The Sheikh and the Christmas Bride. Susan Mallery

      He smiled slowly. “Tell me everything.”

      Chapter One

      Prince As’ad of El Deharia expected his world to run smoothly. He hired his staff with that expectation, and for the most part, they complied. He enjoyed his work at the palace and his responsibilities. The country was growing, expanding, and he oversaw the development of the infrastructure. It was a compelling vocation that took serious thought and dedication.

      Some of his friends from university thought he should use his position as a prince and a sheik to enjoy life, but As’ad did not agree. He didn’t have time for frivolity. If he had one weakness, it was his affection for his aunt Lina. Which explained why he agreed to see her when she burst into his offices without an appointment. A decision, he would think many weeks later, that caused him nothing but trouble.

      “As’ad,” Lina said as she hurried into his office, “you must come at once.”

      As’ad saved his work on the computer before asking, “What is wrong?”

      “Everything.” His normally calm aunt was flushed and trembling. “There is trouble at the orphan school. A chieftain is in from the desert. He’s demanding he be allowed to take three sisters. People are fighting, the girls don’t want to go with him, the teachers are getting involved and one of the nuns is threatening to jump from the roof if you don’t come and help.”

      As’ad rose. “Why me?”

      “You’re a wise and thoughtful leader,” Lina said, not quite meeting his gaze. “Your reputation for fairness makes you the obvious choice.”

      Or his aunt was playing him, As’ad thought, staring at the woman who had been like a mother to him for most of his life. Lina enjoyed getting her way and she wasn’t above using drama to make that happen. Was she this time? Although he couldn’t imagine why she would need his help at a school.

      She bit her lower lip. “There really is trouble. Please come.”

      Theatrics he could ignore, but a genuine request? Not possible. He walked around his desk and took her arm to lead her out of his office. “We will take my car.”

      Fifteen minutes later As’ad wished he’d been out of the country when his aunt had gone looking for assistance. The school was in an uproar.

      Fifteen or so students huddled in groups, crying loudly. Several teachers tried to comfort them, but they, too, were in tears. An elderly chieftain and his men stood by the window, talking heatedly, while a petite woman with hair the color of fire stood in front of three sobbing girls.

      As’ad glanced at his aunt. “No one seems to be on the roof.”

      “I’m sure things have calmed down,” she told him. “Regardless of that detail, you can clearly see there is a problem.”

      He returned his gaze to the woman protecting the girls. “She doesn’t look like a nun,” he murmured, taking in the long, red hair and the stubborn expression on her face.

      “Kayleen is a teacher here,” his aunt said, “which is very close to being a nun.”

      “So you lied to me.”

      Lina brushed away the accusation with a flick of her hand. “I may have exaggerated slightly.”

      “You are fortunate we have let go of the old ways,” he told his aunt. “The ones that defined a woman’s conduct.”

      His aunt smiled. “You love me too much to ever let harm befall me, As’ad.”

      Which was true, he thought as he walked into the room.

      He ignored the women and children and moved over to the tall old man.

      “Tahir,” he said, nodding his head in a gesture of respect. “You do not often leave the desert for the city. It is an honor to see you here now. Is your stay a long one?”

      Tahir was obviously furious, but he knew his place and bowed. “Prince As’ad. At last a voice of reason. I had hoped to make my journey to the city as brief as possible, but this, this woman—” he pointed at the redhead still guarding the children “—seeks to interfere. I am here because of duty. I am here to show the hospitality of the desert. Yet she understands nothing and defies me at every turn.”

      Tahir’s voice shook with outrage and fury. He was not used to being denied and certainly not by a mere woman. As’ad held in a sigh. He already knew nothing about this was going to be easy.

      “I will defy you with my dying breath, if I have to,” the teacher in question said, from her corner of the room. “What you want to do is inhuman. It’s cruel and I won’t allow it.” She turned to As’ad and glared at him. “There’s nothing you can say or do to make me.”

      The three girls huddled close to her. They were obviously sisters, with blond hair and similar features. Pretty girls, As’ad thought absently. They would grow into beauties and be much trouble for their father.

      Or would have been, he amended, remembering this was an orphanage and that meant the girls had no parents.

      “And you are…” he asked, his voice deliberately imperious. His first job was to establish authority and gain control.

      “Kayleen James. I’m a teacher here.”

      She opened her mouth to continue speaking, but As’ad shook his head.

      “I will ask the questions,” he told her. “You will answer.”

      “But—”

      He shook his head again. “Ms. James, I am Prince As’ad. Is that name familiar to you?”

      The young woman glanced from him to his aunt and back. “Yes,” she said quietly. “You’re in charge of the country or something.”

      “Exactly. You are here on a work visa?”

      She nodded.

      “That work visa comes from my office. I suggest you avoid doing anything to make me rethink your place in my country.”

      She had dozens of freckles on her nose and cheeks. They became more visible as she paled. “You’re threatening me,” she breathed. “So what? You’ll deport me if I don’t let that horrible man have his way with these children? Do you know what he is going to do with them?”

      Her eyes were large. More green than blue, he thought until fresh tears filled them. Then the blue seemed more predominant.

      As’ad could list a thousand ways he would rather be spending his day. He turned to Tahir.

      “My friend,” he began, “what brings you to this place?”

      Tahir pointed at the girls. “They do. Their father was from my village. He left to go to school and never returned, but he was still one of us. Only recently have we learned of his death. With their mother gone, they have no one. I came to take them back to the village.”

      Kayleen took a step toward the older man. “Where you plan to separate them and have them grow up to be servants.”

      Tahir shrugged. “They are girls. Of little value. Yet several families in the village have agreed to take in one of them. We honor the memory of their father.” He looked at As’ad. “They will be treated well. They will carry my honor with them.”

      Kayleen raised her chin. “Never!” she announced. “You will never take them. It’s not right. The girls only have each other. They deserve to be together. They deserve a chance to have a real life.”

      As’ad thought longingly of his quiet, organized office and the simple problems of bridge design or economic development that awaited him.

      “Lina, stay with the girls,” he told his aunt. He pointed at Kayleen. “You—come with me.”

      Kayleen wasn’t sure she could go anywhere. Her whole body