{"id":375,"date":"2015-07-14T14:00:17","date_gmt":"2015-07-14T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/abbygreen\/?post_type=portfolio&#038;p=375"},"modified":"2016-03-25T12:52:01","modified_gmt":"2016-03-25T12:52:01","slug":"breaking-the-sheikhs-rules","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/portfolio-item\/breaking-the-sheikhs-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking The Sheikh&#8217;s Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-av_section-d18d8c2c81d10022ebd21ffa95322c35 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-375'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_half-352b07ef7d3bc99b2e9f92e7a9e06bdb av_one_half  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-42d85e5d42d4a3afb03a73e989228051 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-2  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Description<\/h3><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_below'><p>When Sheikh Nadim buys the O\u2019Sullivan stables, Irish virgin Iseult is plunged into a life of glorious sensuality and luxury \u2013 for as long as she can obey Nadim\u2019s one cast-iron rule: don\u2019t fall in love with me\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-377\" src=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/abbygreen\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2015\/08\/rita_award.gif\" alt=\"rita_award\" width=\"96\" height=\"202\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Breaking the Sheikh\u2019s Rules<\/strong> was nominated for a 2011 RITA Award.<\/p>\n<p>The word RITA\u00ae and the RITA statuette are registered service marks belonging to RWA.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-av_button-c92618446e5c68b64e558e8e19060c32-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_hr '><a href='#excerpt'  class='avia-button av-av_button-c92618446e5c68b64e558e8e19060c32 avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-medium avia-position-left avia-color-dark'  ><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84f' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Read an Excerpt<\/span><\/a><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style 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class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Harlequin Presents Extra<\/strong><br \/>\nMay 10, 2011<br \/>\n<strong>ISBN:<\/strong> 0373528132<\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-82a9abb92b63be5224c4d3e6a9542a3e\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-82a9abb92b63be5224c4d3e6a9542a3e .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-82a9abb92b63be5224c4d3e6a9542a3e avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/exec\/obidos\/ASIN\/0373528132\/agreen-20' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> BUY NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-60e65def2443d4fedd70f2f69834ac0f av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-ee0dbd8895b10faca45f20bb3e6ec8e6\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-ee0dbd8895b10faca45f20bb3e6ec8e6 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-ee0dbd8895b10faca45f20bb3e6ec8e6 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-ee0dbd8895b10faca45f20bb3e6ec8e6 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-12  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-1893 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-1893 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Summer-Sheikhs-cover.jpg\" alt='' title='Summer-Sheikhs-cover'  height=\"712\" width=\"450\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Summer-Sheikhs-cover.jpg 450w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Summer-Sheikhs-cover-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/abby-green.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Summer-Sheikhs-cover-446x705.jpg 446w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Mills &amp; Boon<\/strong><br \/>\nJuly 16, 2010<br \/>\n<strong>ISBN:<\/strong> 0263874656<\/p>\n<p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_font_icon-d55fc306d30c67b1581e79c8020b04ec\">\n.av_font_icon.av-av_font_icon-d55fc306d30c67b1581e79c8020b04ec .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-av_font_icon-d55fc306d30c67b1581e79c8020b04ec avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-left av-no-color avia-icon-animate'><a href='http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Summer-Sheikhs-Betrayal-Breaking-Innocent-ebook\/dp\/B003WQAQH6\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1439894857&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=summer+sheikhs' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span> BUY NOW<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b\">\n.avia-section.av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b{\nbackground-color:#f6f6f6;\nbackground-image:unset;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='excerpt'  class='avia-section av-av_section-a39f1395b9c26d6fce19cea65cb3b34b main_color avia-section-large avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-375'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" 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el_before_av_one_fifth  excerpt flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c\">\n#top .hr.av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c .hr-inner{\nwidth:50px;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-a68ad2dea2f1b44df97ff973cba5613c hr-custom  avia-builder-el-18  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84e' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-ce72267c3117bbec5372afb3d8a890a9\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-ce72267c3117bbec5372afb3d8a890a9{\npadding-bottom:10px;\nfont-size:42px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-ce72267c3117bbec5372afb3d8a890a9 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-ce72267c3117bbec5372afb3d8a890a9 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:42px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-ce72267c3117bbec5372afb3d8a890a9 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:22px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-ce72267c3117bbec5372afb3d8a890a9 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-ce72267c3117bbec5372afb3d8a890a9 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-ce72267c3117bbec5372afb3d8a890a9 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-19  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-inherit-size'><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_above'><p>Excerpt from<\/p>\n<\/div><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Breaking the Sheikh\u2019s Rules<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-35972167d9f102c5ddaec0c531c98b9e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sheikh stood looking out of the big window which took in the view of rolling green fields as far as the eye could see and the gallops in the distance. Iseult\u2019s breath hitched and her heart took up an unsteady rhythm. And then he slowly turned around and heat climbed up her chest and into her face.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She stayed near the door and saw one ebony brow arch imperiously, and was reminded in that instance who she was dealing with, and who she had trifled with. She swallowed. \u2018I owe you an apology.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The brow stayed arched, he wasn\u2019t going to make this easy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018I\u2019m sorry if I gave you the impression that I was -\u2018<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He cut in then and she could hear the anger vibrating in his voice. \u2018Rude? Obnoxious? Behaving like a petulant teenager?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult fought to clamp down on a renewed surge of anger and clenched her fists. The Sheikh walked over to sit back against the huge desk, crossing his arms over that formidable chest. In her peripheral vision Iseult could see the material of his jeans straining over his powerful thighs and for a dizzy second she forgot what he\u2019d just said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But then she remembered. Her vision cleared, the red mist lifted. She lifted her chin. \u2018I\u2019m apologising now for my behavior. I had no right to treat you with such disrespect.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018No, you didn\u2019t.\u2019 He sounded a little surprised and looked at her assessingly. \u2018But I can appreciate that this must be a difficult situation, so I\u2019m prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. For now.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">His eyes dropped for a moment, in a long sweep down her body. Iseult could feel that clammy sweat break out again. Why did she feel as if he\u2019d just undressed her every time he did that?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018After all,\u2019 he drawled, his eyes on hers again, \u2018You can\u2019t be more than, what? Eighteen?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That red mist hovered close again, Iseult had to will it down and bit out, \u2018I\u2019m no child, I\u2019m twenty-three.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nadim had to quell the surge of reaction when he heard how old she was. She was the same age as Sara had been when she\u2019d \u2013 he ruthlessly cut off his thoughts there, aware uncomfortably of how different the woman in front of him was from his late wife. He didn\u2019t appreciate being reminded of her now, it made his voice harsh.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018Clearly a very immature twenty-three year old who can\u2019t abide the thought of no longer being the mistress of the manor house.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult felt hysteria rising. \u2018Clearly you\u2019ve not taken a close look at your new property Sheikh, it\u2019s been a long time since there was a mistress of this house the way you\u2019re implying. Everyone here works day and night to keep the place running, even Mrs O\u2019Brien hasn\u2019t been paid in months, she\u2019s still here out of loyalty and because we provide a roof over her head,\u2019 her voice took on a bitter edge, \u2018but evidently sheer hard work wasn\u2019t enough to bring us through tough times.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018Or a good horse\u2026\u2019 Nadim said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018Or a good horse.\u2019 Iseult repeated, unable to hide the weariness in her voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nadim was aback by the sudden jump from passion to defeat, he\u2019d clearly hit a nerve. Taking a closer look for the first time he could see that Iseult was actually bordering on being painfully thin. And when her face wasn\u2019t flushed with anger as he\u2019d seen often enough today, it was pale\u2026too pale. He could see faint purple shadows under her eyes. Something shifted in his chest and a protective instinct nearly overwhelmed him with its force.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018Is your father still drinking?\u2019 he asked then so abruptly that Iseult\u2019s face flushed again and curiously it made Nadim feel somehow comforted.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She shook her head fiercely, eyes flashing a warning, \u2018He hasn\u2019t touched a drop in seven years. And he won\u2019t, ever again.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nadim\u2019s mouth quirked but not with humour. \u2018Not even you could guarantee that, and I saw that worried glance earlier before you saw he was drinking water. How do you know this transition won\u2019t send him off the rails again? After all isn\u2019t that what precipitated your decline?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult wondered dimly how he\u2019d effortlessly articulated her own innermost worries or how he knew so much but then had to concede that her father\u2019s drinking problem had been common knowledge within their circles, despite her attempts to hide it and take his workload onto her shoulders.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reluctantly she explained, \u2018We started to do badly when my grandfather became gravely ill, nearly thirteen years ago. We\u2019d had a run of bad luck\u2026disappointing foals and yearlings. The owners of horses we were training got nervous after my grandfather died and sent them to other trainers.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her mouth twisted, \u2018We were suddenly unfashionable. And we were up against much more successful studs with infinitely more resources than we had. Not long after my grandfather died, my mother passed away and that was when my father\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She didn\u2019t have to finish. She couldn\u2019t finish, in truth she was a little stunned that she\u2019d just shared what she had. But then, some instinct had warned her that the Sheikh would dig until he got to the very bottom of their modus operandi and how they\u2019d got to this dismal state of affairs. And if he went through paperwork it wouldn\u2019t take long to trace events back to her grandfather\u2019s death, and then her mother\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was frowning at her now. \u2018What happened then? Who did your father bring in to keep this place running?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult shook her head, feeling shame mount for the first time in her life to hear their history articulated so baldly. To know that she had failed. \u2018No-one. We all pulled together. I\u2026\u2019 She faltered, and then hitched her chin again, \u2018I helped until my father could get back on his feet again\u2026and since I left school I\u2019ve been working here full time.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was no expression on the Sheikh\u2019s face but Iseult could see a muscle pulse in his jaw. \u2018Your brothers and sisters?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018I\u2019ve two brothers, and one sister. They\u2019re away in college in Dublin. They helped out when they could.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nadim reeled inwardly, at the mere age of about twelve she had taken on that burden, along with school? If what Iseult was saying was true, then she\u2019d more or less single \u2013 handedly helped keep this stables afloat. He could tell that she was embarrassed and he could also tell that she was used to protecting her father. He felt a surge of anger towards that man now and couldn\u2019t fathom how his perception of this woman before him had changed so much in such a short space of time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018And Devil\u2019s Kiss? You trained him?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult flushed, \u2018With my father. We both did.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nadim felt on a more even keel here. \u2018How do you know that you haven\u2019t over trained him? That he isn\u2019t peaking too early?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheer pride straightened Iseult\u2019s back. \u2018Do you think he\u2019s peaking too early? Couldn\u2019t you tell just from riding him today that if anything his winning those races was just a sign of things to come?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her confidence astounded him but he had to admit grudgingly to himself that he had formed that opinion. \u2018You\u2019re very confident.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018Because I know horses, and I know Devil\u2019s Kiss. He\u2019s not yet shown half his potential. His lineage is pure thoroughbred; his father was Hawk Eye and his dam was Sheila\u2019s Wish whose line goes back directly to Queen of Tara.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nadim knew Devil\u2019s Kiss\u2019s stellar lineage back to front, and Iseult was right. \u2018If what you say is true\u2026you do know what you\u2019re saying?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult nodded, \u2018He could become something very special.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018More than special, a world champion.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult nodded again, surprised to recognise that he was hearing her and taking her opinion on board. She\u2019d chafed to think that he didn\u2019t rate her training skill, and while she knew she had a long way to go, she\u2019d always had the confidence instilled within her from her grandfather to trust her instincts. And she knew she was right when it came to Devil\u2019s Kiss.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sheikh stood from the desk then and in a skittish move Iseult took a step back even though feet separated them. She caught his dark look and cursed herself for reacting, hating that he might suspect she was so aware of him. She watched as he walked around the desk and sat down in the high backed leather chair that had been her grandfather\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He gestured her forward to take the seat on the other side. Too hot inside and bemused, Iseult couldn\u2019t even feel insulted that he was taking clear control. When she\u2019d sat down, he flicked a hand over a sheaf of papers on the desk.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018The papers are signed Iseult, I now own everything.\u2019 His dark look speared her, \u2018I now own you.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult\u2019s throat dried up. She was reacting to too many things at once. The fact that he\u2019d just called her by her name with that deep voice and sexy accent making it sound deliciously foreign and sensual. And also, despite her assertion earlier that she wasn\u2019t part of the inventory, she couldn\u2019t refute his claim that he owned her. She was as much a part of this stud as the earth of the land and the stones of the house. She\u2019d even been born in her parents bedroom upstairs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018So\u2026\u2019 she managed to croak out, \u2018\u2026what?\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nadim looked at the young woman opposite him. He didn\u2019t like to acknowledge how hearing how old she was had seemed to make his awareness of her increase thousandfold within him, as if he\u2019d been denying it to himself when he\u2019d believed her to be out of bounds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And she still was. Yet, despite that assertion he knew what he wanted with stunning clarity and what he wanted was to keep this woman close, for such myriad reasons that he wasn\u2019t even going to investigate them now. He made a split second decision.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018A chain of events has been set into motion. This will become my European base. It will need to be built up. As you may already now, I\u2019ve acquired the land adjoining to the stud down the road\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult nodded in acknowledgment, it had been the first sign of how determined he was to buy them out. He\u2019d been so confident of acquiring their stud that he\u2019d invested in the land around them before they\u2019d announced the sale. Her anger at his arrogance had surged from that point. But in fairness, she could see now that it would have been directed at anyone who had stepped in to buy them out\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018I\u2019ve already hired a new manager to come in and take over both facilities, the training grounds and the stud \u2013 \u2018<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult gasped, pulled out of her straying thoughts, \u2018I thought you were going to allow my father to stay on,\u2019 Anger blurred her vision, for a second there she\u2019d been distracted by this man\u2019s sheer charisma when all along \u2013 \u2018If you think that you can come in here like this and just-\u2018<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He surged up from his seat to place both hands on the desk and towered over Iseult in the chair, \u2018Stop talking right now.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest, and along with the shock at his quick anger, Iseult also felt a dangerous thrill to be so close to that vibrant tightly coiled energy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He sat back down and raked a hand through his hair, impatience bouncing off him in waves, \u2018You are unbelievably impertinent, no \u2013 one speaks to me like this, no \u2013 one. The fact that you are even here and having this conversation with me is because I recognised the role you played here. That is all. Believe me, in any other instance you would be lucky to have me acknowledge your existence, never mind conduct a discourse like this.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult clamped her mouth shut, words aching to trip off her tongue at his arrogance. In truth, he was intimidating her more than she cared to admit and after seeing the evidence of his protective entourage, she could well imagine that he wouldn\u2019t have cast someone like her a second glance. And the thought surprisingly sank like a lead balloon in her belly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018Your father is being kept on, exactly as I promised. But in an advisory capacity at first. I will not allow someone to take over the running of this place who so obviously let it slip between his fingers. And despite your noble defence of him, I\u2019m also not convinced that his weakest traits are behind him.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult could feel herself blanch. He meant her father\u2019s drinking. She couldn\u2019t meet the Sheikh\u2019s eyes for long, feeling as if he was looking right into her soul and seeing her own private fears laid bare. Because she wasn\u2019t entirely sure herself how her father would react.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018My newly appointed manager will start here tomorrow, early, and I expect you to give him a full run down of everything. I know you still have some mares. The fact that you have a training facility here at the house is one of your great advantages, making this a fully sufficient stud, which is exactly what I wanted to expand upon. Then will come the task of acquiring new foals, yearlings, stallions and mares and slowly building everything from the ground up again\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iseult nodded her head, a tiny spark of excitement spiking through her to think of them getting an overhaul and breeding once again. \u2018I can fill the new manager in when he comes\u2026we\u2019ll have some time though won\u2019t we? The autumn yearling sales won\u2019t be starting for a few weeks.\u2019<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nadim just looked at her and Iseult felt something unspoken move between them, instinctively she shivered.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u2018He will have plenty of time, yes, along with your father. You however will have just the morning to acquaint him with everything as you\u2019ve dealt with it. Because tomorrow early evening you\u2019ll be travelling to Merkazad with Devil\u2019s Kiss\u2026and me.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_fifth-2a64de42b738552fe666ca889af77e28 av_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-21  el_after_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Click to Learn More<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1894,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[21],"portfolio_entries":[23],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - 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