Page 102 of Bred By the Sheikh

I glanced down at the offer.

The job was exactly the kind of work I’d told him I wanted before I knew any of this was possible.

And tomorrow morning, Amanda expected me to get into a car and go back to the life I’d planned before Dubai existed.

“I want to say yes.”

Tariq went very still.

“To which part?”

“That’s the problem.”

“I want the job.”

His eyes stayed on mine.

“And I want you.”

He didn’t move toward me.

“I want to say yes to the whole ridiculous thing.”

My voice shook.

“But I need one night.”

He nodded once.

I let out a breath, and my shoulders dropped.

“I need to know I’m choosing it because I’m ready to choose it,” I said. “Not because you’re sitting here looking at me like you could make Dubai rearrange itself if I asked nicely.”

“I could rearrange parts of it.”

I laughed.

“That is exactly the problem.”

“I know.”

“Amanda expects me home. StayWell is my job. My apartment is there. My entire life is there.”

“And your flight is still scheduled.”

“Yes, it is.”

“I haven’t changed it.”

“I know you haven’t.”

“The airport car is still arranged.”

“I spent all morning trying not to look at it.”

His mouth moved faintly.

“I won’t cancel it.”