Page 34 of The Sheikh and the Single Mom

“I’d be happy to find something you’re bad at.” Rashad winked. “It seems like you’re good at everything.”

Nina almost snorted. “Clearly, you haven’t met me.”

“I have.” One of Rashad’s hands settled on Nina’s waist, while the other gently cupped her palm. “You’re amazing, Nina. You can’t deny that.”

They began to move across the deck, the song crooning familiar lyrics from the radio, their steps light across the wood. Nina’s heart thrilled at Rashad’s words and at the undeniably romantic atmosphere, though she was careful to keep herself in check. Still, the part of Nina that believed in love, even now, shouted that Rashad liked the same music she did and that a man who could dance was deeply sexy.

“You’re quite impressive yourself,” she replied. “A lot of people would have been content to live a life of luxury in a palace, but you made your own life by following your own path. I admire that.”

“Thank you.” Rashad lifted his arm to twirl Nina and she saw the yacht, the starry night sky, and Rashad’s warm brown eyes blur by as her skirt lifted around her knees. “I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?” It was an almost perfect night. The breeze from the sea was refreshing and smelled of salt, the stars were bright, and the man holding Nina in his arms was looking down at her with such an intense expression that it was all she could do to not lift onto her tiptoes and kiss him.

“I first invited you here with the goal of taking everything,” Rashad said. “I wanted to put you out of business.”

“I know that.” Nina let Rashad dip her back, then lift her up again. “But things didn’t go that way. Instead, we decided to work together — so you have nothing to apologize for.”

“Perhaps.” They spun again. Nina was enjoying the dance so much that she wasn’t even worried about stepping on Rashad’stoes or looking silly, as she usually would have been. “But still. I want you to know that I feel badly about my intentions.”

“Rashad.” Nina pulled them both to a stop, her heart suddenly beating a little too hard in her chest. “What are we doing here, dancing like this, with you apologizing for something that never happened?”

“I thought we were sharing a lovely moment under the stars,” Rashad said, his voice low. “Do you disagree?”

“No.” Nina shook her head. “I just… It’s been a long time since I let myself… share a moment under the stars… with anyone.”

Rashad began to dance again, though it was more of a sway now. His dark eyes never left hers. He was so close that the soft smell of aftershave was all around Nina and she could think of little else beside his touch. Their surroundings dimmed as Rashad came into focus.

“Maybe it’s time for that to change,” he said, his voice deep.

“Maybe so.” Nina looking up at him, her heart still fluttering. It was clear now that Rashad did share her feelings. She wasn’t the only one who felt attraction dance through her chest when he was near, and perhaps she hadn’t imagined that he’d been on the verge of kissing her in that closet and when he’d dropped her off at her room the night before.

Nina knew there couldn’t be a future for the two of them — she and Rashad were too different, and too busy. Yet perhaps, just for one night, she could give in to the attraction she felt and let herself seize a moment under the stars. She could still protect her heart, even if she let herself feel a little tonight.

So, slowly, Nina lifted onto her toes. Rashad stopped swaying as one of his hands came to rest on the side of her face, his thumb skimming across her cheekbone and sending waves of long-forgotten sensation through Nina’s body.

“Nina,” he said.

“Rashad.”

And then he bent his head, Nina lifted higher onto her tiptoes, and they were kissing. It was everything Nina had tried to keep herself from imagining, and more. Rashad’s lips were warm and gentle on hers. His hands skimmed along her back as they kissed, drawing her closer. She became a being of sensation, wanting more, no longer thinking rationally about anything. After just a moment, Rashad pulled back and met Nina’s eyes.

“Is that all right?” he asked.

“Yes.” Nina’s voice was breathless, and she didn’t trust herself to say more.

And then they were kissing again, Rashad’s lips more insistent this time. Heat pooled in Nina’s belly as Rashad pressed her against the wall of the kitchen, his kisses expert and tender. For what felt like both the blink of an eye and an hour, they kissed like teenagers before Rashad’s hands grew bolder in their explorations.

Nina was the kind of person who always worried — about her kids, about her business, about her never-ending to-do list — but today, in this moment, all her worries drifted away. There was nothing but her and Rashad and the way he touched her, as though she were incredibly precious. Nina never wanted this moment to end.

“Would you like to go to the bedroom?” Rashad asked, his voice low in Nina’s ear as he brushed kisses along her cheek and neck.

“Yes,” Nina said, without hesitation. A small part of her protested that she might be hurt in the morning, when the boat docked in San Diego and she and Rashad went back to business — but a larger part told her to let go, just for now. The future was uncertain, but this moment wasn’t. Nina was with a man who cared about her, who whispered her name as though it were a magic spell, who lifted her into his arms as easily as if she were made of air. There was no point in worrying about tomorrow, not when she wanted only to be closer to Rashad, to feel his hands on her, and to kiss him as though nothing else mattered.

So, Rashad carried her easily down the stairs and into his bedroom. Nina got a glimpse of a neatly made bed and an open suitcase on the floor —had Rashad never unpacked?— before he was laying her back on the bed and kissing her again as he braced over her, warm and solid and so close that Nina could hardly bear it.

Nina let go of her worries and gave herself over fully to the magic of this night, this moment, and the man she was with. Everything else could wait.

CHAPTER 14

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