You’ll love it.”

      Knowing Adan, she probably would. “I’m counting on it.”

      Madison momentarily scanned the crowd before bringing her attention back to Piper. “I haven’t seen Elena yet. She promised she’d come down once she had the babies put to bed.”

      “She told me she wanted to read them all a book.”

      “Good luck with that,” Madison said, followed by a laugh. “I’m not sure year-old twins and a six-month-old will fit in her lap.”

      “She enlisted Kira’s help,” Piper added. “And believe me, Kira is amazing. I’m not sure there’s anything she can’t do.”

      “Except hold on to a man,” Madison said. “At least according to her.”

      “A worthless man, maybe. She told me all about her broken engagement. Too bad we snatched up all the Mehdi brothers. She’d make a great sister-in-law.”

      Madison grinned. “Maybe there’s one hiding in the closet somewhere. Of course, there is their cousin, Rayad, although he’s all into the military thing.”

      Piper still had a lot to learn about the family. “You’d better hope there’s not a secret Mehdi hiding out somewhere. That means you’d be in charge of handling that scandal.”

      “True.” Madison pointed at the double doors to her left, where Adan now stood. “Your husband is about to reveal your surprise, so wait and watch and get ready to be wowed.”

      Piper kept her gaze trained on the doors, wondering what might actually come through them. A new sports car? A pet elephant? Maybe even a...sister?

      The minute Sunny caught sight of Piper, she practically ran across the room and engaged her in a voracious hug. And as if they’d been propelled back into the days of their youth, they momentarily jumped up and down until Piper realized exactly where they were and who she now was.

      She stopped the girlish celebration, but she couldn’t stop her smile. “Sunny McAdams, what are you doing here?”

      “Answering your new husband’s invitation.”