Free Continental Divide by Dyanne Davis Page B

crazy
American woman touched something in his core. True, she was crude,
rude and a gold digger, but she was also a fiercely compassionate
and loyal woman. It didn’t hurt that she was also beautiful, smart
and had made him laugh more in the three days he’d known her than
he had in the past month. Her tale of woe made him wish he could
help her, but she was right. He was a cousin, a cousin with no
money.
    Though he understood Tanya’s need to be on
her own the desire to help her overwhelmed him. He sighed knowing
he could never attempt to take away her independence. He was on his
own. Sure if he were in dire straits he knew his father would bail
him out, but he was a grown man. He didn’t want bailing out. No one
believed in his writing abilities and definitely not as a means to
earn money. So he taught in the university waiting for his big
break.
    Though an Ahmed his father had chosen a
different path from his uncle and had wanted no involvement in the
oil business. He’d much preferred working the land with his hands
and there had not been much money in it. Eventually his father had
accepted help from his younger brother and made his own fortune.
But Imran had grown up in the shadow of his cousins, the
millionaire sons, as many in their lands referred to the
brothers.
    Imran half suspected that was the reason
there were now three millionaire sons left to marry. Many women had
tried to wed them but they had resisted. For the brothers not to be
married with a passel of children was not the norm. Neither was it
the norm for Imran at his age to not have a wife. His career choice
had not made him suitable husband material. He was aware his family
considered him somewhat of a disappointment. He was an Ahmed. He
should be wealthy, or at least working toward wealth.
    He blew out a breath having made a decision.
He couldn’t stand the thought of Tanya’s crying so he walked out
wanting suddenly to stop her tears and knowing how best to
accomplish that. “Tanya, are you crying because you missed me?” he
asked walking up to her and standing directly in her face ignoring
Heaven’s arms around her.
    When Tanya’s hands dropped from around
Heaven, the tears ceased and she glared at him. “Imran, why on
earth would I miss you?”
    “Because when I’m in your presence you
glow.” It wasn’t until he’d said it—and he’d meant it as a joke—to
stop her tears that he realized it was true. He watched as Tanya
blinked rapidly, sputtering trying to think of something to say.
The flutter in his chest was now driving him mad. He moved a little
away. Could it be that they were truly meant for each other? He’d
long acknowledged the attraction, it would have been foolish not
to. But for the past two days he’d determined not to push it, to
wait and let Tanya work her magic on one of his cousins if she
could. But standing in front of her he was drowning in her eyes,
all thoughts of allowing her to continue her crazy plan all but
forgotten. He dropped his gaze to her lips, lips that he’d wanted
to kiss for days. Her pulse beat rapidly at the base of her throat.
It was hard to tear his gaze away even when Heaven cleared her
throat. He needed to think of something to say quickly.
    “I just wanted to make you stop crying,” he
answered softly. “You’re here on vacation. You shouldn’t have
tears.” He reached out a hand to automatically wipe away her tears,
but stopped. What the heck was he thinking? What he was about to do
was so improper that he didn’t think even Tanya with her crass
behavior would approve of such an act. He shrugged. “Okay, maybe
you don’t glow but I mistake your glaring at me for glowing.” He
smiled and saw her smile in return, obviously grateful that he’d
taken them away from any mention of anything else.
    In a short span of time the family began
piling in. Imran watched Tanya. As she looked at each of his
cousins, she was practically drooling. He’d have to admit his
cousins had been