Free The Sheikh's Island (Sheikh's Wedding Bet Series Book 4) by Leslie North Page A

voices grew, and Wynifred realized that half the restaurant was looking at them. She tried to clear her throat, but Rameez leaned closer to Haris in a threatening manner. "I'll tell you exactly what you can explore….”
    "Qaura, would you like to join me on the patio?" Wynifred asked politely.
    "I would love to."
    The two men stared at them as they rose from the table. Gathering their menus, Wynifred reached over and snagged the bottle of wine. Without a second look back, she sashayed through the tables to the patio.
    "Ladies?" the waiter asked hurriedly as he joined them.
    "We'd like a table outside," Qaura said pointedly. "And the gentlemen will still be paying our tab."
    "Of course. Right this way." The man held the door open and guided them to a small table at the edge of the balcony. It overlooked the concrete steps that led down to a large lit fountain. Below them, people still milled around even though the shops around the area had long ago closed.
    "That was extremely embarrassing," Qaura muttered as they sat down. "Maybe you can explain to me what's going on."
    "I'm a mediator. I'm supposed to be mediating a truce between the two of them, but their proving difficult. I have a feeling Haris invited you out tonight to get a rise out of Rameez, which is exactly what happened."
    Qaura clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Sweetheart, Haris flew me in from New York. He had more on the brain than upsetting Rameez. How long have you known them?"
    "Not long. Two weeks," Wynifred admitted. "Do you have any idea what makes them hate each other so?"
    "I don't. I met Rameez at the very beginning of my modeling career. His consulting business was mobile at that point, so he traveled with me when he could. When he started working for the Crown Sheikh, he stopped traveling as much. I didn't mind. I love it here, but things were strained. I didn't even meet Haris until well into the relationship, but he consumed Rameez's thoughts."
    Wynifred leaned forward. "I don't mean to pry, but what happened?"
    Qaura gazed to the window where the two men were brooding and staring at them. "That's a story for another day," she said softly.
    The waiter came over and took their order. As he gathered the menus, Wynifred noticed the charm bracelet that jangled around Qaura's wrist. Inhaling sharply, she reached over and grabbed the other woman's arm. "Are you a member of Phi Gamma Chi?"
    "I am!" Her eyes danced with delight. "Are you?"
    "Defining success one woman at a time." Wynifred quoted the sorority slogan, and just like that, the tension eased. "I haven't thought about that place in years."
    "Really? I still try to attend at least one chapter alumni meeting a year, but it can get tricky," Qaura admitted.
    "Those years really brought me out of my shell. When I started college, I was a complete introverted bookworm. My roommate had to drag me kicking and screaming to parties. My friend said if I pledged to one sorority house, she'd let me live in the library in peace." Wynifred laughed at the memory. "I had absolutely no idea that I'd be accepted. Before that first semester was over with, I'd finally learned how to balance my time. I was still a huge bookworm, but with the help of my sisters, I started networking, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do."
    "Mediate?"
    "I had a gift, but it never occurred to me to turn it into a career. The world needs to believe in love again, and I really wanted to make that happen." A cool breeze lifted her hair slightly, and Wynifred sat back and smiled. "Not to sound like I'm terrible at my job, but I think this is the most relaxed I've been since I got here."
    "I'm surprised Rameez agreed to hire you. He doesn't like to accept help from others."
    "He didn't," Wynifred admitted. "Technically, I work for Haris, but I made it very clear that mediation wasn't about taking sides. I like to think that Haris hired me because he knew that they would need help."
    "And now?"
    Wynifred shook her head. "It's like they