Page 20 of The Sheikh’s Christmas Present

When the doors closed, she leaned against the wall and carefully balanced the drink carrier in her hand. The hotel was a cold reminder of why she shouldn’t be concerned about a future with Jarik. She would never fit in with his life.

But for the time being, they were stuck together. Would it be that bad if she simply enjoyed him while he was here?

It wasn’t like her to argue with herself. If she kept it up, she was going to drive herself insane.

When she opened the door to their room, Jarik was still buttoning up his shirt. He wore a lazy smile that made her stomach flip-flop.

“Why are you smiling?” she grumbled. “It’s not like you’re going anywhere either.”

“Maybe it’s the coffee.” He reached over and plucked the cup from the tray. “Maybe it’s just you.”

Maria danced out of his reach. “Speaking of, I think that maybe we should talk about last night before this goes any further.”

“Maria…”

She immediately held up her hand. “Please. Let me get this out. I don’t usually have to have conversations like this. Jarik, I can’t deny the chemistry between us. Not after last night. But just because it’s there doesn’t mean that we have to pursue it.”

“Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t,” he challenged as he narrowed his eyes.

“It’s going to end, and I think it’s not going to end well,” she muttered. Thrusting out the muffin, she turned her head so she wasn’t looking directly at him. When he reached out to grab it from her, his fingers circled her wrist.

“The only way that it would end badly would be if feelings got involved. Intense passion can lead to jealousy. Attachments. The desire for more,” he murmured in a low voice.

All true, but she wasn’t about to admit to any of that. “Eat your muffin. I want to go check on my plane.”

Laughing, he pulled the muffin out of the bag and took a big bite. Knowing she’d lost the battle, Maria could only shake her head as she grabbed her jacket. “Take your bag too,” Jarik said suddenly.

“Take my bag? Why? We can’t go anywhere.”

“Do you have to question everything? Just trust me.”

Trust him? Straightening slowly, she searched his face for a clue. “I only question things that don’t make sense.” Still, she grabbed her bag and turned to the door.

Jarik’s hand settled on the small of her back, and she stiffened. It wasn’t that she was uncomfortable with the move. The truth was that she’d been aching for his touch.

Thatmade her uncomfortable.

* * *

The team that he’d hired were still standing guard around the plane when they got there. Maria gasped and hurried forward, but Jarik grabbed her hand. “Whoa. Don’t panic. They’re a security detail that I hired to keep an eye on things. I know you’re worried about the crates.”

“You hired security without telling me?” Annoyance flashed across her face, but then it melted away into something warmer. “I want to say that you shouldn’t have…but the truth is, I’m glad you did. Thank you, truly. Those crates are everything right now.”

Was that honest gratitude on her face? Jarik responded to it almost viscerally. Suddenly, he wanted to see that look on her face all the time. Peace and relief.

He wanted to make Maria Walken a very happy woman.

“Check on your crates, and then I have another surprise for you.”

“Another surprise?”

He reached out and took her hand. “I can’t do anything about the snow, and I can’t get your crates to Syria, but I can do this for you. And since you have nothing to do for the next twenty hours, you can’t object.”

Maria raised an eyebrow. “That depends entirely on what this surprise is.”

“It’s a very good surprise. I have a donor for your charity. I can help make this the very best Christmas for Christmas Crates.”

“A donor?” A huge smile crossed her face. “Here in Riyadh?”

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