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

gentleman.” Zoe rubbed Taleb's arm again.
     
    “I try.” He smiled at her as they chatted about different things. He was surprised to find out that she spoke Arabic fluently and had visited his country as a child. He could not believe how much they had in common.
     
    She really was the ideal candidate to become his wife, as he wondered why Malil did not bring her name up earlier. Perhaps it was the stigma associated with her affair; he would have to ask him about it later.
     
    As they talked, while part of him kept trying to concentrate on the very beautiful Zoe, his mind kept wandering back to Claire. Why hadn’t she returned his calls? Why did she leave without saying anything? He had so much that he wanted to share with her, where was she?

Chapter 17
     
    Claire was enjoying her new job in the research library at MIT. After sneaking away from Taleb that morning, she’d wandered aimlessly around campus too wrapped up in her thoughts to go home. She ended up at the Commons and overheard two staff members discussing an opening in a library at MIT.
     
    Well, if the Dean wasn’t going to put a transfer through for her, maybe she could find a position on her own. Rushing home, she quickly showered, changed into something presentable and drove over to the university to speak to the head librarian who was pleased to take her on immediately.
     
    Since the law library had yet to find a replacement for her, she agreed to work the night of the Gala, as she was sure that no one would show up that she didn’t want to see. While she felt guilty avoiding Taleb, she knew that it was for the best.
     
    She had fallen for him and she needed to put as much distance between them as possible to avoid her heart breaking. She was glad that he intended to return home after securing a bride because she really wasn’t sure how much longer she could avoid him. Several of the staff members had told her that both he and Malil had been to the library looking for her.
     
    Claire stood behind the reception desk processing book requests when two of her coworkers walked into the library.
     
    “Claire, you cannot believe what just happened,” Tracy, another librarian, said excitedly as they approached her.
     
    “What?” Claire asked, stacking books into a pile.
     
    “The auction made a splash,” Martha, another librarian, told her
     
    “What do you mean? What happened?” Claire was suddenly intrigued.
     
    “Zoe Donahue was the talk of the event.”
     
    Claire rolled her eyes. It was bad enough that Zoe was everything Claire wasn’t, she had to steal her boyfriend, Daniel, too.
     
    “Must we discuss her?” Claire mumbled under her breath.
     
    “Well, she was part of the auction,” Martha began.
     
    “Was she now?” Claire asked sarcastically.
     
    “Yes, and she received the highest bid.”
     
    Claire turned to check out a student’s books so the women couldn’t see how much talking about Zoe affected her.
     
    “Guess how high.” Tracy said to her.
     
    “How high?”
     
    “Ten thousand dollars.”
     
    Claire raised her eyebrows. “That is a lot of money. Who was it?” she asked.
     
    “The new hot guy; Taleb Sharqi,” Martha said. Claire shook her head. There was no way Martha had just said Taleb. No way, it couldn’t be.
     
    “Who?” Claire wanted to hear it again to make sure.
     
    “Sheik Taleb Sharqi, the cute Middle Eastern guy,” Tracy told her.
     
    Claire was speechless. Of all the guys at the university, it had to be Taleb who bid on Zoe. She felt as though someone had stabbed her in the chest. The same woman that had slept with her boyfriend was the same one that Taleb bid on and won.
     
    The fact that Zoe was a tall, blonde with blue eyes did not help the situation. She fit Taleb's damn criteria perfectly, and this time she was not there to change his mind. She was also from a rich family. She was exactly what Taleb wanted.
     
    “She doesn't deserve him,” Martha stated, noticing the