The Sheik's Reluctant Lover Page 0,2

the autumn evening.

He smiled slightly, crossing his arms over that massive chest of his while he watched her nervously straighten up the room. “I’ve been fine. Why haven’t you been around?”

She picked up and refolded the blanket that she’d bought for her dad because he fell asleep on the couch so often. “I’ve been pretty busy.”

“Too busy to swing by once in a while to say hello to an old friend?”

She stopped and froze, wondering how to respond. She looked up at him, then away once again, too nervous to hold that contact with his too-knowing gaze. “Well, I know it’s not very far but, well, you know how traffic is around here. It’s hard to get out this way. And I don’t have…well, I can’t really take time off very often.”

He moved closer, putting a hand on her shoulder to stop her frantic movements. “You’re nervous. Why?”

She actually jumped and took a step backwards. “I’m not nervous,” she countered but couldn’t look him in the eye. She took a deep breath to try and steady herself. When she felt like she had a bit more control, she said, “Why are you here?” She looked at his firm chin or his broad shoulders, the middle of his fabulously muscular chest…anywhere but into his eyes.

He put his hands back in his slacks and looked down at her. Rais couldn’t believe the beauty she’d grown into. He’d suspected she would be like this as he’d watched her grow up and knew that she would be beautiful. But the woman standing in front of him was stunning. She had a cool sophistication that was startling with a sensuality that was soft and seductive instead of being blatant. Her long, black hair looked like a silk wave as it cascaded down her shoulders and her pretty blue eyes revealed so much, but also hid everything he wanted to know. “Why have you been avoiding me?” he countered in a low voice so her father wouldn’t hear them in the kitchen.

He’d wanted her for so long, he couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t ached to hold her in his arms. Ever since she’d turned sixteen, his feelings for Rachel had changed from brotherly affection and interest to something much stronger, significantly deeper. And the older she got, the more intense that feeling had become. Suddenly, six years ago she’d simply stopped coming out to his farm to visit her father, his lead trainer, and he’d missed her almost painfully. There had been times when he’d been furious that she wasn’t here for him so he could o feast on her glorious beauty or just revel in her laughter and smile. Then there were other times when he was relieved that he wouldn’t have to find another woman to ease the ache she always left in him after he saw her or spoke with her because she was too young.

But she was older now. She wasn’t a teenager with soulful eyes that laughed at his dry humor or teased him about his arrogance. She wouldn’t be racing ahead of him on her horse, her long, slender legs holding onto her horse and her bottom bouncing on her saddle, giving his mind images that were inappropriate and leaving him hard and aching.

Every year she’d grown more beautiful and more interesting. Each visit had left him with an ache, a desire to be with her more often which he’d had to fight with every fiber in his being. When she’d turned eighteen, it had been the hardest because she’d continued to grow into that figure that had him dreaming about holding her in his arms. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d woken up in a sweat because he wanted her so desperately.

As he looked down into those blue eyes, he reveled in the fact that she was now old enough for his pursuit. And he would have her. She might resist at first, but it would be just out of habit. He would show her that he wanted more from her and they could explore this attraction he knew they both shared.

Yes, Rachel would be in his bed and they could expand the friendship they used to have so that it was more, deeper.

He stepped closer, his nose filling up with her soft, feminine scent. “I’d like…”

“Dinner is ready,” her father called out from the kitchen, interrupting whatever it was that Rais was about to say.

Rachel blinked, looking around as if she’d forgotten where they