The Sheikh's Hesitant Bride (Qazhar Sheikhs series Book 7) (6 page)

Rachel laid a hand on his shoulder and gave Zarif a polite kiss on the cheek. It felt somehow incongruous given what had just happened in the limo, but she felt she had to maintain at least a semblance of decency.

Zarif peered at her as she moved her head away from his face. He smiled. "Thank you for the pleasure of your company this evening," he said.

Rachel smiled. "I had a lovely time, Zarif. Thank you."

She saw his mouth open, as if he was about to say something and she knew it would lead to an awkward moment she was suddenly desperate to avoid.

She gave him one final smile and turned quickly away from him and headed toward the entrance of the apartment block. When she heard the door slam behind her, she wondered if that was the last time she would ever spend time alone with Zarif.

CHAPTER FIVE

"You look tired this morning, Rachel," Abby said taking a seat on the other side of Rachel's desk. The office windows were open, and the sounds of London traffic from the street below filled the large, expensively furnished room. At the other desks, Rachel's coworkers were busy answering phones or had their faces glued to the screens of their computers. Abby like to see everyone busy.

Rachel peered across at Abby and tried to put on her best wide-awake expression. She ran a hand through her hair. "I suppose I didn't get a good sleep last night," Rachel replied trying to seem as bright as possible. It wasn't easy.
 

Abby was right. Rachel remembered how she'd looked this morning when she'd seen herself in the bathroom mirror back at her apartment.
 
Pale face, dark shadows under the eyes, haggard expression. The works.

Abby's brows rose. "Another binge TV watching session?" she asked.

Rachel felt a stab of indignation. How come her boss just assumed that Rachel had no social life at all? "Must have been something I ate," she said. There was no way Rachel could reveal the real reason why she hadn't been able to sleep.

Zarif.

Sleep had completely eluded her for hours after she had raced back up to her apartment. In bed, alone, Rachel had tossed and turned for a long time. And after a while, she had even tried watching TV, just to see if that would work. It hadn't.

Eventually, though, she had managed to fall into a light sleep, one that had been filled with chaotic, kaleidoscopic dreams. One after the other, images of Zarif had filled her mind. Especially visions of what had happened in the limo. The sensations of his closeness, the memories of his touch, seemed even more intense in the emptiness of her own bed. She had woken up repeatedly, frustrated, even angry at some points in the night.
 

She'd been a fool to even agree to go out on a date with him. There was only one way it was going to finish. With disappointment. Rachel was convinced she was deluding herself if she thought the sheikh had any real interest in her. How on earth could that possibly be true?
 

Abby squinted across at Rachel. "Maybe you need some more coffee, hon," she said. "We've all got a long day ahead of us."

Abby stood up and ran her hands down the side of her figure-hugging black dress. Rachel hadn't see Abby dress like that during office hours. She wondered what was the special occasion.

Rachel had to admit that Abby looked pretty good. Her boss was in her late thirties and had a figure that turned male heads whenever Rachel accompanied Abby on a work-related visit. Today, Abby had pulled her black hair back tight against her head which emphasized her high cheekbones and curved brows. More makeup than normal enhanced Abby's dark brown eyes and her lips were thick with bright rouge. All in all, it seemed to Rachel that Abby was making an extra effort to look sexy today. And it was working.

"I think we're getting a visitor this morning," Abby announced. She glanced at her watch. "In fact, I think he's due just about now."

"Who?" Rachel asked, although she already knew the answer to that question.

Abby sighed as if it all must be so obvious and Rachel was just being slow. "Sheikh Zarif is coming into the office, Rachel. I thought I'd already told you that he called."

Rachel shook her head. Everything was bypassing her this morning. "I must have missed that," she said.

Abby frowned. "Keep up, Rachel," she stated with a patronizing tone. "You won't last long in this business if you don't keep on top of things."

"I know, Abby. You keep telling me that," Rachel said trying to contain the sharpness in her tone.

Rachel saw Abby glance at her, measuring Rachel up, judging what that comment might really have meant.
 

Alice, one of Rachel's coworkers put down a phone and turned to Abby. "Sheikh Zarif is here," Alice announced.

"Oh my God," Abby blurted out. Rachel saw Abby's face color change even beneath the layers of makeup.

Abby started fussing around the room, giving out hurried orders to her staff. Rachel frowned as she watched Abby try to distract herself. She thought about the previous night, recalling how dismissive Zarif had been about the lunch date he and Abby had shared. Had her boss gotten completely the wrong impression about Sheikh Zarif's real interest in her?

The door opened and Rachel looked over, seeing Zarif stride regally into the office.
 

Abby raced up to him. "Sheikh Zarif. How lovely to see you this morning. How are you?"

Rachel saw Zarif smile politely at Abby. "I'm fine, Abby. I'm in a hurry, this morning. I mentioned to you on the phone that I wanted to sort something out quite urgently."

Rachel saw Zarif glance across the office. His gaze settled on her and he nodded almost imperceptibly at her. She felt an inexplicable rush of emotion at that one, simple gesture. Her heart quickened, and she q wrenched her gaze away from him. Suddenly, what was on the screen of her computer needed her full attention. Why had he looked at her like that? Did he want to give away the secret of the time they'd spent together? What would Abby think if she found out?

Rachel heard Abby and Zarif talking quietly, but she refused to turn and look at them. She heard Abby's voice rise as if in surprise at something Zarif had said. Zarif's voice was quiet, but there was a firmness in his tone. Once again she heard Abby's voice rise with renewed inquiry. A few moments later she heard Abby call to her.

"Rachel, can you join me and Sheikh Zarif in my office?" Abby's voice had a sharp edge to it. Usually, that tone meant trouble.

Rachel turned and saw Abby leading Zarif through the door of her office. Rachel seized a notepad and pen, leaped up and glanced over toward Alice, who had raised her brows in surprise at Rachel.

Rachel walked into the office and saw Zarif was seated in front of Abby's desk. Abby was pulling out a folder from the desk drawer. Her attention was momentarily occupied with the folder. Zarif lifted his head and settled his gaze upon Rachel. She felt her face flush in response to the look on Zarif's features.
 

There was appreciation in his gaze, and she saw his eyes drift downward, taking in the sight of Rachel's figure. Rachel froze on the spot, ran an awkward hand down the side of her hip, and forced herself to look at Abby. She was sure she could still feel Zarif's gaze on her, sense the heat in his eyes as they savored the sight of Rachel's body standing uneasily in the doorway.

Abby looked up at Rachel and waved a casual hand for Rachel to take the seat next to Zarif. Rachel was sure she could see Abby's brows narrowing with apparent, mild irritation.

Rachel eased herself down onto the seat and placed her notebook on her lap. She glanced at Zarif. His attention was still fixed intently on her, although now there was the hint of a smile creasing the corner of his mouth.
 

Zarif was dressed, as always, in a dark suit, although this morning he wasn't wearing a tie. The top buttons of his crisp, white shirt were opened, and Rachel could see the dark curls of some of Zarif's chest hair. She felt her throat tighten and pulled her gaze away from him.

Abby looked at Rachel, and she could see concern in her boss's gaze. "Sheikh Zarif has informed me that he isn't interested in the property you showed him yesterday," Abby announced.

Rachel looked at Zarif. His features were blank, impassive.

"I have to admit, I'm surprised," Abby added. "I thought Sheikh Zarif would be impressed with the opportunity the apartment offers."

"It doesn't quite satisfy my requirements," Zarif said evenly. He glanced at Rachel and she felt her throat tighten.
 

Rachel heard Abby sigh. Abby opened the folder and handed a sheet of paper to Zarif. "Perhaps this might be more to your taste," she said.

Zarif took the paper and examined it for a few moments. He lifted his gaze from the sheet and handed it back to Abby. "Perhaps," he said in a flat voice that, to Rachel, sounded almost bored.

Abby took the sheet. "I think you'll be impressed."

"You said the same about the other one," Zarif said sharply.

Abby looked taken aback by the edge in Zarif's voice. "I"m sure I can do a better job selling you on its advantages than Rachel did on the other apartment," Abby said giving Rachel a harsh look. Rachel felt heat rush to her face. Was Abby blaming her for the loss of a sale?

Rachel saw Zarif glance at her, his eyes narrowing. Had he noticed how she had been stung by Abby's criticism?

"I would prefer that Rachel shows me this apartment," he stated emphatically.

Rachel saw Abby's brows rise. "But, perhaps it might be better if..." Abby started to say.

Zarif raised a hand, cutting Abby off. "You and I can discuss the viewing over lunch, Abby." He leaned toward her. "Just like yesterday."

Abby's face lit up with a smile. "Of course," she agreed. The prospect of having Zarif all to herself had instantly transformed Abby's demeanor. She gushed, suddenly almost like a teenager, seeming as if years had been taken off her by his simple request. "That makes perfect sense, Sheikh Zarif. I'd be delighted to join you for lunch."

Rachel peered across at Abby, suddenly desperate that her boss should change her mind. Surely she didn't expect Rachel to spend the morning with Zarif. Rachel wasn't even sure she wanted to be alone with Zarif. Not after what had happened the night before. Could she even trust herself to be with him for a morning?

Rachel flashed a look at Zarif and saw only satisfaction written on his features. Not even that, Rachel told herself. It was a look of triumph she saw there. He'd gotten his way, and he was visibly pleased. Was that because he was going to lunch with Abby? Or was it because he'd have Rachel all to himself? Rachel knew the answer to that. It made butterflies flutter in her middle.

As Abby busied herself gathering paperwork and going over the details of the property, Rachel's mind filled with a tumult of impressions. What was she going to do? She couldn't refuse. She'd be fired on the spot, especially since Abby already thought Rachel had done a poor job the day before.

Abby stood and held out the folder to Rachel. "Everything you need is there, Rachel. It's the property I was talking to you about on Monday. The new development near Hyde Park."

Rachel knew the one Abby was referring to. Another millionaire's paradise.

Zarif stood, and Rachel followed suit. Zarif rested a hand across his middle and patted his midriff. "Well, it looks like we'll be busy this morning," he said with a grin. His gaze settled on Rachel and she did everything she could to hide her discomfort at what the remainder of the morning held in store.

Was it really that awful to spend time in Zarif's company? She forced the answer to that question firmly away to a dark corner of her mind. She had a job to do, and she was going to do it to the best of her ability.
 

Even if it meant making it absolutely clear to Sheikh Zarif that there was going to be nothing more than a professional relationship between himself and Rachel.

CHAPTER SIX

"Let's get one thing clear, Sheikh Zarif," Rachel said firmly.
 

Zarif looked at Rachel and smiled, leaning back against the leather seat of the limo. Rachel twisted around and faced him, clutching the folder he had just handed back to her.

"And what would that be, Rachel?" Zarif said calmly. There was that wry smile again, she told herself. She wished he would stop looking at her like that. He might think he was the most wonderful man in the world, completely irresistible, utterly tempting to any woman, but he had to understand that this was merely a business arrangement.
 

Rachel searched her mind, frantically trying to find the right words. "I work for Abby. My job is to show wealthy clients properties and persuade them to buy."

Rachel saw Zarif nod patiently, his eyes fixed intently on her. Was he making fun of her? She felt a stab of indignation at the thought he wasn't taking her seriously.
 

Rachel leaned forward. "I'm good at my job, even though I admit I'm pretty new to the whole thing."

"I can see that," Zarif commented.

Rachel squinted at him. Zarif cocked his head to one side gazed into her eyes. She felt an uncontrollable quiver of sensation as her eyes met his. Why did he have to go and look at her like that again? Just like he'd looked at her the previous night. She shifted away from him, keen to send him a message.

"I thought you did fine yesterday," he said. Was he talking about the property viewing or something else? "I was impressed."

"But not enough to buy," she said.

Zarif shrugged. "It's not exactly what I'm looking for, right now," he said.

"And what precisely are you trying to find?" she asked, immediately conscious of the meaning she'd accidentally loaded into the question. "With regards to property," she added quickly.

Zarif quirked a brow and gazed at her. "I'm still trying to evaluate what's available," he said. "The market seems to have many options, at the moment."

"It is a buyers market," Rachel said trying to regain a professional tone in her voice.

Zarif let out a sharp sigh. Was that exasperation or a flash of cynicism? "It certainly seems that way," he said.