Page 29 of Her Older Sheikh

I place one hand gently against his chest, and my pulse leaps in excitement when I feel his heart pound under my palm. "This is like our second chance, isn't it?"

"It is."

"And a second chance is like...another life."

Rashad's forehead creases. "I suppose."

"So..." I look at him from under my lashes. "Does this mean you'll let me eat you now?"

Say yes, say yes, say yes!

But the car has slowed down to a stop before he can even answer, and an almost-smirk curves over his lips when I look at him in unconcealed dismay.

"To be continued," he says mockingly as he helps me out of the car.

Chapter Eight

I'm still pouting like a spoiled little brat as Rashad leads me inside Grandpa's favorite steakhouse, but I forget what I'm sulking about when I see the way other women have started oglingmyman.

Grrr!

Rashad's steps come into an abrupt halt when I fall against his side. "Madeleine?" Concern makes his accent more pronounced, and I mentally file this underTop Adorable Things About Mr. Mine.

"Are you alright?"

I can practically hear the women around us grinding their teeth in envy at the way Rashad gently tips my chin up, and it's a real struggle not to succumb to the temptation of meeting all of their gazes just so I can say once and for all—-

Rashad is Mr. Mine because he's mine so hands off, girls!

Oh, if only.

But I obviously can't, and so I do the next best thing and gesture to my ankle with a pained look. "I think I twisted it." I look up at him with my lower lip out. "Can you carry me to Grandpa's table?"

Rashad swings me up in his arms, but just as I hide my smile in the crook of his neck, he then murmurs straight to my ear, "I know you're faking it."

A giggle escapes me, but I'm still determined to maintain my innocence. "No comment."

Everyonewe walk past ends up looking at us, and most of the women appear vexed and envious. They obviously don't get why an ordinary girl like me has ended up with someone like Rashad, and while I don't get it either—-

There's at least one person in this place who thinks Rashad and I make a great pair, and obviously it's none other than the old man himself.

Grandpa Paco has the biggest grin on his face as he watches Rashad carefully lowering me to a chair. You'd think he's won the lottery or something, but—-oh!

I was wondering earlier why the old man was being soweirdlynice to Rashad, and my suspicion only grows when Grandpa Paco engages Rashad in shop talk as soon as he takes his seat.

"Ahem."

I wait until both men are looking at me before shaking my head at my grandfather.

"You can drop the act now, Grandpa."

The old man immediately starts blustering. "What act?"

"So not fooling anyone."

"Bah! I'm not trying to fool anyone—-"

But the way he's unable to meet my eyes says otherwise.

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