Free The Sheikh's Crown (Sheikh's Wedding Bet Series Book 2) by Leslie North

television,” Adil muttered. “You couldn’t have picked a better place?”
    “I chose it because there’s no television in the lobby. If she doesn’t have a television to watch while she’s working, she won’t be seeing our picture plastered everywhere. Will you quit pacing? I need to make a few calls to trace those plates. Sit down,” she commanded.
    Adil raised an eyebrow. “Please,” she added.
    It took her three calls to find someone who was willing to run the plates for her. “Thanks, George,” she said before she disconnected the call. “Okay. Does the name Atone Tanning mean anything to you?”
    “Shouldn’t you be asking yourself that question? You’re the one who would be more familiar with thieves. Why would I know the name?”
    Samine wrote the name down on a piece of paper and stared at it. It had to be an alias, but most aliases were simple. This one was strange. Atone. Who used that for an alias? Dragging the pen around on the paper, she doodled while she stared at the name.
    “Anton Negatin. It’s an anagram. That’s the man who tried to steal from you before.”
    Adil turned his head and stared at her. “He’s in Interpol’s custody. We’d know if he was free, and it would be insane for him to try to steal from my family again. You’re wrong.”
    Grabbing the burner phone again, she shook her head. She really needed to get her hands on a computer. It took fifteen minutes for her to find the answer.
    “Anton is no longer in custody. He escaped months ago, and they are under no obligation to tell you. He wants Bathsheba’s Crown. A lot of people do. It would be hard enough for him to try again, but this time he was smarter. He’s trying to be more discreet.”
    Adil didn’t respond for a few minutes. She watched as he finally knocked his head on the headboard. “At least this isn’t all on me. I’m not the first Khalidizack that Anton has duped.”
    “I guess that means your fortune is still intact,” she muttered as she stood and stretched. “I don’t have the manpower to trace the plate until he stops. He’ll probably travel through the night and ship it out early morning. I’m going to bed now. I’ll get up early and start working on it again.”
    “You think it’s just money,” Adil said softly. “You think all I care about is the damn money.”
    “What else is it about? You forget that I did extensive research on your family. You like your women and your money. And I guess if your money is taken away, you feel like your women are going as well. Cheer up, Adil. You’re still sexy.”
    She walked over to the window to look outside, and she caught a glimpse of his reflection just before he grabbed her shoulders and whirled her around, slamming her against the wall. It was more shock than pain that cascaded through her, but she caught her breath as he loomed over her.
    “You think you know about me from what you read online? What would I find if I researched you, Samine Isme? Clearly, not a journalist. What else are you hiding?”
    He pressed his hands on either side of her and leaned down so there were mere inches between them. She caught her breath. For an insane moment, she wanted him to kiss her again. The chemistry between them was real, and distracting. She couldn’t focus. She couldn’t think.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to judge you,” she whispered. “But it’s not only what I read. It’s how you act. The only reason you put me on the collection to begin with was so you could get me into bed.” Reaching up, she pressed her hands against his chest. “Now that you know what I wanted, what do you want?”
    His pupils dilated as he stared at her. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
    “It’s not seduction, Adil. We’re two adults who need a release. You wanted a piece of honesty from me? Here it is. I want you. Here. Now.”
    “Wow.” He blinked. “That’s…” but before he could say anything else, she pressed her lips to his effectively