Page 3 of The Sheik's Kiss

Tensing, she curled the fingers of her other hand into a fist, fighting not to react.

However, she was unprepared for the searing sensation that coursed through her when he touched her. It felt like he had electricity flowing through his veins. It couldn't be mere blood, for there were other men who had touched her, even kissed her hand, yet none of them had elicited such an intense and electrifying response.

“What are you doing here in Philadelphia?” she asked, trying to be polite. But it was hard when he continued to hold her cold, trembling fingers in his enormous paw of a hand.

Okay, his hand wasn’t oddly huge. In fact, his fingers were long and lean. She’d often imagined his fingers against her body, making her cry out with…?

Nothing! Mandy didn’t want to cry out or mumble around this man. She was immune to his charms!

Wasn’t she?

Yes! Mandy stiffened and yanked her fingers away, reminding herself that she could never give in to the charms of a powerful man. Mandy knew the personal wounds that powerful leaders unfeelingly inflicted on average people.

Hardening her heart, she wrapped her arms more firmly around her grocery bag, no longer concerned about crushing her secret stash of forbidden treats.

“I apologize for arriving on your doorstep without any notice. However, I have need of your services.”

Services? Was he…? Did he think she was…?!

Her eyes narrowed up and she stepped backwards. “I’m an accountant, Your Highness,” she snapped, instantly picturing him making love to her. And because that image was too…enticing, her voice came out a bit sharper than she’d anticipated. “Those are the only services that I offer.”

He tilted his head slightly. “Exactly.” There was a slight curling of his lips as he stared at her. “What services were you thinking I needed?”

Mandy’s lips pressed together but she didn’t answer him. “Would you like to come inside?”

“I would be honored,” he replied, his voice deep while his dark eyes laughed at her.

She ignored his amusement as well as the heat burning in her cheeks. Glancing around him, she spotted several men in dark suits and strange bulges under their coats. “Do they need to search my house first?” She looked up at him. “I highly doubt there are any assassins inside, but maybe they should check first.”

He chuckled without a backward glance at his bodyguards. “I think it’s safe enough.”

Still, she hesitated. Not because she thought there was anything dangerous in her house. But because she considered HIM to be dangerous. To her!

Knowing that she didn’t have an alternative since her new company depended on referrals to stay in business, Mandy nodded and fumbled with her tote bag, looking for her housekeys. “Fine. But if anyone jumps out of a closet and attacks, then I’m not going to be responsible for kicking their butts!”

While Zahir chuckled at her warning, Mandy turned to unlock her front door. Pushing the door open, Mandy headed straight to her kitchen. Without hesitation, she stuffed the bag of faux-groceries into the pantry, then pressed it closed, praying that he didn’t ask her what she’d bought at the store.

Those dark, penetrating eyes glanced at the now-closed door, then into her hazel eyes, one dark eyebrow lifting in inquiry. “You don’t need to put any of those groceries into the fridge?”

Mandy’s mind immediately thought about the precious cherry vanilla ice cream. But one look at those dark eyes and she quickly shook her head. There wasn’t a chance in hell that she was going to dive into that bag of embarrassing wanna-be food to extract her ice cream. She’d just let it melt and…hey, even melted ice cream was delicious. After a root canal, a failed car inspection, and discovering that her driver’s license needed to be renewed – a task that would most likely take more than half a day standing in line at the department of motor vehicles – she wasn’t in the mood for yet another humiliation.

“What can I do for you, Your Highness?” she asked.

He leaned against the counter, his arms crossing over his chest. The movement only brought her attention to the straining material. His muscles bulged underneath the suit jacket and…why was the man wearing a suit on a Saturday? In her world, Saturdays were spent in leggings and sweatshirts. Hence, her less than flattering ensemble at the moment. Somehow, she resisted the urge to smooth her hand over her hair, even though the odds were that there were defiant locks sticking out in odd directions.

“I need your professional assistance,” he began.

Mandy’s head tilted in confusion. “You don’t have accountants on your staff?”

“Yes,” he replied quickly. “Of course, I have a whole department of accountants.” He sighed and she realized he wasn’t completely comfortable with the conversation. For some reason, that gave her a small pang. “The job I have in mind needs more of a forensic accounting service. And I’d like to keep this personal and separate from state business.”

Mandy’s wariness dissipated. This project sounded intriguing. Mandy straightened up and looked at him curiously. “Okay. I love digging into numbers and finding the secrets that people are trying to hide.” It was one of her favorite things to do, in fact. “Who do you need me to dig into? And what secrets do you think they might be hiding?”

“I don’t know who yet, and I have no idea what kinds of secrets they might be hiding.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “There are actually two situations I need help with, although one is more of a front for the other.” He stood up and looked out through the small window over Mandy’s kitchen sink. There was a long silence, then he turned around and blurted, “I have ended my engagement.”

That was startling news. Mandy ignored the spurt of joy that was her first reaction. But she quickly remembered that his breakup shouldn’t be cause for celebration. At least, not her celebration.

Pasting on a concerned expression, Mandy said, “I’m so sorry, Your Highness. Ms. Nasiri is a lovely and talented woman. I thought the two of you would…”

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