Free The Sheikh's American Bride (The Sharqi Sheikhs Series Book 2) by Leslie North

shoulder a reassuring rub, “Ignore them.”
     
    Zoe smiled at him. “Thank you for not judging me,” she told him as she squeezed his hand. Taleb shrugged his shoulders. As they talked, some of the students were turning around and looking at them. Clearly some were unhappy that Zoe was working with him.
     
    Shaking his head, he wondered at the petty behavior of the other students. What was it that seemed to upset them the most? Her actions did not affect anyone other than herself, what business was it of theirs who she slept with. Ignoring the whispers and stares, he briefly wondered if this was what Claire saw when they were out together.

Chapter 16
     
    The night of the charity gala dinner had arrived and Taleb wished that Claire was there to join him, but she had yet to return his calls and no one would give him any information at the library. Dressed in a tailored grey Armani suit that matched his eyes and a crisp white shirt, Malil chose to dress all in black and the two were a formidable pair as they walked into the ballroom.
     
    Looking around at all the finely dressed people, many of whom looked like they’d be more comfortable dressed the way Claire preferred, casual and comfortable, as opposed to the elegant dresses and formal suits. Taleb once again wished that Claire was on his arm.
     
    “Will you bid on anyone?” Taleb asked Malil, as he watched several women parade past them, tilting their heads to look at the two men.
     
    “No.” Malil shook his head.
     
    “Why not?” His friend had a tendency to be stiff and unpredictable.
     
    “I have not seen anyone I would like to bid on.”
     
    “Fair enough.” Taleb patted Malil on the shoulder. He looked up and saw Dean Parker approaching him with a big smile on his face. Taleb narrowed his gaze slightly. He was never keen on speaking to him because the Dean always appeared too eager.
     
    “Sheik Sharqi, what an honor it is to have you here,” the Dean told him a little too loudly, as he held out his hand to shake. “I can’t tell you how appreciative we are for your family’s sizable donation to our university. Those funds will be put to excellent use.” Taleb reluctantly shook his hand and resisted the urge to wipe his hand on his pants after.
     
    “Thank you,” he replied.
     
    “Are you enjoying yourself?”
     
    “So far, yes.”
     
    A server approached them with a tray of Champagne glasses as each man took a glass.
     
    “This is our fifth charity auction and they’ve been highly successful in the past.” Holding his glass up, “Here’s to a great night,” he toasted as Malil and Taleb looked at each other.
     
    “Cheers,” they both said reluctantly. The Dean started telling them about what he planned to do with the money from the current donation drives.
     
    Taleb was glad that it was time for dinner as he had long since grown bored listening to the Dean. He sat at a large round table with Malil and several wealthy alumni who peppered him with questions about himself, his studies and his family. They were all fascinated by him, which had him wishing for Claire’s company. While she may talk too much at times, he was never bored around her.
     
    “I have never met a sheik before,” one of the women said to him, breaking him from his thoughts of Claire, as she attempted to flirt with him.
     
    Taleb never knew how best to respond as it often turned into a cultural lesson when he had to explain that only tourists rode camels, everyone else drove cars. Malil always got a kick out of the odd questions people would ask and enjoyed teasing Taleb for being so unfriendly, but he knew that he was the same. That was why they got along so well.
     
    “Isn't this your lucky day?” Malil asked her as he winked. The woman laughed and placed her hand on her chest.
     
    “It is indeed,” she said and blushed.
     
    After the dinner, servers cleared all the dishes and passed out auction paddles with numbers on them. A woman in a