{"id":569,"date":"2020-09-19T16:37:02","date_gmt":"2020-09-19T15:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/?post_type=portfolio&#038;p=569"},"modified":"2023-02-01T23:07:28","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T23:07:28","slug":"innocents-desert-wedding-contract","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Innocent&#8217;s Desert Wedding Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-b0aiv-e285b79aa7917100fdf2cfd828fa6bf6 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-569'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-9u11d-ca0d4417f8ed20aeae8b5228b8db8212\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-9u11d-ca0d4417f8ed20aeae8b5228b8db8212{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-9u11d-ca0d4417f8ed20aeae8b5228b8db8212 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-9u11d-ca0d4417f8ed20aeae8b5228b8db8212 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-9u11d-ca0d4417f8ed20aeae8b5228b8db8212 av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-first  av-linked-heading'><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Innocent\u2019s Desert Wedding Contract<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-2y2g1z-f1e6ce40db8d3afab0eff1dc64311b8c\">\n.flex_column.av-2y2g1z-f1e6ce40db8d3afab0eff1dc64311b8c{\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-2y2g1z-f1e6ce40db8d3afab0eff1dc64311b8c av_one_half  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-jycr59r9-74850ab5814e59cab7873f4109edc1d0'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>A practical agreement\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>An indisputable desire!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sheikh Karim needs a fianc\u00e9e in order to avoid royal retribution from his tyrant father. Orla Calhoun needs to save her family\u2019s legendary stud farm. The \u201cno sex\u201d clause of their contract should make things simple\u2026if they can contain their simmering chemistry!<\/p>\n<p>Orla\u2019s rich-girl reputation belies years of hard work and her most protected secret: she\u2019s a virgin! That\u2019s never been an issue, until the intense attraction between her and Karim refuses to subside. That attraction becomes unavoidable when duty calls Karim \u2013 and his bride-to-be\u2014back to Zafar\u2026<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>The Khans:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Powerful sheikhs and the women who can tame them:<\/em><\/p>\n<p>#1: <a href=\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/carrying-the-sheikhs-baby\/\"><em><strong>Carrying the Sheikh&#8217;s Baby<\/strong><\/em><\/a> &#8211; Zane and Catherine<\/p>\n<p>#2: <a href=\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/claimed-for-the-desert-princes-heir\/\"><em><strong>Claimed for the Desert Prince&#8217;s Heir<\/strong><\/em><\/a> &#8211; Kasim (Rafe) and Kasia<\/p>\n<p>#3: <a href=\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/\"><em><strong>Innocent&#8217;s Desert Wedding Contract<\/strong><\/em><\/a> &#8211; Karim and Orla<\/p>\n<p>#4: <a href=\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/banished-prince-to-desert-boss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>Banished Prince to Desert Boss<\/strong><\/em><\/a> &#8211; Dane and Jamilla<\/p>\n<p>#5: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/stolen-for-his-desert-throne\/\"><strong>Stolen for His Desert Throne<\/strong><\/a><\/em> &#8211; Kaliah and Kamal<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-9o71j-17d72fa88a16a96bbe2af9ada5ff0706\">\n.flex_column.av-9o71j-17d72fa88a16a96bbe2af9ada5ff0706{\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-9o71j-17d72fa88a16a96bbe2af9ada5ff0706 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_fourth  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kf9te2ha-b7118c8db20d64f3c190a1348f079dca\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kf9te2ha-b7118c8db20d64f3c190a1348f079dca img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kf9te2ha-b7118c8db20d64f3c190a1348f079dca .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kf9te2ha-b7118c8db20d64f3c190a1348f079dca av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-5  el_before_av_button  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 class='wp-image-583 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-583 avia_image ' src='https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg' alt='' title='9781335403858 web'  height=\"600\" width=\"400\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-jycr7ya6-b8efb29c58606f3d51531eccac8baee7-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_image  avia-builder-el-last '><a href='https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rIRXfz' class='avia-button av-jycr7ya6-b8efb29c58606f3d51531eccac8baee7 avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-medium avia-position-center avia-color-theme-color' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Buy on Amazon<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-2lk0rz-8a10bad192eb9d8fdd0a5be8555cc45a\">\n.flex_column.av-2lk0rz-8a10bad192eb9d8fdd0a5be8555cc45a{\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-2lk0rz-8a10bad192eb9d8fdd0a5be8555cc45a av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-7  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-kf9tqgnu-59fab1d02c522dcf40a0d0e66389b07c\">\n.avia-image-container.av-kf9tqgnu-59fab1d02c522dcf40a0d0e66389b07c img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-kf9tqgnu-59fab1d02c522dcf40a0d0e66389b07c .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-kf9tqgnu-59fab1d02c522dcf40a0d0e66389b07c av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-8  el_before_av_button  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 class='wp-image-593 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-593 avia_image ' src='https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/desert-wedding-web.jpg' alt='' title='desert wedding web'  height=\"600\" width=\"400\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-jycrafuk-45a4febfe998d406c6a15b51b940aa06-wrap avia-button-center  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_image  avia-builder-el-last '><a href='https:\/\/amzn.to\/3IwASeM'  class='avia-button av-jycrafuk-45a4febfe998d406c6a15b51b940aa06 avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-medium avia-position-center avia-color-theme-color'  ><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue924' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Buy on Amazon UK<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-2co5cf-5ad8ef24fac48d0a19b1cffd0a308764 alternate_color avia-section-default avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_layout_row  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-569'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kf9trvvh-8cf0849815f010e33e0dd0a8a46bded7\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-kf9trvvh-8cf0849815f010e33e0dd0a8a46bded7{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-kf9trvvh-8cf0849815f010e33e0dd0a8a46bded7 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kf9trvvh-8cf0849815f010e33e0dd0a8a46bded7 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-kf9trvvh-8cf0849815f010e33e0dd0a8a46bded7 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote modern-centered  avia-builder-el-11  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Excerpt:<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-23cmn3-c3fcb3da4b462ca8f78f7ae223f62565'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>\u2018Orla, Orla, there\u2019s a helicopter circling the farm. Gerry just gave them permission to land on the back pasture. Gerry says it\u2019s <em>him<\/em>, the sheikh who\u2019s going to put us all out on the street.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Orla Calhoun paused while mucking out Aderyn\u2019s stall at her sister Dervla\u2019s panicked shout. The sleek black stallion jostled her as he shuffled his hooves. She pressed her hand to his nose, to soothe him. Unlike most retired racehorses, Aderyn was placid enough for her to muck him out while he was still in the stall. He liked the company, almost as much as she did, but even so\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Shh, fella, it\u2019s okay, she\u2019s just stressed,\u2019 she whispered, before leaving the stall. She propped the rake beside the stall, latched the stable door, whipped off her work gloves and glared at her sister. \u2018For goodness\u2019 sake, Dervla, how many times have I told you not to raise your voice around the horses?\u2019 she hissed. \u2018You could spook them and someone could get hurt, or, worse, the animal could get hurt.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>They only had six horses left now, but each one of them meant everything to her\u2014and she still mourned the loss of the horses they\u2019d been forced to sell in the last year. Each one unique, with a personality and a purpose that had always meant more to Orla than just winning races or accruing stud fees. Perhaps that was why she had ultimately failed in her attempt to keep Calhouns going, not because she hadn\u2019t been good at training and caring for the horses, but because they had always meant more to her than just a business.<\/p>\n<p>And now she was going to lose it all\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2018All right, all right. I get you,\u2019 Dervla whispered back, grabbing her elbow to drag her away from the stall, and not sounding all that apologetic. \u2018But what are we going to do about him?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Orla heard it then, the sound of a helicopter powering down. It was far enough away not to disturb the animals, but the sound would never be quiet enough not to disturb her.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Are you sure it\u2019s him?\u2019 she asked. \u2018He\u2019s not due here till Friday.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The liquidator had arranged to have Crown Prince Karim Jamal Amari Khan view the facility before the auction on Saturday. This must be a preliminary visit by one of his minions. Sure, it had to be. She wasn\u2019t ready for him.<\/p>\n<p>She glanced down at her work boots and dirty jeans, the sweat-stained camisole that clung to her breasts. She\u2019d been up at dawn to take Aderyn out on the gallops and had been mucking out the stalls ever since, because they\u2019d laid off the last of the stable boys almost a month ago.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Gerry said he spoke to him,\u2019 Dervla whispered. As if the man was standing behind them. \u2018He\u2019s piloting the helicopter! He came on his own, Gerry says.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The anxiety that had gripped her stomach ever since she\u2019d been forced to face the inevitable took another vicious twist.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019d had a plan to have the house and herself spotless when he arrived. When you were going to beg a favour from a playboy sheikh, you needed to look your best.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Go keep him busy, then, while I wash up here,\u2019 Orla said, her mind racing. \u2018And get Maeve to bring over my best trousers, fresh underwear and the blouse I ironed yesterday in my wardrobe.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>She shoved her sister out of the stable entrance, then shot towards the washroom at the back of the stalls. Kicking off her boots, she ripped open the fly of her jeans. She could rinse herself here to get the stink off and then get changed before going to greet him.<\/p>\n<p>Sophisticated and demure was out now, but she\u2019d always been a tomboy and had never fitted into the racing high society her father frequented. She\u2019d tried that by getting engaged to Patrick Quinn. And it had been a disaster.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8216;What did you expect? Men have needs, Orla. And you\u2019re as frigid as a nun.&#8217;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>She flinched, remembering Patrick\u2019s parting words from five years back, and the sickening sight of him and Meghan O\u2019Reilly wrapped around each other like superglue in the gazebo during their engagement party. Orla dumped her jeans by the sinks and ignored the shiver of humiliation that always accompanied the distressing memories.<\/p>\n<p><em>Doesn\u2019t matter, you\u2019re well shot of him.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>But Patrick had been right about one thing: she had never been any good at playing the flirtatious debutante. So trying to impress a playboy sheikh with her socialite credentials would always have been a stretch. Even if she\u2019d had the time to prepare properly.<\/p>\n<p>But if she changed into something not filthy, she could at least manage cool, calm and in control\u2014something she needed to be to have any chance of persuading Karim Khan to let her stay at Calhouns.<\/p>\n<p>The man knew their financial situation, that they were being forced to sell, so she didn\u2019t have much bargaining power.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019d done a ton of Internet research on Khan last night, as soon as they\u2019d got wind of Amari Corp\u2019s interest from the liquidator. From what she could tell their potential buyer was rich, entitled and arrogant, a royal prince who was used to having people like her at his beck and call and who was rich enough to think he could buy his way into a legacy that had taken her family ten generations to build. But she\u2019d be damned if she\u2019d let Crown Prince Whoever cut her out completely from the work she had dedicated her life to.<\/p>\n<p>All she needed was a chance to prove to him she could still be useful at the stud. After all, she\u2019d been as good as managing the place for five years now, ever since she turned seventeen and her father had become trapped in the well of grief left by her mother\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<p>But she couldn\u2019t do that looking like Little Orphan Annie. From all the press reports she\u2019d read, he was the sort of man who only paid attention to beautiful, sophisticated women with manicured nails, designer clothes and perfectly styled hair that reached down to their bums. The sort of woman she\u2019d never been, even when she had fancied herself in love with the son of the neighbouring Quinn stud.<\/p>\n<p>Standing in her camisole and panties, she grabbed the hose they used to wash the tack and turned it on. A whole body shiver raked her body as she doused her head with the frigid water. And cursed, loudly.<\/p>\n<p>Why had Khan come five days early? Was he trying to catch her out?<\/p>\n<p>A throat cleared loudly behind her.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Ms Calhoun, I presume?\u2019 The deep, curt British accent had her swinging round so fast the hose flew out of her hand, sprinkling water everywhere.<\/p>\n<p>Heat leapt into her cheeks and burned across her collarbone.<\/p>\n<p>A tall man stood with his shoulder propped against the washroom door, his face cast into shadow by the sunshine, but she recognised him instantly from all the research.<\/p>\n<p><em>What the ever-loving\u2026?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>She banded her arms across her chest to shield herself, but couldn\u2019t stop the humiliating shivers\u2014as his cold assessing gaze set her freezing skin alight.<\/p>\n<p><em>Seriously?<\/em> Could she have made a worse impression? And how had he found her here so quickly?<\/p>\n<p><em>Dervla, I\u2019m going to strangle you.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u2018Mr\u2026 Mr Khan?\u2019 She stuck her chin out, trying to claw back a modicum of dignity, even though she knew she had to look like a drowned rat. \u2018We weren\u2019t expecting you until Friday. And what are you doing in the stables?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>He wore blue jeans, a black crew-neck sweater that clung to his impressively muscular chest, and black leather boots polished to a high gleam. His complexion was dark, his hair even darker. She had a sudden recollection of the villainous king in a book she\u2019d read as a child who had been cruel and cold and all powerful, but also weirdly hot for the villain in a children\u2019s storybook. She\u2019d loved that book once upon a time, reading it over and over again. And now she knew why.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018What am I doing here?\u2019 he said, the sarcastic tone cutting through her little reminiscence like a scalpel. \u2018I plan to buy your stud, Ms Calhoun. Today.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><em>Today?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Renewed panic sprinted up her spine, but then he turned into the light to grab the towel that hung from a peg on the washroom wall. And every thought flew out of her head bar one.<\/p>\n<p><em>He\u2019s even hotter than the villainous king in Flinty O\u2019Toole\u2019s Epic Quest.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Her lungs squeezed and the heat of mortification morphed into something a great deal more disturbing.<\/p>\n<p>She already knew Karim Khan was stupidly handsome. She\u2019d studied enough photographs of him last night at gala events, in tuxedos and designer suits, his hair perfectly styled as he paraded supermodels and actresses about as if they were accessories.<\/p>\n<p>But the photos had not done him justice. In the flesh, and up close, and even without the luxury of a stylist, the man was quite simply breathtaking. Her heart literally stopped beating as she devoured the sight of firm, sensual lips, a strong jaw, high sculpted cheekbones and the long blade-like nose. The slight bump in the bridge and a sickle-shaped scar above his left eye marred the perfect symmetry of his face, but only made him look more rugged and masculine and overwhelming.<\/p>\n<p>The burning heat in her cheeks shot through her veins, and her nipples, which were already like bullets, tightened into torpedoes. She squeezed her folded arms harder over her chest trying to quell the throbbing ache. She was more humiliated now than she\u2019d been when she\u2019d found her fianc\u00e9 eating the face off another woman at her engagement party. And she\u2019d always believed that humiliation could never be topped.<\/p>\n<p><em>Wrong<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Dry off,\u2019 he said, throwing her the towel.<\/p>\n<p>She caught it one-handed, struggling to inflate her lungs when the light hit his face again and she saw the impatience in his eyes\u2014which were a beautiful golden brown. Because, of course they were.<\/p>\n<p><em>All the better to devastate you with, Orla. Because he\u2019s a god among men and you\u2019re a shivering, almost naked tomboy pauper.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As she frantically wrapped the towel around her nakedness, his gaze skimmed down, coasting over every inch of exposed skin until it got to the puddle of water forming at her bare feet.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019ll meet you at the house in fifteen minutes,\u2019 he said, speaking to her as if she were a disobedient and particularly irritating ten-year-old. \u2018I need this deal finalised today.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Despite her breathing difficulties, Orla felt her hackles rising.<\/p>\n<p>Who did he think he was, speaking to her like that? Just because he was gorgeous and loaded and dry and fully clothed and she\u2026 Well\u2026 She wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>But before she could come up with a suitably indignant reply, or gather enough courage\u2014and breath\u2014to actually enunciate it, the impossible man had strode back out of the stables and was gone.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av-layout-grid-1'  class='av-layout-grid-container av-1vmt3j-a7bac5fe5618613764c99b884cbe2bb2 entry-content-wrapper main_color av-flex-cells  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  grid-row-not-first  container_wrap fullsize'  >\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1pwg33-e1d993fa6c484ec2db0f2936b33de212\">\n.flex_cell.av-1pwg33-e1d993fa6c484ec2db0f2936b33de212{\nvertical-align:top;\nbackground-color:#425f9c;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-1pwg33-e1d993fa6c484ec2db0f2936b33de212{\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-1pwg33-e1d993fa6c484ec2db0f2936b33de212 av-gridrow-cell av_one_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-14  el_before_av_cell_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-first ' ><div class='flex_cell_inner'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1j1x33-5c211e385f1dc9b29c9a5e03f565ac1a\">\n.av_font_icon.av-1j1x33-5c211e385f1dc9b29c9a5e03f565ac1a{\ncolor:#ffffff;\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.av_font_icon.av-1j1x33-5c211e385f1dc9b29c9a5e03f565ac1a .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-1j1x33-5c211e385f1dc9b29c9a5e03f565ac1a avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-center avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HeidiRomRice25\/' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8f3' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1cxe1j-22af2d42969111294a30883be78fb604\">\n.flex_cell.av-1cxe1j-22af2d42969111294a30883be78fb604{\nvertical-align:top;\nbackground-color:#55acee;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-1cxe1j-22af2d42969111294a30883be78fb604{\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-1cxe1j-22af2d42969111294a30883be78fb604 av-gridrow-cell av_one_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_cell_one_fifth  el_before_av_cell_one_fifth ' ><div class='flex_cell_inner'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1alyyf-ef9d8d72f39370dce581c4f6e3075cbd\">\n.av_font_icon.av-1alyyf-ef9d8d72f39370dce581c4f6e3075cbd{\ncolor:#ffffff;\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.av_font_icon.av-1alyyf-ef9d8d72f39370dce581c4f6e3075cbd .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-1alyyf-ef9d8d72f39370dce581c4f6e3075cbd avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-center avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/HeidiRomRice' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8f1' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-12sgp3-66afe2c9139aea08a1dc23e726645852\">\n.flex_cell.av-12sgp3-66afe2c9139aea08a1dc23e726645852{\nvertical-align:top;\nbackground-color:#d30e1c;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-12sgp3-66afe2c9139aea08a1dc23e726645852{\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-12sgp3-66afe2c9139aea08a1dc23e726645852 av-gridrow-cell av_one_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-18  el_after_av_cell_one_fifth  el_before_av_cell_one_fifth ' ><div class='flex_cell_inner'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-v756v-284df36ea34879f0834dd3cae4960538\">\n.av_font_icon.av-v756v-284df36ea34879f0834dd3cae4960538{\ncolor:#ffffff;\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.av_font_icon.av-v756v-284df36ea34879f0834dd3cae4960538 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-v756v-284df36ea34879f0834dd3cae4960538 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-center avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/uk.pinterest.com\/hlric\/' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8f8' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-rswq7-841c09056fe65f90596969974c4fc4e9\">\n.flex_cell.av-rswq7-841c09056fe65f90596969974c4fc4e9{\nvertical-align:top;\nbackground-color:#895e4a;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-rswq7-841c09056fe65f90596969974c4fc4e9{\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-rswq7-841c09056fe65f90596969974c4fc4e9 av-gridrow-cell av_one_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-20  el_after_av_cell_one_fifth  el_before_av_cell_one_fifth ' ><div class='flex_cell_inner'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-20r5b-e0155496badb8f36486dfe2095a02649\">\n.av_font_icon.av-20r5b-e0155496badb8f36486dfe2095a02649{\ncolor:#ffffff;\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.av_font_icon.av-20r5b-e0155496badb8f36486dfe2095a02649 .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-20r5b-e0155496badb8f36486dfe2095a02649 avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-center avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/author\/show\/786456.Heidi_Rice' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue800' data-av_iconfont='heidi-rice'><\/a><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-eh21b-ad5b07bca8864b2cc057e68e6331322f\">\n.flex_cell.av-eh21b-ad5b07bca8864b2cc057e68e6331322f{\nvertical-align:top;\nbackground-color:#004879;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-eh21b-ad5b07bca8864b2cc057e68e6331322f{\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-eh21b-ad5b07bca8864b2cc057e68e6331322f av-gridrow-cell av_one_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-22  el_after_av_cell_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-last ' ><div class='flex_cell_inner'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-9697j-e56127f1c5f86b518cf763f0a5f497dc\">\n.av_font_icon.av-9697j-e56127f1c5f86b518cf763f0a5f497dc{\ncolor:#ffffff;\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.av_font_icon.av-9697j-e56127f1c5f86b518cf763f0a5f497dc .av-icon-char{\nfont-size:40px;\nline-height:40px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<span  class='av_font_icon av-9697j-e56127f1c5f86b518cf763f0a5f497dc avia_animate_when_visible av-icon-style- avia-icon-pos-center avia-icon-animate'><a href='https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/heidiromrice\/' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class='av-icon-char' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue909' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/a><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>February 2021<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/br>#3: The Khans<br \/>\n<\/br><br \/>\n<\/br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":583,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"portfolio_entries":[2],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Innocent&#039;s Desert Wedding Contract - Heidi Rice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A practical agreement... And indisputable desire! Book #3 in Heidi Rice&#039;s shiekh romance series The Khans, for Harlequin\/Mills &amp; Boon\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Innocent&#039;s Desert Wedding Contract - Heidi Rice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A practical agreement... And indisputable desire! Book #3 in Heidi Rice&#039;s shiekh romance series The Khans, for Harlequin\/Mills &amp; Boon\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Heidi Rice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HeidiRomRice25\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-02-01T23:07:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@HeidiRomRice\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/\",\"name\":\"Innocent's Desert Wedding Contract - Heidi Rice\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-09-19T15:37:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-02-01T23:07:28+00:00\",\"description\":\"A practical agreement... And indisputable desire! Book #3 in Heidi Rice's shiekh romance series The Khans, for Harlequin\/Mills & Boon\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg\",\"width\":400,\"height\":600},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Innocent&#8217;s Desert Wedding Contract\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/\",\"name\":\"Heidi Rice\",\"description\":\"USA Today Bestselling Author\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Heidi Rice\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/heidi-rice-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/heidi-rice-logo.png\",\"width\":340,\"height\":156,\"caption\":\"Heidi Rice\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HeidiRomRice25\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/HeidiRomRice\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/heidiromrice\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/hlric\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Innocent's Desert Wedding Contract - Heidi Rice","description":"A practical agreement... And indisputable desire! Book #3 in Heidi Rice's shiekh romance series The Khans, for Harlequin\/Mills & Boon","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Innocent's Desert Wedding Contract - Heidi Rice","og_description":"A practical agreement... And indisputable desire! Book #3 in Heidi Rice's shiekh romance series The Khans, for Harlequin\/Mills & Boon","og_url":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/","og_site_name":"Heidi Rice","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HeidiRomRice25\/","article_modified_time":"2023-02-01T23:07:28+00:00","og_image":[{"width":400,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@HeidiRomRice","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/","url":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/","name":"Innocent's Desert Wedding Contract - Heidi Rice","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg","datePublished":"2020-09-19T15:37:02+00:00","dateModified":"2023-02-01T23:07:28+00:00","description":"A practical agreement... And indisputable desire! Book #3 in Heidi Rice's shiekh romance series The Khans, for Harlequin\/Mills & Boon","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/9781335403858-web.jpg","width":400,"height":600},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/books\/innocents-desert-wedding-contract\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Innocent&#8217;s Desert Wedding Contract"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/","name":"Heidi Rice","description":"USA Today Bestselling Author","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#organization","name":"Heidi Rice","url":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/heidi-rice-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/heidi-rice-logo.png","width":340,"height":156,"caption":"Heidi Rice"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HeidiRomRice25\/","https:\/\/x.com\/HeidiRomRice","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/heidiromrice\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/hlric\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/569"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/portfolio"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=569"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":684,"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio\/569\/revisions\/684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=569"},{"taxonomy":"portfolio_entries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heidi-rice.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/portfolio_entries?post=569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}