Page 19 of Sheikh's Accidental Pregnancy

He’d just about succeeded in banishing her from his thoughts when he stepped into the building’s lobby. There she stood, shaking Malik’s hand and waving him off.

“Thank you so much, Malik. I hope to see you soon.”

“I’ll look forward to it, Sara. I think you’re on to something there, and a site visit should help us determine our next move.”

She waved Malik off, and even though he knew she’d noticed him, she barely reacted. She turned away with studious indifference.

Tariq nodded to Malik and then hurried to catch up to Sara. He slipped into her elevator just as the doors were closing.

She didn’t bow. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

“I wasn’t sure you were coming back,” Sara said without looking at him.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“So you wouldn’t have to see me again.”

“If that’s what I wanted, I would simply fire you.”

“And I would sue you for sexual harassment.”

They both stood immobile, staring forward, avoiding each other’s gaze. Sara’s chin was tipped up, a sure sign she was feeling rebellious.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were a virgin?”

That got her attention. She turned on him. “How did you know?”

“It doesn’t matter. You should have said something.”

“Why? What business is it of yours?”

Tariq slammed his hand on the STOP button, freezing the elevator between floors. “Are you serious right now?” he asked and took a deep breath before continuing. “Something like that…” He fought to control his tone of voice. “That’s not something you take lightly. Not somethingItake lightly. I would have taken more time, at least. Been gentler. Or not given in to my desire at all. Your first time shouldn’t have been like that.”

She gave him a startled look, as if he’d said something strange.

“It’s not like I was thinking much in the moment.” She shrugged, pretending indifference. But he could read her like a book. She wasn’t indifferent.

“I am sorry, Sara.” He wasn’t sure he’d ever said those words before. The shape of them in his mouth was strange, but they felt right. This woman turned everything upside down. Even herself, sometimes. “I don’t normally behave like that.”

“Neither do I, obviously. Just leave it.” She released the elevator, and they continued up to the executive floor. “Let’s both pretend it didn’t happen. Have a good day, sir.”

The elevator doors slid open, and Sara bowed to him, all propriety and formality, and stalked off.

Tariq stepped off the elevator more slowly and watched her walk away. She should have told him. If she had, he would have been more careful, with both his actions and his words. But he couldn’t completely regret it. She had felt so good under and around him, had been so responsive. And she had taken pleasure from their coupling, as well. He always made sure he pleased his partners.

But he suspected he might have hurt her as well. Anger surged inside him, and he wanted nothing more than to protect her. But it seemed he would have to protect her from himself.

14

“Sara! What’s up, girl?” Amir greeted Sara from the doorway of her office. Her jaw dropped at the odd greeting, and she raised an eyebrow. She had never heard Amir speak like that.

“What’s going on?” she asked him cautiously.

“Just saying hello and goodbye.”

Sara frowned. This exchange was getting more and more peculiar by the second. Fiddah’s words about Amir’s unpredictability came back to her.

“Goodbye? Are you taking the afternoon off?” she asked.

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