Page 29 of Bred By the Sheikh

Her smile returned.

“Yes. It’s home.”

“Tell me something about it I wouldn’t know.”

She thought.

“In winter, people will complain for three straight months about the cold and then get personally offended if anyone from another state complains about Nebraska.”

I laughed.

“That seems irrational.”

“It is. We take pride in it.”

“And what would surprise you about Dubai?”

She gestured around the room.

“I’m currently sitting in a sheikh’s private residence debating cat names after spending the day telling his executives how to change an advertising campaign. My surprise capacity is fairly occupied.”

“You make me sound like any sheikh.”

Her cheeks pinkened.

“You are one.”

“This morning you were instructed to remember that.”

“I apologized.”

“And then immediately went back to Tariq.”

“You said I could.”

“I did.”

Her gaze held mine.

Her smile faded, and the silence stretched between us.

No staff remained inside. The doors were open, and security stood beyond the private hallway, but we were alone enough that the air between us felt charged.

I had wanted her since she walked into yesterday’s meeting.

“There’s something I want, Chrissy.”

She swallowed before I said another word, and my pulse kicked harder.

“I want to kiss you.”

Her breath shortened.

“But I don’t want you wondering whether saying no changes anything about this week. It doesn’t. Not your work, your room, your transportation, or StayWell’s relationship with my company.”

“I know that.”

“I need you to be sure.”