Page 36 of The Sheikh and the Single Mom

Rashad felt like one of the twins again. He sighed. “Of course. Thank you both.”

“Call us back by this evening with an update, please,” Abdul said. The “please” was there, but it was clear that he wasn’t making a request. Amira and Abdul let Rashad handle most business decisions, because they trusted him, but at the end of the day, they were majority investors and could pump the brakes on anything they felt was a mistake.

Clearly, they felt that working with Nina was a mistake.

“I will.” Rashad hung up, slipped his phone into his pocket, and gripped the yacht’s railing with both hands. They were almost back to San Diego now; he could see the skyline in the distance. Soon, the real world would come crashing in, whether he was ready or not.

Rashad’s business partners had made a good point. More than one. He was rushing into a partnership with Nina simply because he didn’t want to hurt her, not because it would benefit his company in any way. In fact, working with Nina wouldcostHealth Trackr, as it would be more difficult to dominate the market with a competitor at his side.

Over the last few days, Rashad had begun to feel that his work might not be as important as he thought it was. Maybe there were other things that mattered more — a sticky preschooler’shand in his as they played hide-and-seek together. Nina’s smile as she lifted onto her tiptoes to kiss him. Laughing around a dinner table at some comment Kate or Miles had made. Twirling Nina across the deck of the yacht as an old song played over the radio.

Yet Rashad needed to think clearly about this. He couldn’t let himself make such an important decision just because he’d gotten a glimpse into family life the last few days — and liked it more than he’d expected.

He didn’t want to hurt Nina. He’d wanted to show her that there was more to him than just a ruthless businessman — yet perhaps therewasn’tactually more to him. Perhaps Rashad really was a ruthless businessman and nothing else. At the end of the day, Health Trackr was what mattered most to Rashad and always would. He’d given years of his life and all his energy to make Health Trackr a success, and Abdul and Amira were right: he couldn’t give that up — for anything or anyone.

Not even for Nina.

Rashad’s heart ached. Part of him wanted to toss his phone in the ocean and run back to his room, where Nina still slept. He wanted to find a way to work with her, instead of against her. He wanted to spend more time with her and the twins, perhaps purchase a house here in San Diego so that he could be near her for part of the year. He wanted to kiss her until he forgot everything else. He wanted to believe what Nina had said last night, about how eventually something or someone would come along who mattered more than his business.

Yet Rashad knew he couldn’t do that. He needed to be strong. He needed to focus on Health Trackr, not on the woman who made his heart beat faster and his head spin.

Even if he decided to risk his company and his partnership with Abdul and Amira for Nina, there was no guarantee that things would turn out between them. In all likelihood, Nina had considered their night together to be nothing more than a momentary indiscretion or a fun vacation fling. There was no reason to believe she’d want him in her life as anything more than a business partner.

Rashad’s hands tightened on the railing. He couldn’t risk everything for Nina, not when he didn’t even know how she felt about him. He’d go back to Al Soub. He’d speak with Abdul and Amira and find another way forward — perhaps a buyout of Heartbeat. It wasn’t what Rashad wanted, but it was the only acceptable option.

Rashad’s heart ached as he watched the sun lift over the horizon. The sky faded from pink to baby blue, then to the brighter blue of daytime, and still, he stood and watched, motionless. It was time for him to say goodbye to Nina, to Miles, to Kate, to the beautiful weekend they’d spent together in which Rashad had felt like he could be more than the CEO of Health Trackr. It was time to go back to real life.

CHAPTER 15

NINA

Nina woke alone in Rashad’s bed. For a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was or why there weren’t small feet in her face, but then memories of the night before came back. She smiled as one hand lifted automatically to her lips, her fingertips brushing the soft skin in memory of Rashad’s kisses. It wasn’t like Nina at all to spend the night with someone she’d just met a few days ago, but it felt like she’d known Rashad much longer. Already, she’d shared with him things that she rarely shared with anyone, and it seemed he’d done the same. Perhaps, their night together was the beginning of something wonderful.

It was too early to think about a future with Rashad, but Nina couldn’t help feeling hopeful. Ever since her ex had walked out on her when she’d found out she was pregnant, she’d kept her heart closed to everyone but her kids and her mother. Nina had been unwilling to consider any kind of serious relationship, not when it could too easily lead to another broken heart for her and her children. Yet with Rashad, she felt different. He seemed to genuinely care about her as well as the twins and maybe, just maybe, there would be a future for them together. Rashad couldvisit them in San Diego, or they could meet in the middle for a romantic weekend.

Nina didn’t have any big expectations that Rashad would drop everything to join her little family, but a casual relationship based on mutual admiration that could eventually lead to something more — well, that didn’t sound too bad. Perhaps it was time to set aside her fears and open her heart again. Perhaps, instead of being a fleeting moment seized from the velvety night air, last night would be the beginning of something.

At the very least, Nina was looking forward to returning to land and getting started on her and Rashad’s collaborative business plans. As well as benefiting her company, more time with Rashad would give her an opportunity to sort out her own feelings — and learn more about his.

Nina laughed under her breath. Here she was, thinking about the future, when she should just be enjoying the last morning on the yacht. They would arrive at the San Diego harbor soon, but there should be time for one more shared breakfast and perhaps a game of hide-and-seek. Maybe this time, she and Rashad would actually share a kiss if they hid in the same spot.

Nina reached for her phone. It was still early, just after seven thirty. She slipped out of bed, dressed quickly in the sundress she’d worn the day before, and padded down the hallway to the room she’d shared with Miles and Kate the last few nights. Both twins were still sleeping, facing each other, wispy blond hair unfurled across their pillows. Nina watched them sleep for a moment, her heart filling with love for her little ones, before she quietly found a change of clothes and her toiletries bag. After freshening up in the bathroom, she climbed the stairs to the deck, hoping to find Rashad and a cup of coffee, not necessarily in that order.

She found Rashad first. He was standing by the railing, looking out over the ocean. Nina paused to look at him. He was in the same outfit as the day before, but he looked as handsome as ever despite sleep-rumpled hair and yesterday’s clothes. Perhaps he even lookedmorehandsome for having dropped some of his put-together, professional façade.

Nina took in Rashad’s wide shoulders and confident stance, the way his dark hair lifted slightly in the breeze, and the muscles easily visible through his shirt. She saw his hands, resting gently on the railing, and remembered how those hands had felt on her waist and in her hair. Then she crossed the deck to stand beside him.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Nina.” Rashad looked down at her, his expression unreadable. “I hope you slept well.”

“I certainly did.” Nina grinned. “Did you? You weren’t there when I woke up.”

“Sorry. I had to take a call.” Rashad’s gaze lifted back to the horizon. It felt a little like a dismissal.

“That’s fine. Is everything okay?” Nina bit her lip.

“Yes.”

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