Free The Sheikh's Kidnapped Bride (The Sharqi Sheikhs Series Book 3) by Leslie North

Car. But, is it fabulous? I mean, I’ve seen pictures and it looks absolutely fabulous.”
    “Kerri, did you hear what I said? He kidnapped me…”
    “Oh, don’t think of it like that. He took you on a fabulous vacation and you needed the rest.”
    Carolyn started to comment but suddenly she realized that Mahil had acted, not in his best interest, but he’d thought he was acting on hers!
    “So, is Ken really mad?” Carolyn asked, wondering just how much of a mess her life had become since she’d been gone.
    “Ken knows what I told him. That you had been working too much and needed at least a week off. He tried to get all upset, but I was able to get his mind onto other, more important things rather quickly.”
    “What things?” Carolyn inquired.
    “The health inspector called the morning after you left. He’s coming next week and wanted to make sure Ken knew what he would be checking. Everything. Oh, I forgot to mention that Ken is having the bathrooms fixed.” Kerri started laughing and soon Carolyn had joined her.
    “I knew he could afford to do it, he was just being stingy and stubborn,” Carolyn commented.
    “Yeah, he’s also pouting. But I’m enjoying watching things around here finally get fixed. So…talk to me about you.”
    Carolyn sighed, “I don’t know what to say. He keeps trying to pry into my life.”
    “And let me guess…you’re stonewalling him and refusing to say a thing?”
    “Something like that.”
    “Car, take some advice from me. It’s time to relax and stop trying to do everything for yourself. And by yourself. This man is in a unique position to help you like no other man you know. He certainly has your best interest at heart. What could it hurt to let him in and share with him what’s been going on with you?”
    Letting people in is how you get hurt! “I don’t need any help,” she tried to insist, hearing Kerri huff in disagreement.
    “Yeah? Then who is the big guy who keeps coming around here looking for you? He doesn’t seem like a colleague from school, or a family member. He gives me the creeps.”
    Salvatore had been coming by the diner again? Carolyn tried not to let that fact bother her and asked, “What guy are we talking about here?”
    “You know what guy I’m talking about. What’s he want?”
    “To see me. I have something for him, and with any luck I’ll be back in the States in the next few days.” I won’t have it all, but maybe I can get an extension….
    “What do you want me to tell him?” Kerri asked.
    “Nothing! Stay away from him, Kerri. I mean it, Salvatore is bad news. Just stay far away from him and let Ken deal with him.”
    “Car, what’s going on?”
    “Nothing I don’t already have under control.” Carolyn got up and began pacing towards the armoire, her vision taking in the contents and then stopping when she spied a shoebox pushed to the back. “Hey, my phone’s going to die and I don’t have a charger with me. I’ll try and call you again once I know when I’ll be back.”
    “Okay. Please listen to my advice and try to relax. Asking for, and accepting, help isn’t the end of the world. It doesn’t make you less of a person, it just makes you smart.”
    “Yes, mom. I’ll think about what you’ve said. I promise.”
    “Good. And Car?”
    “Yes?”
    “Have some fun. You deserve it.”
    Carolyn ended the call and was about to leave when she turned back around to look at the shoebox. It looked old. Curiosity got the best of her and she reached for the box on the bottom shelf. Sitting down on the floor, she opened the lid carefully. Sitting on top was a black and white picture of two children. They were happy and smiling, the little boy with his arm wrapped around the shoulders of what appeared to be his much younger sister.
    Underneath it was a scruffy teddy bear and a child’s blanket. She pulled them both out, wondering why Mahil would have such things in his bedroom. What secrets was he hiding from her? He